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Ludwig "Lutz" Beckmann (26 October 1895 – 20 January 1965) was a German
Luftstreitkräfte
The ''Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte'' (, German Air Force)—known before October 1916 as (Flyer Troops)—was the air arm of the Imperial German Army. In English-language sources it is usually referred to as the Imperial German Air Service, alth ...
ace
An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the c ...
during World War I and a recipient of the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Ludwig Beckmann claimed eight aerial victories during World War I all on the
Western Front.
Beckmann joined
Jagdstaffel 6
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 6 was one of the original units of the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I.
History
The ''Jasta'' was founded on 25 August 1916 from Fokkerstaffel Sivry, itself an early at ...
in December 1917. On 21 February 1918, he transferred to
Jagdstaffel 48. He transferred once again, to
Jagdstaffel 56
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 56, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 56, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the ''Luftstreitkräfte'', the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score 63 aerial victories d ...
, on 11 March 1918. Two days later, he scored his first aerial victory. He would score eight confirmed victories before war's end.
[Franks et al 1993, p. 69.]
Beckmann commanded a special transport unit, IV/TG1, during World War II. He flew over 200
air bridge sorties into besieged
Demjansk
Demyansk (russian: Демя́нск) is an urban locality (a work settlement) and the administrative center of Demyansky District of Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located along the Yavon River. Municipally, it is incorporated as Demyanskoye Urban S ...
, Russia with this unit. He also commanded a
Junkers 52 unit, KGr zbV 500.
[
]
Awards
* German Cross
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 repe ...
in Gold on 16 July 1942 as ''Oberstleutnant
() is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Lieutenant colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway. The Swedi ...
'' in Kampfgruppe z.b.V. 500
* Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
The ''Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe'' (Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe) was a Luftwaffe award established on 27 February 1940 by ''Reichsmarschall'' Hermann Göring, the ''Reich'' Minister of Aviation and Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was of ...
on 19 October 1942 as ''Oberstleutnant'' and '' Gruppenkommandeur''
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 March 1943 as ''Oberstleutnant'' and commander of Kampfgruppe z.b.V. 500[Scherzer 2007, p. 210.]
References
Citations
Bibliography
* Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. ''Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918''. Grub Street, 1993. , .
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Beckmann, Ludwig
1895 births
1965 deaths
Military personnel from Dortmund
Luftwaffe pilots
German World War I flying aces
Luftstreitkräfte personnel
Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class
Recipients of the Gold German Cross
Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
People from the Province of Westphalia
German World War II pilots