Hans Strelow

Hans Strelow

Hans Strelow
Born 26 March 1922
Berlin, Germany
Died 22 May 1942 (1942-05-23) (aged 20)
east of Mtsensk, Soviet Union
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Rank Leutnant
Unit JG 51 "Mölders"
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Hans Strelow (26 March 1922 – 22 May 1942) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He received the award two days before his 20th birthday making him the youngest recipient of the Oak Leaves.

To avoid capture by the Red Army Strelow committed suicide after he was shot down by a Petlyakov Pe-2 twin-engine bomber in Bf 109 F-2 "Black 10" (Werknummer 8239—factory number). He had made a forced landing 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) behind Soviet lines.

Awards

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Thursday, 18 June 1942 Der mit dem Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes ausgezeichnete Leutnant Strelow, Flugzeugführer in einem Jagdgeschwader, ist von einem Flug gegen den Feind nicht zurückgekehrt. Als Sieger in 68 Luftkämpfen zählte dieser erst zwanzigjährige tapfere Offizier zu den hervorragendsten Jagdfliegern.[7] The winner of the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Strelow decorated lieutenant Strelow, pilot in a fighter wing, has not returned from a flight against the enemy. The only twenty years old brave officer, as a winner in 68 aerial battles, was one of the most outstanding fighter pilots.

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Obermaier in October 1941.[3]

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Thomas 1998, p. 362.
  2. ↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 201.
  3. ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 49.
  4. 1 2 Scherzer 2007, p. 731.
  5. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 415, 505.
  6. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 59.
  7. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 2, p. 166.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7. 
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3. 
  • Schaulen, Fritjof (2005). Eichenlaubträger 1940 – 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe III Radusch – Zwernemann [Oak Leaves Bearers 1940 – 1945 Contemporary History in Color III Radusch – Zwernemann] (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 978-3-932381-22-5. 
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9. 
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. 

External links


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 29, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.