Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn

Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn (20 October 1910 – 24 June 1953) was a German military aviator and wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 68 enemy aircraft shot down in more than 500 combat missions. He claimed 34 aerial victories over the Eastern Front and 34 aerial victories over the Western Front, including one four-engine bomber. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, which was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Maltzahn.

Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
Maltzahn as a Major
Born(1910-10-20)20 October 1910
Wodarg, Province of Pomerania
Died24 June 1953(1953-06-24) (aged 42)
Düsseldorf
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1931–1945
RankOberst (Colonel)
UnitJG 134, JG 53
Commands heldJG 53
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Early life and career

Maltzahn was born on 20 October 1910 in Wodarg, present-day a borough of Werder in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, at the time a Province of Pomerania as part of the German Empire.[1] According to Bryan Mark Rigg, Maltzahn was a quarter-Jew by the Nuremberg Laws.[2]

On 1 April 1931, he was accepted for military in the Reichswehr. However, Maltzahn did not join the cavalry regiment in Pasewalk, for one year, he trained as a pilot disguised as a civilian.[3] In October 1932, Maltzahn attended the Military School Dresden. Among his classmates were Werner Mölders, Hubertus von Bonin, Joachim Pötter, Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust, Arved Crüger, Gerhard Kollewe and Wolfgang Schellmann.[4]

On 1 March 1934, Maltzahn was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) and began his service with the 4. and 2. Schwadron of 6. (Preußisch) Reiter-Regiment (4th and 2nd squadron of the 6th Prussian Cavalry Regiment) based in Pasewalk. On 1 October, he was transferred to the cavalry regiment in Schwedt, which was later renamed Kavallerie-Regiment 6 and was subordinated to the 1st Cavalry Division. Maltzahn transferred to the newly formed Luftwaffe on 1 April 1935. There, he was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 October and until 1 April 1936 received further flight training at the flight schools at Kitzingen and Würzburg. On 15 March 1937, Maltzahn was posted to the II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 334 (JG 334—334th Fighter Wing).[3] There, Maltzahn was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the newly created 6.(leichte Jäger) Staffel (6th light fighter squadron) of JG 334. On 1 November 1938, JG 334 was renamed and became Jagdgeschwader 133 (JG 133—133rd Fighter Wing). In consequence, Maltzahn then commanded the 6. Staffel of JG 133. On 1 April 1939, the unit was again renamed and from then on was referred to as Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing).[5] The Gruppe was based at Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield and initially equipped with the Arado Ar 68 E and later with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 B and Bf 109 D-1 variant.[6]

World War II

World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. On 4 May 1940, Maltzahn made a forced landing in his Bf 109 E-1 east of Glauberg. He then walked to Düdelsheim, present-day part of Büdingen, where he was taken to Count Karl-Friedrich of Isenburg where he spent the night.[7] On 15 May, his Bf 109 E-3 (Werknummer 1347—factory number) suffered undercarriage failure during landing at Dockendorf, nearly destroying the aircraft.[8]

Battle of Britain

In July 1940, the Luftwaffe began a series of air operations dubbed Kanalkampf (Channel Battle) over the English Channel against the RAF, which marked the beginning of the Battle of Britain. On 8 August 1940, during an attack on Convoy Peewit, Maltzahn claimed an aerial victory over a Supermarine Spitfire fighter.[9]

Wing commander
JG 53 insignia

On 9 October, Maltzahn was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 53.[10] He replaced Major Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel who was transferred to the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM—Ministry of Aviation).[11] Hauptmann Heinz Bretnütz replaced him as commander of II. Gruppe.[12] Maltzahn left II. Gruppe on 10 October and headed to Étaples where the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) was based.[13]

The Geschwaderstab of JG 53 was withdrawn from the Channel Front on 21 December 1940 and transferred to Köln-Butzweilerhof Airfield for a period of rest and replenishment.[14] During this period, Maltzahn was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 30 December.[15] In early February 1941, training on the Bf 109 E series commenced again. The Stab received the first Bf 109 F-2 aircraft on 18 February.[14] On 15 March, the Geschwaderstab returned to the English Channel where they were based at Saint-Omer-Wizernes.[16]

On 31 March, Maltzahn claimed his 13th aerial victory when he shot down a Supermarine Spitfire fighter.[17] When on 16 February, six Bristol Blenheim bombers and their escorting fighters attacked the Luftwaffe airfield at Berck-sur-Mer, Maltzahn claimed a Spitfire fighter shot down.[18] JG 53 was finally withdrawn from the Channel Front on 8 June 1941 and ordered to Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield in preparation of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.[19]

Maltzahn was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 24 July 1941. By this date, he had accumulated 42 aerial victories and was the 29th member of the German armed forces to be so honored.[3] The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Führer Headquarter Wolfsschanze (Wolf's Lair), Hitler's headquarters in Rastenburg, now Kętrzyn in Poland. Two other Luftwaffe officers were presented with awards that day by Hitler, Major Günther Lützow and Major Josef Priller were also awarded the Oak Leaves.[20]

Maltzahn was posted to the staff of Luftwaffenbefehlshaber Mitte, a predecessor of Luftflotte Reich, on 5 October 1943.[21] On 4 December, he was appointed Jagdfliegerführer Oberitalien.[22]

von Maltzahn in Italy, July 1943

On 11 November, Reichsmarschall (Marshal of the Realm) Hermann Göring, in his role as commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe, organized a meeting of high-ranking Luftwaffe officers, including Maltzahn. The meeting, also referred to as the "Areopag" was held at the Luftkriegsakademie (air war academy) at Berlin-Gatow. This Luftwaffe version of the Greek Areopagus—a court of justice—aimed at finding solutions to the deteriorating air was situation over Germany.[23]

In February 1945 he was detached to 9 Fliegerdivision, until the end of the war. Maltzahn flew 497 missions and claimed 68 victories, 67 of them in the west.

Later life

After the war Maltzahn worked in agriculture and later in the "Amt Blank", a forerunner of the Ministry of Defence, on the reconstruction of the German Air Force. He was a candidate for the position of Inspector of the Air Force. He died of Hodgkin's lymphoma on 24 June 1953 in Düsseldorf at the age of 42. The street "Günther-von-Maltzahn-Straße" in Fürstenfeldbruck was named after him.[24]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Maltzahn was credited with 68 aerial victories.[25] Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 67 confirmed aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 33 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 34 on the Western Front, including one four-engined bomber.[26]

Chronicle of aerial victories

  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Maltzahn did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Matthews and Foreman.

Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[27]
"Phoney War" — 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1940
1 30 September 1939 11:34 Potez 63 Saarbrücken[28] 2 31 March 1940 15:53?[Note 1] M.S.406 southwest of Saargemünd[28]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[27]
Action at the Channel and over England — 26 June – September 1940
3 8 August 1940 17:05 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Swanage[29] 7 6 September 1940 10:10 Hurricane[29]
4 16 August 1940 18:10 Spitfire[29] 8 24 September 1940 09:53 Spitfire southeast of London[30]
5 1 September 1940 12:10 Spitfire[29] 9 27 September 1940 10:19 Spitfire[30]
6 5 September 1940 16:05 Spitfire[29] 10 27 September 1940 16:25 Spitfire[30]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[27]
Action at the Channel and over England — October – 8 June 1941
11 12 October 1940 17:40 Hurricane[31] 14 16 April 1941 18:40 Spitfire Dungeness[31]
12 1 December 1940 15:15?[Note 2] Hurricane[31] 15 19 April 1941 19:09 Spitfire Calais/Dover[31]
English Channel
13 31 March 1941 11:35 Spitfire northwest of Calais[31]
—
 9 May 1941
—
 Spitfire north of Calais[31]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[32]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
16 22 June 1941 07:17 I-153 vicinity of Kobryn[33] 33 14 July 1941 11:15 I-16[34]
17?[Note 3] 22 June 1941 16:30 SB-2 northwest of Brest-Litowsk[33] 34 15 July 1941 06:50 I-15[34]
18 25 June 1941 12:55 DB-3[33] 35 15 July 1941 06:54 SB-3[34]
19 25 June 1941 12:57 SB-3[33] 36 16 July 1941 07:50 SB-3[34]
20 25 June 1941 12:59 SB-3[33] 37 18 July 1941 12:05 SB-3[34]
21 25 June 1941 13:01 SB-3[33] 38 18 July 1941 12:08 SB-3[34]
22 27 June 1941 13:45 Pe-2[33] 39 20 July 1941 17:49 I-15[34]
23 29 June 1941 19:35 SB-3 Bobruysk[33] 40 23 July 1941 06:50 SB-3 north of Uman[34]
—
 6 July 1941
—
 DB-3[33] 41 23 July 1941 06:59 SB-3 north of Uman[34]
24 7 July 1941 06:14 SB-3 east of Polonnoje[33] 42 24 July 1941 18:12 Pe-2[34]
25 8 July 1941 18:48 V-11 (Il-2)[34] 43 25 July 1941 18:19?[Note 4] Pe-2[36] east of Bila Tserkva
26 9 July 1941 16:11 DB-3[34] 44 26 July 1941 11:00 V-11 (Il-2)[36]
27 9 July 1941 16:14 DB-3[34] 45 29 July 1941 17:00 SB-3[36]
28 10 July 1941 09:35 I-16[34] 46 30 July 1941 18:30?[Note 5] SB-3[36]
29 10 July 1941 09:37 I-16[34] 47 30 July 1941 18:53 Pe-2[36]
30 10 July 1941 13:55 SB-3[34] 48 31 July 1941 06:25 Pe-2[36]
31 12 July 1941 18:07 DB-3[34] 49 31 July 1941 06:35 Pe-2[36]
32 12 July 1941 18:08 DB-3[34]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[35]
Mediterranean Theater — 15 December 1941 – 31 December 1942
50 19 December 1941 16:55 Hurricane[37] Malta 59 15 February 1942 18:00 Beaufort[37]
51 21 December 1941 12:00 Hurricane[37] Malta 60 1 April 1942 14:55 Spitfire east of Ħal Far[37]
52 26 December 1941 11:12 Hurricane[37] vicinity of Malta 61 1 April 1942 17:28 Spitfire Malta[37]
53 26 December 1941 16:55 Hurricane southeast of Malta[37] 62 14 April 1942 10:40 P-40[37]
54 25 January 1942 10:35 Hurricane[37] 63 25 April 1942 15:28 Spitfire[37] Malta
55 25 January 1942 10:40 Hurricane[37] 64 14 June 1942 17:32 Hurricane[38] vicinity of Malta
56 4 February 1942 15:53 Hurricane east of Malta[37] 65 3 December 1942 11:38 P-38 Bizerte[38]
57 11 February 1942 15:45 Beaufighter[37] 66 14 December 1942 12:18 Spitfire Jefna[38]
58 15 February 1942 16:08 Beaufort[37] 67 18 December 1942 12:10 B-17 northwest of Majaz al Bab[38]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[35]
Mediterranean Theater — 1 January – 31 December 1943
68 1 April 1943 12:21 Curtiss P-40 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Sbeitla[39]

Awards

Promotions
1 March 1934:Leutnant (Second Lieutenant)[3]
1 October 1935:Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant)[3]
16 August 1939:Hauptmann (Captain)[3]
24 October 1940:Major (Major)[3]
18 June 1942:Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)[21]
1 June 1943:Oberst (Colonel)[21]

Notes
  1. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 15:55.[27]
  2. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 13:15.[27]
  3. According to Matthews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[27]
  4. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 18:15.[35]
  5. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 18:50.[35]

References

Citations
  1. Obermaier 1989, p. 46.
  2. Rigg 2002, p. 39.
  3. Stockert 2012, p. 174.
  4. Braatz 2009, pp. 53–54.
  5. Prien et al. 2000, p. 249.
  6. Prien et al. 2000, p. 244.
  7. Sauer 2013, p. 55.
  8. Prien 1997, p. 127.
  9. Prien 1997, p. 137.
  10. Goss 2017, p. 94.
  11. Prien 1991, p. 1653.
  12. Prien 1991, p. 1654.
  13. Prien 1997, p. 174.
  14. Prien et al. 2002, p. 179.
  15. Prien 1997, p. 212.
  16. Prien et al. 2002, pp. 179–180.
  17. Prien 1997, p. 219.
  18. Prien 1997, p. 224.
  19. Prien et al. 2002, p. 180.
  20. Weal 2007, p. 42.
  21. Stockert 2012, p. 175.
  22. Stockert 2012, p. 176.
  23. von Below 2010, p. 220.
  24. "Günther von Maltzahn-Straße". strassenkatalog.de (in German). Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  25. Zabecki 2014, p. 1616.
  26. Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 802–803.
  27. Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 802.
  28. Prien et al. 2001, p. 386.
  29. Prien et al. 2002, p. 226.
  30. Prien et al. 2002, p. 228.
  31. Prien et al. 2002, p. 184.
  32. Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 982–983.
  33. Prien et al. 2003, p. 93.
  34. Prien et al. 2003, p. 94.
  35. Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 803.
  36. Prien et al. 2003, p. 95.
  37. Prien et al. 2004, p. 41.
  38. Prien et al. 2004, p. 42.
  39. Prien et al. 2010, p. 393.
  40. Thomas 1998, p. 55.
  41. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 293.
  42. Scherzer 2007, p. 525.
  43. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 302.
  44. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 55.

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Further reading
  • Harper, Christine Froechtenigt (16 October 2018). “A Life for Germany: Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn, the German Air Force, and the Reinvention of the German Military Ethos.” Zenodo. Retrieved 22 December 2018.  http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1560670
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