Erich Hartmann

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For the photographer, see Erich Hartmann (photographer). For the ethnic group, see Bubi people.

"The Black Devil" redirects here. For the music project, see Black Devil Disco Club. For the World War II unit, see Devil's Brigade.






























Erich Hartmann

A black and white photograph of a smiling young man wearing a military uniform, peaked cap, various military decorations including a neck order in shape of an Iron Cross.
then-Hauptmann Erich Hartmann

Nickname(s)
Bubi ("The Kid")
The Black Devil
The Blond Knight of Germany
Born
(1922-04-19)19 April 1922
Weissach, Württemberg, Weimar Republic
Died
20 September 1993(1993-09-20) (aged 71)
Weil im Schönbuch, Germany
Buried
New cemetery in Weil im Schönbuch
Allegiance
 Nazi Germany (1940–45)
 West Germany (1956–70)
Service/branch
Balkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht)
Bundeswehrkreuz (Iron Cross) German Air Force (Bundeswehr)
Years of service
1940–45
1956–70
Rank
Major (Wehrmacht)
Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Unit
JG 52, JG 53 and JG 71
Commands held
I./JG 52 and JG 71
Battles/wars

World War II


  • Eastern Front

  • Defence of the Reich

Awards
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Spouse(s)
Ursula Paetsch
Other work
Civilian flight instructor

Erich Alfred Hartmann (19 April 1922 – 20 September 1993), nicknamed "Bubi" ("The Kid") by his German comrades and the "Black Devil" by his Soviet adversaries, was a German fighter pilot during World War II and the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare. He flew 1,404 combat missions and participated in aerial combat on 825 separate occasions. He was credited with shooting down 352 Allied aircraft—345 Soviet and 7 American—while serving with the Luftwaffe. During the course of his career, Hartmann was forced to crash-land his fighter 14 times due to damage received from parts of enemy aircraft he had just shot down or mechanical failure. He was never shot down or forced to land due to enemy fire.[1]


Hartmann, a pre-war glider pilot, joined the Luftwaffe in 1940 and completed his fighter pilot training in 1942. He was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) on the Eastern Front and was fortunate to be placed under the supervision of some of the Luftwaffe's most experienced fighter pilots. Under their guidance, Hartmann steadily developed his tactics, which earned him the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds on 25 August 1944 for claiming 301 aerial victories. At the time of its presentation to Hartmann, this was Germany's highest military decoration.[Note 1]


Hartmann scored his 352nd and last aerial victory at midday on 8 May 1945, hours before the war ended. Along with the remainder of JG 52, he surrendered to United States Army forces and was turned over to the Red Army. In an attempt to pressure him into service with the Soviet-friendly East German Volksarmee, he was tried on fabricated charges of war crimes and convicted; his conviction was posthumously voided by a Russian court as a malicious prosecution. He was sentenced to 25 years of hard labour and spent 10 years in various Soviet prison camps and gulags until he was released in 1955.


In 1956, Hartmann joined the newly established West German German Air Force in the Bundeswehr, and became the first Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 71 "Richthofen". He resigned early from the Bundeswehr in 1970, largely due to his opposition to the F-104 Starfighter deployment in the Luftwaffe and the resulting clashes with his superiors over this issue. In his later years, after his military career had ended, he became a civilian flight instructor.[2] He died on 20 September 1993 aged 71.




Contents





  • 1 Early life and career


  • 2 World War II

    • 2.1 Early aerial combat


    • 2.2 Fighting techniques


    • 2.3 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross


    • 2.4 Diamonds to the Knight's Cross


    • 2.5 Last combat missions



  • 3 Prisoner of war

    • 3.1 War crimes charges



  • 4 Post-war years


  • 5 In popular culture


  • 6 Summary of career

    • 6.1 Combat record


    • 6.2 Aerial victory claims


    • 6.3 Decorations


    • 6.4 Dates of rank



  • 7 Notes


  • 8 References

    • 8.1 Citations


    • 8.2 Bibliography


    • 8.3 Further reading



  • 9 External links




Early life and career


Erich Hartmann was born on 19 April 1922 in Weissach, Württemberg, to Doctor Alfred Erich Hartmann and his wife, Elisabeth Wilhelmine Machtholf. The economic depression that followed World War I in Germany prompted Doctor Hartmann to find work in Changsha, China, and Erich spent his early childhood there. The family was forced to return to Germany in 1928, when the Chinese Civil War broke out. During World War II, Hartmann's younger brother, Alfred, also joined the Luftwaffe, serving as a gunner on a Junkers Ju 87 in North Africa. He was captured by the British and spent four years as a prisoner of war.[3]


Hartmann was educated at the Volksschule in Weil im Schönbuch (April 1928–April 1932), the Gymnasium in Böblingen (April 1932–April 1936), the National Political Institutes of Education in Rottweil (April 1936–April 1937), and the Gymnasium in Korntal (April 1937–April 1940), from which he received his Abitur. It was at Korntal that he met his wife-to-be, Ursula "Usch" Paetsch.[4]


Hartmann's flying career began when he joined the glider training program of the fledgling Luftwaffe and was taught to fly by his mother, one of the first female glider pilots in Germany. The Hartmanns also owned a light aircraft but were forced to sell it in 1932 as the German economy collapsed. The rise to power of the Nazi Party in 1933 resulted in government support for gliding, and, in 1936, Elisabeth Hartmann established the glider club in Weil im Schönbuch for locals and served as instructress.[5] The 14-year-old Hartmann became an instructor. In 1939, he gained his pilot's license, allowing him to fly powered aircraft.[6]


Hartmann began his military training on 1 October 1940 at the 10th Flying Regiment in Neukuhren. On 1 March 1941, he progressed to the Luftkriegsschule 2 (Air War School 2) in Berlin-Gatow, making his first flight with an instructor four days later, followed in just under three weeks by his first solo flight. He completed his basic flying training in October 1941 and began advanced flight training at pre-fighter school 2 in Lachen-Speyerdorf on 1 November 1941. There, Hartmann learned combat techniques and gunnery skills. His advanced pilot training was completed on 31 January 1942, and, between 1 March 1942 and 20 August 1942, he learned to fly the Messerschmitt Bf 109 at the Jagdfliegerschule 2 (Fighter Pilot School 2) in Zerbst/Anhalt.[4][7]


Hartmann's time as a trainee pilot did not always go smoothly. On 31 March 1942, during a gunnery training flight, he ignored regulations and performed some aerobatics in his Bf 109 over the Zerbst airfield. His punishment was a week of confinement to quarters with the loss of ⅔ of his pay in fines. Hartmann later recalled that the incident saved his life:


That week confined to my room actually saved my life. I had been scheduled to go up on a gunnery flight the afternoon that I was confined. My roommate took the flight instead of me, in an aircraft I had been scheduled to fly. Shortly after he took off, while on his way to the gunnery range, he developed engine trouble and had to crash-land near the Hindenburg-Kattowitz railroad. He was killed in the crash.[7][8]


Afterward, Hartmann practised diligently and adopted a new credo which he passed on to other young pilots: "Fly with your head, not with your muscles." During a gunnery practice session in June 1942, he hit a target drogue with 24 of the allotted 50 rounds of machine-gun fire, a feat that was considered difficult to achieve. His training had qualified him to fly 17 different types of powered aircraft, and, following his graduation, he was posted on 21 August 1942 to Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group, East) in Gleiwitz, Upper Silesia, where he remained until 10 October 1942.[7]



World War II


In October 1942, Hartmann was assigned to fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52), based at Maykop on the Eastern Front in the Soviet Union. The wing was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109G, but Hartmann and several other pilots were initially given the task of ferrying Junkers Ju 87 Stukas down to Mariupol. His first flight ended with brake failure, causing the Stuka to crash into and destroy the controller's hut.[9] Hartmann was assigned to III./JG 52,[Note 2] led by Gruppenkommandeur Major Hubertus von Bonin, and placed under the experienced Oberfeldwebel Edmund "Paule" Roßmann, although he also flew with such experienced pilots as Alfred Grislawski, Hans Dammers and Josef Zwernemann. After a few days of intensive mock combats and practice flights, Grislawski conceded that, although Hartmann had much to learn regarding combat tactics, he was quite a talented pilot. Paule Roßmann taught Hartmann the fundamentals of the surprise attack, a tactic that led to his "See – Decide – Attack – Break" style of aerial combat.[10]



Early aerial combat


Hartmann flew his first combat mission on 14 October 1942 as Roßmann's wingman. When they encountered 10 enemy aircraft below, Hartmann, obsessed by the idea of scoring his first success, opened full throttle and became separated from Roßmann. He engaged an enemy fighter, but failed to score any hits and nearly collided with it instead. He then ran for cover in low cloud, and his mission subsequently ended with a crash landing after his aircraft ran out of fuel. Hartmann had violated almost every rule of air-to-air combat, and von Bonin sentenced him to three days of working with the ground crew. Twenty-two days later, Hartmann claimed his first kill, an Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik of the 7th Guards Ground Attack Aviation Regiment, but by the end of 1942, he had added only one more victory to his tally. As with many high-scoring aces, it took him some time to establish himself as a consistently successful fighter pilot.[11]
Hartmann's success came gradually. He claimed four victories in April 1943 and six in May.[12]


Hartmann's youthful appearance earned him the nickname "Bubi" (the hypocoristic form of "young boy" in the German language), and Walter Krupinski, to whom Hartmann was assigned as wingman, would constantly urge him: "Hey, Bubi, get in closer".[13] He also received the nickname "the Blond Knight of Germany".[14] On 25 May 1943, he shot down a Lavochkin La-5, before colliding with another Soviet fighter. He retained control of his damaged aircraft.[15] On 5 July Hartmann claimed four victories.[12] Two days later, during the large dogfights that took place during the Battle of Kursk, he shot down seven enemy aircraft.[12] On 8 and 9 July 1943 he claimed four on each day. The vast majority of the aircraft claimed were Lavochkin La-5s.[12] The German offensive was terminated on 16 July, by which time Hartmann had accounted for 38 Soviet aircraft.[12]


At the start of August 1943, his tally stood at 42, but Hartmann's tally had more than doubled by the end.[16] The Red Army began a counteroffensive in the region to contain the German operation and destroy its forces (Operation Kutuzov and Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev). JG 52 was engaged in defensive operations throughout the month. On 1 August 1943 Hartmann became an ace-in-a day by claiming five victories. Another four followed on 3 August and five on the 4 August. Another five were claimed destroyed on the 5 August, a single on the 6 August, and a further five on 7 August. On 8 and 9 August he claimed another four Soviet fighters. Hartmann's last claim of the month came on the 20th, when he accounted for an IL-2 for his 90th victory.[12] The next month, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 52.[16]


In his first year of operational service, Hartmann felt a distinct lack of respect towards Soviet pilots. Most Soviet fighters did not even have proper gunsights, and their pilots were forced to draw one on the windscreen by hand: "In the early days, incredible as it may seem, there was no reason for you to feel fear if the Russian fighter was behind you. With their hand-painted gunsights they couldn't pull the lead properly (deflection shooting) or hit you."[17] Hartmann also considered the Bell P-39 Airacobra, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and the Hawker Hurricane to be inferior to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and Bf 109, although they did provide the Soviets with valuable gunsight technology.[17]


Hartmann said the German pilots themselves still learned from their enemy. Oil freezing in the DB 605 engines of the Bf 109G-6s made them difficult to start in the extreme cold of the Russian winter. A captured Soviet airman showed them how pouring fuel into the aircraft's oil sump would thaw the oil and enable the engine to start on the first try. Another solution, also learned from the Soviets, was to ignite fuel under the engine.[18]



Fighting techniques




Hartmann flew a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter.


Unlike Hans-Joachim Marseille, who was a marksman and expert in the art of deflection shooting, Hartmann was a master of stalk-and-ambush tactics. By his own account, he was convinced that 80% of the pilots he downed did not even realise what hit them. He relied on the powerful engine of his Bf 109 for high-power sweeps and quick approaches, occasionally diving through entire enemy formations to take advantage of the confusion that followed in order to disengage.


When the decorated British test pilot Captain Eric Brown asked Hartmann how he had amassed 352 air victories, he revealed:


Well you can't believe it, but the Sturmovik, which was their main ground-attack aircraft, flew like B-17s in formation and didn't attempt to make any evasive manoeuvres. And all they had was one peashooter in the back of each plane. Also, some of the pilots were women. Their peashooter was no threat unless they had a very lucky hit on you. I didn't open fire till the aircraft filled my whole windscreen. If I did this, I would get one every time.[19]


His preferred method of attack was to hold fire until extremely close (20 m (66 ft) or less), then unleash a short burst at point-blank range—a technique he learned while flying as wingman of his former commander, Walter Krupinski, who favoured this approach. This technique, as opposed to long-range shooting, allowed him to:


  • Reveal his position only at the last possible moment

  • Compensate for the low muzzle velocity of the slower-firing 30 mm MK 108 equipping some of the later Bf 109 models (though most of his victories were claimed with Messerschmitts equipped with the high-velocity 20mm MG 151 cannon)

  • Place his shots accurately with minimum waste of ammunition

  • Prevent the adversary from taking evasive action[10][20]

Firing at close range ran the risk of having to fly through the debris of a damaged or exploding aircraft, thereby damaging his own fighter in the process (much of the damage Hartmann sustained in combat was caused by collision with flying debris). If it was dangerous to dog-fight further he would break off and content himself with one victory. His careful approach was described by himself by the motto: "See–Decide–Attack–Reverse"; observe the enemy, decide how to proceed with the attack, make the attack, and then disengage to re-evaluate the situation.[10]



Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross


By late August 1943, Hartmann had 90 aerial victories. On 19 August, in combat with Il-2s, his aircraft was damaged by debris, and he was forced to land behind Soviet lines. Hartmann's Geschwaderkommodore, Dietrich Hrabak, had given orders to Hartmann's unit to support the dive bombers of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2, led by the famous Stuka pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel in a counter-attack. The situation had changed, and the flight of eight German fighters engaged a mass of Soviet Yakovlev Yak-9 and Lavochkin La-5 fighter aircraft that were protecting Il-2 Sturmoviks on a ground-attack mission. Hartmann shot down two enemy aircraft before his fighter was hit by debris and he was forced to make an emergency landing. He then, in accordance with Luftwaffe regulations, attempted to recover the precision board clock. As he was doing so, Soviet ground troops approached. Realising that capture was unavoidable, he faked internal injuries. Hartmann's acting so convinced the Soviets that they put him on a stretcher and placed him on a truck. When Hartmann's Crew Chief, Heinz "Bimmel" Mertens, heard what had happened, he took a rifle and went to search for Hartmann.[21]


Hartmann patiently waited for the right moment to escape, then, using the distraction of the Stukas attack, he attacked the single guard. Hartmann jumped out of the back of the truck and ran into a large field of giant sunflowers. Evading the pursuing soldiers, Hartmann hid and waited for nightfall. In the dark, Hartmann followed a Soviet patrol heading west to the front. As he approached the German position, he was challenged by a sentry who fired a shot which passed through his trousers.[22]





Karaya-Staffel emblem


On 20 September 1943, Hartmann was credited with his 100th aerial victory—he claimed four this day to end it on 101.[23] He was the 54th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[24] In October 1943, Hartmann claimed another 33 aerial victories.[25] On 2 and 12 October he accounted for four victories and achieved a treble on 14, 15 and 20 October and double claims on 24, 25 and 29 October.[26] On 29 October, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), at which point his tally stood at 148. By the end of the year, this had risen to 159.[25]


In the first two months of 1944, Hartmann claimed over 50 Soviet aircraft.[27] This included 25 in January.[26] On 26 February 1944 he claimed 10 fighters shot down, all of them Soviet-flown P-39s.[23] Hartmann continued scoring at an even greater pace. His spectacular rate of success raised a few eyebrows even in the Luftwaffe High Command; his claims were double and triple-checked, and his performance closely monitored by an observer flying in his formation. On 2 March, he reached 202.[27]


By this time, the Soviet pilots were familiar with Hartmann's radio call sign of Karaya 1, and the Soviet Command had put a price of 10,000 rubles on the German pilot's head.[18] Hartmann, for a time, used a black tulip design around the engine cowling near the spinner of his aircraft, so Soviet personnel consequently nicknamed him Cherniy Chort ("Black Devil"). Hartmann's opponents were often reluctant to stay and fight if they noticed his personal design. As a result, this aircraft was often allocated to novices, who could fly it in relative safety. On 21 March, it was Hartmann who scored JG 52's 3,500th victory of the war.[28] Adversely, the reluctance of the Soviet airmen to fight caused Hartmann's kill rate to drop. Hartmann then had the tulip design removed, and his aircraft painted just like the rest of his unit. Consequently, in the following two months, Hartmann amassed over 50 victories.[29]


In March 1944, Hartmann, Gerhard Barkhorn, Walter Krupinski and Johannes Wiese were summoned to Adolf Hitler's Berghof in Berchtesgaden. Barkhorn was to be honoured with the Swords, while Hartmann, Krupinski and Wiese were to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). On the train, all four of them got drunk on cognac and champagne. Supporting each other and unable to stand, they arrived at Berchtesgaden. Major Nicolaus von Below, Hitler's Luftwaffe adjutant, was shocked. After some sobering up, Hartmann was still intoxicated. Hartmann took a German officer's hat from a stand and put it on, but it was too large. Von Below became upset, told Hartmann it was Hitler's and ordered him to put it back.[30] During his meeting with Hitler, Hartmann was critical of German pilot training and the failure of the training program to prepare them for combat. He also mentioned the high loss rates and improved Soviet aviation. What impact these remarks had on Hitler is unknown.[23]



Diamonds to the Knight's Cross


In April and May 1944, 9./JG 52 resisted the Soviet Crimean Offensive. In April Hartmann claimed five victories. In May, Hartmann filed claims number 208 to 231 which included six on the 6 May. On 8 May 1944, JG 52 fled the region as the German defence collapsed. Hartmann flew out with two mechanics crammed into the fuselage of his Bf 109. JG 52 subsequently took part in the defeat of the Soviet First Jassy–Kishinev Offensive on the Romanian-Soviet border.[31]


On 21 May 1944, Hartmann engaged United States Army Air Forces aircraft in Reichsverteidigung for the first time in defence of the Ploiești oilfields. While flying "top cover" for another Schwarm, Hartmann attacked a flight of four P-51s over Bucharest, Romania, downing two, while the other two P-51s fell victim to his fellow pilots.[32][33] On 1 June 1944, Hartmann shot down four P-51s in a single mission over the Ploieşti oil fields.[34]


Later that month, during his fifth combat with American pilots, he shot down two more P-51s before being forced to bail out, when eight other P-51s ran his Messerschmitt out of fuel. During the intense manoeuvring, Hartmann managed to line up one of the P-51s at close range, but heard only a "clank" when he fired, as he had run out of ammunition.[32][35] While he was hanging in his parachute, the P-51s circled above him, and Hartmann wondered if they would take this opportunity to kill him. One of the P-51Bs flown by Lt. Robert J. Goebel of the 308th Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, broke away and headed straight for him.[36] Goebel was making a camera pass to record the bailout and banked away from him only at the last moment, waving at Hartmann as he went by.[37]


On 17 August, Hartmann became the top scoring fighter ace, surpassing fellow JG 52 pilot Gerhard Barkhorn, with his 274th victory.[Note 3]On 23 August, Hartmann claimed eight victories in three combat missions, an ace-in-a-day achievement, bringing his score to 290 victories.[38] He passed the 300-mark on 24 August 1944, a day on which he shot down 11 aircraft in two combat missions, representing his greatest ever victories-per-day ratio (a double-ace-in-a-day) and bringing the number of aerial victories to an unprecedented 301. He was immediately grounded by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, who was fearful of the effect on German morale should such a hero be lost. Hartmann later successfully lobbied to be reinstated as a combat pilot.[39]


Hartmann became one of only 27 German soldiers in World War II to receive the Diamonds to his Knight's Cross.[40] Hartmann was summoned to the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze, Adolf Hitler's military headquarters near Rastenburg, to receive the coveted award from Hitler personally. On arrival, he was asked to surrender his side arm — a security measure caused by the aftermath of the failed assassination attempt on 20 July 1944. Hartmann refused and threatened to decline the Diamonds if he were not trusted to carry his pistol. After consulting Oberst Nicolaus von Below, Hitler's Luftwaffe adjutant, Hartmann was allowed to keep his side arm and accepted the Diamonds.[41] During Hartmann's meeting with Hitler, Hartmann discussed at length the shortcomings of fighter pilot training. Allegedly, Hitler revealed to Hartmann that he believed that, "militarily, the war is lost," and that he wished the Luftwaffe had "more like him and Rudel."[42]




Bf-109 in the Hartmann color scheme on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum


The Diamonds to the Knight's Cross also earned Hartmann a 10-day leave. On his way to his vacation, he was ordered by General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland to attend a meeting in Berlin-Gatow. Galland wanted to transfer Hartmann to the Messerschmitt Me 262 test program. Hartmann requested that the transfer be cancelled on the grounds of his deep attachment to JG 52. Galland, valuing comradeship and seeing the merit in Hartmann's request, cancelled the transfer to the jet squadron and rescinded the order that had taken him off combat operations. Galland then ordered Hartmann to the Jagdfliegerheim (vacation resort for fighter pilots) in Bad Wiessee,[43] where, on 10 September, Hartmann married his long-time teenage love, Ursula "Usch" Paetsch. Witnesses to the wedding included his friends Gerhard Barkhorn and Wilhelm Batz.[44]



Last combat missions


From 1–14 February 1945, Hartmann briefly led I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 as acting Gruppenkommandeur until he was replaced by Helmut Lipfert. In March 1945, Hartmann, his score now standing at 336 aerial victories, was asked a second time by General Adolf Galland to join the Me 262 units forming to fly the new jet fighter. Hartmann attended the jet conversion program led by Heinrich Bär. Galland also intended Hartmann to fly with Jagdverband 44. Hartmann declined the offer, preferring to remain with JG 52. Some sources report that Hartmann's decision to stay with his unit was due to a request via telegram made by Oberstleutnant Hermann Graf.[45] Now Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 52, Erich Hartmann claimed his 350th aerial victory on 17 April, in the vicinity of Chrudim. The last wartime photograph of Hartmann known was taken in connection with this victory.[46]


At the end of the war, Erich Hartmann disobeyed General Hans Seidemann's order to Hartmann and Hermann Graf to fly to the British sector to avoid capture by Soviet forces. Hartmann later explained:


I must say that during the war I never disobeyed an order, but when General Seidemann ordered Graf and me to fly to the British sector and surrender to avoid the Soviets, with the rest of the wing to surrender to the Soviets, I could not leave my men. That would have been bad leadership.[47]


Hartmann's last kill occurred over Brno, Czechoslovakia, on 8 May, the last day of the war in Europe. Early that morning, he was ordered to fly a reconnaissance mission and report the position of Soviet forces. Hartmann took off with his wingman at 08:30 and spotted the first Soviet units just 40 kilometres (25 miles) away. Passing over the area, Hartmann saw two Yak-9s performing aerobatics for the Soviet columns. Determined to "spoil the party", Hartmann dove upon the fighters from his vantage point at 12,000 ft (3,700 m) and shot one down from a range of 200 ft (61 m). As he lined up the second fighter, Hartmann noticed a flicker of shiny dots above him coming from the West; they were P-51s. Rather than make a stand and be caught between the Soviets and the Americans, Hartmann and his wingman fled at low level into the pall of smoke that covered Brno.[48] When he landed, Hartmann learned that the Soviet forces were within artillery range of the airfield, so JG 52 destroyed Karaya One, 24 other Bf 109s, and large quantities of ammunition. Hartmann later recalled his final violent action of the war:


We destroyed the aircraft and all munitions, everything. I sat in my fighter and fired the guns into the woods where all the fuel had been dropped, and then jumped out. We destroyed twenty-five perfectly good fighters. They would be nice to have in museums now.[47]


As Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 52, Hartmann chose to surrender his unit to members of the US 90th Infantry Division.[49]



Prisoner of war


After his capture, the U.S. Army handed Hartmann, his pilots, and ground crew over to the Soviet Union on 14 May, where he was imprisoned in accordance with the Yalta Agreements, which stated that airmen and soldiers fighting Soviet forces had to surrender directly to them. Hartmann and his unit were led by the Americans to a large open-air compound to await the transfer. The number of prisoners grew to 50,000. Living conditions deteriorated, and some American guards turned a blind eye to escapes. In some cases they assisted by providing food and maps.[50]


Hartmann embarked on a prisoner train eastward. Travelling via Vienna, Budapest, across the Carpathian Mountains into Ukraine, Kiev, Moscow and finally Kirov.[51] Initially, the Soviets tried to convince Hartmann to cooperate with them. He was asked to spy on fellow officers and become a stukatch, or "stool pigeon". He refused and was given 10 days' solitary confinement in a four-by-nine-by-six-foot chamber. He slept on a concrete floor and was given only bread and water. On another occasion, the Soviets threatened to kidnap and murder his wife (the death of his son was kept from Hartmann). During similar interrogations about his knowledge of the Me 262, Hartmann was struck by a Soviet officer using a cane, prompting Hartmann to slam his chair down on the head of the assailant, knocking him out. Expecting to be shot, he was transferred back to the small bunker.[52]


Hartmann, not ashamed of his war service, opted to go on a hunger strike and starve rather than fold to "Soviet will", as he called it.[53] The Soviets allowed the hunger strike to go on for four days before force-feeding him. More subtle efforts by the Soviet authorities to convert Hartmann to communism also failed. He was offered a post in the East German Air Force, which he refused:


If, after I am home in the West, you make me a normal contract offer, a business deal such as people sign every day all over the world, and I like your offer, then I will come back and work with you in accordance with the contract. But if you try to put me to work under coercion of any kind, then I will resist to my dying gasp.[52]



War crimes charges


During his captivity Hartmann was first arrested on 24 December 1949, and three days later, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.[54] In June 1951 he was sentenced as an alleged member of an anti-Soviet group.[54]


After continuous failed attempts by the Soviets to break him, Hartmann was charged with war crimes, specifically the "deliberate shooting of 780 Soviet civilians" in the village of Briansk, attacking a "bread factory" on 23 May 1943, and destroying 345 "expensive" Soviet aircraft.[55] He refused to confess to these charges and conducted his own defence, which the presiding judge denounced as a "waste of time".[55]


Sentenced to 25 years of hard labor, he refused to work. He was eventually put into solitary confinement, which enraged his fellow prisoners. They began a revolt, overpowered the guards, and freed him. He made a complaint to the Kommandant's office, asking for a representative from Moscow and an international inspection, as well as a tribunal, to acquit him of his unlawful conviction. This was refused, and he was transferred to a camp in Novocherkassk, where he spent five more months in solitary confinement. Eventually he was granted a tribunal, but it upheld his original sentence. He was subsequently sent to another camp, this time at Diaterka in the Ural Mountains.[56]


In 1955, Hartmann's mother wrote to the new West German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, to whom she appealed to secure his freedom. A trade agreement between West Germany and the Soviet Union was reached, and Hartmann was released along with 16,000 German military personnel as one of the last Heimkehrer. After spending 10 and a half years in Soviet POW camps, he was among the last batch of prisoners to be turned over.[57] He refused a celebration for his arrival until all German prisoners were released by the Soviets, which happened later that year.[58] Returning to West Germany, he was reunited with his wife Ursula, to whom he had written every day of the war.[57]


In January 1997, the government of the Russian Federation, acting as the legal successor to the Soviet Union, exonerated Hartmann by admitting that his conviction for war crimes was unlawful.[2]



Post-war years





German Air Force Canadair Sabre in the Hartmann "black tulip" color scheme at the Bundeswehr Museum of Military History


During his long imprisonment, Hartmann's son, Erich-Peter, was born in 1945 and died as a three-year-old in 1948, without his father ever having seen him. Hartmann later had a daughter, Ursula Isabel, born on 23 February 1957.[59] When Hartmann returned to West Germany, he reentered military service in the Bundeswehr and became an officer in the West German Air Force, where he commanded West Germany's first all-jet unit, Jagdgeschwader 71 "Richthofen", which was equipped initially with Canadair Sabres and later with Lockheed F-104 Starfighters. He also made several trips to the United States, where he was trained on U.S. Air Force equipment. He had the JG 71 aircraft painted with the same spreading black tulip pattern used by Karaya 1 on the Eastern Front.[60] Due to his association with the new German Air Force, whose pilots received training in the United States, Hartmann avoided the taint some other German pilots developed after the war because of their continued relations with Nazi sympathizers.[58]


Hartmann considered the F-104 a fundamentally flawed and unsafe aircraft and strongly opposed its adoption by the air force. Although events subsequently validated his low opinion of the aircraft (282 crashes and 115 German pilots killed on the F-104 in non-combat missions, along with allegations of bribes culminating in the Lockheed scandal), Hartmann's outspoken criticism proved unpopular with his superiors. General Werner Panitzki, successor to General Josef Kammhuber as the Inspector of the Air Force, said, "Erich is a good pilot, but not a good officer." Hartmann was forced into early retirement in 1970.[61] Already in 1957, Hartmann had recommended to Kammhuber to first buy and evaluate a few new and unfamiliar aircraft before committing the air force to a new aircraft type.[62]


After his military retirement, from 1971–74, Hartmann worked as a flight instructor in Hangelar, near Bonn, and also flew in an aerobatics team with Adolf Galland. In 1980 he caught a cold that developed into angina pectoris, the condition that had killed his father at the age of 58. He recovered and, by 1983, was medically cleared to fly, after which he resumed instructing at the various flying schools. Fearing a second attack, he became cautious and limited his appearances at public events. He stated: "I am retired and I am a civilian, and now I like to have my rest and peace. I do not live for exhibitions."[63]


Hartmann died on 20 September 1993, at the age of 71 in Weil im Schönbuch.[Note 4]



In popular culture


Main article: The Blond Knight of Germany

Hartmann was the subject of a biography by the American authors Trevor J. Constable and Raymond F. Toliver, under the title The Blond Knight of Germany. Originally released in the United States in 1970, it was published in Germany the next year, as Holt Hartmann vom Himmel! ("Shoot Hartmann down!").[64]


The Blond Knight was a commercial success and enjoyed a wide readership among both the American and the German public. The book has been criticised as ahistorical and misleading in recent American and German historiography. Ronald Smelser and Edward J. Davies, in their work The Myth of the Eastern Front, describe it as one of the key works that promoted the myth of the "clean Wehrmacht".[65]


The historian Jens Wehner notes that the German-language version of the book was immensely popular in Germany, but contained serious flaws in its presentation of historical realities. These included uncritical borrowing from the Nazi propaganda elements of the Fliegerasse ("aces") and stereotypes about the Soviet Union. According to Wehner, the latter could be traced to the prevailing attitudes during the Cold War. Further, the political and social consequences of World War II were completely ignored.[64]



Summary of career



Combat record


Hartmann flew 1,404 combat missions during World War II, resulting in 825 engagements and 352 claimed and credited aerial victories against Allied aircraft.[66] One Russian historian, Dimitri Khazanov, has attempted to prove that Hartmann did not score anywhere near 352 victories. Khazanov quoted Hartmann having shot down 70-80 Soviet aircraft. Khazanov has been heavily criticised by aviation historians such as Jean-Yves Lorant and Hans Ring for faulty research. Ring and Lorant both point out that the missions that Khazanov tried to use to prove Hartmann's claims false were riddled with false and misleading information. For example, Khazanov claimed that on a mission on 20 August 1943, Hartmann claimed two victories west of Millerovo but not a single Soviet aircraft was lost. German records show not a single claim was made in that area. Hartmann's victories were recorded east of Kuteinikowo, some 160 km (99 mi) away.[67] On 29 May 1944, Khazanov claimed Hartmann reported three La-5s shot down over Roman, Romania. This was also false. Hartmann claimed a single P-39 over Iaşi.[67] Hans Ring said the mistakes in Khazanov's work "serve to expose the superficial nature of Khazanov's assertions and confirm that his only goal in compiling his article was to discredit Hartmann and his record."[67] Even Khazanov points out in his article that during Hartmann's show trial, one of the Soviet charges was the destruction of 352 (the actual number was 345) Soviet aircraft.[68]


It is often said that Hartmann was more proud of the fact that he had never lost a wingman in combat than he was about his number of kills; he did have at least one shot down. Major Günther Capito had joined the unit in early 1943. Capito was a former bomber pilot who had retrained on fighters. After scoring his fifth victory, Capito asked to be Hartmann's wingman. Hartmann refused initially, believing Capito was insufficiently trained on Messerschmitts. On their first mission together, they were engaged by P-39 Airacobras:[69]


I called to him to turn hard opposite, so I could sandwich the Red fighters, but in his standard-rate bomber turn he got hit. I saw the whole thing and ordered him to dive and bail out immediately. To my intense relief I saw him leave the aircraft and his parachute blossom. I was happy to get this Airacobra, but I was mad at myself for not harkening to my intuition not to fly with Günther Capito.[70]



Aerial victory claims


Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 352 aerial victory claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims. This number includes two claims over United States Army Air Forces flown P-51 Mustangs, and 350 Soviet Air Forces piloted aircraft on the Eastern Front.[71]


Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 44793". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 × 4 km in size.[72]










































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Decorations



  • Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "1300"[98]


  • Pilot/Observer Badge in Gold with Diamonds (25 August 1944)[98]


  • Iron Cross (1939)
    • 2nd Class (17 December 1942)[99]

    • 1st Class (7 March 1943)[99]



  • Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 September 1943 as Leutnant and pilot[100]


  • German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Leutnant in the III./Jagdgeschwader 52[101]


  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
    • Knight's Cross on 29 October 1943 as Leutnant and pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[102][Note 13]

    • 420th Oak Leaves on 2 March 1944 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[103][104]

    • 75th Swords on 2 July 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[103][105]

    • 18th Diamonds on 25 August 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[103][106]


  • Two named references in the Wehrmachtbericht (24 August 1944 and 25 August 1944)[107]

Hartmann had kept the whereabouts of his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross secret from his captors during his time as a prisoner of war, claiming that he had thrown it away. The hiding place was in a small stream. His comrade Hans "Assi" Hahn managed to hide the Knight's Cross in a double bottom cigar box and smuggled it back to Germany when he was released from captivity.[108]



Dates of rank


Hartmann joined the military service in Wehrmacht on 1 October 1940. His first station was Neukuhren in East Prussia, where he received his military basic training as a Luftwaffe recruit.[109]














Wehrmacht
1 April 1942:
Leutnant (second lieutenant)[110]
1 May 1944:
Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)[111]
1 September 1944:
Hauptmann (captain)[112]
8 May 1945:
Major (major)[Note 14]
Bundeswehr
12 December 1960:
Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel)[113]
26 July 1967:
Oberst (colonel)[113]


Notes




  1. ^ In 1944, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds was second only to the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), which was awarded only to senior commanders for winning a major battle or campaign, in the military order of the Third Reich. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds as the highest military order was surpassed on 29 December 1944 by the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten).


  2. ^ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations, see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.


  3. ^ Sources regarding the exact number of P-51 Mustang victories are inconclusive and vary between seven and eight. Toliver and Constable give the impression that eight kills are probable, while other sources speak of seven victories.


  4. ^ Erich Hartmann at Find a Grave


  5. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalamanaoapaqarasatauavawaxayazbabbbcbdbebfbgbhbibj According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin La-5.[78]


  6. ^ abcdef The "m.H." refers to a Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).


  7. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 10:18.[85]


  8. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin aircraft.[87]


  9. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin.[87]


  10. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași.[87]


  11. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 13:40.[87]


  12. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman after 18 March 1945.[95]


  13. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 52.[103]


  14. ^ His promotion to Major on 8 May 1945 is unconfirmed. Hartmann himself, in a document dated 16 May 1945, used the rank Hauptmann.[112]




References



Citations




  1. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, p. 12.


  2. ^ ab Berger 1999, p. 107.


  3. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 15–16.


  4. ^ ab Toliver & Constable 1986, p. 296.


  5. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, p. 19.


  6. ^ Kaplan 2007, p. 89.


  7. ^ abc Kaplan 2007, p. 90.


  8. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, p. 31.


  9. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 32–33.


  10. ^ abc Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 46–47, 54, 61, 84.


  11. ^ Deac 1998, p. 30.


  12. ^ abcdef Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 290–291.


  13. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, p. 54.


  14. ^ German Pilot Reported 352 Kills : Hope of Top WWII Flier: No Need for New Air Aces January 03, 1986 | WILLIAM TUOHY | Times Staff Writer


  15. ^ Kurowski 1996, p. 177.


  16. ^ ab Williamson 2006, p. 45.


  17. ^ ab Kaplan 2007, p. 93.


  18. ^ ab Kaplan 2007, p. 104.


  19. ^ Thompson & Smith 2008, p. 235.


  20. ^ Spick 1996, p. 201.


  21. ^ Kaplan 2007, p. 102.


  22. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 64–77.


  23. ^ abc Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 291–292.


  24. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.


  25. ^ ab Deac 1998, p. 34.


  26. ^ ab Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 291–293.


  27. ^ ab Weal 2001, p. 73.


  28. ^ Weal 2001, p. 74.


  29. ^ Kaplan 2007, pp. 104–105.


  30. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 9–11.


  31. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 293–294.


  32. ^ ab Kaplan 2007, p. 115.


  33. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 161–166.


  34. ^ Toliver & Constable 1985, pp. 177–182, 339.


  35. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, p. 165–169.


  36. ^ Tillman 2006, p. 54.


  37. ^ Kaplan 2007, p. 116.


  38. ^ Weal 2001, p. 78.


  39. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 142–144.


  40. ^ Weal 2001, p. 71.


  41. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 142–143.


  42. ^ Weal 2001, p. 79.


  43. ^ Toliver & Constable 1985, p. 148.


  44. ^ Hartmann & Jäger 1992, pp. 139–145.


  45. ^ Weal 2001, p. 82.


  46. ^ Weal 2004, p. 119.


  47. ^ ab Heaton, Colin. "Hartmann Interview". Aces of WW2. Retrieved 14 January 2013. 


  48. ^ Kaplan 2007, p. 117.


  49. ^ Kaplan 2007, pp. 118–119.


  50. ^ Kaplan 2007, p. 118.


  51. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, p. 206.


  52. ^ ab Kaplan 2007, p. 121.


  53. ^ Kaplan 2007, p. 120.


  54. ^ ab Wagenlehner 1999, p. 36.


  55. ^ ab Kaplan 2007, p. 122.


  56. ^ Kaplan 2007, p. 122–123.


  57. ^ ab Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 255–256.


  58. ^ ab German Pilot Reported 352 Kills : Hope of Top WWII Flier: No Need for New Air Aces January 03, 1986 | WILLIAM TUOHY | Times Staff Writer


  59. ^ Kaplan 2007, p. 125.


  60. ^ Toliver & Constable 1985, p. 278.


  61. ^ Toliver & Constable 1985, pp. 285–286.


  62. ^ Der Spiegel Volume 35/1982.


  63. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, p. 289.


  64. ^ ab Notheisen 2017.


  65. ^ Smelser & Davies 2008, pp. 170–173.


  66. ^ Toliver & Constable 1985, p. 340.


  67. ^ abc "Criticism of Dimitri Khazanov". members.aol.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2010. 


  68. ^ "Erich Hartmann's kills". hartmannerich.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2010. 


  69. ^ Toliver & Constable 1986, pp. 57–58.


  70. ^ Kaplan 2007, p. 100.


  71. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 485–492.


  72. ^ Planquadrat.


  73. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 485–487.


  74. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 563.


  75. ^ abcdefghijklmn Prien et al. 2012, p. 485.


  76. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 565.


  77. ^ abcde Prien et al. 2012, p. 478.


  78. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 486–488.


  79. ^ ab Prien et al. 2012, p. 479.


  80. ^ ab Prien et al. 2012, p. 480.


  81. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstu Prien et al. 2012, p. 486.


  82. ^ abcdef Prien et al. 2012, p. 481.


  83. ^ abcdef Prien et al. 2012, p. 483.


  84. ^ abcdefghijklmnopq Prien et al. 2012, p. 484.


  85. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 486.


  86. ^ abcdefghijklmno Prien et al. 2012, p. 487.


  87. ^ abcd Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 487.


  88. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 487–491.


  89. ^ abcdefghijklmn Prien et al. 2012, p. 489.


  90. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrst Prien et al. 2012, p. 490.


  91. ^ abcd Prien et al. 2012, p. 491.


  92. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrst Prien et al. 2012, p. 492.


  93. ^ ab Prien et al. 2012, p. 493.


  94. ^ abcdefghi Prien et al. 2012, p. 494.


  95. ^ abc Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 491.


  96. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1682.


  97. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 491–492.


  98. ^ ab Berger 1999, p. 105.


  99. ^ ab Thomas 1997, p. 249.


  100. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 95.


  101. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 166.


  102. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 214.


  103. ^ abcd Scherzer 2007, p. 368.


  104. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 79.


  105. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 43.


  106. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 37.


  107. ^ Murawski 1962, pp. 248–249.


  108. ^ Maerz 2007, p. 120.


  109. ^ Toliver & Constable 1985, pp. 296–297.


  110. ^ Stockert 2007, p. 40.


  111. ^ Stockert 2007, p. 41.


  112. ^ ab Stockert 2007, p. 43.


  113. ^ ab Stockert 2007, p. 44.



Bibliography


.mw-parser-output .refbeginfont-size:90%;margin-bottom:0.5em.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ullist-style-type:none;margin-left:0.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>dl>ddmargin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em;list-style:none.mw-parser-output .refbegin-100font-size:100%


  • Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6. 


  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Retrieved 6 February 2018. 


  • Deac, Wil (1998). Air War's Top Ace.—WWII Air War, The Men, The Machines, The Missions. Stamford, Connecticut: Cowles Enthusiast Media. ISBN 978-1-55836-193-5. 


  • 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. 


  • Hartmann, Ursula; Jäger, Manfred (1992). German Fighter Ace Erich Hartmann. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-396-5. 


  • Kaplan, Philip (2007). Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe in World War WWII. Auldgirth, Dumfriesshire, UK: Pen & Sword Aviation. ISBN 978-1-84415-460-9. 


  • Kurowski, Franz (1996). Luftwaffe Aces. Winnipeg, Canada: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing Inc. ISBN 978-0-921991-31-1. 


  • Maerz, Dietrich (2007). Das Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes und seine Höheren Stufen [The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its Higher Grades] (in German). Richmond, Michigan: B&D Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-0-9797969-1-3. 


  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6. 


  • Murawski, Erich (1962). Der deutsche Wehrmachtbericht 1939 – 1945, vom 1.7.1944 bis zum 9.5.1945 [The German Wehrmacht Report 1939 – 1945, from 1 July 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). Boppoard am Rhein, Germany: Harald Boldt Verlag. OCLC 70352459. 


  • Laura Notheisen (31 January 2017). "So war der deutsche Landser. Die populäre und populärwissenschaftliche Darstellung der Wehrmacht" [So was the German Landser: The popular culture and popular history representation of the Wehrmacht]. H-Soz-Kult (in German). Retrieved 12 March 2016.  H-Soz-Kult


  • 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. 


  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honour Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3. 


  • Prien, Jochen (1991). Pik-As: Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 53 — 3 — Das Ende in Italien 1944, Rumänien, Ungarn 1944/45, Einsatz zur Verteidigung des Reiches 1943–1945 [Ace of Spades: History of the Fighter Wing 53 — 3 — The End in Italy 1944, Romania, Hungary 1944/45, Defense of the Reich 1943–1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-16-8. 


  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9. 


  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5. 


  • 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 


  • Smelser, Ronald; Davies, Edward J. (2008). The Myth of the Eastern Front: The Nazi-Soviet War in American Popular Culture. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-83365-3. 


  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1. 


  • Stockert, Peter (2007). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 5 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 5] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662. 


  • Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6. 


  • Thompson, J. Steve; Smith, Peter C (2008). Air Combat Manoeuvres: The Technique and History of Air Fighting for Flight Simulation. Hersham, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-903223-98-7. 


  • Tillman, Barrett (August 2006). "Shot Down or Out of Gas?". Flight Journal. 11 (4). 


  • Toliver, Raymond F.; Constable, Trevor J. (1985). Holt Hartmann vom Himmel! [Bring Down Hartmann from the Sky!] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-216-5. 


  • Toliver, Raymond F.; Constable, Trevor J. (1986). The Blond Knight of Germany. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-8306-8189-1. 


  • Wagenlehner, Günther (1999). Die russischen Bemühungen um die Rehabilitierung der 1941–1956 verfolgten deutschen Staatsbürger [The Russian efforts to rehabilitate the 1941–1956 persecuted German citizens] (in German). Bonn, Germany: Historisches Forschungszentrum. ISBN 3-86077-855-2. 


  • Weal, John (2001). Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-084-1. 


  • Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten (Aviation Elite Units). Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4. 


  • Williamson, Gordon (2006). Knight's Cross with Diamonds Recipients 1941–45. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-644-7. 


  • "Ein schöner Tod - fürs Vaterland?" [A Beautiful Death - For the Fatherland?]. Der Spiegel (in German). 35. 1982. Retrieved 18 June 2013. 



Further reading



  • Bell, Kelly (November 11, 2017). "The Shocking Story of Nazi German's Greatest Fighter Ace". The National Interest, War History Network. Retrieved November 11, 2017. 


External links



  • Erich Hartmann in the German National Library catalogue


  • "Da gondeln, scheppern und gurken sie nun—Boom und Risiken in der westdeutschen Sportfliegerei". Der Spiegel (in German). 16. 1979. Retrieved 18 June 2013. 




Military offices
Preceded by
none

Commander of Jagdgeschwader 71 Richthofen
19 January 1959 – 29 May 1962
Succeeded by
Oberst Günther Josten











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Clash Royale CLAN TAG #URR8PPP 你好～！欢迎来到萌娘百科！ 如果您是第一次来到这里，点这里加入萌娘百科! 欢迎具有翻译能力的同学～有意者请点→Category:需要翻译的条目← 如果您在萌娘百科上发现某些内容 错误/空缺 ，请 勇于 修正/添加！ 编辑萌娘百科其实很容易！ 觉得萌娘百科有趣的话，请推荐给朋友哦...
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自由群

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Clash Royale CLAN TAG #URR8PPP 由兩個元素a, b 生成的自由群的凱萊圖 在數學中，一個群 Gdisplaystyle G 被稱作 自由群 ，如果存在 Gdisplaystyle G 的子集 Sdisplaystyle S 使得 Gdisplaystyle G 的任何元素都能唯一地表成由 Sdisplaystyle S 中元素及其逆元組成之乘積（在此不論平庸的表法，例如 st−1=su−1ut−1displaystyle st^-1=su^-1ut^-1 之類）；此時也稱 Gdisplaystyle G 為集合 Sdisplaystyle S 上的 自由群 ，其群...
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卑爾根

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Clash Royale CLAN TAG #URR8PPP 卑尔根 Bergen 城市 Kommune av Bergen 旗幟 徽章 卑爾根在霍达兰郡的位置 卑尔根 卑爾根在挪威的位置 坐标： 60°22′N 05°24′E  /  60.367°N 5.400°E  / 60.367; 5.400 坐标： 60°22′N 05°24′E  /  60.367°N 5.400°E  / 60.367; 5.400 國家   挪威 郡 霍达兰郡 建立 1070年之前 政府  • 市長 Marita Moltu （KrF） 面积  • 城市 464.71 平方公里（179.43 平方英里）  • 陸地...
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