|
Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the German Luftwaffe and the Air Forces of its Allies. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
The Final Hours by J. Steinhoff-Identity of Personnel
In his book, "The Final Hours", Johannes Steinhoff, he tells the story of meeting Hitler when he was awarded the Swords on July 28,1944. He describes two other individuals who were there
(1) Major S. (2) Leutnant B. Major S. is identified as commander of a 20mm four-barrelled anti aircraft unit, while Lt B. is a fighter pilot. Although I have tried to identify these individuals, so far no luck. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Re: The Final Hours by J. Steinhoff-Identity of Personnel
If these men receiverd their medals at the same time as Steinhoff, it is possible that they would be named in the announcement of his award in the Völkischer Beobachter.
The newspaper announced the award of Knight's Crosses (and oak leaves etc.) almost every day). You can read the Vienna edition online at the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek here: https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/a...m=1944&zoom=33 |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Re: The Final Hours by J. Steinhoff-Identity of Personnel
Hi
Unlikely these Guys were there for medals as unlikely to be given by Hitler for less than the Eichenlaub, and no Leutnant or Major awarded Eichenlaub this day. Could be Schwerter winners, but unlikely a flak commander got the Schwerter, and if a fighter pilot it would be unlikely to be so low ranked, and there are so few anyway. Kind Regards Johannes |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Re: The Final Hours by J. Steinhoff-Identity of Personnel
Nick/ Johannes,
Thanks to both of you for some good leads. Steinhoff followed the German habit of not providing a full name but instead only the first letter of the last name. Wolfgang Spate did the same in his book "Top Secret Bird". I have been able to identify most of the names but there are several names that remain unknown. Still, it's fun to try to ID these names. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Re: The Final Hours by J. Steinhoff-Identity of Personnel
The problem with The Secret Bird is also that Wolfgang Späte is mixing stories and dates. This makes it very confusing.....
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Re: The Final Hours by J. Steinhoff-Identity of Personnel
Hi
I checked fighter pilots with Ritterkreuz awards for 28th July 1944, and found none being "B", however two JG 52 Leutnant received the Ritterkreuz on the 27th(perhaps they just hung around) Hans-Joachim Birkner and Herbert Bachnick, and both were away from the front at this time making it possible that each had their Ritterkreuz awarded as quite often happened away from their units. Kind Regards Johannes |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Bombing of individual ships at sea by Radar? | Felix C | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 8 | 29th September 2015 14:33 |
30 Incidents/Accidents Spitfire/Hurricane & Others Mostly Summer 1940 | Observer1940 | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 11 | 31st May 2015 20:04 |
Identity of Personnel at Kurt Buehlingen 's 100th Victory | kaki3152 | Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces | 0 | 1st December 2012 00:20 |
Which Allied unit made the attack? | Mikael Olrog | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 8 | 1st February 2010 00:20 |
Questions on 8th AF Swinemünde raid on 12 March 1945 | Juha | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 28 | 8th October 2009 17:32 |