''Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost'' (EJGr Ost)
[For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see ]Luftwaffe Organization
The Luftwaffe () was the aerial-warfare branch of the before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the of the Imperial Army and the of the Imperial Navy, had been disbanded in May 1920 in accordance w ...
(Supplementary Fighter Group, East) was a fighter pilot training unit of the German
Luftwaffe
The Luftwaffe () was the aerial warfare, aerial-warfare branch of the before and during World War II. German Empire, Germany's military air arms during World War I, the of the Imperial German Army, Imperial Army and the of the Imperial Ge ...
in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. It was formed on 27 January 1942 in
Krakau
Krakau is a municipality in the district of Murau (district), Murau in Styria, Austria. It was created on 1 January 2015 when the municipalities of Krakaudorf, Krakauhintermühlen and Krakauschatten were merged.http://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/L ...
and renamed ''Jagdgruppe Ost'' (JGr Ost) on 25 November 1942. Its main purpose was to provide specialized training for new fighter pilots destined for the
Eastern Front. Training was provided by experienced Eastern Front veterans, who were rotated in and out of this unit.
History
On 3 January 1942, the Luftwaffe ordered the disbandment of the various ''Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppen'', supplementary fighter groups attached to the various fighter wings. The order was carried out by 10 January and the subsequently released commanding officers and infrastructure was used to form new regular fighter groups as well as new training units. In consequence the following regular fighter groups were created:
* a new III. and IV. ''
Gruppe'' (3rd and 4th group) of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 1
* a new I. ''Gruppe'' (1st group) of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 3
* a III. ''Gruppe'' (3rd group) of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 5
Additionally, three new training units were also formed, these were the
''Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppen West'', ''Ost'' and ''Süd''. ''Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost'' was created from the ''Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe'' of
''Jagdgeschwader'' 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). In January 1942, ''Erg.''/JG 51 was based in
La Rochelle
La Rochelle (, , ; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''La Rochéle'') 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 Departments of France, department. Wi ...
, France. In February, ''Erg.''/JG 51 was moved to
Krakau
Krakau is a municipality in the district of Murau (district), Murau in Styria, Austria. It was created on 1 January 2015 when the municipalities of Krakaudorf, Krakauhintermühlen and Krakauschatten were merged.http://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/L ...
where it formed the nucleus of ''Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost''.
Commanding officers
Gruppenkommandeure
* ''Hauptmann'' Günther Beise, February 1942 – 12 May 1942
* ''Hauptmann''
Hubertus von Bonin, May 1942 – 22 May 1942
* ''Major'' Werner Andres, 23 May 1942 – 31 January 1943
* ''Oberstleutnant''
Hermann Graf, 1 February 1943 – April 1943
* ''Major'' Werner Andres, April 1943 – 30 June 1943
* ''Major''
Viktor Bauer
Viktor Bauer (15 September 1915 – 13 December 1969) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with ...
, 1 July 1943 – 4 November 1944
Notes
References
Citations
Bibliography
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Erganzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost
Luftwaffe Wings