Oster Deiter was a Battery Commander of the 9th Flak Division 8 Flak Regiment, who was awarded the Knights Cross on 9 December 1942 for actions against Soviet tanks inside Stalingrad.....more

Hilmar Karl Adolf Zahn was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II and received the Knights Cross for actions in Italy. . Awards include the Sudetenland Medal (6 February 1940), Fallschirmschützenabzeichen (22 July 1942), Iron Cross (1939), 2nd Class (3 March 1943), 1st Class (18 February 1944), Wound Badge (1939) in Black (3 March 1943), in Silver (10 April 1944), in Gold (3 June 1944), Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe (5 March 1944), Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944 as Oberleutnant and chief of the 5./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 ...more

Karl Alfred Schwarzmann (22 March 1912 – 11 March 2000) was a German Olympic Gymnast and Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He won three Gold medals and two Bronze medals in the Gymnastics at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin and another Silver medal in the Gymnastics at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. As a Fallschirmjäger he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ...more

Martin Kühne was a highly decorated Major in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as well as the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class, 1st Class, Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe, Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe, Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare, Eastern Front Medal, Libya Medal, German Cross in Gold and the Ärmelband Kreta as part of I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 and I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 10....more

Lieutenant-General Günther Rall was the third most successful fighter ace in history. He achieved a total of 275 victories during World War II: 272 on the Eastern Front, of which 241 were against Soviet fighters. He flew a total of 621 combat missions, was shot down eight times and was wounded three times. He fought in the invasion of France, the Battle of Britain, in the Balkan Campaign and over Crete. He began the conflict as a young Second Lieutenant, and was a Major and Geschwaderkommodore of JG 300 at the surrender. He claimed all of his victories in the Messerschmitt Bf 109. In October 1943, Rall had his best month, downing 40 aircraft. He later rejoined the Luftwaffe in 1953. Awards include the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (17 November 1941), Combined Pilots-Observation Badge, Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (23 May 1940), 1st Class (July 1940), Wound Badge (1939) in Gold, German Cross in Gold on 15 December 1941 as Oberleutnant in the 8./JG 52, "Crete" Cuffband, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Knight's Cross on 3 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 8./JG 52, the 134th Oak Leaves on 26 October 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 8./JG 52, the 34th Swords on 12 September 1943 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur in the III./JG 52 and the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for fighter pilots in Gold with penant "600". Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht "Honorary Fellow" Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) Grosss Bundesverdienstkreuz. mit Stern (1973)...more

Commander of Jagdgeshwader 300 and III/KG 4 as well as Inspector of Night-Fighter units. Helped develop Night-Fighter tactics including the "Wild Sau" and ramming maneuvers.Hans-Joachim "Hajo" Herrmann was a Luftwaffe bomber pilot and later after the end of World War II, focusing his activities as a lawyer on civil and criminal law. In World War II, he was a high ranking and influential member of the Luftwaffe.Herrmann was one of the Luftwaffe's most innovative air tacticians during World War II. Beginning his military career as an infantry officer, he was commissioned in the newly formed Luftwaffe in 1935. From 1936 until 1937, he was a bomber pilot in the Condor Legion. During the Spanish civil war, Herrmann joined KG-4, and wrote several well received tactical reports. When World War II began, he flew Heinkel He-111s in Poland and Norway. By 1940, he was Commander of the 7th Staffel of KG-4, and led many attacks on England during the Battle of Britain. In February 1941, his group went to Sicily, where it flew against Malta and Greece. In one such attack, Herrmann dropped a single bomb on an ammunition ship, the SS Clan Fraser; the resulting explosion sank 11 ships and made the Greek port of Piraeus unusable for many months. In early 1942, he was Commander of III./KG 30, attacking Arctic convoys from Norway, including the attacks on PQ-17. July 1942 saw him assigned to the general staff in Germany, where he became a close confidant of Hermann Göring. During his career as a bomber pilot, Herrmann flew 320 missions and sank 12 ships totalling 70,000 tons.In 1942, Herrmann was appointed to the Luftwaffe Operational Staff. Quickly gaining a reputation as one of the leading tactical and operational innovators of the Luftwaffe, he was the creator of the Luftwaffe night fighter wing designated Jagdgeschwader 300, nicknamed Wilde Sau (German: wild boar). Raised as a response to the growing threat of RAF Bomber Command's night raids on the Reich in mid-1943, which had gained the ascendancy over the Luftwaffe's Nachtjäger radar-guided night fighter forces through the use of chaff, Herrmann's theory was for experienced night flying pilots and ex-instructors to be equipped with Fw 190 day fighters and visually 'free-hunt' the bombers by the light of the fires below and with the aid of special 'flare-carrier' Junkers Ju 88s following the bomber streams, as well as the use of the Naxos radar detector unit on some of these single engined fighters, to find RAF night bombers, when they were aiming by radar. Herrmann himself flew more than 50 night fighter missions and claimed nine RAF bombers destroyed. Although JG 300 and subsequent units raised met with promising initial success, the high wastage of both pilots and aircraft due to high accident rates curtailed extensive use of 'Wilde Sau' beyond the start of 1944. In December 1943, Herrmann was appointed Luftwaffe Inspector of Aerial Defence. By 1944, he was Inspector General of night fighters and received the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. At the end of 1944, he led the 9. Flieger-division (J). At this time he was a leading exponent of the tactical deployment of the so-called Rammjäger Sonderkommando Elbe (German: ram fighters, task force Elbe), sent into action in April 1945. Pilot volunteers, often aged 18 to 20, were to be trained to be simply competent enough to control specially lightened and unarmoured Bf 109 fighters and charged with downing Allied bombers by deliberately ramming the tail or control surfaces with the propellers of their aircraft, and thereafter (hopefully) bailing out. Herrmann's intention was to gather a large number of these fighters for a one-off attack on the USAAF bomber streams, hopefully causing enough losses to curtail the bombing offensive for a few months. Fuel shortages prevented employment of the large numbers necessary, although from one mission of this type of the 138 planes thus committed only 50 came back.Herrmann was captured by the Soviets after the war and was held prisoner for 10 years before returning to Germany in 1955. Back in Germany, he studied law and settled in Düsseldorf....more

Wilhelm Crinius was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II credited with 114 aerial victories claimed in approximately 400 combat missions. He recorded 100 victories over the Eastern Front. Of his 14 victories claimed over the Western Front, one was a four-engined bomber. On 23 September 1942, Crinius became the only German fighter pilot to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. In Africa, Crinius claimed 14 victories, including a B-17 Flying Fortress over Bizerte. On 13 January 1943, he engaged in aerial combat with 10 Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire fighters near El Kala, Crinius' aircraft was hit and he was wounded in the thigh. Breaking off combat, he headed for his base but his engine then caught fire. He ditched his damaged Bf 109 G-2 in the sea. He spent 24 hours in the water before being rescued by French sailors and Arabs. After hospitalisation for his wounds, Crinius became a prisoner of war....more

Lieutenant-General Günther Rall was the third most successful fighter ace in history. He achieved a total of 275 victories during World War II: 272 on the Eastern Front, of which 241 were against Soviet fighters. He flew a total of 621 combat missions, was shot down eight times and was wounded three times. He fought in the invasion of France, the Battle of Britain, in the Balkan Campaign and over Crete. He began the conflict as a young Second Lieutenant, and was a Major and Geschwaderkommodore of JG 300 at the surrender. He claimed all of his victories in the Messerschmitt Bf 109. In October 1943, Rall had his best month, downing 40 aircraft. He later rejoined the Luftwaffe in 1953. Awards include the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (17 November 1941), Combined Pilots-Observation Badge, Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (23 May 1940), 1st Class (July 1940), Wound Badge (1939) in Gold, German Cross in Gold on 15 December 1941 as Oberleutnant in the 8./JG 52, "Crete" Cuffband, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Knight's Cross on 3 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 8./JG 52, the 134th Oak Leaves on 26 October 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 8./JG 52, the 34th Swords on 12 September 1943 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur in the III./JG 52 and the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for fighter pilots in Gold with penant "600". Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht "Honorary Fellow" Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) Grosss Bundesverdienstkreuz. mit Stern (1973)...more

Major Hans "Assi" Hahn was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace with 108 victories and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). He was shot down and captured by Russian forces in 1943, and remained a prisoner of war until 1950. Upon his release, Hahn became a successful businessman before retiring to the south of France. Hahn's memoirs "I Tell the Truth" recounted his military service and detailed life in Soviet captivity for himself and other Luftwaffe Aces.NO SIGNATURE - just the post card....more

Generalmajor Dietrich Peltz was a German World War II Luftwaffe bomber pilot. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Peltz joined the army in 1934, switched over to the airforce and underwent pilot training in 1935. After training, he flew in the Polish and French campaigns with Sturzkampfgeschwader 76 (StG 76—76th ground assault wing), flying 102 missions on the Junkers Ju-87 Stuka before converting to the Junkers Ju-88 with II./Kampfgeschwader 77 (KG 77—77th bomber wing) in the summer of 1940. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in October 1940. In March 1941, Hauptmann Peltz was elevated to Gruppenkommandeur of II Gruppe. In the late summer of 1941, the unit was transferred to East Prussia, to fly missions against targets in the Northern sector, including the Leningrad-Moscow railway line, canals and lock gates. Here, Peltz was instrumental in developing accurate bombing techniques, allowing his group to achieve success against precision targets which previously could be achieved only with much larger bomber forces. Peltz was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross in December 1941. ...more

Rolf Hermichen is a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. Hermichen is credited with 64 aerial victories claimed in 629 combat missions, 11 of them while flying the Messerschmitt Bf 110. He shot down 53 enemy aircraft in Defense of the Reich, including 26 four engine strategic bombers. ...more

Bruno Richter was a highly decorated Rittmeister in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Bruno Richter was captured by Soviet troops in May 1945 in the Courland Pocket and was held until 1949. Fought in the invasion of Poland, Battle of France, Operation Barbarossa Battle of Uman, Battle of Kiev (1941), Siege of Sevastopol (1941-1942), Siege of Leningrad and Courland Pocket....more

Walter Paul Liebing (12 August 1912 – 18 October 1998) was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He was awarded the Knights Cross for actions against British Paratroopers in Italy. Awards include the Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen in Bronze (21 July 1931), Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (2 October 1936), Pilot's Badge (10 June 1937), Iron Cross (1939), 2nd Class (30 July 1940), 1st Class (2 September 1941), Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Reconnaissance Flyers in Bronze (14 June 1941), Infantry Assault Badge in Silver (20 March 1944), Close Combat Clasp in Bronze (30 March 1944), and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 2 February 1945 as Major and leader of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 23. ...more

Egon Delica was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He fought in the Invasion of Poland, Battle of Fort Eben-Emael, the Eastern Front and Operation Varsity. Awards include Aviator badge Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe, Iron Cross 2nd Class, 1st Class, Wound Badge, Parachutist Badge, Cuffband "Crete", Ground Assault Badge, German Cross in Gold as Hauptmann in the II./Luftlande-Geschwader 2, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 May 1940 as Leutnant and deputy leader of Sturmgruppe "Granit" in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch", Merit Cross of the Federal Republic of Germany ...more

Georg le Coutre was a highly decorated Leutnant in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II and an Oberstleutnant in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was captured by American troops in February 1945, and held until 1946. In 1956 he joined the Bundeswehr and served until his retirement in 1978. He fought in the Battle of Crete, Italian Campaign, Operation Overlord and the Battle of the Bulge. His awards include the Fallschirmschützenabzeichen, Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class, 1st Class, Wound Badge (Black, Silver & Gold), German Cross in Gold as Feldwebel in the 4./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 February 1945 as Leutnant and leader of 10./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 and the Cuffband "Crete"....more

Viktor Vitali was a highly decorated Oberleutnant in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as well as the Anschluss Medal, Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge, War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class, 1st Class, Wound Badge as Chief of the 5./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 during Battle of Monte Cassino....more

Diddo Diddens was a highly decorated Hauptmann der Reserve in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, and the citation reads: "North of Jassy, the Soviets attacked with strong forces. They failed because of the tenacious resistance of the German and Romanian troops, where local penetrations were sealed off. In this battle area, an assault gun unit of the Panzergrenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" under the leadership of Lieutenant Diddens particularly distinguished itself on 25 April. 18 Soviet tanks were destroyed in a two-hour period. Awards include the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (19 August 1941), 1st Class (2 October 1941), Wound Badge (1939) in Black (18 June 1942), in Silver (23 June 1944), in Gold (17 December 1944), General Assault Badge, Eastern Front Medal, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 18 March 1942 as Leutnant der Reserve and platoon leader in 2./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 185, and the 501st Oak Leaves on 15 June 1944 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Chief of the 1./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade "Grossdeutschland", as well as mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (27 April 1944 )....more

Heinrich Kurt Alfons Willy Eberbach was a German General der Panzertruppen in the German Army of World War II.During late 1914 Eberbach fought in France as a corporal, and by February 1915 he was promoted to Lieutenant. During 1915 he was wounded twice in France, lost his nose due to a French bullet (a rubber replacement was made) and was captured by the French. In December 1916 he was exchanged for a French prisoner and by 1918 he was posted to Palestine. As he spoke the Turkish language, he served on the staff of the Turkish Eighth Army.Eberbach participated in the German Invasion of Poland in September 1939 by leading his Panzer-Regiment 35 into battles near Lódz and into Warsaw. In 1940, he commanded Panzer-Regiment 35 in the Battle of France. His force supported General Manteuffel's offensive across the Meuse River in May; in June they swept across France to Lyon. Eberbach was still in command of Panzer-Regiment 35 at the start of the June 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, being promoted six weeks later to commander of the 5.Panzer-Brigade in Generaloberst Guderian's XXIV.Panzer-Korps. By March 1942 he had been promoted to Major General and made commander of the 4.Panzer-Division, in the German lines opposite the Russian town of Sukhinichi, roughly 120 miles west of Tula. In late November 1942 Eberbach was appointed commander of the XLVIII.Panzer-Korps, the battered armored formation that had just been overrun and pushed aside in the initial days of Operation Uranus. Eberbach was soon wounded and evacuated, remaining hospitalized until February. He then became Inspector of the Armored Troops in the Home Army, was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and promoted to Lieutenant General. In November 1943 Eberbach became commander of troops around Nikopol and fought in battles around Zhitomir in the Soviet Union. In December he incurred a kidney illness and was later made Inspector of Panzer Troops. In early 1944 Eberbach was promoted to the rank of General der Panzertruppen. During the Normandy invasion, he fought against the British landings along the 'Juno' and 'Sword' beaches. On 2 July he took command of "Panzer Group West" (5th Panzer Army) when Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg was wounded. On 9 August, this force was divided, with 5th Panzer Army retreating with the most damaged units; the effective units were reorganized as Panzergruppe Eberbach. Eberbach was directed to lead this force in the counterattack through Mortain toward Avranches that was intended to cut off the Allied forces which had broken out of Normandy. He had no confidence in this attack. "On or about 1 Aug 44, Gen Warlimont, of OKW, arrived at my headquarters to get a closer view of the situation ... I told him I considered it [the Mortain attack] hopeless because enemy air forces would soon stop the attack ... I further said that in my opinion the only possible solution was an immediate retreat to the Seine-Yonne line." However, Warlimont denied Eberbach's request to withdraw, and instead confirmed the order to attack. The attack failed, and most of Panzergruppe Eberbach and 7.Armee was surrounded and destroyed in the Falaise Pocket. Eberbach escaped and was given command of the remnants of 7.Armee on 21 August. On 31 August while out on a reconnaissance patrol, Eberbach was captured by British troops at Amiens....more

Rear Admiral Erich Topp was the third most successful of German U-Boot Experten commanders of World War II. He sank 35 ships for a total of 197,460 gross register tons (GRT). Erich Topp began his naval career in April 1934. He served six months on the light cruiser Karlsruhe before joining the U-boat force in October 1937. A year later he became watch officer on U-46. After four patrols with U-46, Topp took over command of U-57. With this boat he sank six ships with a total of 36,862 tons. U-57 sank on 3 September 1940 after an accident with the Norwegian ship Rona. Topp was then given command of the VIIC boat U-552, the famous "Red Devil Boat". Topp scored most of his successes in the North Atlantic against convoys and off the North American coast. On his very successful eighth patrol in March/April 1942, he sank eight ships with a total of 45,731 tons. In September 1942 Topp became commander of the 27th U-boat Flotilla, where new U-boat crews received their tactical training. Topp wrote the Battle Instructions for the new XXI Elektro Boat submarine in 1944, and when the war ended he was commanding one of them, U-2513, which he surrendered at Horten, Norway in May 1945. After the war Topp worked for some months as a fisherman before he became a successful architect. In March 1958 he rejoined the Navy. He then spent four years in the USA as a staff member of the Military Committee of NATO. Later he served in several staff positions and for a month was commander of U-boats in deputize. Konteradmiral Erich Topp retired in December 1969. He was decorated in that year with the Gross Bundes-Verdienst- kreuz (Great Federal Merit Cross). ...more

Lieutenant-General Günther Rall was the third most successful fighter ace in history. He achieved a total of 275 victories during World War II: 272 on the Eastern Front, of which 241 were against Soviet fighters. He flew a total of 621 combat missions, was shot down eight times and was wounded three times. He fought in the invasion of France, the Battle of Britain, in the Balkan Campaign and over Crete. He began the conflict as a young Second Lieutenant, and was a Major and Geschwaderkommodore of JG 300 at the surrender. He claimed all of his victories in the Messerschmitt Bf 109. In October 1943, Rall had his best month, downing 40 aircraft. He later rejoined the Luftwaffe in 1953. Awards include the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (17 November 1941), Combined Pilots-Observation Badge, Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (23 May 1940), 1st Class (July 1940), Wound Badge (1939) in Gold, German Cross in Gold on 15 December 1941 as Oberleutnant in the 8./JG 52, "Crete" Cuffband, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Knight's Cross on 3 September 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 8./JG 52, the 134th Oak Leaves on 26 October 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 8./JG 52, the 34th Swords on 12 September 1943 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur in the III./JG 52 and the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for fighter pilots in Gold with penant "600". Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht "Honorary Fellow" Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) Grosss Bundesverdienstkreuz. mit Stern (1973)...more

Karl-Heinz Jaeger was a highly decorated Major der Reserves in the Wehrmacht during World War II. Awards include: Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (22 December 1942), 1st Class (10 July 1943), Infantry Assault Badge, German Cross in Gold (7 December 1944), Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 4 August 1943 as Leutnant der Reserves and commander of 1. / Grenadier-Regiment 167, the 786th Oak Leaves on 16 March 1945 as Hauptmann der Reserves and commander of Grenadier-Regiment 448. ...more

Rear Admiral Erich Topp was the third most successful of German U-Boot Experten commanders of World War II. He sank 35 ships for a total of 197,460 gross register tons (GRT). Erich Topp began his naval career in April 1934. He served six months on the light cruiser Karlsruhe before joining the U-boat force in October 1937. A year later he became watch officer on U-46. After four patrols with U-46, Topp took over command of U-57. With this boat he sank six ships with a total of 36,862 tons. U-57 sank on 3 September 1940 after an accident with the Norwegian ship Rona. Topp was then given command of the VIIC boat U-552, the famous "Red Devil Boat". Topp scored most of his successes in the North Atlantic against convoys and off the North American coast. On his very successful eighth patrol in March/April 1942, he sank eight ships with a total of 45,731 tons. In September 1942 Topp became commander of the 27th U-boat Flotilla, where new U-boat crews received their tactical training. Topp wrote the Battle Instructions for the new XXI Elektro Boat submarine in 1944, and when the war ended he was commanding one of them, U-2513, which he surrendered at Horten, Norway in May 1945. After the war Topp worked for some months as a fisherman before he became a successful architect. In March 1958 he rejoined the Navy. He then spent four years in the USA as a staff member of the Military Committee of NATO. Later he served in several staff positions and for a month was commander of U-boats in deputize. Konteradmiral Erich Topp retired in December 1969. He was decorated in that year with the Gross Bundes-Verdienst- kreuz (Great Federal Merit Cross). ...more

Hansgeorg Bätcher was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant bomber pilot in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a Leutnant, he joined I./KG 157 (later I./KG 27) in December 1938. He served with this unit during operations against Poland in 1939. In 1940 Bätcher participated in the invasion of France, though he was shot down and captured near Rouen on 5 June 1940. Following the surrender of France, Bätcher was released. He then served as a flying instructor before returning to operations in May 1941, with Kampfgruppe 100 "Viking", equipped with the Heinkel He 111. In July 1941 Bätcher was appointed Staffelkapitän 1./K.Gr. 100, and posted to the Eastern Front. Bätcher operations over Moscow in the late summer and autumn of 1941. Bätcher was awarded with the Bomber Pilot's Clasp in Bronze on 23 August 1941, in Silver in September 1941, and Gold in November 1941. In early 1942 I./KG 100 flew maritime attacks against the Soviet fleet in the Black Sea. Bätcher became the most successful bomber pilot during this campaign, sinking or damaging several Soviet naval vessels. In March 1942, he was promoted to Hauptmann. In the summer of 1942 Bätcher took part in the assault against Sevastopol, and he carried out his 300th combat mission on 2 July 1942. Following missions over the Caucasus during August 1942, he then participated in the Battle for Stalingrad. With Stalingrad surrounded by the Red Army, Bätcher carried out supply flights to the besieged Sixth Army. Bätcher was awarded with Knight's Cross on 21 December 1942. In the summer of 1943 Bätcher took part in Operation Zitadelle; the Battle of Kursk. He also flew missions over the contested Kuban Bridgehead. On 30 July 1943 Bätcher completed his 500th combat mission. In November 1943, I./KG 100 was redesignated as I./KG 4, and Bätcher was promoted to Major and appointed Gruppenkommandeur. Bätcher completed his 600th combat flight on 21 November 1943 and his 650th combat flight on 9 February 1944. After completing 658 bomber missions Bätcher was posted to the Staff of Luftflottenkommando 4 in May 1944. He remained there until December 1944, when he was posted to command III./KG 76 equipped with the first Jet bomber, the Arado Ar 234. Bätcher's last bomber missions were made with the Ar 234 against British and American troops in February 1945. In February 1945, he was appointed to command the Me 262-equipped KG(J) 54, which he led until the end of the war. ...more