Wilhelm Hobein,DKiG

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

Wilhelm Hobein had scored 10 victories while serving with ZG-26 flying the Messerschmitt Bf-110 of ZG-26. He won the German Cross In Gold on April 12,1943 while flying Ju-87s of StG-2 and SG-2. I couldn't find anything more of his latest war career leading up to the end of WWII. His highest rank so far was Hauptmann. I think he survived the war. Can you fill in the blanks please?

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Edward,

Details on Wilhelm Hobein, and several photographs, can be found in Morten Jessen & my book Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in the Battle for Sicily. He never flew the Ju 87. Rather, he flew with the Bf 109- (and later FW 190-) equipped I. Gruppe of Schlachtgeschwader 2, serving as a Staffelkapitän. He also spent time as acting Gruppenkommandeur of I./Sch.G. 2. He joined the Gruppe in November 1942, and was still with it in August 1943.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

[Doug Stankey]

From our Officer Career Database:

HOBEIN, Wilhelm. ("Fritz"). (DKG). 11.39 in 2./JGr. 176. 17.05.40 Oblt., with 5./ZG 76. Fall 1940 became Staka 5./ZG 76. 08.05.41 Oblt., Staka 4./ZG 76. 05/06.41 with Sd.Kdo. Junck, losing an eye around this date. 1942 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./NJ-Schule 1 (to 31.10.42). 09.42 Hptm., appt Kdr. III./ZG 1 (to 15.02.43?). (n.d.) awarded the Ehrenpokal? 04.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./St.G. 2 (to 23.09.43). 12.04.43 Hptm., awarded DKG, I./SG 2. 1943 in 2./Schl.G. 2. Promo to Maj. (RDA not assigned). Credited with 10 victories.

Specifics about his fighter claims are probably in the Tony Woods database.

Other award details and aircraft specifics can likely be found in the Tom Kracker database.

DGS

[Matti Salonen]

1943-12-31, Stab I/Schl.G 10, Fw 190 G-3, 160456, K grüne (C grüne?), Koskow, Nicht zurück. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer (Gruppenkommandeur) Major Hobein, Wilhelm, vermißt

Matti

[Kapper]

Matti, Andrew, Doug
I found the information on the loss of Hobein as Gruppnkommandeur I./SG10, very interesting.
As Andrew suggested that he was serving in I./SchG2 from Nov 42 to at least Sep 43 and since I./SchG 2 became I./SG10 in October 1943 it appears that Hobein didn’t leave the unit but at some point became it’s Gruppenkommandeur. Therefore it appears that Hobien didn’t serve as Gruppenkommandeur of III./ZG1 or I./StG2 as suggested in Doug’s data . So this raises the question as to when Hobein was made Gruppenkommandeur?
From various sources (including Doug’s database) I have Hermann Langermann as theGpKdr of I./SchG2 until around May 1943, then it’s unclear but Gerhard Weyert took command in 1943 (sometime after 8 Jun 43) until 18 October – around when the unit name change occurred, before he took command of III./SG4 on 10 Jan 44, then Egon Thiem was in command from 1 Dec 43 to end of war. However, since Hobein was lost as GpKdr on 31 Dec 1943 it appears that Thiem took command after this date – it seems to be a month out - was Hobein MIA a month earlier, or did Thiem take command a month later ? To further confuse the situation Josef Berlage is said to have been Gruppenkammandeur in Oct 43 when the unit name change occurred.
When Hobien was awarded his DKG on 14 Apr 43 it was for service as Staffelkapitan of 2./SchG2 and though the recommendation could have been some time earlier it is likely that he was still Staffelkapitan on award date. Norbert Schmitt took over 2./SchG 2 on 15 Sep 43 and I have a note that Oblt Schmelzer was Staffelkapitan in Aug 43, so it appears that Hobien left 2./SchG2 sometime between April and August 43 probably to become Gruppenkommandeur.
In Doug’s data Hobien is listed as Gruppenkommandeur I./StG2 from April 43 to 23 Sep 43. I believe this data is correct but a misread of unit designation (i.e. I./SchG 2 not I./StG 2). So this leads to the possibility that Hobien took over from Langermann in April or May 1943 until MIA on 31 Dec 43. Josef Berlage was in Stab I./SchG2 – I./SG10 during the time, so it’s possible that Berlage was acting Gruppenkommandeur from 23 Sep 43 to sometime in October during an absence from command by Hobein in that period (maybe WIA?) ? Or alternatively Weyert put in command until Hobein’s return on 18 Oct 43?
There seems to be a lot of conflicting data in regards to the Commanders of I./SchG 2 – I./SG10 in this period and I would be interested to learn more.
Regards,
Craig…

[Doug Stankey]

Yes, the machinations of sorting this out can be considerable. For example, award dates can be seriously out of joint with the stated rank and unit were are actually those that applied at the time of nomination.
Its been over three years since I compiled my commanders lists, but we have been receiving so much new data that it is not worthwhile yet to create an updated listing. This will have to wait a few years until things have settled down.

[Andrew Arthy]

Craig,

One small correction. Fritz Schroeter was Kommandeur of I./S.G. 10 between October 1944 and January 1945, not Egon Thiem. Unfortunately I have no time to add more information about this topic at the moment, but have done a fair bit of digging into it in the past.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

[Kapper]

Doug,
I meant no offense when I raised these issues. I fully understand that such lists etc., are only as good as the information available at the time and I appreciate you putting the information out for everyone to see, so that those of us that are interested can make forward progress to clarifying issues like these. I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.
Andrew,
Thanks, more interesting information. In the database, Schroeter is noted as being in Stab I./SG10 at that time and it would make sense that an experienced Kommandeur (previously Kommandeur I./SG5) would be made Kommandeur. However, if Thiem was Kommandeur before and after Schroeter, this raises the question of what happened to him during this period. Looking at the various options, I think the most likely scenario would be that Thiem was recovering from wounds or illness and Schroeter put in command until Thiem’s recovery as there was no suitable candidate within the unit for the job at the time. I think this because, 3 months would be too long to have a junior unproven commander acting in the role but not long enough to warrant replacing the wounded/ill commander permanently. Also, Schroeter then went on to command I./SG4 in January 45. So just one more question, Is there any evidence that Thiem was wounded/ill or was it some other reason for his absence?
Regards,

Craig…

[Doug Stankey]

Well gentlemen, I have been trying to sort this out. Insofar as an association of Hobein with I./St.G. 2, I have traced this back in our notes to at least 2009 so the origin of it is apparently lost. However, whatever the source, it seems apparent that this is due to a typo or mis-read and should have read I./Schl.G. 2. The command of III./ZG 1 was, I expect, an acting position, and initially at least, also an acting position as Kdr. I./Schl.G. 2. The following summary for Hobein seems to make the best sense of all this:

HOBEIN, Wilhelm. ("Fritz"). (DKG). 11.39 in 2./JGr. 176. 17.05.40 Oblt., with 5./ZG 76. Fall 1940 became Staka 5./ZG 76. 08.05.41 Oblt., Staka 4./ZG 76. 05/06.41 with Sd.Kdo. Junck, losing an eye around this date. 1942 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./NJ-Schule 1 (to 31.10.42). 09.42 Hptm., appt (acting?) Kdr. III./ZG 1 (to 15.02.43?). (n.d.) awarded the Ehrenpokal? 04.43 Hptm., appt (acting?) Kdr. I./Schl.G. 2 (to 23.09.43). 12.04.43 Hptm., awarded DKG, I./SG 2. 1943 in 2./Schl.G. 2. 31.12.43 Maj., Kdr. Stab I./SG 10 MIA - Fw 190 G-3 (Green K (or Green C?)) lost vic Koskov. Promo to Maj. (RDA not assigned). Credited with 10 victories.

[FalkeEins]

4 Spitfire claims between 02 & 07 Sept 1940 following one over Dunkirk on 02 June. Any details on his other (five?) claims during this period ?