Max Ibel (1 January 1896 – 19 March 1981) is credited as one of the creators of the

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Career

Max Ibel was born in 1896 in

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Ha ...

and joined the Army as a cadet in July 1915, serving with the 1st Bavarian Pioneer battalion, and was commissioned as an officer in August 1916. When the war ended he remained in the German Army, serving with the First Engineer Battalion in Munich, becoming adjutant in mid 1919. In July 1928 he left the Army for pilot training at the

Lipetsk fighter-pilot school The Lipetsk fighter-pilot school (german: Kampffliegerschule Lipezk), also known as WIWUPAL from its German codename ''Wissenschaftliche Versuchs- und Personalausbildungsstation'' "Scientific Experimental and Personnel Training Station", was a secr ...

in the Soviet Union, where Luftwaffe aircrew were secretly trained. After returning to Germany, in May 1932 Ibel was promoted to Hauptmann, and served as an Instructor with the flight school (''

Jagdfliegerschule The German Luftwaffe of the Wehrmacht had seven ''Jagdfliegerschulen'' or Fighter Pilot Schools. Jagdfliegerschule Werneuchen or Jagdfliegerschule 1 Jagdfliegerschule Werneuchen was formed on 1 November 1937 in Werneuchen consisting of 3 ''Staf ...

'') in Schleissheim. In November 1935 he was promoted to Major. In May 1936, he was transferred to command ''Jagdgeschwader'' 134 in Dortmund. From December 1936 to February 1937, Ibel commanded the I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 232 in Bernburg and in March commanded I./ ''Jagdgeschwader'' 135. In November 1938, he was commander of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 231 which was later renamed ''Jagdgeschwader'' 3. Ibel then was '' Geschwaderkommodore'' of the new ''Jagdgeschwader'' 27 (JG 27), and led JG 27 successfully during the Battle of France and the

Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain, also known as the Air Battle for England (german: die Luftschlacht um England), was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defende ...

until October 1940. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 August 1940. In October 1940, Oberst Ibel became ''Kommandeur'' of ''

4'' (Fighter Pilot School), where he remained until June 1941, when he was promoted to Generalmajor, and appointed Jagdfliegerführer 3 (Jafü 3) in occupied France. In February 1942 Ibel acted as liaison officer with the Kriegsmarine during the

Channel Dash The Channel Dash (german: Unternehmen Zerberus, Operation Cerberus) was a German naval operation during the Second World War. ( Cerberus), a three-headed dog of Greek mythology who guards the gate to Hades. A (German Navy) squadron comprisin ...

when the Luftwaffe provided effective air cover over the battle cruisers ''Scharnhorst'' and ''Gneisenau'', and heavy cruiser ''Prinz Eugen'' passage through the

English Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" (Cotentinais) or ( Jèrriais), (Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kana ...

. In December 1942, he became the ''Jagdfliegerführer West'', and in October 1943 assumed command of 2. ''Jagd-Division'', located in northern Germany. During the last two years of the War Ibel was commander of 2. Jagd-Division and at the very end of the War he became Inspector of Jet operations. After time as a POW with the Western Allies, Ibel was released in 1948. He rejoined the German Air Force in October 1957 as a Brigadier General.

Awards

* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 August 1940 as ''

Oberst ''Oberst'' () is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway. The Swedish ...

'' and '' Geschwaderkommodore'' of JG 27Fellgiebel 2000, p. 239.

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ibel, Max 1896 births 1981 deaths Luftwaffe World War II generals Bundeswehr generals German World War II pilots German Army personnel of World War I Military personnel from Munich People from the Kingdom of Bavaria Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Burials at Munich Waldfriedhof Brigadier generals of the German Air Force Major generals of the Luftwaffe