Albin_Wolf

Albin Wolf

Albin Wolf

German World War II fighter pilot

Albin Wolf (28 October 1920 – 2 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 144 enemy aircraft shot down.[1] All of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Born in Neuhaus, Wolf grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Following graduation from school, he joined the Luftwaffe in 1940. In May 1942, Wolf was posted to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) and claimed his first aerial victory on 6 August 1942. Following his 117th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 November 1943. Promoted to an officer's rank, he was appointed squadron leader of 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of JG 54 and claimed his 144th and last aerial victory on 2 April 1944. That day, he was shot down. He was posthumously bestowed with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Early life and career

Wolf was born on 28 October 1920 in Neuhaus, present-day part of Selbitz in the district Hof, at the time in the district of Naila, Bavaria. He was the son of a wage labourer. After graduation from school, Wolf joined the Luftwaffe in 1940. Following flight training,[Note 1] he was posted to the 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) based in Jever in the fall of 1941.[Note 2] Holding the rank of Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer), he flew with this unit in Defense of the Reich until May 1942.[3]

World War II

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 22 June 1941, Germany had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, which initiated the Eastern Front. In May 1942, Wolf was transferred to the 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing), operating on the northern sector of the Eastern Front. At the time, he was made a wingman of Hans Beißwenger.[3] II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 54, to which 6. Staffel was subordinated, was one of the Luftwaffe units fighting in support of Army Group Centre, engaging in the Kholm Pocket and Demyansk Pocket.[4]

Wolf claimed his first aerial victory over an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, shot down on 6 August 1942 in the vicinity of Zubtsov during the Battles of Rzhev.[5] Following his fourth claim, filed on 30 September,[6] he was awarded Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) the next day.[7] On 23 March 1943, his number of aerial victories had increased to 18 following combat in the vicinity of Leningrad.[8] This resulted in the presentation of the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 30 April 1943.[3] On 12 July, during the Battle of Kursk, Soviet forces launched its counteroffensive named Operation Kutuzov. The next day, General Paul Deichmann dispatched the equivalent of eight Jagdgruppen to defend against the Soviet 15th Air Army. That morning, Wolf claimed a Soviet fighter aircraft shot down.[9] He achieved his aerial victories 37–40 on 2 August 1943. By 4 September 1943, he had accumulated 78 victories. In November 1943, Wolf was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 59th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[10] Wolf received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 117 victories on 22 November 1943.[11][12]

On 24 December 1943, following the German retreat during the Battle of the Dnieper (26 August – 23 December 1943), Soviet forces initiated the Zhitomir–Berdichev Offensive as part of the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive. The Soviet advance threatened the German airfield at Bila Tserkva and II. Gruppe of JG 54 was ordered to relocate to Tarnopol on 27 December. The transfer was attempted under adverse weather conditions. On 29 December, 24 aircraft took off but only one made it directly to Tarnopol. Many aircraft were lost that day, among them Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 531087—factory number) flown by Wolf who crash landed the aircraft and was severely wounded.[13] On 18 January 1944, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 6. Staffel, succeeding Oberleutnant Horst Ademeit who was transferred.[14]

Wolf's 135th aerial victory claimed on 23 March 1944 was also JG 54's 7000th of the war.[15] Wolf was killed in action 20 kilometers (12 miles) south-east of Pskov on 2 April 1944 at 09:30. During aerial combat at low altitude with a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter, his Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 551142—factory number) took a direct hit from an anti-aircraft shell.[16] He was posthumously promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 27 April 1944.[11][17][18] He was the 464th member of the German armed forces to be so honored. Stockert indicated that the Oak Leaves presentation date 27 April 1944 may be incorrect. Based on a list published by the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (High Command of the Air Force), the Oak Leaves were awarded on 25 April 1944.[19] Wolf was succeeded by Leutnant Heinrich Sterr as commander of 6. Staffel.[14]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Wolf was credited with 144 aerial victories.[20] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 142 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[21]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 18234". 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 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[22]

More information Chronicle of aerial victories, Claim ...

Awards

Notes

  1. [N 1]
    Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]
  2. [N 2]
    For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  3. [N 3]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-9.[34]
  4. [N 4]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:40.[34]
  5. [N 5]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 06:55.[23]
  6. [N 6]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-4.[34]
  7. [N 7]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:05.[34]
  8. [N 8]
    The authors Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock do not list this claim.[37] However, they date a possible claim of unknown type in the timeframe 18 September to 3 October 1943 which might correlate to this claim listed by Mathews and Foreman.[23][40]
  9. [N 9]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 06:43.[23]
  10. [N 10]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-4.[23]
  11. [N 11]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 05:44.[23]
  12. [N 12]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:30.[34]
  13. [N 13]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-1.[45]
  14. [N 14]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin La-7.[45]
  15. [N 15]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:47.[45]
  16. [N 16]
    According to Scherzer as pilot in the II./Jagdgeschwader 54.[51]
  17. [N 17]
    According to Scherzer on 25 April 1944.[51]

References

Citations

  1. [1]
    Spick 1996, p. 227.
  2. [2]
    Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. [3]
    Stockert 2007, p. 137.
  4. [4]
    Prien et al. 2006, p. 115.
  5. [5]
    Prien et al. 2006, pp. 127, 147.
  6. [6]
    Prien et al. 2006, p. 154.
  7. [7]
    Thomas 1998, p. 456.
  8. [8]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 270.
  9. [9]
    Bergström 2007, pp. 86–87.
  10. [10]
    Obermaier 1989, p. 244.
  11. [11]
    Obermaier 1989, p. 65.
  12. [12]
    Page 2020, p. 24.
  13. [13]
    Prien et al. 2012, pp. 262, 286.
  14. [14]
    Prien et al. 2022, p. 471.
  15. [15]
    Hannig & Weal 2004, p. 9.
  16. [16]
    Prien et al. 2022, p. 490.
  17. [17]
    Weal 2001, p. 108.
  18. [18]
    Mitcham 2007, p. 243.
  19. [19]
    Stockert 2007, p. 138.
  20. [20]
    Zabecki 2019, p. 329.
  21. [21]
    Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1440–1442.
  22. [22]
    Planquadrat.
  23. [23]
    Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1440.
  24. [24]
    Prien et al. 2006, p. 147.
  25. [25]
    Prien et al. 2006, p. 156.
  26. [26]
    Prien et al. 2006, p. 150.
  27. [27]
    Prien et al. 2006, p. 157.
  28. [28]
    Prien et al. 2006, p. 152.
  29. [29]
    Prien et al. 2006, p. 158.
  30. [30]
    Prien et al. 2006, p. 155.
  31. [31]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 268.
  32. [32]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 276.
  33. [33]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 269.
  34. [34]
    Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1441.
  35. [35]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 271.
  36. [36]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 272.
  37. [37]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 277.
  38. [38]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 273.
  39. [39]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 274.
  40. [40]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 278.
  41. [41]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 280.
  42. [42]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 275.
  43. [43]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 281.
  44. [44]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 282.
  45. [45]
    Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1442.
  46. [46]
    Prien et al. 2022, p. 476.
  47. [47]
    Prien et al. 2022, p. 477.
  48. [48]
    Patzwall 2008, p. 220.
  49. [49]
    Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 520.
  50. [50]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 451.
  51. [51]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 794.
  52. [52]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 82.

Bibliography

  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish] (2007). Kursk—The Final Air Battle: July 1943. Hersham, Surrey: Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1-903223-88-8.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
  • Hannig, Norbert; Weal, John (2004). Luftwaffe Fighter Ace. London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-1-908117-97-7.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). Eagles of the Third Reich: Men of the Luftwaffe in World War II. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3405-9.
  • 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.
  • Page, Neil (2020). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1943–45. Philadelphia, PA: Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-1-61200-879-0.
  • 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 Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—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/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
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  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
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  • 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.
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  • Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 "Grünherz". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 6. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-286-9.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2019). The German War Machine in World War II. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-44-086918-1.
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