Oblt Imanuel Griesinger 7/KG 76

[Chris Goss]

The above St Kap & 2 of his crew were reported missing on 2 Jul 41; just one of his crew was later confirmed as missing believed killed. However, in March 1942, his Ju 88 A-5 was reassessed from 100% to 30% but the crew still remained as missing. However, on 22 Jun 1942, an Oblt Imanuel Griesinger was reported to have died in a 'zuchthaus' (penitentiary?) at Jelabuga (Yelabuga?) which I would say was well behind Soviet lines. Does this mean he died in captivity and are we talking about the same man (the christian name is unusual!)? KG 76 Association did say he died in Russia but this contradicts the Officers Career Summary on www.ww2.dk

[Larry deZeng]

GRIESINGER, Imanuel (Emil). 01.08.39 Oblt., in KG 76. 01.03.42 promo to Hptm. 17.04.43 in II./Fsch.Jg.Rgt. 6, appt Kdr. Pionierschule d.Lw. 31.03.44 trf from Luftwaffe to Heer.

I can vouch for the accuracy of the 01.03.42 and 17.04.43 entries as they came directly from the Luftwaffenpersonalamt officer promotion and assignment orders microfilms. I am pretty sure the 01.08.39 entry did, too. The last one, 31.03.44, I cannot definitively vouch for, but it is the sort of entry that also came from the surviving documents.

L.

[Matti Salonen]

Maybe this Ju 88 A-5 had made a bellylanding on the enemy's side and later found by the advancing German troops. There are a few of such cases in summer 1941 in the East.

Concerning Griesinger, I have his first name Eberhard both in NVM and also in the EKM list. As far as I know, only Ofw Sedlack is proven to be dead (Am 2 September 1952 Nachricht von seinem Tod), the others are still MIA.

Matti

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Larry/Matti. All I can say is that an Oblt Griesinger flew in the Stabskette of III/KG 76 on 15 Aug 40, an Emanuel Griesinger St Kap of 7/KG 76 was reported missing 2 Jul 41 (as per QMG's Returns) and the VDK reports an Oblt Imanuel Griesinger dying at Yelabuga (a notorious POW camp) on 22 Jun 42 and that the KG 76 Association said that Oblt Griesinger from III/KG 76 was killed in Russia

Matti: Do you have a DoB for your man? It has just been pointed out to me that the Officers' Careers has Emanuel Grisinger as being lost on 2 Jul 41. Is our man Imanuel Griesinger, Eberhard Griesinger or Emanuel Grisinger?????

[Matti Salonen]

22 April 1915.

Matti

[Chris Goss]

Matti

That solves it-DoB matches. The pilot shot down with 7/KG 76 on 2 Jul 41 was Oblt Imanuel Adolf Eberhard Griesinger who was captured only to die as a POW at Yelabuga 22 Jun 42. Apart from Sedlak, do you have the DoB for the other 2?

Chris

[Larry deZeng]

Chris,

What are we looking at here? Two officers with the same name? Ours seems to have been called "Emil". It was not terribly unusual for two brothers or cousins to be in the same unit at their request. This is a very interesting little puzzle. What are your thoughts so we can make changes to the Career Summaries if warranted?

L.

[Matti Salonen]

März 10 Jun 1914
Weiss 6 Oct 1914

Matti

[Chris Goss]

Larry
A puzzle indeed. The entry Grisinger is incorrect & should read Griesinger. This leaves 2 entries for Imanuel Griesinger. I find it hard to believe that there would be 2 with the same name especially in KG 76. The 1945 rangliste lists Imanuel Griesinger but if the 7/KG 76 man was still missing, he would still be listed. It appears that many who died at Yelabuga were not confirmed until the 90s.
All I can say for certain is the one I sm interested in flew in Stab III/KG 76 in Aug 40, was shot down & captured 2Jul 41 as St Kap 7/KG 76 & died in captivity 22Jun 42
Chris

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Matti. No record for Weiss or März so either POW or missing. There is also confusion on the Wk Nr-4223 or 4232. However, I have 4223 suffering 20% damage at Illesheim with III/KG 76 (not III/KG 77 as some sources say) whilst 4232 suffered damage with 2/KG 77 on 31 Aug 41