Herbert Huppertz

Herbert Huppertz (3 June 1919 – 8 June 1944) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Herbert Huppertz claimed 68 victories including 32 over the Eastern Front. He was shot down on 8 June 1944. Huppertz was posthumously promoted to Major and awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 24 June 1944.

Herbert Huppertz
Hauptmann (captain) Herbert Huppertz, Staffelkapitän (squadron commander) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"
Born	3 June 1919 Rheydt
Died	8 June 1944(1944-06-08) (aged 25) Caen, German-occupied France
Buried	La Cambe German war cemetery
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1937–44
Rank	Major (Posthumously)
Unit	JG 51; JG 5; JG 2
Battles/wars	World War II Operation Overlord †
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Awards

• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (26 April 1941)
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (30 May 1940)[1]
  • 1st Class (9 October 1940)[1]
• German Cross in Gold on 26 December 1943 as Hauptmann in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 2[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 30 August 1941 as Leutnant and pilot in 12./Jagdgeschwader 51[3]
  • 512th Oak Leaves on 24 June 1944 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of III./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[4]

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1997, p. 315.
2. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 203.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 197.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 72.

Bibliography

• 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.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
• 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.
• 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.