Read Online Eagles of the Third Reich: Men of the Luftwaffe in WWII (Stackpole Military History Series) by Samuel W. Mitcham - Free Book Online
Authors: Samuel W. Mitcham
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western front in 1939.
Moelders shot down his first Allied airplane on September 20, 1939, and soon distinguished himself both as a leader and an aviator. He was the first pilot of World War II to score twenty victories and the first pilot in history to score 100 victories. During his career he was shot down and captured by the French. He was wounded in the knee during the Battle of Britain and forced to crash-land in France as a result.
Promoted to major on July 19, 1940, and lieutenant colonel on October 27, 1940, he led the 51st Fighter Wing in the latter part of the Battle of Britain. He had sixty-eight kills when he led his Geschwader across the Soviet frontier on June 22, 1941.
Wemer Moelders was a great wing commander. Because he had had problems in his early flying career, he understood the problems of his younger pilots and helped them master their airplanes and bring out the best of their abilities. In return, they idolized him and nicknamed him “Father,” despite his youth. Hitler, Goering, and the entire Luftwaffe hierarchy held him in the highest esteem. Everyone respected him—even the enemy. He was promoted to colonel in 1941 and was awarded the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, a decoration roughly equivalent to the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Shortly after Moelders scored his 115th victory, Goering made him the first General der Jagdwaffe —general of fighter forces. He had become the youngest general in the Wehrmacht, but his Berlin desk was seldom occupied. Moelders was busy on the eastern front, directing fighters and Stukas in the Crimea. In November 1941, he was summoned back to the capital to join the Honor Guard at Ernst Udet’s funeral.
General Moelders was in a hurry to get back to Berlin, not only to attend the funeral but also to obtain more fuel, ammunition, and repair parts for his depleted squadrons. On November 11, 1941, he boarded a He-111 bomber and, despite bad weather and the objections of his pilot, Moelders insisted that they proceed at once to Berlin. Near Breslau, one of their engines failed. Moelders then ordered the pilot to land at Schmeidefeld on the edge of the city. As the plane made its final approach, the second engine quit and the He-111 smashed into the ground. Moelders, who was sitting in the copilot’s seat, died instantly of a broken neck. The pilot, Lieutenant Knobe, a veteran of the Condor Legion, died on the way to the hospital, and the head mechanic was also killed. Moelders’ aide and the radio operator survived. 57
Werner Moelders was described by a colleague as being a man whose “happy disposition, an incomparable charm, and the urge to get the best out of life made it impossible to dislike him. He was a real person with a warm heart, talented, and with a natural sense of humor.” 58 He was also known for standing up to the Nazi party, especially when it attacked the Catholic Church and her institutions.
The entire nation mourned the dashing young aviator and his old wing was designated JG 51 “Moelders” in his honor. Even after the war the Germans fondly remembered their hero. In 1969 the West German Air Force named a missile-firing destroyer in his honor. 59 He was succeeded as general of fighter forces by Adolf Galland, the commander of JG 26.
Meanwhile, on September 10, Ewald von Kleist began his advance east of Kiev, in an attempt to encircle the city. He experienced considerably less resistance than did Guderian. The two linked up at Romny, 124 miles east of Kiev, on September 14. Kiev fell to Field Marshal von Reichenau’s Sixth Army on the 18th, and by September 26 the greatest battle of annihilation of the war was over. Stalin had lost 665,000 men, 3,718 guns, and 884 tanks captured.
Elsewhere on the eastern front, Keller’s reinforced 1st Air Fleet supported Army Group North’s drive on Leningrad. The Red Air Force was already beginning to recover and continued to commit fresh units to the battle. By August
Moelders shot down his first Allied airplane on September 20, 1939, and soon distinguished himself both as a leader and an aviator. He was the first pilot of World War II to score twenty victories and the first pilot in history to score 100 victories. During his career he was shot down and captured by the French. He was wounded in the knee during the Battle of Britain and forced to crash-land in France as a result.
Promoted to major on July 19, 1940, and lieutenant colonel on October 27, 1940, he led the 51st Fighter Wing in the latter part of the Battle of Britain. He had sixty-eight kills when he led his Geschwader across the Soviet frontier on June 22, 1941.
Wemer Moelders was a great wing commander. Because he had had problems in his early flying career, he understood the problems of his younger pilots and helped them master their airplanes and bring out the best of their abilities. In return, they idolized him and nicknamed him “Father,” despite his youth. Hitler, Goering, and the entire Luftwaffe hierarchy held him in the highest esteem. Everyone respected him—even the enemy. He was promoted to colonel in 1941 and was awarded the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, a decoration roughly equivalent to the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Shortly after Moelders scored his 115th victory, Goering made him the first General der Jagdwaffe —general of fighter forces. He had become the youngest general in the Wehrmacht, but his Berlin desk was seldom occupied. Moelders was busy on the eastern front, directing fighters and Stukas in the Crimea. In November 1941, he was summoned back to the capital to join the Honor Guard at Ernst Udet’s funeral.
General Moelders was in a hurry to get back to Berlin, not only to attend the funeral but also to obtain more fuel, ammunition, and repair parts for his depleted squadrons. On November 11, 1941, he boarded a He-111 bomber and, despite bad weather and the objections of his pilot, Moelders insisted that they proceed at once to Berlin. Near Breslau, one of their engines failed. Moelders then ordered the pilot to land at Schmeidefeld on the edge of the city. As the plane made its final approach, the second engine quit and the He-111 smashed into the ground. Moelders, who was sitting in the copilot’s seat, died instantly of a broken neck. The pilot, Lieutenant Knobe, a veteran of the Condor Legion, died on the way to the hospital, and the head mechanic was also killed. Moelders’ aide and the radio operator survived. 57
Werner Moelders was described by a colleague as being a man whose “happy disposition, an incomparable charm, and the urge to get the best out of life made it impossible to dislike him. He was a real person with a warm heart, talented, and with a natural sense of humor.” 58 He was also known for standing up to the Nazi party, especially when it attacked the Catholic Church and her institutions.
The entire nation mourned the dashing young aviator and his old wing was designated JG 51 “Moelders” in his honor. Even after the war the Germans fondly remembered their hero. In 1969 the West German Air Force named a missile-firing destroyer in his honor. 59 He was succeeded as general of fighter forces by Adolf Galland, the commander of JG 26.
Meanwhile, on September 10, Ewald von Kleist began his advance east of Kiev, in an attempt to encircle the city. He experienced considerably less resistance than did Guderian. The two linked up at Romny, 124 miles east of Kiev, on September 14. Kiev fell to Field Marshal von Reichenau’s Sixth Army on the 18th, and by September 26 the greatest battle of annihilation of the war was over. Stalin had lost 665,000 men, 3,718 guns, and 884 tanks captured.
Elsewhere on the eastern front, Keller’s reinforced 1st Air Fleet supported Army Group North’s drive on Leningrad. The Red Air Force was already beginning to recover and continued to commit fresh units to the battle. By August
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