EKM xxxxx/1

[Kapper]

All,

I’m starting a new thread as the subject I’m looking at is headed on a tangent to the original Topic. In the early thread (see "8./JG2 Staffelkapitan" thread) I touch on the issue that when the Luftwaffe changed the Erkennungsmarkes system in March/April 1940 from unit lettering system to numerical code, it’s possible to determine the commanders of that time as they were usually issue the first number (i.e. xxxxx/1). This only works for units in existence when the change occurred (after that it gets a bit messy). Anyway, I wish to pursue this further I wish to build a snapshot (like an Order of Battle) for March/April 1940 based on the EKMs which I think would be a useful tool (especially for lesser known units, where there is not much published data). I’ve been scouring the internet and my books for any EKM that ends with “1” i.e. “xxxxx/1” ad have only found a fraction that I need to complete the pictue.

As a teaser, below is a list of commanders in KG54 (with when they took over command and when they were replaced) during the period March/April 1940 thus should have an EKM xxxxx/1. So far I managed to find 3 for this unit which match nicely (marked in bold). The remainder I believe should end with xxxxx/1 but nothing is certain.

Unit ________________EKM ___Name ________________________From (appointed) _______________To (replaced/fate)
60021 Stab/KG 54 ____________Obst Walter Lackner ____________1/5/39 KG 254 became KG 54 _____POW 19/5/40 (released)
60022 St.Stfl/KG 54 __60022/1 Hptm. Heinrich Graf von Stillfried _1939 ex ? _____________________7/4/40 -> ?
60023 I./KG 54 ______________Maj Otto Hohne ________________1/5/39 I./KG254 became I./KG 54 __21/6/40 appt Kdre KG 54
60024 1./KG 54 ______60024/1 Hptm Willi Henke ______________1939 ? ________________________KIA 16/9/40
60025 2./KG 54 ______________Hptm Kurt Schede ______________1/5/39 2./KG 154 became 2./KG 54 _30/7/40 appt Ia Op V/FlgrKp
60026 3./KG 54 ______________Hptm Hans Widmann ___________1/2/40 ex ______________________1/10/40 appt Staka ErgStfl./KG54
60027 II./KG 54 ______________Obstlt Rudolf Koester ___________f. 12/39 ex II./KG 28 ______________20/7/40 appt Kdr FFS C4
60028 4./KG 54 ______________Hptm Walter Michel_____________f. 12/39 ex _____________________WIA 21/4 or 21/5/40 ?
60029 5./KG 54 ______60029/1 Hptm August Strauch ___________1/2/40 ex _____________________DOW 15/8/40
60030 6./KG 54 ______________Hptm Karl Bernhard Schlaeger _____1/2/40 ex _____________________12/8/40 appt Kdr II./KG 54
67472 Stab III./KG 54 __________Maj Adolf Haring _______________f.1/2/40 ex Staka 6./KG 54 ________9/6/40 appt Ia op 1/Luftflotte 3
67473 7./KG 54 ______________Hptm Jobst-Heinrich v Heydenbrink _f. 1/2/40 ex Staka 3./KG 54 _______22/6/40 appt Kdr I./KG54
67474 8./KG 54 ______________Hptm Friedrich Stadelmayr ________f. 1/2/40 ex Staka 5./KG 54 _______POW 10/5/40 (released) 7/40 disb -> ?
67475 9./KG 54 ______________Hptm Walter Friemann ___________f.1/2/40 ex ____________________7/40 disb => ?

(sorry about the formatting - still trying to work out how to operate these threads)

As stated earlier, I would like to do this for all the Luftwaffe units (JG, KG, KGrzbV, Recon, etc) , so if anyone has a Luftwaffe EKM that finishes in 1 (“xxxxx/1”) that they got from any NVM documents, Soldbuchs etc. I request that you either PM or post on this thread the details of the EKMs. I’ll sort out those that are relevant to March/April 1940.

As I stated earlier, I think this could be a useful tool in determining the movements of certain Staka – as in the case of the Staka of 8./JG2 in the previous mentioned thread.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,

Craig..

[sidney]

Craig,

As you stated, this indeed could be a useful tool in determining the movements of certain Staffelkapitäne – as in the case of the 8./JG2, where I found your assistance in the matter most useful. You will need the support of the TOCH "heavy-weights" in your endevour though, which I hope is there for you.

Best,
Sinisa