Hugo_Broch

Hugo Broch

Hugo Broch

German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient (born 1922)

Hugo Broch (born 6 January 1922) is a German Luftwaffe ace during the Second World War who is credited with 81 victories in 324 missions, all on the Eastern Front. He is a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and is one of two living recipients of the award.[1] The other recipient is a former Heer officer, Heinz Rafoth [de].[2]

Quick Facts Born, Allegiance ...

World War II

Broch is a former World War II Luftwaffe pilot.[3] In January 1943, he arrived on the Eastern Front to serve in World War II as part of Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing), and he claimed his first victory two months later.[4]

Later life

Following World War II, Broch became an employee with Agfa in Leverkusen.[5] He was a prolific autograph signer, and signed many memorabilia items.[6][7] At age 95, he fulfilled a long-held ambition to fly in a Spitfire, the two seat Tr.9 MJ627.[8] On 6 January 2022, he turned 100.[9]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Broch was credited with 81 aerial victories claimed in 324 combat missions. All of his victories were recorded over the Eastern Front.[10] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 81 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[11]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 35371". 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.[12]

More information Chronicle of aerial victories, Claim ...

Awards and decorations

Notes

  1. [N 1]
    This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[14] It is also not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[15]
  2. [N 2]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:09.[20]
  3. [N 3]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:42.[20]
  4. [N 4]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:41.[20]
  5. [N 5]
    According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:47.[20]
  6. [N 6]
    According to Obermaier and Schumann on 27 October 1943.[35][36]

References

Citations

  1. [1]
    Felton, Mark, Last Living Knight's Cross Holders 2023, retrieved 2023-10-14
  2. [2]
    Rafoth, Heinz, retrieved 2023-11-19
  3. [3]
    Harvey 2008.
  4. [4]
    Scutts 1992, p. 93.
  5. [5]
    Schumann & Mehwitz 2018, p. 40.
  6. [6]
    Keurajian 2016, pp. 37, 112–113.
  7. [7]
    Hagenberg-Miliu 2014.
  8. [8]
    "Luftwaffe ace flies in Spitfire". BBC. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  9. [9]
    "Hugo Broch, el último as alemán de la Segunda Guerra Mundial que aún vive" (in Spanish). Defensa Y Aviacion. 2022-06-11.
  10. [10]
    Spick 1996, p. 236.
  11. [11]
    Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 157–159.
  12. [12]
    Planquadrat.
  13. [13]
    Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 157–158.
  14. [14]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 270.
  15. [15]
    Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 157.
  16. [16]
    Schumann & Mehwitz 2018, p. 42.
  17. [17]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 276.
  18. [18]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 277.
  19. [19]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 271.
  20. [20]
    Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 158.
  21. [21]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 273.
  22. [22]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 274.
  23. [23]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 275.
  24. [24]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 280.
  25. [25]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 281.
  26. [26]
    Prien et al. 2012, p. 282.
  27. [27]
    Schumann & Mehwitz 2018, p. 43.
  28. [28]
    Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 158–159.
  29. [29]
    Schumann & Mehwitz 2018, p. 3.
  30. [30]
    Schumann & Mehwitz 2018, p. 8.
  31. [31]
    Schumann & Mehwitz 2018, p. 13.
  32. [32]
    Schumann & Mehwitz 2018, p. 15.
  33. [33]
    Schumann & Mehwitz 2018, p. 10.
  34. [34]
    Patzwall 2008, p. 58.
  35. [35]
    Obermaier 1989, p. 94.
  36. [36]
    Schumann & Mehwitz 2018, p. 34.
  37. [37]
    Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 61.
  38. [38]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 145.
  39. [39]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 245.
  40. [40]
    Schumann & Mehwitz 2018, p. ii.

Bibliography

  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  • Cronauer, Peter (2014). Der Falle entkommen. FLUGZEUG CLASSIC 2/2014 [Escaped from Trap. FLUGZEUG CLASSIC (German Magazine for Aviation History) No 2/2014] (in German). München, Germany: GeraMond Verlag.
  • 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.
  • Hagenberg-Miliu, Von Ebba (3 February 2014). "Abiturient arbeitet Hitler-Zeit auf". General-Anzeiger. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  • Harvey, Neil (4 December 2008). "Skies remembered: A World War II ace reunites with friends and foes". McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Roanoke Times. ProQuest 456657053.
  • Keurajian, Ron (2016). Collecting Historical Autographs: What to Buy, What to Pay, and How to Spot Fakes. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-6415-6.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims – Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
  • 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.
  • 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 (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/III—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/III—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-07-9.
  • 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.
  • Schumann, Ralf; Mehwitz, Rolf (2018). Hugo Broch - 'Ein Grünherzjäger' - Ritterkreuzträger-Profile Nr. 18 [Hugo Broch - 'Fighter of the Green Hearts' - Holders of the Knight's Cross - Profiles No. 18] (in German). Stengelheim, Germany: UNITEC-Medienvertrieb.
  • Scutts, Jerry (1992). JG 54: Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz: aces of the Eastern Front. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 978-1-85310-120-5.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
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