Hartmann Grasser
Hartmann Grasser (23 August 1914 – 2 June 1986) was a World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He was credited with shooting down 103 Allied aircraft.[1][2][3] He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
Hartmann Grasser | |
---|---|
Born | Graz, Austria | 23 August 1914
Died | 2 June 1986 71) Cologne, West Germany | (aged
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | Luftwaffe |
Years of service | 1936–45 |
Rank | Major |
Unit | JGr 152, ZG 52, ZG 2, JG 51, JG 11, JG 110 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Grasser was born on 23 August 1914 in Graz, Steiermark, Austria. After he received his Abitur he started studying medicine, however, due to political reasons, he was forced to leave Austria. Austrian National Socialism had been suppressed under the rule of Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934. He was trained at the Naval School in Neustadt and at the flying sports school at Rossitten, followed by six months at the Johannisthal flying school. Grasser then joined the Luftwaffe with the rank of Fahnenjunker (cadet) on 1 April 1936.[4]
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (17 September 1939) & 1st Class (7 July 1940)[5]
- German Cross in Gold on 19 September 1942 as Hauptmann in the II./Jagdgeschwader 51[6]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 4 September 1941 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the II./Jagdgeschwader 51[7][Note 1]
- 288th Oak Leaves on 31 August 1943 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"[8][9]
Notes
References
Citations
- Constable & Toliver 1968, p. 9.
- Weal 2007, p. 46.
- Weal & Price 1996, p. 28.
- Stockert 1997, p. 368.
- Thomas 1997, p. 216.
- Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 146.
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 201.
- Scherzer 2007, p. 345.
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 72.
Bibliography
- Constable, Trevor J.; Toliver, Raymond F. (1968). Horrido!: Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe. Barker.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Stockert, Peter (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 3 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 3] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-932915-01-7.
- Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
- Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.
- Weal, John; Price, Alfred (1996). Bf 109D/E Aces 1939–41. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-487-3.