Meissler's (7./JG52) story and interrogation report

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Originally Posted by mars

Andrey, when many ex-POWs from all countries recall their lives in the prisoner camp, most told a same story: despite all the brutal and illegal method used by the enemy interrogators, they sood their ground never reveal any useful information except their name rank and unit, many were hailed as hero after they returned home,but if we have a chance read their interrogation report, sometimes it told a very different story, something is simply not meant to been seen, so let it go, had they been suffered enough already?

Hello, Mars!

Yes, of course. I saw interrogations reports of the German V.AK, for example. Most of Soviet POWs said all or almost all that they knows (but some real heroes were, indeed).

Return to Meissler.
The coin has a two side. What about captain P.T.Tarasov (812.IAP), who claimed a victory against Bf109? If Meissler's postwar version is true, Tarasov's award is undeserved. And vice versa.

Meissler's interrogation statements looks like a true in many details (according to modern knowledge).

I also thought that the story is simply interesting for air enthusiasts. One more fact to the well-known episode.

Best regards,
Andrey

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

Interesting discussion of an episode that is still rather unclear and the subject of much debate. One way that the conflicting accounts may be resolved would be by examining any existing photographs of this aircraft following the emergency landing and noting any damage to the engine cowl. If there is evidence of strikes to this area of the aircraft it would bolster the Russian version of events while the absence of such would appear to give credence to the post-war account of Meissler. Therefore, the question is if any such photographs clearly depicting the engine cowl exist? I have only seen the following two photographs of this machine as well as the ones where it is covered in white smoke during the propaganda film shooting where unfortunately the cowling is obscured. The first photograph displays the starboard side of the fighter quite well and no damage is apparent to me but it may have been taken prior to the capture or after the machine was repaired by the Russians. The second photograph depicts the possible victor Kaptain Pavel Tarasov (24 victories) being congratulated by General-Mayor Eugene Savitsky.



Horrido!

Leo

[yogybär]

To the topic itself:
On one of the pics, at least the rudder seems to have been hit by a machine gun bullet. Maybe there are more pictures of the A/C, on which one can see damage which came from the alleged dogfight?
Andrey, are there more interesting detaisl in this report?

PS: To neglect all information of sll soviet documents is not very intelligent IMHO. Then, one would also be obliged to NOT read a lot of modern books, like Bergström and others. I think, internal documents (like interogation reports etc) were done similarly to the ones in the Wehrmacht: Make the author look good but also don't lie, under at least slight pressure from the military-dicatatoric system.

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Originally Posted by yogybär

To the topic itself:
Andrey, are there more interesting detaisl in this report?

Hello!

Usual unfo - mother, father, pre-war life, trainig, war life. From his words, he entered III/JG52 in the end of Dec.1942. From Feb.43 to 15.3.43 rest in Nikolajew, then Kertsch-2, then Taman. He made 60 combat missions, no successes. Info about other units (Stabstaffel, 15./JG52, his opinion about where are I. and II./JG52) etc. "Pilots mood - good". I made only abstracts from reports - had no time.

Best regards,
Andrey

[Johannes]

Bernd Barbas tried to contact him after the war in the DDR in the 1970's, but had no luck. But then Meissler himself telephoned Bernd and asked why he wanted to find him. After Bernd explained his interest with JG52 Meissler explained that he had a technical problem with his Bf109 and did not even see an enemy aircraft before his belly-landing, same thing happened to Friedrich Obleser the same day, but he managed to evade capture. Meissler was released in 1949.

Regards

Johannes

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello, Johannes!

Originally Posted by Johannes

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/images/editor/separator.gif

before his belly-landing

He made a normal landing, on wheels. His other info to Bernd Barbas looks like Meissler want to change the day of 28.5.43 for himself.

Thank you for interesting info. Do you know, does Mr. Barbas write his IV.volume?

Regards,
Andrey

[Frank Olynyk]

Andrey,

As far as I know Bernd is working on a biography of Barkhorn right now. When that is finished he will return to the 4th volume of JG 52 which will cover Stab and the remaining Staffeln.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Originally Posted by Frank Olynyk

Andrey,

As far as I know Bernd is working on a biography of Barkhorn right now. When that is finished he will return to the 4th volume of JG 52 which will cover Stab and the remaining Staffeln.

Enjoy!

Frank.

Thank you, Frank!
It is interesting.

Regards,
Andrey

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, all

I agree with yogybär on the reference issue. Use caution but do not entirely dismiss records like the one mentioned.

However - taking everything written in an interrogation report at face value is equally naive.

Both sides of this conflict used all means possible to extract information - and the disregard and disrespect to human life was notorious - I would imagine that any German soldier or pilot would expect nothing less than brutal torture, hard labour and hopefully maybe a swift death after being captured by the Soviets.

Regards,
Andreas B