Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn

Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn (20 October 1910 – 24 June 1953) was a German military aviator and wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 68 enemy aircraft shot down in more than 500 combat missions. He claimed 34 aerial victories over the Eastern Front and 34 aerial victories over the Western Front, including one four-engine bomber. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, which was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Maltzahn.

Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
Born(1910-10-20)20 October 1910
Wodarg, Province of Pomerania
Died24 June 1953(1953-06-24) (aged 42)
Düsseldorf
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1931–45
RankOberst (Colonel)
UnitJG 134, JG 53
Commands heldJG 53
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Early life and career

Maltzahn was born on 20 October 1910 in Wodarg, present-day a borough of Werder in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, at the time a Province of Pomerania as part of the German Empire. On 1 April 1931, he was accepted for military in the Reichswehr. However, Maltzahn did not join the cavalry regiment in Pasewalk, for one year, he trained as a pilot disguised as a civilian.[1]

On 1 March 1934, Maltzahn was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) and began his service with the 4. and 2. Schwadron of 6. (Preußisch) Reiter-Regiment (4th and 2nd squadron of the 6th Prussian Cavalry Regiment) based in Pasewalk. On 1 October, he was transferred to the cavalry regiment in Schwedt, which was later renamed Kavallerie-Regiment 6 and was subordinated to the 1st Cavalry Division. Maltzahn transferred to the newly formed Luftwaffe on 1 April 1935. There, he was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 October and until 1 April 1936 received further flight training at the flight schools at Kitzingen and Würzburg. On 15 March 1937, Maltzahn was posted to the II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 334,[Note 1] this unit was later designated II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 133 and finally became known as II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing).[1]

World War II
von Maltzahn in Italy, July 1943

World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. During the Battle of Britain on 8 August 1940, Maltzahn claimed his third aerial victory over a Supermarine Spitfire. On 8 October, he was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 53.[2] Maltzahn reached 68 victories before leaving JG 53 in October 1943, assuming various staff positions. In February 1945 he was detached to 9 Fliegerdivision, until the end of the war. Maltzahn flew 497 missions and claimed 68 victories, 67 of them in the west.

Later life

After the war Maltzahn worked in agriculture and later in the "Amt Blank", a forerunner of the Ministry of Defence, on the reconstruction of the German Air Force. He was a candidate for the position of Inspector of the Air Force. He died of Hodgkin's lymphoma on 24 June 1953 in Düsseldorf at the age of 42. The street "Günther-von-Maltzahn-Straße" in Fürstenfeldbruck was named after him.[3]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 67 confirmed aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 33 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 34 on the Western Front, including one four-engined bomber.[4]

Awards

Promotions
1 March 1934:Leutnant (Second Lieutenant)[1]
1 October 1935:Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant)[1]
16 August 1939:Hauptmann (Captain)[1]
24 October 1940:Major (Major)[1]
18 June 1942:Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)[23]
1 June 1943:Oberst (Colonel)[23]

References

Notes
  1. For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  2. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 15:55.[5]
  3. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 13:15.[5]
  4. According to Matthews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[5]
  5. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 18:15.[13]
  6. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 18:50.[13]

Citations
  1. Stockert 2012, p. 174.
  2. Goss 2017, p. 94.
  3. "Günther von Maltzahn-Straße". strassenkatalog.de (in German). Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 802–803.
  5. Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 802.
  6. Prien et al. 2001, p. 386.
  7. Prien et al. 2002, p. 226.
  8. Prien et al. 2002, p. 228.
  9. Prien et al. 2002, p. 184.
  10. Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 982–983.
  11. Prien et al. 2003, p. 93.
  12. Prien et al. 2003, p. 94.
  13. Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 803.
  14. Prien et al. 2003, p. 95.
  15. Prien et al. 2004, p. 41.
  16. Prien et al. 2004, p. 42.
  17. Prien et al. 2010, p. 393.
  18. Thomas 1998, p. 55.
  19. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 293.
  20. Scherzer 2007, p. 525.
  21. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 302.
  22. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 55.
  23. Stockert 2012, p. 175.

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.
  • Goss, Chris (2017). Jagdgeschwader 53 'Pik-As' Bf 109 Aces of 1940. London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-1873-7.
  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
  • 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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 2—Der "Sitzkrieg"—1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 2—The "Phoney War"—1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-59-5.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-95-3.
  • 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.
  • Stockert, Peter (2012) [1996]. Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1] (in German) (4th ed.). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-9802222-7-3.
  • 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.

Further reading
  • Harper, Christine Froechtenigt (16 October 2018). “A Life for Germany: Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn, the German Air Force, and the Reinvention of the German Military Ethos.” Zenodo. Retrieved 22 December 2018.  http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1560670
Military offices
Preceded by
Major Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel		 Commander of Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik As
October 1940 – October 1943		 Succeeded by
Major Friedrich-Karl Müller
Preceded by
unknown		 Commander of Jagdfliegerführer Oberitalien
5 October 1943 – December, 1944		 Succeeded by
Oberst Eduard Neumann
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.