KG51 Losses 22.6.41

[steve sheridan]

Hello Csaba,
In Dierich's book " Kampfgeschwader Eidelweiss " it also mentions that the German Air Ministry had broadcasted reports, of crewmen who had gone missing in these earler battles having been found dead. Some of these men had met a merciful end, while others according to local people, had been taken prisoner by the Russians and tortured to death.

It is plain to see why many Luftwaffe crewmen commited suicide on the spot, when crashing far behind enemy lines, rather than be taken prisoner and have to face a brutal and agonising death!

Thank you Csaba for your information regarding the attrocities found at Stanislau, i wasn't aware of this.

Best regs,
Steve.

[Reiner]

Hi Steve!

I have the diary, many fotos and some awards from Lt. Werner Poppenburg, 7./K.G.51. He flew the first and the second of his 216 missions as a Kampfflieger on 22.6.1944. The first target was airfield Stryj and the second Tarnopol.
The diary describes these two missions very precisely.
Not only in Stanislau, me unknown until today, also in Tarnopol they found several airmen tortured and murdered by NKWD. One, Ofw.Harenburg, was identified by a comrade.
The Bordfunker of the Poppenburg-crew survived the war and told me, that after these founds in Tarnopol many crews not wanted to come lively into Russian captivity.
Also I have copies of all “Namentliche Verlustmeldungen der III./K.G.51“ on the 22.6.1941.

Rene

[Jim P.]

Ju 88A-5, 6230, Wenezowky, Hptm. Günter von, , 5., KG 51, , 9K+IN, , , 11-Jul-41, MIA, cause unknown. B & Bs MIA, Bf KIA., , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , Ort unbekannt, 100%, F, B Fw. Karl Aull, Bf Fw. Heinz Mühlenberg & Bs Ogefr. Karl Kühner,

22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 8259, Ungericht, Fw. Alfred, , KG 51, 9., gelbe L, 9K+LT, , , 22-Jun-41, , MIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , (Stryj), 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 6296, Steinmetz, Oblt. Herbert, , KG 51, 8., , 9K+ES, , , 22-Jun-41, , KIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , , 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 5126, Evers, Uffz. Otto, , KG 51, 9., gelbe C, 9K+CT, , , 22-Jun-41, , Reported lost, cause unknown. Crew returned WIA., DK. Built at Heinkel Flzg.Werke Oranienburg in Jul-40., , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, Medcalf, Ort unbekannt, 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 6234, Harmann, Ltn. Christoph, , KG 51, 8., , 9K+AS, , , 22-Jun-41, , KIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , , 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 5245, Böhm, Oblt. Gerhard, , KG 51, 9., gelbe G, 9K+GT, , , 22-Jun-41, , KIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , Tarnopol, 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 6318, Alder, Ltn. Emanuel, , KG 51, 9., gelbe D, 9K+DT, , , 22-Jun-41, , MIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , Tarnopol, 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 2364, Spannheimer, Ofw. Rudolf, , KG 51, 5., , 9K+HN, , , 22-Jun-41, , KIA, cause unknown. 2 others KIA, 1 MIA., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , , 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 5178, Sommer, Fw. Heinz, , KG 51, 9., gelbe A, 9K+AT, KC+GO, , 22-Jun-41, , MIA with crew, cause unknown., Built at Heinkel Flzg.Werke Oranienburg in Sep-40., , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, Medcalf, (Büchow), 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 6143, Palmer, Fw. Wilhelm, , KG 51, II., , , CF+VM, , 22-Jun-41, , WIA due to enemy fire., Built ATG Flzg.Werke at Leipzig in Aug-40., , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, Medcalf, Krosno, b, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 6229, Deisinger, Ofw. Raimund, , KG 51, 7., weiße F, 9K+FR, , , 22-Jun-41, , KIA, cause unknown. Rest of crew MIA., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , Tarnopol, 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 5136, Amelung, Uffz. Heinrich, , KG 51, 2., , 9K+FK, , , 22-Jun-41, , MIA with crew, cause unknown., DK? Built at Heinkel Flzg.Werke Oranienburg in Aug-40., , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, Medcalf, Ort unbekannt, 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 3171, STEMMLER, Oblt. Wilhelm, , KG 51, 4., weiße A, 9K+AM, ND+DS, , 22-Jun-41, , Reported lost, cause unknown. F and 1 other returned, 2 KIA., RK. Built Henschel Flzg.Werke Schönefeld in Aug-40., , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , Ort unbekannt, 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 7076, Klopsch, Fw. Günter, , KG 51, 8., , 9K+DS, VK+VD, , 22-Jun-41, , MIA, cause unknown. 2 others MIA, 1 KIA., Built Dornier Flzg.Werke at Freidrichshafen in Jun-40., , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, Medcalf, Ort unbekannt, 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 2373, Müller, Ltn. Gerhard, , KG 51, 5., , 9K+GN, , , 22-Jun-41, , MIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , , 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 4328, Schmidt, Ltn. Heinz, , KG 51, 5., , 9K+CN, , , 22-Jun-41, , MIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , , 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 8179, Stadelmeyer, Hptm. Fritz, , KG 51, Stab II., grüne I, 9K+IC, PC+QM, , 22-Jun-41, , KIA, cause unknown. 2 others KIA, 1 WIA., Built Siebel Flzg.Werke at Halle-Leipzig in Dec-40., , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, Medcalf, Ort unbekannt, 100%, F
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 8196, Hogger, Ltn. Josef, , KG 51, II., , , , , 22-Jun-41, , WIA due to Flak. 1 other WIA., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , Pantalowice, b, F

[steve sheridan]

Good evening Jim,
Thanks ever so much for posting these losses for the 22.6.41.
This appears to show with doubt that Alder was indeed with the 9/KG51, and flying 9K+DT as opposed to 9K+FR W.Nr 6229 as given in Andreas's report earlier. Hopefully another conumdrum closed!

Given the enormous losses suffered on this day, and further a/c that returned damaged, and crashlanded, its a wonder the Geschwader was able to keep its operational status! One wonders how soon the losses were made up.

Thanks ever so much for providing the losses Jim, im very grateful.

Best regs,
Steve.

[Csaba B. Stenge]

Originally Posted by Reiner

Hi Steve!

I have the diary, many fotos and some awards from Lt. Werner Poppenburg, 7./K.G.51. He flew the first and the second of his 216 missions as a Kampfflieger on 22.6.1944. The first target was airfield Stryj and the second Tarnopol.
The diary describes these two missions very precisely.
Not only in Stanislau, me unknown until today, also in Tarnopol they found several airmen tortured and murdered by NKWD. One, Ofw.Harenburg, was identified by a comrade.
The Bordfunker of the Poppenburg-crew survived the war and told me, that after these founds in Tarnopol many crews not wanted to come lively into Russian captivity.
Also I have copies of all “Namentliche Verlustmeldungen der III./K.G.51“ on the 22.6.1941.

Rene

Rene,

the Hungarians found few tortured and killed German flyers at Kameniez-Podolsk as well in a cellar. At Striy, I don't remember any Luftwaffe victim (altough there is also possible few), but they do found hundreds of butchered civilians: Polish and Ukrainian ones, who were 'unreliable' so they were imprisoned, but the NKVD had no capacity to evacuate the prison, so shot them (but some civilians were burned to death as well)
Many Hungarian soldiers enraged in this inhuman brutality and I guess, if they captured any NKVD members in this area, they were not really warmly welcomed...

By the way, the Hungarian troops could release four German flyers as well from a prison in this area.

[Reiner]

22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 5245, Böhm, Oblt. Gerhard, , KG 51, 9., gelbe G, 9K+GT, , , 22-Jun-41, , KIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , Tarnopol, 100%, F--- 1km NW Worona , 18km SO Stanislau, all four were buried at the Worona cemetery
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 8259, Ungericht, Fw. Alfred, , KG 51, 9., gelbe L, 9K+LT, , , 22-Jun-41, , MIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , (Stryj), 100%, F-- Ju88 crashed on the road Stryj-Bolechow,1,5km N. Lisewice.Fw.Alfred Ungericht and his Bombenschütze Uffz.Kurt Küster were injured by crashlanding. Both were captured by Russians and brought into the hospital of Stryj . After states from local inhabitants both was murdered by the NKWD. The other two escaped and came back to his unit on 12.7.1941.
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 5178, Sommer, Fw. Heinz, , KG 51, 9., gelbe A, 9K+AT, KC+GO, , 22-Jun-41, , MIA with crew, cause unknown., Built at Heinkel Flzg.Werke Oranienburg in Sep-40., , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, Medcalf, (Büchow), 100%, F--
Crew back to his unit on 10.7.1941
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 6234, Harmann, Ltn. Christoph, , KG 51, 8., , 9K+AS, , , 22-Jun-41, , KIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , , 100%, F--
Lt.Cristoph Hermann. He and his crew were found buried at the crashplace south of Drohobycz near Truskowiec, left the railroad Truskowiec-Drohobycz by the 2./Pol.Batl.311
22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 6296, Steinmetz, Oblt. Herbert, , KG 51, 8., , 9K+ES, , , 22-Jun-41, , KIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , , 100%, F--
report from Fw.Klopsch,8./K.G.51- plane from Steinmetz was hit bei the enemy, right engine in flames.The plane became ever slower, flew under my Ju88 and rammed me. Steinmetz flew further approximately 10 minutes. Engine gave more and more clouds of smoke .Than the airplan crashed and exploded . North of Lemberg

Rene

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi

A simple case of entering loss entries to late in the evening on my behalf....

Has been corrected now. Will add all links for the aircraft lost on this date to this post later tonight

I./K.G.51

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120579

II./K.G.51

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120600
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120598
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120597
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120595
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120590
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120586
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120582

III./K.G.51

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120259
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120561
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120563
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120560
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120559
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120562
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120565
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120564
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=120566

Regards,
Andreas B

[steve sheridan]

Hi Andreas, no problem at all.
Im sure many of us have spent time imputting data onto our PC's until the early hours, and have made a typo through sheer exhaustion!
Please do so at your leisure.

Steve.

[Franek Grabowski]

Originally Posted by Csaba Becze

At Striy, I don't remember any Luftwaffe victim (altough there is also possible few), but they do found hundreds of butchered civilians: Polish and Ukrainian ones, who were 'unreliable' so they were imprisoned, but the NKVD had no capacity to evacuate the prison, so shot them (but some civilians were burned to death as well)

Do you have by any chance any related documents, photos or accounts? I have heard that more-less at the time, Germans entered Soviet embassy in Paris, and some hardened Gestapo interrogators went sick, seeing a torture room. I have not seen any report though.

[Reiner]

22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 8259, Ungericht, Fw. Alfred, , KG 51, 9., gelbe L, 9K+LT, , , 22-Jun-41, , MIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , (Stryj), 100%, F--
Other inhabitant of Stryj told that both airmen were picked up from the hospital in an ambulance-car of the NKWD and were carried off after the east.
In the building of the NKWD, Ukrainian militia found after departure of the Russians two German Luftwaffe-uniforms .
A report from the 4.7.1941 of the 101.le.Inf.Div. declares the finding of the grave and the
Erkennungsmarke of a German Luftwaffe- Uffz . He was found of the cemetery in Kozara, 4km.wsw Bukaczowac. The Erkennungsmarke 65113/130 identified the dead person as Uffz.Kurt Küster.
Also inhabitants of Kozara told that the Russians 2 or 3 officers, from it an Luftwaffe-captain carried along.

Rene