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Hans-Karl Stepp
Hans-Karl Stepp (2 September 1914 – 12 December 2006) was a German ground attack pilot and wing commander during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, a grade of the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Early life and career Stepp was born on 2 September 1914 in Gießen as son to a University professor. Stepp studied eight semesters of law in Tübingen, Breslau and Munich before joining the Luftwaffe as ''Fahnenjunker'' on 6 April 1936. He was assigned to II. '' Gruppe'' of ''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 162 (StG 162—162nd Diver Bomber Wing) in July 1936 before attending the ''Luftkriegsschule'' in Dresden. Stepp received his commission to ''Leutnant'' (second lieutenant) on 1 January 1938. In 1939 he transferred back to II./StG 162 which became I./StG 76 on 1 May 1939. World War II He fought in the Invasion of Poland and Battle of France in the opening phase of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gießen
Giessen, spelled Gießen in German (), is a town in the German state (''Bundesland'') of Hesse, capital of both the district of Giessen and the administrative region of Giessen. The population is approximately 90,000, with roughly 37,000 university students. The name comes from ''Giezzen'', as it was first referred to in 1197, which refers to the position of the town between several rivers, lakes and streams. The largest river in Giessen is the Lahn, which divides the town in two parts (west and east), roughly north of Frankfurt am Main. Giessen is also home to the University of Giessen. In 1969, the town hosted the ninth ''Hessentag'' state festival. History Giessen came into being as a moated castle in 1152 built by Count Wilhelm von Gleiberg, although the history of the community in the northeast and in today's suburb called "Wieseck" dates back to 775. The town became part of Hesse-Marburg in 1567, passing to Hesse-Darmstadt in 1604. The University of Giessen was founded i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leutnant
() is the lowest Junior officer rank in the armed forces the German (language), German-speaking of Germany (Bundeswehr), Austrian Armed Forces, and military of Switzerland. History The German noun (with the meaning "" (in English "deputy") from Middle High German «locum tenens» (in English "place holder") was derived from the French word about 1500. In most German-speaking armies it is the lowest officer rank (in German-speaking navies (English "Lieutenant at sea")). In the German Bundeswehr the ranks and belong to the rank group. In some other armed forces (such as the former National People's Army) there is the lower grade of Unterleutnant. From about 1500 until the middle of the 17th century the designation of was commonly used for any deputy to a commanding officer. So at the army level there was the appointment of (English "lieutenant-general"), at the regimental level there was that of (English "lieutenant-colonel"), and at the company level the was deputy to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
StG 1
''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 1 (StG 1 - Dive Bomber Wing 1) was a Luftwaffe dive bomber wing during World War II. StG 1 was formed in May 1939 and remained active until October 1943, when it was renamed and reorganised into Schlachtgeschwader 1 (SG 1). It operated the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive-bomber exclusively in the combat role. StG 1 served the German war effort on every front including limited ''Bandenbekämpfung'' operations in support of Wehrmacht and Nazi paramilitary forces. Formation StG 1 was formed at the close of the 1930s as the Luftwaffe rushed to form and reorganise its combat units. I./StG 1 was formed first, not the ('command') ('squadron'), on 1 May 1939 in Insterburg, East Prussia. Major Werner Rentsch was appointed as the group's first commanding officer. The group was created by renaming I./StG 160. It remained there with all 38 Ju 87s serviceable, and two of its three Dornier Do 17Ps operational for reconnaissance. Stab./StG 1 was formed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rechlin–Lärz Airfield
Rechlin–Lärz Airfield (German: ''Flugplatz Rechlin-Lärz'') is an airfield in the village of Rechlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. The airport is not used for scheduled traffic but features general aviation and is home to other leisure activities as well. Additionally, the music festival Fusion Festival takes place here. History The airport was once part of the Third Reich era's Luftwaffe main testing ground, or ''Erprobungsstelle'' for new aircraft designs, the heart of which was actually centered on two large turf areas some due north (at ) of the 21st century era paved-runway airport facility. The core airfield of the Luftwaffe facility took the form of a typical pre-World War II aerodrome, with no clearly defined "runways", being bounded ba roughly hexagonal-layout perimeter roadthat still exists today, defining an area approximately across within it of about 234.3 hectares, or 578.9 acres, which today is the site of the annual Fusion music festival. The ''R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Knight's Cross Of The Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight's Cross was awarded for a wide range of reasons and across all ranks, from a senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in battle to a low-ranking soldier for a single act of military valour. Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the : the (army), the (navy) and the (air force), as well as the , the Reich Labour Service and the (German People storm militia), along with personnel from other Axis powers. The award was instituted on 1 September 1939, at the onset of the German invasion of Poland. The award was created to replace the many older merit and bravery neck awards of the German Empire. A higher grade, the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, was instituted in 1940. In 1941, two higher grades ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
German Cross In Gold
The War Order of the German Cross (german: Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or ''Deutsches Kreuz'', was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repeated acts of bravery or military leadership; and in silver for distinguished non-combat war service. The German Cross in Gold ranked higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, while the German Cross in Silver ranked higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords. Eligibility The German Cross was issued in two versions: gold and silver (the color of the laurel wreath around the swastika). The gold version was awarded to military personnel for repeated acts of bravery in combat, or of military leadership, with 6–8 acts as a rule of thumb. The silver version was awarded for multiple distinguished services in the war effort an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Staffelkapitän
''Staffelkapitän'' is a position (not a rank) in flying units ( ''Staffel'') of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a ''Staffelkapitän'' is of ''Oberstleutnant'' or ''Major'' rank. In the ''Luftwaffe'' of the Wehrmacht the ''Staffelkapitän'' usually held the rank of an ''Oberleutnant'' or ''Hauptmann''. For the first weeks of his assignment he was known as a ''Staffelführer'' (Squadron Leader), until he was confirmed in this position. If a Non-commissioned officer was tasked with this role, he was also referred to as a ''Staffelführer''. This title is not to be confused with ''Staffelführer'', a rank in the SS. See also *Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945) Between 1933 and 1945, the organization of the Luftwaffe underwent several changes. Originally, the German military high command, for their air warfare forces, decided to use an organizational structure similar to the army and navy, treating the ... Refere ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a Theater (warfare), theatre of conflict between the European Axis powers against the Soviet Union (USSR), Polish Armed Forces in the East, Poland and other Allies of World War II, Allies, which encompassed Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Northeast Europe (Baltic states, Baltics), and Southeast Europe (Balkans) from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945. It was known as the Great Patriotic War (term), Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union – and still is in some of its successor states, while almost everywhere else it has been called the ''Eastern Front''. In present-day German and Ukrainian historiography the name German-Soviet War is typically used. The battles on the Eastern Front of the Second World War constituted the largest military confrontation in history. They were characterised by unprecedented ferocity and brutality, wholesale destruction, mass deportations, and immense loss of life due to combat, starvation, expos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oberleutnant
() is the highest lieutenant officer rank in the German-speaking armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr), the Austrian Armed Forces, and the Swiss Armed Forces. Austria Germany In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "senior lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active-duty service. is used by both the German Army and the German Air Force. In the NATO military comparison system, a German is the equivalent of a First lieutenant in the Army/Air Forces of Allied nations. ;Other uses The equivalent naval rank is ''Oberleutnant zur See''. In Nazi Germany, within the SS, SA and Waffen-SS, the rank of Obersturmführer was considered the equivalent of an in the German Army. National People's Army In the GDR National People's Army (NPA) the rank was the highest lieutenant rank, until 1990. This was in reference to Soviet military doctrine and in line with other armed forces of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Honour Goblet Of The Luftwaffe
The ''Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe'' (Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe) was a Luftwaffe award established on 27 February 1940 by Hermann Göring, ''Reichsmarschall'' Hermann Göring, the ''Reich'' Minister of Aviation and Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the ''Ehrenpokal "für Besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg"'', or Honor Goblet "For Special Achievement in the Air War". The award was given only to flying personnel (pilots and aircrew). Recipients' named were published in the periodical ''Ehrenliste der Deutschen Luftwaffe'' (Honor List of the German Air Force). German archives indicate that approximately 58,000 were given "on paper", but only 13–15,000 goblets were actually awarded according to the records. The first airman to receive the goblet was ''Oberstleutnant'' Johann Schalk on 21 August 1940. The award was made to aircrew who had already been awarded the Iron Cross First Class but whose performance was not considered to merit the German Cross or K ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stab (Luftwaffe Designation)
The German language term ''Stab'' (literal translation: " staff") was used during World War II to designate a headquarters unit of the German ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). There were ''Stab'' units at the level of a '' Gruppe'' or ''Geschwader'' – units that were equivalent to wings and groups in the air forces of the English-speaking world. ''Stab'' units directly controlled aircraft as well as controlling those belonging to subordinate units. These command units used the mandated blue or green "staff aircraft" colour for the third character (the individual aircraft's letter) of their alphanumeric ''Geschwaderkennung'' wing code, to distinguish their aircraft from the rest of air units in the same unit. These units were divided in the following form, for the fourth and last character normally used to distinguish individual '' Staffeln'' (squadrons) from the letter "H" onwards in Luftwaffe wing codes: *''Geschwader Stab'' = A (third letter blue) *''Stab I Gruppe'' ("Staff U ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sturzkampfgeschwader 2
''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2 (StG 2) ''Immelmann'' was a Luftwaffe dive bomber-wing of World War II. It was named after the World War I aviator Max Immelmann. It served until its dissolution in October 1943. The wing operated the Junkers Ju 87 ''Stuka'' exclusively. Formed on 1 May 1939, StG 2 fought in the German Invasion of Poland in September 1939 which started World War II. It formed part of Luftflotte 2 in May and June 1940 and supported Army Group A in the Battle of Belgium and Battle of France. StG 2 remained with Luftflotte 2 during the Battle of Britain, before transferring to southern Europe to participate in the Battle of the Mediterranean. In the south it mainly served in the maritime interdiction role as it bombarded Malta from January to March 1941. The wing then fought in the German invasion of Yugoslavia and Battle of Crete in April 1941 in the maritime, air interdiction, counter-air and close air support role alongside StG 1, StG 3 and StG 77. The Ju ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
