Major Gerhard Joachim - KG 53

[Rittmeister]

Good evening,
Does anybody have any futher bio on this officer? I lack, among other, his birthplace and -town. Could it be Freiburg?

He served in KG 3, KG 53 (Staka of the Croatian Staffel) as Captain, as a Major he was Kdr. Kroat. Kampfgruppe 1 until the Summer of 1944. What did he do after?

Thanks in advance,
Rittmeister

[Teresa Maria]

Dear Rittmeister,
This is what De Zeng and Stankey say about him:
JOACHIM, Gerhard. (DOB: 14.03.13). 01.04.33 entered service with the Heer (Infanterie). 01.01.35 trf to the Luftwaffe and sent to Grosse KFS Lechfeld for Beobachter (observer) training. 01.07.35 trfto Fliegergruppe Tutow as a Beobachter. 12.03.36 trf to III./KG 155 (Schwäbisch-Hall). 15.03.37 trf
to II./KG 355. 07.03.38 ordered temporary duty to Blindfluglehrgang (instrument flight course) Wesendorf (to 22.04.38). 01.05.39 trf to II./KG 53. 01.02.41 promo to Hptm. 26.03.41 Hptm., appt Staka 10./KG 53 (to 20.12.41). 22.12.41 trf to Ob.d.L./RLM pool. 21.01.42 appt Ic in Stab/Nahkampfführer beim VIII. Fliegerkorps. 11.09.42 removed from list of Lw.-Generalstabcandidates. 01.04.43 in KG 53, promo to Maj. 12.43 Maj., appt Kdr. Kroat. Kampfgruppe 1 (to 07.44)



No birthplace is indicated, unfortunately...

[Chris Goss]

I have him as the St Kap of 10 (Erg) Staffel) in 1941. 10 (Kroat) Staffel was formed at the end of 1941 with Maj Nikola Mikec as St Kap. This then becomes 15 (Kroat)./KG 53 only to become part of Kroatien Kampfgruppe 1 in Dec 43 and apparently with Gerhard Joachim as Kdr. I am sure Boris Ciglic will help with this one!

[Larry deZeng]

Joachim was German Luftwaffe and the data given above is all that we could find on him. Below are the Croatian Air Force people connect to KG 53:

BOKO, Ivan (Ivo). 14.06.41 AF Nadporučnik, assigned to 8th Squadron this date. 03.03.42 AF Nadporučnik, received the German Iron Cross 1st Class for service with the Croatian Bomber Group in Russia. 16.07.42 AF Nadporučnik, pilot in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53, shot down by AA fire in Russia this date and KIA along with his crew.
FABIJANOVIĆ, Šime. 28.09.43 AF Poručnik, pilot in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53, defected to Italy this date in a Do 17Z.
GALANTAJ (GALANTHAY), Bela. 05.05.42 AF Bojnik, volunteered for the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion. 22.05.43 AF Bojnik, in 5th Air Gp. (15.(kroat.)/KG 53), appt liaison officer to Fliegerführer Kroatien in Sarajevo. 10.12.43 promoted to Podpukovnik. 14.07.44 AF PPuk., appt chief of staff of the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion (and 13.12.44).
GRAOVAC, Vladimir. c.01.09.41 AF Satnik, appointed CO of 13th Bomber Squadron/5th Air Group then en-route to Russia after training in Germany. 10.41 AF Bojnik, assumed command of 15.(kroat.)/KG 53 (CAF 5th Bomber Gp.) and led the formation until he was killed during a mission over Moscow on 01.12.41. 08.04.42 AF Bojnik, posthumously awarded the German Iron Cross I Class.
GUMA, Vikentije. 19.07.41 volunteered for the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion. 1942 AF Satnik, training at Grosse Kampffliegerschule 3 in Germany. 22.05.43 AF Nadsatnik, appt CO of 14th Squadron/5th Air Gp. 06.09.43 promoted to AF Bojnik. 09.43 AF Bojnik, CO of the 5th Bomber Gp. (formerly 15.(kroat.)/KG 53). 01.03.44 CO of the 2d Squadron of the bomber group component of the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion (and 07.44). 13.12.44 AF Bojnik, adjutant of the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion.
JORDANIĆ, Josip. 19.07.41 volunteered for the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion. 03.03.42 AF Poručnik, awarded the German Iron Cross I Class for service with the Croatian bomber group in Russia. 09.42 with 15.(kroat.)/KG 53 in North Russia. 10.12.43 promoted to Satnik. 13.12.44 AF Satnik, pilot in the 1. Schlachtstaffel of the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion.
MAKEJEV, Igor. 21.11.41 reserve AF Nadporučnik. 15.03.43 AF Nadporučnik, reassigned to 15.(kroat.)/KG 53. 15.12.43 promoted to AF Satnik. 13.12.44 AF Satnik, observer in the 1st Ground-Attack Squadron/Croatian Luftwaffe Legion.
MARIĆ, Ljudevit. 29.09.42 AF Poručnik, in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53 in North Russia. 1942-43 AF Poručnik, training in Germany at Grosse Kampffliegerschule 3. 01.44 AF Nadporučnik, instructor at the Borovo Flying School in Croatia (and 07.44).
MATIJEVIĆ, Ivan. 03.43 AF Poručnik, signals officer in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53.
MIKEC, Nikola. 04.10.41 AF Bojnik, appointed member of a mobile court in Zagreb this date. c. 01.42 AF Bojnik, training at Grosse Kampffliegerschule 3 in Germany. c.15.03.42 AF Bojnik, appointed CO of the 5th Bomber Group in Russia. 02.12.42 AF Podpukovnik, CO of 5th Bomber Group, now back in Croatia. 22.05.43 AF Podpuk., CO of 5th Bomber Group (15.(kroat.)/KG 53), appointed CO of the Observer School/Croatian AF. 07.06.44 AF Podpuk., chief of institutional or legal affairs of the Croatian Luftwaffe Legion, appointed CO of the 1st Air Base Command at Zagreb-Borongaj (still 01.09.44).
ORLIĆ, Ivan. 18.10.41 AF Poručnik, shot down in a Potez 25 near Rogatica/East Bosnia. 05.42 AF Poručnik, observer in the 2d Air Group at Sarajevo-Rajlovac. 10.03.43 AF Nadporučnik, in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53. 15.07.44 AF Nadporučnik, in 2d Air Group Sarajevo.
ORŠIĆ, Juraj. 13.07.41 promoted to AF Satnik. 05.04.43 AF Satnik, in HQ 2d Air Base Command, transferred to 15.(kroat.)/KG 53. 13.12.44 AF Satnik, CO of the 2d Technical Co./Croatian Luftwaffe Legion.
PEROVIĆ, Marin. 03.03.42 AF Poručnik, received the Iron Cross 1st Class for service with the Croatian bomber group in Russia. 02.12.42 in the 5th (Bomber) Air Group at Zagreb-Borongaj, promoted to AF Nadporučnik. 28.09.43 AF Nadporučnik, observer in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53, deserted to Italy this date in a Do 17Z.
PINDULIĆ, Nikola. 1942 AF Poručnik, training at Grosse Kampffliegerschule 3 in Germany. 21.12.42 AF Poručnik, awarded the Great Silver Medal for Courage for service in the 5th (Bomber) Air Group. 28.01.43 AF Poručnik, pilot in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53 and reported MIA this date in a Do 17Z near Petrovac.
ŠARIĆ, Milan. 03.43 AF Poručnik, in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53. 10.12.43 promoted to AF Nadporučnik. 13.07.44 AF Nadporučnik, pilot in 3d Squadron/1st Air Group at Zagreb-Borongaj.
SCHMIDT, Vladimir. 25.08.42 AF Satnik in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53, KIA this date in Russia in a Do 17Z.
SMIDT, Vladimir. 25.08.42 AF Nadporučnik, pilot in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53, killed together with his crew when their Do 17Z crashed in Russia.
VLAJNIĆ, Stjepan. 10.03.43 AF Poručnik, in 15.(kroat.)/KG 53.

L.

[Rittmeister]

First of all a very big thank you to all these very helpful replies. I was amazed to get so many replies, being a Luftwaffe-illiterate. I don't know how exeptional or normal the war career of Major Joachim was. But being Staka of the Croatian Staffel does make him a bit of the odd one out, no?

In any case, Herrn Joachim seems to have been a solid officer.

If permitted I have some follow-up questions:

1) in Larry de Zeng's bio, one reads: "11.09.42 removed from list of Lw.-Generalstabcandidates" - what could have been the reason for this?

2) Did Joachim succeed Maj Nikola Mikec as Staka of 15.(kroat.)?

3) Anything known about his awards? I know he had the EK.1 but was that his highest award achieved?

I assume, nothing known - as Larry mentioned the sources were no doubt exhausted - about his whereabouts in 1945?

Thanks in advance,
Rittmeister

[Larry deZeng]

Rittmeister wrote in part:

1) in Larry de Zeng's bio, one reads: "11.09.42 removed from list of Lw.-Generalstabcandidates" - what could have been the reason for this?

There are number of reasons why this might have happened: (1) he may have removed his name himself for personal or family reasons; (2) not all of his officer efficiency reports (Offz.Beurteilungen) were perfect; (3) he may have had a personal conflict with someone higher in rank who was connected to the selection process; (4) a higher authority may have interceded and squashed his application believing him to be of more value in the field; etc., etc., etc.

His Offiziere Personalakte (personnel file) may be available at BA-MA Freiburg. If so, and with their permission, you might be able to order a copy of it. Some of these files are only a few pages while others run over 100 pages. The average copying cost for a typical file is Eur. 65,00.

L.

[Rittmeister]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

Rittmeister wrote in part:


There are number of reasons why this might have happened: (1) he may have removed his name himself for personal or family reasons; (2) not all of his officer efficiency reports (Offz.Beurteilungen) were perfect; (3) he may have had a personal conflict with someone higher in rank who was connected to the selection process; (4) a higher authority may have interceded and squashed his application believing him to be of more value in the field; etc., etc., etc.

His Offiziere Personalakte (personnel file) may be available at BA-MA Freiburg. If so, and with their permission, you might be able to order a copy of it. Some of these files are only a few pages while others run over 100 pages. The average copying cost for a typical file is Eur. 65,00.

L.

Thanks, Larry. I never ventured much into Luftwaffe-fields but here I am anyway, I was hoping you would still be around to shed some light onto this career. He did many different things, Herrn Major Joachim is tough to analyse at first glimpse. It will indeed become needed to get his BA-MA Akte.

My questions here were raised because I got the war time photos of Joachim plus a photo album.

One last question: on one photo, he is pictured next to Oberst Hagen (as written on the back). Who could this have been?

[Teresa Maria]

Could it be Walter Hagen? https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Hagen_(Pilot)


HAGEN, Walter Adolf Christian. (DOB: 16.03.97 in Kiel). (RE). 19.05.15 entered the Heer. 1915 volunteered for Husarenregiment 13. WWI served with the Seeflieger, rising to Hauptwachtmeister. 23.11.17 began pilot training with I. Seeflieger-Abt. 31.05.18 training with the Flieger-Fortbildungs-Schule Holtenau. 07.07.18 training at the Kampfeinsitzerschule Putzig. 02.08.18 trf to the Kommando der Flieger beim Marinekorps Flandern. 01.09.24 pilot for Junkers Luftverkehr (to 28.02.26). 1924 with Severa (to 30.06.28). 1924 joined the Stahlhelm (to 1926). 01.03.26 worked for the Severa company. 01.07.28 became a Flugkapitän for the German airline industry and as a test pilot for the test establishments at Travemünde und Rechlin. 01.04.35 entered the Luftwaffe with a rank of Hptm. (RDA 01.05.35) and attended Infanterie Lehrgang in Königsbrück. 01.06.35 trf to Erprobungsstelle Travemünde and appt flight operations director for the testing of aircraft there.
01.04.36 trf to RLM and appt Referent für Flugsicherheit. 01.01.38 appt Staka of Erprobungs-u.Lehrstaffel (See). 01.02.38 promo to Maj. 15.09.39 appt Kdr. I.(St.)/Tr.Gr. 186 (to 02.07.40).
22.06.40 appt Kommodore St.G. 1. 01.07.40 promo to Obstlt. 21.07.40 Maj., awarded Ritterkreuz, Kdr. III./St.G. 1. 17.02.42 Obstlt., awarded Eichenlaub, Kommodore St.G. 1. 01.04.42 promo to Oberst. 10.08.42 awarded Ehrenpokal. 01.01.43 appt provisional Fliegerführer 1 (Luftflotte 1 (to 15.01.43). 15.01.43 appt provisional Fliegerführer 1 (Tunisia) (to 30.03.43). 15.03.43 appt provisional Fliegerführer 3 (Gabes). 09.04.43 Oberst, Fl.Fü. 3 injured in Fi 156 crash at Grambalia in Tunisia and sent to hospital in Kiel. 24.06.43 in Frontflieger-Sammelgruppe, trf to Führerreserve Ob.d.L. 17.09.43 ordered to Lw.-Kdo. Südost for temporary duty. 09.43 appt Fliegerführer Albanien (to 13.06.44). 30.04.44 concurrently appt Fliegerführer Kroatien (to 29.08.44). 01.07.44 promo to Gen.Maj. 29.08.44 appt Fliegerführer Nordbalkan (to 31.01.45). 01.02.45 appt Kdr. 17.
Fliegerdivision (to 08.05.45). 08.05.45 became American POW. 1947 released from U.S. custody. †24.11.63 in Kiel following a long illness. Credited with sinking 210,000 GRT of shipping and damaging another 306,500 GRT.
(Source: De Zeng and Stankey)

[Larry deZeng]

R. and T.M. -

Yep, that's the correct Hagen - Walter Hagen. As Fliegerfuehrer Albanien and then Fliegerfuehrer Kroatien, he was the boss of air operations there and Joachim's kroatische Kampfgruppe was tactically subordinate to Hagen during the first half of 1944.

Joachim's Kampfgruppe was reorganized and consolidated into a single Staffel on 28 July 1944. Croatian Satnik (Hptm.) Franjo Gospodaric took over the Staffel, now named 1. kroatische Schlachtstaffel, and departed Croatia for East Prussia without aircraft.

Joachim was now redundant and was most likely either absorbed into the Stab of Fliegerfuehrer Kroatien or returned to Germany for further assignment.


L.

[drifter206]

Hi all
Thanks to Matti, loss report from

1943-09-14, 15./KG 53, Do 17 Z-3, 2673, Gruda-Dubrownik
Flugzeugführer Major Joachim, Gerhard,
Beobachter Ofw Gerbeth, Paul,
Bordfunker Ofw Fleischhut, Artur,
Bordmechaniker Ofw Frey, Emil,
Kr.Ber. Sonderführ. Schoenen, Heinz,
Beim Start ausgebrochen. Bruch 100 %.


In Ciglić Savić book Dornier Do 17 The Yugoslav story there is mention of this case and that Gerhard Joachim plus Emil Frey were seriously wounded. True reason for crash is still unknown and so is exact location. I was searching for more info but was not able to find anything including pictures.


Also in the same book is:
Major Gerhard Joachim became Staffelkapitan in "December" 1942 and he remained at this post until disbandment of this unit.
Oddly enough they kept Major Nikola Mikec as his counterpart...


and the thing about Gruda airfield in that period is also very complicated story, surrender of Italian forces, fight with German forces, recce flight of 15(kroat)/53KG in that period...


rittermeister I sent you PM


best regards
Antun