Walter Krupinski (11 November 1920 – 7 October 2000) was a German
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 ...
fighter ace in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
and a senior West
German Air Force officer during the
Cold War. He was one of the highest-scoring pilots in the war, credited with 197 victories in 1,100
sorties. He was called by his fellow pilots Graf Punski (
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
Punski) due to his
Prussian
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an e ...
origins. Krupinski was one of the first to fly the
Messerschmitt Me 262
The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed ''Schwalbe'' (German: "Swallow") in fighter versions, or ''Sturmvogel'' (German: "Storm Bird") in fighter-bomber versions, is a fighter aircraft and fighter-bomber that was designed and produced by the Germ ...
jet fighter in combat as a member of
''Jagdverband'' 44 (JV 44—44th Fighter Detachment) led by
Adolf Galland.
Born in the Weimar Republic in 1920, Krupinski joined the Luftwaffe in 1939 and completed his flight training in 1940. Flying with
''Jagdgeschwader'' 52 (JG 52–52nd Fighter Wing), he claimed his first victory in August 1941 and his total rose steadily against
Soviet Air Forces
The Soviet Air Forces ( rus, Военно-воздушные силы, r=Voyenno-vozdushnyye sily, VVS; literally "Military Air Forces") were one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces. The Air Forces ...
. In October 1942, Krupinski was awarded the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and was appointed squadron leader of 7. ''
Staffel'' (7th squadron) of JG 52 in March 1943. Krupinski was awarded the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
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' ...
for 174 aerial victories. He was then transferred, serving with
''Jagdgeschwader'' 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing) and was then given command of II. ''
Gruppe'' (2nd group) of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing) in 1944. Wounded in a flight accident in August, he commanded III. ''Gruppe'' of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) following his convalescence in September. He finished the war serving with
''Jagdverband'' 44 (JV 44—44th Fighter Detachment), flying the fly the Me 262, and surrendered to the Western Allies in May 1945.
After the war, Krupinski joined the German Air Force of the ''
Bundeswehr
The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...
'', serving until 1976 when he was forced into early retirement. Krupinski died in
Neunkirchen-Seelscheid
Neunkirchen-Seelscheid ( ksh, Nüngkirche-Seelscheidt) is a municipality in the Rhein-Sieg district in the southern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Beside the two principal places Neunkirchen and Seelscheid there are numerous smaller loc ...
on 7 October 2000.
Childhood, education and early career
Krupinski was born on 11 November 1920, in the town of
Domnau
Domnovo (russian: До́мново; german: Domnau; pl, Domnowo; lt, Dumnava) is a rural locality (a settlement) in Pravdinsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located near the Poland–Russia border, about southeast of Kaliningrad, the ...
in the
Province of East Prussia
East Prussia ; german: Ostpreißen, label=Low Prussian; pl, Prusy Wschodnie; lt, Rytų Prūsija was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773 to 1829 and again from 1878 (with the Kingdom itself being part of the German Empire from 1871 ...
, and grew up in Braunsberg, present-day
Braniewo
Braniewo () (german: Braunsberg in Ostpreußen, la, Brunsberga, Old Prussian: ''Brus'', lt, Prūsa), is a town in northern Poland, in Warmia, in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, with a population of 16,907 as of June 2021. It is the capital ...
, Poland. He was the first son of Friedrich Wilhelm Krupinski, a ''Obergerichtsvollzieher'' (
bailiff), and his wife Auguste, née Helmke. His two younger brothers were Paul and Günther. Paul joined the ''
Kriegsmarine'' and entered the
U-boat
U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare ro ...
service, and was killed in action on 11 November 1944 while serving on as an ''
Oberleutnant zur See
''Oberleutnant zur See'' (''OLt zS'' or ''OLZS'' in the German Navy, ''Oblt.z.S.'' in the '' Kriegsmarine'') is traditionally the highest rank of Lieutenant in the German Navy. It is grouped as OF-1 in NATO.
The rank was introduced in the Imp ...
'' (first lieutenant), which was sunk off the Norwegian coast by the British submarine .
![Braniewo Gdańska 17 19 Liceum Hosianum](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Braniewo_Gda%C5%84ska_17_19_Liceum_Hosianum.JPG)
When the naval branch of
Hitler Youth
The Hitler Youth (german: Hitlerjugend , often abbreviated as HJ, ) was the youth organisation of the Nazi Party in Germany. Its origins date back to 1922 and it received the name ("Hitler Youth, League of German Worker Youth") in July 1926. ...
in Braunsberg was founded in 1936, Krupinski joined the organization. There, he received nautical training and went on cruises, making him eligible for a nautical patent. That year, he also met Ilse Hartung, a doctor’s daughter, at a dance class whom he married in 1944. On 21 March 1939, Krupinski graduated with his ''
Abitur'' (diploma) from the
Lyceum Hosianum in Braunsberg. On 1 April 1939, Krupinski started his compulsory ''
Reichsarbeitsdienst
The Reich Labour Service (''Reichsarbeitsdienst''; RAD) was a major organisation established in Nazi Germany as an agency to help mitigate the effects of unemployment on the German economy, militarise the workforce and indoctrinate it with Nazi ...
'' (Reich Labour Service) in
Freystadt
:''"Freystadt" is also the German names for Kisielice and Kożuchów, Poland.''
Freystadt (; Northern Bavarian: ''Freystod'') is a town in the district of Neumarkt in Bavaria. It is situated near the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, 14 km southw ...
, present-day Kisielice.
On 1 October, Krupinski joined the military and received his basic training with ''Fliegerausbildungs-Regiment'' 10 (10th Aviators Training Regiment) based in
Neukuhren, present-day Pionersky, as a ''
Fahnenjunker
''Fahnenjunker'' (short Fhj or FJ, en, officer cadet; ) is a military rank of the Bundeswehr and of some former German armed forces. In earlier German armed forces it was also the collective name for many officer aspirant ranks. It was establi ...
'' (ensign). After six weeks of basic training, he was posted to the
''Luftkriegsschule'' 2 (Air War School 2). Krupinski made his maiden flight on 9 November. Over the next nine months, he learned to fly the
Focke-Wulf Fw 44
The Focke-Wulf Fw 44 ''Stieglitz'' ("Goldfinch") is a 1930s German two-seat biplane. An early design by Kurt Tank, it was produced by the Focke-Wulf company as a pilot training and sports flying aircraft. It was also eventually built under l ...
,
Heinkel He 72 and then the twin-engine
Fw 58. He was taught
blind flying on the
Junkers W 34
The Junkers W 34 was a German-built, single-engine, passenger and transport aircraft. Developed in the 1920s, it was taken into service in 1926. The passenger version could take a pilot and five passengers. The aircraft was developed from the J ...
. He also flew the
Arado Ar 65
The Arado Ar 65 was the single-seat biplane fighter successor to the Ar 64. Both looked very similar. The only major difference was the use of a 12-cylinder inline engine versus the Ar 64's radial. The wingspan was also increased.
The Ar 65 ...
and
Ar 66,
Bücker Bü 131 and
Bü 133, the
Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
The Fieseler Fi 156 ''Storch'' (, " stork") was a German liaison aircraft built by Fieseler before and during World War II. Production continued in other countries into the 1950s for the private market. It was notable for its excellent short fi ...
, the
Fw 56, the
Gotha Go 145
The Gotha Go 145 is a German World War II-era biplane of wood and fabric construction used by ''Luftwaffe'' training units. Although obsolete by the start of World War II, the Go 145 remained in operational service until the end of the War in Eu ...
, the
Heinkel He 46
The Heinkel He 46 was a German World War II-era monoplane designed in 1931 for the close reconnaissance and army co-operation roles. While it served with the ''Luftwaffe''s front-line units only briefly at the start of World War II, the He 46 serv ...
, the
He 51 and the
Henschel Hs 123
The Henschel Hs 123 was a single-seat biplane dive bomber and close-support attack aircraft flown by the German ''Luftwaffe'' during the Spanish Civil War and the early to midpoint of World War II. It proved to be robust, durable and effective e ...
. On 24 June 1940, Krupinski received his B2 pilot license.
Following two weeks of vacation, Krupinski completed his training at
''Jagdfliegerschule'' 5 (5th fighter pilot school) in
Wien-Schwechat to which he was posted on 1 July 1940. ''Jagdfliegerschule'' 5 at the time was under the command of the
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
flying ace and recipient of the
Pour le Mérite
The ' (; , ) is an order of merit (german: Verdienstorden) established in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia. The was awarded as both a military and civil honour and ranked, along with the Order of the Black Eagle, the Order of the Red Eag ...
Eduard Ritter von Schleich
Eduard-Maria Joseph Ritter von Schleich (9 August 1888 – 15 November 1947), born Schleich, was a high scoring Bavarian flying ace of the First World War. He was credited with 35 aerial victories at the end of the war. During the Second World ...
. One of his course mates was
Hans-Joachim Marseille
Hans-Joachim Marseille (; 13 December 1919 – 30 September 1942) was a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot and flying ace during World War II. He is noted for his aerial battles during the North African Campaign and his Bohemian lifestyle. One o ...
, who had been posted to the ''Jagdfliegerschule'' 5 in late 1939 but had not yet graduated out of disciplinary reasons. His three-roommates at the school were
Walter Nowotny
Walter Nowotny (7 December 1920 – 8 November 1944) was an Austrian-born fighter ace of the Luftwaffe in World War II. He is credited with 258 aerial victories—that is, 258 aerial combat encounters resulting in ...
,
Paul Galland
Paul Galland (3 November 1919 — 31 October 1942) was a Luftwaffe ace and brother of Luftwaffe aces Adolf Galland and Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland. He had claimed 17 aerial victories in 107 combat missions. Flying with ''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Sch ...
, the brother of
Adolf Galland, and Peter Göring, a nephew of the ''
Reichsmarschall
(german: Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches; ) was a rank and the highest military office in the ''Wehrmacht'' specially created for Hermann Göring during World War II. It was senior to the rank of , which was previously the highes ...
'' (Empire Marshal)
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring (or Goering; ; 12 January 1893 – 15 October 1946) was a German politician, military leader and convicted war criminal. He was one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party, which ruled Germany from 1933 to 1 ...
.
World War II
After completing his flight training at ''Jagdfliegerschule'' 5, Krupinski was sent to ''Ergänzungsjagdgruppe'' Merseburg, a supplementary training unit based in
Merseburg
Merseburg () is a town in central Germany in southern Saxony-Anhalt, situated on the river Saale, and approximately 14 km south of Halle (Saale) and 30 km west of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a dioces ...
, on 1 October 1940. On 15 October, he was then posted to the ''Ergänzungsstaffel'' (training squadron) of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing). The ''Ergänzungsstaffel'' was headed by ''Oberleutnant'' Werner Lederer and based at
Krefeld Airfield where the pilots received further training flying the
Messerschmitt Bf 109 E. At Merseburg, Krupinski met and befriended
Gerhard Barkhorn
Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn (20 March 1919 – 11 January 1983) was a German military aviator and wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was the second most successful fighter pilot of all time after fellow p ...
and
Willi Nemitz.
On 1 February 1941, Krupinski was transferred to 6. ''
Staffel''.
[For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see ]Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II
An organization or organisation (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), is an entity—such as a company, an institution, or an association—comprising one or more people and having a particular purpose.
The word is derived from ...
. 6. ''Staffel'' at the time was under the command of ''
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 ...
'' (squadron leader)
Rudolf Resch
Rudolf Resch (7 April 1914 – 11 July 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviation, military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, a fighter ace listed with 94 enemy aircraft shot down. A flying ace or fighter ace is a mi ...
. Resch later gave Krupinski the
nickname
A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...
"''Graf Punski''" ("Count Punski") or sometimes just "''Der Graf''" ("The Count"). The nickname had its origins in a late-night conversation between Krupinski and Resch. His father was a professor of Slavic studies in
Dresden
Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label= Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth ...
. When Krupinski tried to explain his East Prussian origin, Resch informed him that the ending in "-ski" or "-zky" denoted a landowner, or that it indicated a ''
Freiherr
(; male, abbreviated as ), (; his wife, abbreviated as , literally "free lord" or "free lady") and (, his unmarried daughters and maiden aunts) are designations used as titles of nobility in the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire ...
'' ("free lord"), and thus the lowest level in the medieval noble hierarchy in the East. The witty banter which then followed, led at first in his squadron, then in his group and eventually in the entire German fighter force to his nickname which stuck with for the rest of his life. His ''Staffel'' was subordinated to II. ''Gruppe'' of JG 52 which was headed by ''Hauptmann''
Erich Woitke
Erich Woitke (29 January 1912 – 24 December 1944) was a fighter pilot 'ace' serving in the German Luftwaffe during World War II.
Early life
Woitke was born 29 January 1912 in Mülheim, near Duisburg.
Military career
''Leutnant'' Woitke served ...
.
Operation Barbarossa
![Operation Barbarossa corrected border](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Operation_Barbarossa_corrected_border.png)
In preparation of
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa (german: link=no, Unternehmen Barbarossa; ) was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and many of its Axis allies, starting on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during the Second World War. The operation, code-named after ...
, the German invasion of the Soviet Union launched on 22 June 1941, II. ''Gruppe'' of JG 52, without a period of replenishment in Germany, was ordered to airfields close to the German-Soviet
demarcation line. While the ''
Gruppenstab'' (group headquarters unit) and 4. ''Staffel'' were based at
Suwałki
Suwałki ( lt, Suvalkai; yi, סואוואַלק) is a city in northeastern Poland with a population of 69,206 (2021). It is the capital of Suwałki County and one of the most important centers of commerce in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Suwałki ...
in northeastern Poland, 5. and 6. ''Staffel'' were transferred to a forward airfield at
Sobolewo. For the invasion, II. ''Gruppe'' of JG 52 was subordinated to the ''Geschwaderstab'' (headquarters unit) of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing). The ''Geschwader'' was part of the
VIII. ''Fliegerkorps'' commanded by ''
Generaloberst
A ("colonel general") was the second-highest general officer rank in the German ''Reichswehr'' and ''Wehrmacht'', the Austro-Hungarian Common Army, the East German National People's Army and in their respective police services. The rank was ...
''
Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen
Wolfram Karl Ludwig Moritz Hermann Freiherr von Richthofen (10 October 1895 – 12 July 1945) was a German World War I flying ace who rose to the rank of '' Generalfeldmarschall'' in the Luftwaffe during World War II.
Born in 1895 into a f ...
which supported the northern wing of
Army Group Centre.
II. ''Gruppe'' was ordered to relocate to
Soltsy
Soltsy (russian: Сольцы́) is a town and the administrative center of Soletsky District in Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Shelon River, southwest of Veliky Novgorod, the administrative center of the oblast. Populat ...
, west of
Lake Ilmen, on 5 August in support of the
16th Army and
Army Group North
Army Group North (german: Heeresgruppe Nord) was a German strategic formation, commanding a grouping of field armies during World War II. The German Army Group was subordinated to the ''Oberkommando des Heeres'' (OKH), the German army high comman ...
. Here, the ''Gruppe'' supported the fighting south of Lake Ilmen, and the German attacks on
Shlisselburg
Shlisselburg ( rus, Шлиссельбу́рг, p=ʂlʲɪsʲɪlʲˈburk; german: Schlüsselburg; fi, Pähkinälinna; sv, Nöteborg), formerly Oreshek (Орешек) (1323–1611) and Petrokrepost (Петрокрепость) (1944–1992), is ...
,
Leningrad
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
and the Soviet fleet at
Kronstadt
Kronstadt (russian: Кроншта́дт, Kronshtadt ), also spelled Kronshtadt, Cronstadt or Kronštádt (from german: link=no, Krone for " crown" and ''Stadt'' for "city") is a Russian port city in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal city ...
. On 16 August, Krupinski claimed his first aerial victory. At 05:48, he shot down an I-18 fighter, an alternative Luftwaffe name for a
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 (russian: Микоян-Гуревич МиГ-1) was a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II that was designed to meet a requirement for a high-altitude fighter issued in 1939. To minimize demand on strategic materia ...
, north of
Shimsk
Shimsk ( rus, Шимск, p=ʂɨmsk) is an urban locality (a work settlement) and the administrative center of Shimsky District of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Shimskoye Urban Settlement, the only urban settlement ...
. Since German forces had reached the proximity of Leningrad, II. ''Gruppe'' was ordered to
Lyuban, approximately to Leningrad and located on the road to
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
. The ''Gruppe'' stayed at Lyuban until 30 September, flying missions to Shlisselburg, Leningrad and
Mga. Fighting in this combat area, Krupinski claimed an
Ilyushin DB-3 bomber on 17 September and a
Polikarpov I-153
The Polikarpov I-153 ''Chaika'' (Russian ''Чайка'', "Seagull") was a late 1930s Soviet biplane fighter. Developed as an advanced version of the I-15 with a retractable undercarriage, the I-153 fought in the Soviet-Japanese combats in Mon ...
fighter on 21 September.
On 2 October, German forces launched
Operation Typhoon
The Battle of Moscow was a military campaign that consisted of two periods of strategically significant fighting on a sector of the Eastern Front during World War II. It took place between September 1941 and January 1942. The Soviet defensive ...
, the failed
strategic offensive
An offensive is a military operation that seeks through an aggressive projection of armed forces to occupy territory, gain an objective or achieve some larger strategic, operational, or tactical goal. Another term for an offensive often used by ...
to capture Moscow. In support of this offensive, II. ''Gruppe'' was moved to Stabna, located just north of Smolensk. Operating from Stabna, Krupinski shot down a
Tupolev SB
The Tupolev ANT-40, also known by its service name Tupolev SB (russian: Скоростной бомбардировщик – ''Skorostnoi Bombardirovschik'' – high speed bomber) and development co-name TsAGI-40, was a high speed twin-engined ...
near
Kholm fighter on 4 October. On 12 October, II. ''Gruppe'' was ordered to
Novodugino where it stayed for four days. The ''Gruppe'' then moved to an airfield west of
Kalinin, present-day Tver, on 16 October. The following day, Krupinski claimed his fifth aerial victory over an I-18 fighter. The ''Gruppe'' relocated to an airfield southeast of Kalinin on 22 October. The next day, Krupinski claimed a
Polikarpov R-5
The Polikarpov R-5 (russian: Р-5) was a Soviet reconnaissance bomber aircraft of the 1930s. It was the standard light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft of the Soviet Air Force for much of the 1930s, while also being used heavily as a civilian l ...
reconnaissance bomber shot down. On 4 November, II. ''Gruppe'' had moved to
Ruza. There, Krupinski claimed his last aerial victory during Operation Barbarossa on 28 November when he shot down an
Ilyushin Il-2
The Ilyushin Il-2 ( Russian: Илью́шин Ил-2) is a ground-attack plane that was produced by the Soviet Union in large numbers during the Second World War. The word ''shturmovík'' (Cyrillic: штурмовик), the generic Russian term ...
ground attack aircraft near
Solnechnogorsk
Solnechnogorsk (russian: Солнечного́рск, lit. ''sunny mountain town'') is a town and the administrative center of Solnechnogorsky District in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Moscow–St. Petersburg Highway and the Moscow ...
. On 30 November, II. ''Gruppe'' moved to
Klin
KLIN (1400 AM broadcasting, AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news talk information format. Licensed to Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, the station serves the Lincoln area. The station is currently owned by NRG Media and features programmin ...
located northwest of Moscow. While Soviet forces retook Klin on 15 December, Krupinski had been sent to
Insterburg
Chernyakhovsk (russian: Черняхо́вск) – known prior to 1946 by its German name of (Old Prussian: Instrāpils, lt, Įsrutis; pl, Wystruć) – is a town in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia, where it is the administrative center of C ...
on 13 December. Woitke had tasked him with organizing transportation of vital technical equipment to the ''Gruppe''.
Eastern Front
In late January 1942, II. ''Gruppe'' was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and sent to Jesau near
Königsberg
Königsberg (, ) was the historic Prussian city that is now Kaliningrad, Russia. Königsberg was founded in 1255 on the site of the ancient Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusades, and was name ...
for a period of recuperation and replenishment, arriving on 24 January 1942. In Jesau, the ''Gruppe'' received many factory new Bf 109 F-4 aircraft. On 14 April, II. ''Gruppe'' received orders to move to
Pilsen, present-day Plzeň in the Czech Republic, for relocation to the Eastern Front. The ''Gruppe'' had also received a new commander, Woitke had been transferred and was replaced by ''Hauptmann''
Johannes Steinhoff
Johannes "Macky" Steinhoff (15 September 1913 – 21 February 1994) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II, German general, and NATO official. He was one of very few Luftwaffe pilots who survived to fly operationally through the whole ...
. Following his home leave, Krupinski had rejoined his unit at Jesau. The ''Gruppe'' then moved to
Wien-Schwechat on 24 April before flying to Zürichtal, present-day Solote Pole, a village near the urban settlement
Kirovske in the
Crimea
Crimea, crh, Къырым, Qırım, grc, Κιμμερία / Ταυρική, translit=Kimmería / Taurikḗ ( ) is a peninsula in Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. It has a pop ...
. There, II. ''Gruppe'' participated in Operation ''Trappenjagd'', a German counterattack during the
Battle of the Kerch Peninsula
The Battle of the Kerch Peninsula, which commenced with the Soviet Kerch-Feodosia Landing Operation (russian: Керченско-Феодосийская десантная операция, ''Kerchensko-Feodosiyskaya desantnaya operatsiya'') ...
, launched on 8 May.
![II-JG52-ins](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/II-JG52-ins.svg)
Following a series of relocations, including a short deployment on the Crimea, the ''Gruppe'' was then ordered to the airfield named Kharkov-Waitschenko on 14 May and participated in the
Second Battle of Kharkov. On 16 May, the ''Gruppe'' again relocated moving to Artyomovsk, present-day
Bakhmut, where they stayed until 23 May supporting German forces fighting in the
Second Battle of Kharkov. On 23 May, the ''Gruppe'' was ordered to relocate to
Barvinkove
Barvinkove () or Barvenkovo () is a city in Izium Raion of Kharkiv Oblast of Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Barvinkove urban hromada, one of the communities of Ukraine. locally referred to as Barvinkove Population:
History
Barvinkove ...
. On 1 June, II. ''Gruppe'' moved to an airfield at Grakowo, located approximately halfway between
Kharkov
Kharkiv ( uk, Ха́рків, ), also known as Kharkov (russian: Харькoв, ), is the second-largest city and municipality in Ukraine. and
Kupiansk
Kupiansk ( uk, Куп'янськ, ) is a city in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Kupiansk Raion. It is also an important railroad junction for the oblast. Kupiansk hosts the administrative offices of Kupiansk Ur ...
. The main German objectives in that combat area were, breakthrough to the upper
Don
Don, don or DON and variants may refer to:
Places
*County Donegal, Ireland, Chapman code DON
*Don (river), a river in European Russia
*Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name
*Don, Benin, a town in Benin
*Don, Dang, a vill ...
and capture of
Voronezh
Voronezh ( rus, links=no, Воро́неж, p=vɐˈronʲɪʂ}) is a city and the administrative centre of Voronezh Oblast in southwestern Russia straddling the Voronezh River, located from where it flows into the Don River. The city sits on ...
. There, Krupinski claimed his first aerial victory in 1942 when he shot down a MiG-1 fighter northwest of Kupiansk on 4 June. The ''Gruppe'' stayed at Grakowo until 26 June when it moved to
Bilyi Kolodiaz. During this period, Krupinski claimed further aerial victories, a
Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3
The Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 (Лавочкин-Горбунов-Гудков ЛаГГ-3) was a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II. It was a refinement of the earlier LaGG-1 and was one of the most modern aircraft available to the Sov ...
fighter on 5, 14 and 24 June each, and a MiG-1 on 22 June, taking his total to twelve.
On 28 June, the ''
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...
'' initiated
''Fall Blau'' (Case Blue), the 1942 strategic summer offensive in southern Russia. The objective was to secure the
oil fields
A petroleum reservoir or oil and gas reservoir is a subsurface accumulation of hydrocarbons contained in porous or fractured rock formations.
Such reservoirs form when kerogen (ancient plant matter) is created in surrounding rock by the presence ...
of
Baku as well as an advance in the direction of
Stalingrad along the
Volga River
The Volga (; russian: Во́лга, a=Ru-Волга.ogg, p=ˈvoɫɡə) is the longest river in Europe. Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea. The Volga has a length of , and a catchme ...
, to cover the flanks of the advance towards Baku. Tasked with aerial support of this offensive was
''Luftflotte'' 4 (Air Fleet 4) to which JG 52 was subordinated. Following the German advance, Krupisnki had increased his number of aerial victories to twenty by the end of July. On 20 August, II. ''Gruppe'' reached the airfield at Tusov, approximately southwest of
Kalach-na-Donu
Kalach-na-Donu (russian: Кала́ч-на-Дону́), or Kalach-on-the-Don, is a town and the administrative center of Kalachyovsky District in Volgograd Oblast, Russia, located on the Don River, west of Volgograd, the administrative center o ...
on the western bank of the Don, from where the ''Gruppe'' operated in the combat area of Stalingrad. Flying from this airfield, Krupinski's number of aerial victories increased to 31 by end of August.
In September 1942, II. ''Gruppe'' was ordered into the
Battle of the Caucasus
The Battle of the Caucasus is a name given to a series of Axis and Soviet operations in the Caucasus area on the Eastern Front of World War II. On 25 July 1942, German troops captured Rostov-on-Don, Russia, opening the Caucasus region of t ...
, supporting
Army Group South
Army Group South (german: Heeresgruppe Süd) was the name of three German Army Groups during World War II.
It was first used in the 1939 September Campaign, along with Army Group North to invade Poland. In the invasion of Poland Army Group So ...
on the front over the
Caucasus
The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia (country), Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range ...
. Opposing it was the 4th and 5th Air Armies of the
Red Air Force
The Soviet Air Forces ( rus, Военно-воздушные силы, r=Voyenno-vozdushnyye sily, VVS; literally "Military Air Forces") were one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces. The Air Forces ...
. The ''Gruppe'' reached an airfield named Gonschtakowka located north-northeast of
Mozdok
Mozdok (russian: Моздо́к; os, Мæздæг, ''Mæzdæg''; Kabardian: Мэздэгу) is a town and the administrative center of Mozdoksky District of North Ossetia – Alania, Russia, located on the left shore of the Terek River, n ...
on the
Terek on 6 September. On 25 July 1942, the ''Staffelkapitän'' of 4. ''Staffel'', ''Oberleutnant'' Barkhorn, his friend from Merseburg, had been injured in combat. During his convalescence, Barkhorn was temporarily replaced by ''Leutnant''
Waldemar Semelka who was killed in action on 21 August. Command was then given to ''Leutnant'' Otto Leicher who was also killed in action. In consequence, Krupinski was transferred, taking command of 4. ''Staffel'' from 10 to 30 September when Barkhorn returned. During his tenure with 4. ''Staffel'', Krupinski had to
bail out
A bailout is the provision of financial help to a corporation or country which otherwise would be on the brink of bankruptcy.
A bailout differs from the term ''bail-in'' (coined in 2010) under which the bondholders or depositors of global sy ...
of his Bf 109 G-2 (''Werknummer'' 13537—factory number) due to engine failure on 17 September. Fighting in the
North Caucasus
The North Caucasus, ( ady, Темыр Къафкъас, Temır Qafqas; kbd, Ишхъэрэ Къаукъаз, İṩxhərə Qauqaz; ce, Къилбаседа Кавказ, Q̇ilbaseda Kavkaz; , os, Цӕгат Кавказ, Cægat Kavkaz, inh, ...
region in September, Krupinski increased his number of aerial victories to 47.
Following his 50th aerial victory, Krupinski was awarded the
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 Luft ...
() on 13 September 1942. On 25 October, his Bf 109 G-2 (''Werknummer'' 13861) was severely damaged in aerial combat resulting in a
forced landing
A forced landing is a landing by an aircraft made under factors outside the pilot's control, such as the failure of engines, systems, components, or weather which makes continued flight impossible. For a full description of these, see article on ' ...
destryoing the aircraft at the airfield near Soldatskaya, approximately north-northwest of
Prokhladny Prokhladny (russian: Прохла́дный; masculine), Prokhladnaya (; feminine), or Prokhladnoye (; neuter) is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia.
;Urban localities
*Prokhladny, Kabardino-Balkar Republic, a town in the Kabardino ...
. Two days later, he received the
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 (). By end October, Krupinski increased his number of aerial victories to 59. On 29 October 1942, Krupinski and ''Leutnant''
Rudolf Miethig
Rudolf Miethig (17 October 1921 – 10 June 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 101 aerial victories—that is, 101 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy ...
from 3. ''Staffel'' were awarded the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ().
While Soviet forces launched
Operation Uranus
Operation Uranus (russian: Опера́ция «Ура́н», Operatsiya "Uran") was the codename of the Soviet Red Army's 19–23 November 1942 strategic operation on the Eastern Front of World War II which led to the encirclement of Axis ...
, the operation which led to the
encirclement
Encirclement is a military term for the situation when a force or target is isolated and surrounded by enemy forces. The situation is highly dangerous for the encircled force. At the strategic level, it cannot receive supplies or reinforcemen ...
of
Axis
An axis (plural ''axes'') is an imaginary line around which an object rotates or is symmetrical. Axis may also refer to:
Mathematics
* Axis of rotation: see rotation around a fixed axis
* Axis (mathematics), a designator for a Cartesian-coordinat ...
forces in the vicinity of Stalingrad, Krupinski was in a hospital at
Maykop
Maykop (russian: Майкоп, p=mɐjˈkop mɐj'kop); ady, Мыекъуапэ, Mıéquapə ) is the capital city of the Republic of Adygea in Russia, located on the right bank of the Belaya River (a tributary of the Kuban River). It borders Ma ...
and had his
synovial bursa Synovial () may refer to:
* Synovial fluid
* Synovial joint
* Synovial membrane
The synovial membrane (also known as the synovial stratum, synovium or stratum synoviale) is a specialized connective tissue that lines the inner surface of capsule ...
removed following an injury sustained to knee. He was then flown to
Liegnitz
Legnica (Polish: ; german: Liegnitz, szl, Lignica, cz, Lehnice, la, Lignitium) is a city in southwestern Poland, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the Kaczawa River (left tributary of the Oder) and the Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 1975 ...
, present-day Legnica, for further treatment. On 12 December, he was met by his future wife Ilse Hartung in Berlin and the couple continued their voyage to Braunsberg. In January 1943, Krupinski learned that he had been transferred to ''
Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost'', a supplementary training unit for fighter pilots destined for the Eastern Front, as an instructor. At the time, the unit was commanded by ''Oberstleutnant''
Hermann Graf
Hermann Graf (24 October 1912 – 4 November 1988) was a German Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. He served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. He became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 200 aerial victories—that is, 200 ...
and was based at
La Leu Airfield near
La Rochelle
La Rochelle (, , ; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''La Rochéle''; oc, La Rochèla ) is a city on the west coast of France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. Wi ...
, France.
Squadron leader
![Bundesarchiv Bild 146-2004-0010, Ukraine, Günther Rall mit Kameraden](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-2004-0010%2C_Ukraine%2C_G%C3%BCnther_Rall_mit_Kameraden.jpg)
On 15 March, Krupinski was transferred back to JG 52 where was made ''Staffelkapitän'' of 7. ''Staffel''. The ''Staffel'' was subordinated to III. ''Gruppe'' under the command of ''
Major''
Hubertus von Bonin
Hubertus von Bonin (3 August 1911 – 15 December 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, a fighter ace listed with 77 enemy aircraft shot down. He claimed four victories in the Spanish Civil ...
. At the time, III. ''Gruppe'' was based at an airfield near
Kerch
Kerch ( uk, Керч; russian: Керчь, ; Old East Slavic: Кърчевъ; Ancient Greek: , ''Pantikápaion''; Medieval Greek: ''Bosporos''; crh, , ; tr, Kerç) is a city of regional significance on the Kerch Peninsula in the east of t ...
and was fighting over the
Kuban bridgehead
The Kuban Bridgehead (german: Kuban-Brückenkopf), also known as the "Goth's head position" (), was a German military position on the Taman Peninsula, Russia, between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Existing from January to October 1943, the ...
. On 1 April, III. ''Gruppe'' moved to
Taman where it was headquartered until 2 July. Krupinski claimed his first aerial victory of the year and 67th in total on 2 May when he shot down a
Yakovlev Yak-1
The Yakovlev Yak-1 (russian: Яковлев Як-1) was a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II. The Yak-1 was a single-seat monoplane with a composite structure and wooden wings; production began in early 1940.Angelucci and Matricardi 197 ...
fighter southwest of
Abinsk
Abinsk (russian: Аби́нск) is a town and the administrative center of Abinsky District of Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located southwest of Krasnodar, the administrative center of the krai. Population: 39,058 (2020), 23,000 (1968).
It was ...
Fighting over the Kuban bridgehead, Krupinski's aerial victories increased to 88 claims by the end of June.
JG 52 moved north in preparation for
Operation Citadel
Operation Citadel (german: Unternehmen Zitadelle) was a German offensive operation in July 1943 against Soviet forces in the Kursk salient, proposed by Generalfeldmarschall Fritz Erich Georg Eduard von Manstein during the Second World War on ...
and the
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk was a major World War II Eastern Front engagement between the forces of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union near Kursk in the southwestern USSR during late summer 1943; it ultimately became the largest tank battle in history ...
. III. ''Gruppe'' arrived in
Ugrim, located south of
Kursk
Kursk ( rus, Курск, p=ˈkursk) is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym rivers. The area around Kursk was the site of a turning point in the Soviet–German stru ...
, on 3 July. ''Hauptmann''
Günther Rall
Günther Rall (10 March 1918 – 4 October 2009) was a highly decorated German military aviator, officer and General, whose military career spanned nearly forty years. Rall was the third most successful fighter pilot in aviation history, ...
, who had already served as acting ''
Gruppenkommandeur'' (group commander) of III. ''Gruppe'' in February and March 1943, officially replaced Bonin in this position on 5 July 1943. That day, Krupinski claimed two LaGG-3 fighters shot down but was also severely injured in a landing accident at Ugrim. Krupinski collided with a Bf 109 taking off, causing his Bf 109 G-6 (''Werknummer'' 20062) to flip over, severely injuring him. He had sustained injuries to the head, including lacerations, a fracture of the
parietal bone
The parietal bones () are two bones in the skull which, when joined at a fibrous joint, form the sides and roof of the cranium. In humans, each bone is roughly quadrilateral in form, and has two surfaces, four borders, and four angles. It is nam ...
and a
rib. After immediate treatment, Krupinski was flown to
Heiligenbein, present-day Mamonovo. He was then taken to a hospital at Braunsberg for further convalescence. He returned to his unit on 6 August. During his absence, ''Leutnant''
Erich Hartmann
Erich Alfred Hartmann (19 April 1922 – 20 September 1993) was a German fighter pilot during World War II and the most successful flying ace, fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare. He flew 1,404 combat missions and participated in ...
, who went on to become the highest scoring fighter pilot of the war, temporarily commanded 7.''Staffel''.
On 18 August 1943, Krupinski was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 51st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. On 24 September, III. ''Gruppe'' moved to an airfield located just west of
Zaporizhzhia
Zaporizhzhia ( uk, Запоріжжя) or Zaporozhye (russian: Запорожье) is a city in southeast Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnieper River. It is the administrative centre of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Zaporizhzhia has a populat ...
. There, the ''Gruppe'' fought over the area between the lower
Dnieper
}
The Dnieper () or Dnipro (); , ; . is one of the major transboundary rivers of Europe, rising in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, before flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. It is the longest river of Ukraine and ...
and the Crimea during the
Battle of the Dnieper
The Battle of the Dnieper was a military campaign that took place in 1943 in Ukraine on the Eastern Front of World War II. One of the largest operations of the war, it involved almost 4,000,000 troops at a time stretched on a front.
Over four m ...
. On 29 August, Rall claimed his 200th aerial victory and ''Generaloberst''
Otto Deßloch immediately sent him on a lengthy home leave. In consequence, Krupinski was made acting ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of III. ''Gruppe'' until Rall resumed command on 1 October. There, Krupinski became an "
ace-in-a-day" on 10 October when he shot down four LaGG-3 and two
Bell P-39 Airacobra
The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat. The P-39 was used by t ...
fighters.
Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross
Following his 174th aerial victory, Krupinski was awarded the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
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' ...
() on 2 March 1944. He was the 415th member of the German armed forces to be so honored. At the time of the presentation of the Oak Leaves, his number of aerial of victories had increased to 177 claims. In addition, he had also been credited with the destruction of three
T-34
The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank introduced in 1940. When introduced its 76.2 mm (3 in) tank gun was less powerful than its contemporaries while its 60-degree sloped armour provided good protection against anti-tank weapons. The C ...
tanks on the ground.
Both Krupinski and Hartmann were ordered to the ''
Reichsluftfahrtministerium'' (Ministry of Aviation) in Berlin for the Oak Leaves presentation. Both arrived in Berlin on 23 March 1944 only to learn that the presentation would be made at the ''
Führerhauptquartier'' (Führer Headquarter). They were instructed to go the
Anhalter Bahnhof where they would take an overnight train to the ''Führerhauptquartier''. Here they met fellow JG 52 pilots Barkhorn, who was to receive the Swords to his Knight's Cross, and
Johannes Wiese
Johannes Wiese (7 March 1915 – 16 August 1991) was a German Luftwaffe pilot during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 133 enemy aircraft shot down in 480 combat missions. He claimed all of his victories over the Eastern Front, i ...
. Also present were
Kurt Bühligen,
Horst Ademeit
Horst Ademeit (8 February 1912 – 7 August 1944) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) during World War II. The Knight's ...
,
Reinhard Seiler,
Hans-Joachim Jabs
Hans-Joachim Jabs (14 November 1917 – 26 October 2003) was an officer in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. Jabs was the rare case of a pilot who found success in two distinctly different forms of aerial combat. He was one of the few pilo ...
, Dr.
Maximilian Otte
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarde ...
,
Bernhard Jope
Bernhard Jope (10 May 1914 – 31 July 1995) was a German bomber pilot during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. As part of Kampfgeschwader 40 (bomber wing), Jope flew missio ...
and
Hansgeorg Bätcher
Hansgeorg Bätcher (13 January 1914 – 23 April 2003) was a highly decorated pilot in the Luftwaffe and with more than 658 combat missions the leading bomber ace during World War II. He was a recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross wi ...
from the bomber force, and the Flak officer
Fritz Petersen, all destined to receive the Oak Leaves. Krupinski assumed that they were heading for the
Wolf's Lair
The ''Wolf's Lair'' (german: Wolfsschanze; pl, Wilczy Szaniec) served as Adolf Hitler's first Eastern Front military headquarters in World War II.
The headquarters was located in the Masurian woods, near the small village of Görlitz in Ost ...
in East Prussia but the train was heading for the
''Berghof'' in
Berchtesgaden. On the train, all of them got drunk on cognac and champagne. Supporting each other and unable to stand, they arrived at Berchtesgaden. ''Major''
Nicolaus von Below, Hitler's Luftwaffe adjutant, was shocked. After some sobering up, they were still intoxicated. Hartmann took a German officer's hat from a stand and put it on, but it was too large. Von Below became upset, told Hartmann it was Hitler's and ordered him to put it back.
Defense of the Reich
On 11 April 1944, the ''Staffelkapitän'' of 2. ''Staffel'' of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing), ''Oberleutnant'' Edgar Habermann, was
killed in action. In consequence, Krupinski was transferred from the
Eastern Front to Germany, succeeding Habermann in this capacity. At the time, the squadron is subordinated to I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 5, based at
Herzogenaurach Airfield and was fighting in
Defense of the Reich
The Defence of the Reich (german: Reichsverteidigung) is the name given to the strategic defensive aerial campaign fought by the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany over German-occupied Europe and Germany during World War II. Its aim was to prevent the d ...
. The ''Gruppe'' was commanded by ''Major''
Horst Carganico
Horst Carganico (27 September 1917 – 27 May 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviation, military aviator and fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 60 aerial victories achieved in over 600 combat missions. This figure includ ...
. Promoted to the rank of ''
Hauptmann
is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian, and Swiss armies. While in contemporary German means 'main', it also has and originally had the meaning of 'head', i.e. ' literally ...
'' (captain) on 1 May 1944, Krupinski was made ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of II. ''
Gruppe'' of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing). He succeeded ''Major'' Rall who had been wounded on 12 May.
After the Allied
invasion of Normandy in June 1944, the ''Gruppe'' was moved to Normandy to operate on low-level Army support missions. Krupinski claimed 10 Allied aircraft with JG 11. On 23 July, Krupinski married Ilse Hartung in Braunsberg. The two had known each other since 1936 and at the time were expecting their daughter Carola, born in September 1944. On 12 August, without enemy involvement on a relocation flight, the engine of his Bf 109 G-5 (''Werknummer'' 110244) had exploded in mid-flight near
Marburg
Marburg ( or ) is a university town in the German federal state (''Bundesland'') of Hesse, capital of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district (''Landkreis''). The town area spreads along the valley of the river Lahn and has a population of approxima ...
. Taking to his parachute, he sustained burns to his hands and face, requiring one month of hospitalization. This was his fifth injury of the war for which he was presented with the
Wound Badge
The Wound Badge (german: Verwundetenabzeichen) was a German military decoration first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918, which was first awarded to soldiers of the German Army who were wounded during World War I. Between ...
in Gold () in January 1945.
Following his convalescence, he was appointed ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of III. ''Gruppe'' of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) on 27 September 1944, replacing
Klaus Mietusch who had been killed in action on 17 September. At the time, JG 26 was under the command of ''Oberstleutnant''
Josef Priller. Caldwell described Krupinski's style of command as too loose. He stated that under his command, III. ''Gruppe'' performance as a fighter unit declined. Caldwall attributed this to Krupinski being "weary of the war". On 18 December, Krupinski was involved in an incident that led to the suicide of ''Oberleutnant'' Peter Reischer, ''Staffelkapitän'' of 11. ''Staffel''. Reischer had led a morning mission which was supposed to take the flight to the combat area over the
Ardennes. After the mission, Reischer reported that his flight had attacked
Allied armor near
Aachen and then had fought an aerial battle. In truth, his flight flew around
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony (german: Niedersachsen ; nds, Neddersassen; stq, Läichsaksen) is a German state (') in northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ...
, never approaching the combat zone. The lie was revealed by means of the
Y-Control System, a
radio
Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmi ...
guidance system, as one of the aircraft was equipped with the FuG16ZY, an airborne transceiver. Krupinski then ordered Reischer to lead a successful second mission or face a
court-martial for cowardice. The second mission was inconclusive and upon return, Reischer shot himself.
On 25 March 1945, III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 26 was disbanded. Priller, who had been transferred and then held a staff position with the ''
General der Jagdflieger
Inspector of Fighters (German language: ''Inspekteur der Jagdflieger'' redesignated to ''General der Jagdflieger'' (General of Fighters)) was not a rank but a leading position within the High Command of the German Luftwaffe in Nazi Germany
...
'' (Inspector of Fighters), had recommended to Krupinski to go to
Lechfeld where III. ''Gruppe'' of
''Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader'' 2 (EJG 2—2nd Supplementary Fighter Group) under the command of ''Oberstleutnant''
Heinrich Bär
Heinz "Pritzl" Bär (; 25 May 1913 – 28 April 1957) was a German Luftwaffe flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. Bär flew more than one thousand combat missions, and fought in the Western, Eastern and Mediterranean th ...
was based. EJG 2 was a
jet fighter
Fighter aircraft are fixed-wing military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat. In military conflict, the role of fighter aircraft is to establish air superiority of the battlespace. Domination of the airspace above a battlefield ...
training unit where pilots learned to fly the
Messerschmitt Me 262
The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed ''Schwalbe'' (German: "Swallow") in fighter versions, or ''Sturmvogel'' (German: "Storm Bird") in fighter-bomber versions, is a fighter aircraft and fighter-bomber that was designed and produced by the Germ ...
. Krupinski asked Bär if he and his pilots from JG 26 could be trained to fly the Me 262. Due to capacity reasons, Bär had to reject the request and Krupinski headed for the fighter pilot recreation facility at
Bad Wiessee.
''Jagdverband'' 44
Following the dismissal of ''Generalleutnant'' Adolf Galland as ''General der Jagdflieger'', Galland was given the opportunity by Hitler to prove his ideas about the Me 262 jet fighter. He had hoped that the Me 262 would compensate for the numerical superiority of the Allies. In consequence, Galland formed
''Jagdverband'' 44 (JV 44—44th Fighter Detachment) at
Brandenburg-Briest on 24 February 1945. Galland was also given a carte blanche with respect to staffing and began recruiting his pilots. On 31 March, JV 44 had relocated to
Munich-Riem. Galland drove to Bad Wiessee where Krupinski and Barkhorn were recovering. Both pilots accepted Galland's offer and joined JV 44.
At 3:00 pm on 24 April 1945, Krupinski was one of four pilots to take off from Munich-Riem to intercept a
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
(USAAF)
Martin B-26 Marauder
The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during World War II. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company.
First used in t ...
aircraft formation.
Günther Lützow
Günther Lützow (4 September 1912 – 24 April 1945) was a German Luftwaffe aviator and fighter ace credited with 110 enemy aircraft shot down in over 300 combat missions. Apart from five victories during the Spanish Civil War, most of his cl ...
, who failed to return from this mission, led the flight of four. Lützow's fate remains unknown to this date. Later that day, Krupinski led a flight of Me 262 fighters against
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. Damaged by the defensive fire of a bomber he believed to have damaged, he then fired at an escorting
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter. The two fighters
collided and the P-47 fell away. Krupinski did not claim an aerial victory.
Prisoner of war
On 4 May, JV 44 surrendered to U.S. forces at
Maxglan, near
Salzburg
Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label= Austro-Bavarian) is the fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872.
The town is on the site of the Roman settlement of ''Iuvavum''. Salzburg was founded ...
. Krupinski and other pilots were taken to a makeshift prisoner of war camp near
Bad Aibling
Bad Aibling () is a spa town and former district seat in Bavaria on the river Mangfall, located some southeast of Munich. It features a luxury health resort with a peat pulp bath and mineral spa.
History
Bad Aibling and its surrounding ...
. Five days later, a U.S. officer was looking for JV 44 pilots and Krupinski, Barkhorn,
Erich Hohagen
Erich Hohagen (9 January 1915 – 8 March 1990) was a German general in the Bundeswehr. During World War II, he served as a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe. A fighter ace, Hohagen was credited with 56 aerial victories and was a recipient of the Kn ...
,
Karl-Heinz Schnell
Karl-Heinz Schnell (10 January 1915 – 13 March 2013) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. For the fighter pilots, it was a quantifiable measure of skill and success. Schnell was ...
, and
Waldemar Wübke
This is a list of fighter aces in World War II from Germany. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. It is relatively certain that 2,500 German fighter pilot ...
stepped up. The men were then taken to
Heidelberg
Heidelberg (; Palatine German language, Palatine German: ''Heidlberg'') is a city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Neckar in south-west Germany. As of the 2016 census, its population was 159,914 ...
,
Wiesbaden-Erbenheim
Erbenheim is a borough of Wiesbaden, capital of the federal state of Hesse, Germany. It has about 10,000 inhabitants. Formerly an independent municipality, the settlement was incorporated into Wiesbaden on April 10, 1928. ''Militärflugplatz ...
and flown to England for interrogation at the
Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre at
Latimer near London.
In June, Krupinski was taken to
Southampton
Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...
and then with a ship to
Cherbourg where he arrived on 6 June. Upon arrival, he was beaten by a French soldier and
butted over the head resulting in a fractured skull. The injury was so severe that he was taken to the Luftwaffe hospital at
München-Oberföhring and to the US Army Hospital 1022 B at
Wasserburg am Inn
Wasserburg am Inn (Central Bavarian: ''Wassabuag am Inn'') is a town in Rosenheim district in Upper Bavaria, Germany. The historic centre is a peninsula formed by the meandering river Inn. Many Medieval structures remain intact, giving the city ...
on 24 July. He was discharged as a prisoner of war on 28 September.
Later life and service
Krupinski was picked up at Wasserburg by his friend Barkhorn who took him home to his family at
Tegernsee
Tegernsee is a town in the Miesbach district of Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the shore of Lake Tegernsee, which is 747 m (2,451 ft) above sea level. A spa town, it is surrounded by an alpine landscape of Upper Bavaria, and has an ...
. There, Krupinski learned that his wife and daughter had found refuge with her oldest sister in
Bad Salzschlirf
Bad Salzschlirf is a municipality in the district of Fulda, in Hesse, Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and ...
. Since Krupinski was still suffering from his head injury, the family lived off his wife’s income who was working as a waitress for the US garrison at Bad Salzschlirf.
Gehlen Organization
The former General
Reinhard Gehlen
Reinhard Gehlen (3 April 1902 – 8 June 1979) was a German lieutenant-general and intelligence officer. He was chief of the Wehrmacht Foreign Armies East military intelligence service on the eastern front during World War II, spymaster of the ...
had offered his services to the Americans in the end of 1945. Gehlen had served as chief of
''Fremde Heere Ost'' (FHO), the German Army's
military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that uses information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to assist commanders in their decisions. This aim is achieved by providing an assessment of data from a ...
unit on the
Eastern Front. The
Gehlen Organization was in need for people who were familiar with the air war. Krupinski was hired and helped gather information about the armed forces in the
Soviet occupation zone
The Soviet Occupation Zone ( or german: Ostzone, label=none, "East Zone"; , ''Sovetskaya okkupatsionnaya zona Germanii'', "Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany") was an area of Germany in Central Europe that was occupied by the Soviet Union as a ...
until 1953. There are many conflicting or missing bits of information about this stage of Krupinski's life. He had done little to lift this veil of uncertainty.
With the German Air Force
Krupinski entered the ''Amt Blank'' (Blank Agency), named after
Theodor Blank
Theodor Anton Blank (19 September 1905 – 14 May 1972) was a German politician of the CDU. He was one of the founders of the CDU in 1945.
Blank was born in Elz an der Lahn. He was the third of ten children of a carpenter. His family was R ...
, the forerunner of the German
Federal Ministry of Defense on 7 April 1953. On 19 November 1955, Krupinski joined the newly created
German Air Force, at the time referred to as the ''Bundesluftwaffe'', holding the rank of ''Major''. The first three ''Bundesluftwaffe'' pilots to receive jet aircraft training were Johannes Steinhoff, Krupinsk's former group commander during World War II,
Dietrich Hrabak
Dietrich "Dieter" Hrabak (19 December 1914 – 15 September 1995) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II. Following the war, he became a '' Generalmajor'' (major general) in the German Air Force of West ...
and
Kurt Kuhlmey
Kurt Kuhlmey (19 November 1913 – 30 April 1993) was a general in the German Air Force, West German Air Force. During World War II, he served as ground-attack aircraft pilot in the Luftwaffe, commanding two air wings. Kuhlmey flew over 500 comb ...
. All three of them were trained by the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
(USAF) in the USA. Krupinski, along with Barkhorn and Herbert Wehnelt, belonged to the second batch of pilots which were sent to England and were trained by the RAF. The three pilots were welcomed by the
German ambassador in the UK,
Hans von Herwarth
Hans-Heinrich Herwarth von Bittenfeld (14 July 1904 – 21 August 1999), also known as Johnnie or Johann von Herwarth, was a German diplomat who provided the Allies with information prior to and during the Second World War.
Biography
Herwarth ...
. Training began at
RAF Feltwell on 19 January 1956 on the
Percival Provost
The Percival P.56 Provost is a basic trainer aircraft that was designed and manufactured by British aviation company Percival.
During the 1950s, the Provost was developed for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a replacement for the Percival Prentic ...
, a propeller driven
trainer aircraft
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristi ...
. The pilots completed their refresher training on 23 March. Krupinski then advanced to the
de Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland Vampire is a British jet fighter which was developed and manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was the second jet fighter to be operated by the RAF, after the Gloster Meteor, and the first to be powered by ...
jet aircraft. Krupinski, Barkhorn and Wehnelt complete this training in May 1956. In June, the pilots trained on the
Hawker Hunter for ten weeks. On 18 June 1956, Krupinski, Barkhorn and Wehnelt received the RAF
aircrew brevet
Aircrew, also called flight crew, are personnel who operate an aircraft while in flight. The composition of a flight's crew depends on the type of aircraft, plus the flight's duration and purpose.
Commercial aviation
Flight deck positions ...
from
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...
George Philip Chamberlain in
Stanford Park.
Given the rank of major in 1957, Krupinski went to lead
''Jagdbombergeschwader'' 33 (JaBoG 33—Fighter-Bomber Wing 33) the first postwar German jet fighter wing. In 1966 Krupinski took command of the German forces of the ''Luftwaffen-Ausbildungs-Kommando'' in
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in New Mexico and Texas, with its headquarters in El Paso, Texas. Named in honor of LTC William Bliss (1815–1853), a mathematics professor who was the son-in-law of President Zachary Taylor, Ft. Bliss h ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
with the rank of brigadier general. In July 1969 Krupinski became commander of the 3rd Luftwaffe division. In 1971 he became chief of staff of
Second Allied Tactical Air Force
Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2 ATAF) was a NATO military formation under Allied Air Forces Central Europe tasked with providing air support to NATO's Northern Army Group (NORTHAG). 2 ATAF commanded all flying units based within its sector and ...
. In October 1974 Krupinski was promoted commanding officer of the airfleet. Due to the ''
Rudel Scandal'' he was forced into early retirement on 8 November 1976 holding the rank of ''
Generalleutnant
is the Germanic variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries.
Austria
Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO rank of ...
'' (lieutenant-general). Krupinski died in
Neunkirchen-Seelscheid
Neunkirchen-Seelscheid ( ksh, Nüngkirche-Seelscheidt) is a municipality in the Rhein-Sieg district in the southern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Beside the two principal places Neunkirchen and Seelscheid there are numerous smaller loc ...
on 7 October 2000. He received a
military funeral
A military funeral is a memorial or burial rite given by a country's military for a soldier, sailor, marine or airman who died in battle, a veteran, or other prominent military figures or heads of state. A military funeral may feature guards o ...
on 11 November with
Jörg Kuebart giving a eulogy.
Summary of career
Aerial victory claims
According to US historian
David T. Zabecki, Krupinski was credited with 197 aerial victories. Spick also list Krupinski with 197 aerial victories, claimed in approximately 1,100 combat missions. This figure includes 177 aerial victories claimed over the Eastern Front and 20 in the
western theatre of operations
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
*Western, New York, a town in the US
*Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that id ...
and includes one
heavy bomber
Heavy bombers are bomber aircraft capable of delivering the largest payload of air-to-ground weaponry (usually bombs) and longest range (takeoff to landing) of their era. Archetypal heavy bombers have therefore usually been among the larges ...
. Mathews and Foreman, authors of ''Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims'', researched the
German Federal Archives and found records for 197 aerial victory claims, plus five further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 178 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 19 on the Western Front, including one four-engined bomber and two victories with the Me 262 jet fighter.
Awards
*
Wound Badge
The Wound Badge (german: Verwundetenabzeichen) was a German military decoration first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918, which was first awarded to soldiers of the German Army who were wounded during World War I. Between ...
in Gold (January 1945)
*
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 Luft ...
(''Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe'') on 13 September 1942 as ''
Leutnant
() is the lowest Junior officer rank in the armed forces the 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 Ge ...
'' and pilot
*
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 27 August 1942 as ''Leutnant'' in the 6./''Jagdgeschwader'' 52
*
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia es ...
(1939)
** 2nd Class (13 May 1940)
** 1st Class (18 September 1941)
*
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
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' ...
** Knight's Cross on 29 October 1942 as ''Leutnant'' and pilot in the 6./''Jagdgeschwader'' 52
** 415th Oak Leaves on 2 March 1944 as ''
Oberleutnant'' and ''
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 ...
'' of the 7./''Jagdgeschwader'' 52
Notes
References
Citations
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Imperial War Museum Interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krupinski, Walter
1920 births
2000 deaths
Luftwaffe pilots
People from East Prussia
German World War II flying aces
Recipients of the Gold German Cross
Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United States
German Air Force pilots
Lieutenant generals of the German Air Force
Reich Labour Service members