Last rank of Heinz Bär in 1945

[Csaba B. Stenge]

Gentlemen,

I have just few details about him at the end of the war, was he officially promoted to Oberst, or ended the war as Oberstleutnant?

TIA,

[Nefiakoff]

Hello,

I've never heard about Pritzl's promotion to Oberst, every sources I read about him says that his highest rank was Oberstleutnant.
Some informations about his ranks on: www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.nom.br/ases/ases.htm
By the way, I still don't have any credible infos about his final score - 220 or 221 victories?

Regards

Nef

[Csaba B. Stenge]

Hi,

thanks. My written references states the same, but found in a webpage, that he was promoted to Oberst at the end of the war (I guess, its an error)

[John Beaman]

Ernst Obermaier's Die Ritterkreuztrager Der Lufftwaffe 1939-45, Band 1, Jagdflieger, the second edition, which I think is definitive, says Oberstleutnant.

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Nef

Concerning his victory tally, I have a total of 221 victories listed for him, including 22 four-engined bombers. I have read in several instances, including on this forum, that in the closing months of the war the Luftwaffe began to not officially certify victories. Thus, credible information as to his late war victories particularly with Stab III./EJG 2 and JV 44 may be hard to come by.

Horrido!

Leo

[Nefiakoff]

Thank You for the explanation, Leo. I also prefer 221 victories for him (125 in the West and 96 in the East).

One more thing about Pritzl’s last rank; it’s well known that Hartmann was promoted to Major on May 8th 1945 – so I think there would be some tracks in credible sources also if Bär would be promoted at the end of the war.
But, in the really last days, after injuries of Galland and Steinhoff and missing of Lützow, he took command over JV 44 and – I think – there was no time for celebrations, he had bigger worries then his rank...

Regards

Nef

[Csaba B. Stenge]

The promotions at the very end of the war are not evident at some RHAF NCO's as well (and after the war, these promotions were not accepted) But it is another story...