Rudi Zwesken

Rudi Zwesken
Born	13 August 1919 Marschendorf, Sudetenland
Died	22 February 1946 (aged 26) Bitterfeld, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	?–1945
Rank	Oberfeldwebel
Unit	JG 52, JG 300
Battles/wars	World War II Eastern Front Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Rudolf Zwesken (13 August 1919 – 22 February 1946) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career Zwesken was credited with 30 victories on Eastern Front and roughly 15 victories in Defense of the Reich, mostly four-engined bombers.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
• Eastern Front Medal
• West Wall Medal
• Pilot/Observer Badge
• German Cross in Gold in 1945 as Oberfeldwebel in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 52^[1]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 March 1945 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 300^[2][3]

References

Citations

1. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 534.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 460.
3. Scherzer 2007, p. 810.

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.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• 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.

External links

• World War 2 Awards