Heinz Marquardt and Kurt Tanzer

[Andrew Arthy]

Originally Posted by knusel

Kurt Tanzer is said to have served with units called Jagdfliegerführer 6 and Jagdfliegerführer Ostpreussen between June 1944 and February 1945. Is it known if he flew the Bf109 or the Fw190 there ?

Hi,

These were higher headquarter units. See:

- https://ww2.dk/air/hq/ostpr.htm
- https://ww2.dk/air/hq/jafu6.htm

They were directing operations rather than flying them. A rough translation from Günther Josten's diary on 24 June 1944:

"I spend the night with Oberst Nordmann's Stab. I stay with Lt. Tanzer and get an insight into the work of the Jafü."

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

[Johannes]

Thanks Andrew

This does tie Tanzer to a place, and unit.

With regards to Marquardt Bernd Barbas has released online a biography about him.

Is strange that Tanzer takes so long to return to combat. As I remember he was shot in a hand, lost a lot of blood. But you would think that he would be returned to combat after a short break. Perhaps he had other wounds also. In 1945 seems that everybody came crawling out of the woodwork back to combat.

The absolute shame is that we didn't start the process of investigating Tanzer's total whilst some of his konrads were still alive.

Tanzer would be perfect to be set-up in a "fake information" game i.e a cheap Ritterkreuz, then died so early on, before real interest was being shown in the great aces. Maybe someday a flugbuch will surface !

Kind Regards

Johannes

[knusel]

Good evening,

Aders/Held say that Tanzer scored 111 JG51 kills, which leaves 17 or 32 of the alledged high total scored with Jagdfliegerführer 6 and Jagdfliegerführer Ostpreussen. It would be useful to know if they were scored in a Bf109 or an Fw190.

Does Mr Barbas mention the date of Marquardt's 98th kill ?

Best greetings from Switzerland, sincerely,

Michael

[Johannes]

Hi Michael

Your not listening. Tanzer had less than fifty confirmed claims. I have 9000 of JG51's claims, only thirty-five belong to Tanzer. He was latterly wingman to Karl-Gottfried Nordmann. Nordmann made no claims from 1943 onwards, his last claim(nr.75) was on 16th December 1942. The JG51 book which you are referencing from is pre-mikrofilm, thus outdated.

With Marquardt the first eighty-nine of his claims are found on the mikrofilms until 25th October 1944. Then the only references are from two flugbücher(E.Brunotte/E Arensmeyer) Arensmeyer states he was witnees to Marquardt's 121st on 25th April 1945, yet Brunotte states he was witness to a claim on 29th April 1945. Herr Barbas does not know the date of the 98th. But it would be on or just prior to 14th April 1945.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[knusel]

Good morning Johannes,

I do but I want to explore the myth. Maybe one day we find positive evidence for the fake or typo but maybe we find a surprise. I'll keep my eyes open.

Cheers,

Michael