LeutnantKarl Allmenröder (3 May 1896 – 27 June 1917) was a German World War Iflying ace credited with 30 aerial victories. The medical student son of a preacher father was seasoned in the trenches as an 18-year-old artilleryman in the early days of the First World War, earning promotion via battlefield commission to Leutnant on 30 March 1915. After transferring to aviation and serving some time as an artillery spotter in two-seater reconnaissance airplanes, he transferred to flying fighter aircraft with Jagdstaffel 11 in November 1916. As Manfred von Richthofen's protege, Karl Allmenröder scored the first of his 30 confirmed victories on 16 February 1917. Flying a scarlet Albatros D.III trimmed out with white nose and elevators, Allmenröder would score a constant string of aerial victories until 26 June 1917, the day before his death. On 27 June 1917, Karl Allmenröder fell to his death near Zillebeke, Belgium. His posthumous legacy of patriotic courage would later be abused as propaganda by the Nazis.
Karl Allmenröder
Nickname(s)
Karlchen
Born
(1896-05-03)3 May 1896 Wald, Rhine Province, German Empire
Died
27 June 1917(1917-06-27) (aged 21) Zillebeke, Belgium
Karl Allmenröder was born in Wald, Rhine Province, on 3 May 1896, the son of a Lutheran minister. He was interested in the practice of medicine and was a medical student in Marburg.[1] His reputation became one of a quiet, amiable, and dutiful young man.[2]
Allmenröder was only 18 when the war began. He became an artilleryman, joining Field Artillery Regiment 62 for training, and being transferred to Field Artillery Regiment 20 for duty. In January 1915, he returned to Field Artillery Regiment 62. While serving in Poland fighting against the Russian Imperial Army, he was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class in March, 1915. He also was commissioned to leutnant on 30 March 1915. He was awarded the Friedrich-August Cross First Class in August 1915.[2]
Brothers Karl and Wilhelm Allmenröder transferred to Die Fliegertruppe (Imperial German Air Service) on 16 March 1916.[note 1] Karl Allmenröder was sent for training at Halberstadt. He flew two-seaters as an artillery spotter in Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) [Flier Detachment (Artillery)] 227 before joining Jagdstaffel 11 in November 1916.[2] After Manfred von Richthofen assumed command in January, 1917, Jagdstaffel 11 became one of the premier fighter squadrons of the German military. Allmenröder's career as a fighter ace was a short but spectacular string of single and double victories.[1] He achieved his victories flying an Albatros D.III in the squadron's scarlet livery, with his personal markings of white nose and elevators.[3] The Red Baron often chose Allmenröder as a wingman.[4]
Karl Allmenröder's Albatros D.III fighter was painted red and white.
Allmenröder claimed his first victim, a BE.2c from No. 16 Squadron RFC at noon on 17 February 1917. He scored four more victories the following month, becoming an ace on 30 March. On 24 March 1917, he was awarded the Iron Cross First Class for his valor.[1]
He had achieved nine victories by the end of April 1917. Then, in May, he shot down 13 more enemy airplanes. Nor was that all of his May. On 13 May, with his victory list at 11, he was deputed as the squadron commander while Richthofen was on leave. Allmenröder shot down two British machines that day, for victories 12 and 13. The German ace continued to inflict casualties on the Royal Flying Corps throughout the next 11 days, shooting down five enemy aircraft. On 25 May, Allmenröder shot down a British Nieuport 23 on his morning flight, and a DH.4 at 20:45 hours, driving his victory total to 20.[note 2] Also, at some point on that day, he was slightly wounded in combat. The wound did not prevent him shooting down New Zealand ace CaptainAlan Scott on 28 May 1917.[1][5]
His 29th, and penultimate victory, was scored on 25 June against Canadian ace Flight LieutenantGerald Ewart Nash, who became a prisoner.[7] Allmenröder had succeeded to permanent command of Jagdstaffel 11 on that day, when von Richthofen had been promoted to command of Germany's first fighter wing, Jagdgeschwader 1, commonly called "The Flying Circus".[6]
Killed in actionEdit
The end of June 1917 saw Jagdstaffel 11 in frequent clashes with the opposing Canadian and British pilots of the Royal Naval Air Service. On the 24th, Allmenröder killed Naval 10's Robert Saunders in his Sopwith Triplane on a morning mission. The evening of the next day, Canadian ace Gerald Ewart Nash pounced on Allmenröder; after an epic dogfight, Nash was shot down and crashed behind German lines. On 26 June, Allmenröder shot down a Nieuport for his 30th victory.[1]
On 27 June, Allmenröder split his force into a trio flying at medium height as a decoy while another three Germans lurked well above. A Naval 10 evening patrol fell for the trap, diving on the bait trio. As the Sopwith Triplanes dived to the attack, the higher German trio swooped down on them. Raymond Collishaw was leading the British assault. When he realized the second force of Germans was on his tail, Collishaw took a hasty long-range snapshot at a lower level Albatros D.V, only to find himself embroiled in a dogfight with the Germans attacking his rear. The shot-at German was seen to crash by other British pilots. It has been suggested that this Albatros was Allmenröder; however, Allmenröder was reportedly killed eight hours prior to that. Another possibility presents, that it was antiaircraft fire brought down the German ace that morning. In any case, German infantry retrieved Allmenröder's body the night of 27/28 June. On Thursday, 28 June, Nash in his hospital bed could hear church bells chiming; his guard told him the funeral bells rang for Allmenröder.[2][8][9]
Karl Allmenröder was interred at the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Wald.[5] Manfred von Richthofen attended the services to honor his fallen friend.[10]
LegacyEdit
Karl Allmenröder's legacy of valor was later used by the Nazis for propaganda purposes. For this reason, streets named after him have been renamed since the fall of the Third Reich, and Karl Allmenröder goes unhonored in his hometown.[2]
Norman Franks, Frank W. Bailey, Russell Guest (1993). Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. London UK, Grub Street Publishing. ISBN978-0-948817-73-1.
Norman Franks. Albatros Aces of World War 1 (2000). Oxford UK, Osprey Publishing. ISBN978-1-85532-960-7.
Norman Franks. Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War 1 (2004). Oxford UK, Osprey Publishing, 2004. ISBN9781841767284
Roger Gunn. Raymond Collishaw and the Black Flight (2013). Ontario, Canada, Dundurn Press. ISBN978-1459706606
Further readingEdit
John Norman Harris. Knights of the Air: Canadian Aces of World War I (1958). New York, USA, MacMillan Publishers. ASIN: B000J44F4O.
Greg VanWyngarden and Harry Dempsey. Richthofen's Circus: Jagdgeschwader Nr 1 (2004). Oxford UK, Osprey Publishing. ISBN978-1841767260
karl, allmenröder, leutnant, 1896, june, 1917, german, world, flying, credited, with, aerial, victories, medical, student, preacher, father, seasoned, trenches, year, artilleryman, early, days, first, world, earning, promotion, battlefield, commission, leutnan. Leutnant Karl Allmenroder 3 May 1896 27 June 1917 was a German World War I flying ace credited with 30 aerial victories The medical student son of a preacher father was seasoned in the trenches as an 18 year old artilleryman in the early days of the First World War earning promotion via battlefield commission to Leutnant on 30 March 1915 After transferring to aviation and serving some time as an artillery spotter in two seater reconnaissance airplanes he transferred to flying fighter aircraft with Jagdstaffel 11 in November 1916 As Manfred von Richthofen s protege Karl Allmenroder scored the first of his 30 confirmed victories on 16 February 1917 Flying a scarlet Albatros D III trimmed out with white nose and elevators Allmenroder would score a constant string of aerial victories until 26 June 1917 the day before his death On 27 June 1917 Karl Allmenroder fell to his death near Zillebeke Belgium His posthumous legacy of patriotic courage would later be abused as propaganda by the Nazis Karl AllmenroderNickname s KarlchenBorn 1896 05 03 3 May 1896Wald Rhine Province German EmpireDied27 June 1917 1917 06 27 aged 21 Zillebeke BelgiumBuriedEvangelical Cemetery Wald GermanyAllegiance German EmpireService wbr branchArtillery Air ServiceYears of service1914 17RankLeutnantUnitField Artillery Regiments 62 amp 20 Flieger Abteilung Artillerie Flier Detachment Artillery 227 Jagdstaffel 11Commands heldJagdstaffel 11AwardsKingdom of Prussia Pour le Merite Royal House Order of Hohenzollern Iron Cross First Class Grand Duchy of Oldenburg Friedrich August Cross Kingdom of Bavaria Militar Kronen Orden posthumous RelationsWilhelm Allmenroder brother Contents 1 Early life and ground service 2 Aerial service 3 Killed in action 4 Legacy 5 Decorations and awards 6 Footnote 7 References 8 Sources 9 Further readingEarly life and ground service EditKarl Allmenroder was born in Wald Rhine Province on 3 May 1896 the son of a Lutheran minister He was interested in the practice of medicine and was a medical student in Marburg 1 His reputation became one of a quiet amiable and dutiful young man 2 Allmenroder was only 18 when the war began He became an artilleryman joining Field Artillery Regiment 62 for training and being transferred to Field Artillery Regiment 20 for duty In January 1915 he returned to Field Artillery Regiment 62 While serving in Poland fighting against the Russian Imperial Army he was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class in March 1915 He also was commissioned to leutnant on 30 March 1915 He was awarded the Friedrich August Cross First Class in August 1915 2 Aerial service EditSee also Aerial victory standards of World War I and List of aerial victories of Karl Allmenroder Brothers Karl and Wilhelm Allmenroder transferred to Die Fliegertruppe Imperial German Air Service on 16 March 1916 note 1 Karl Allmenroder was sent for training at Halberstadt He flew two seaters as an artillery spotter in Flieger Abteilung Artillerie Flier Detachment Artillery 227 before joining Jagdstaffel 11 in November 1916 2 After Manfred von Richthofen assumed command in January 1917 Jagdstaffel 11 became one of the premier fighter squadrons of the German military Allmenroder s career as a fighter ace was a short but spectacular string of single and double victories 1 He achieved his victories flying an Albatros D III in the squadron s scarlet livery with his personal markings of white nose and elevators 3 The Red Baron often chose Allmenroder as a wingman 4 nbsp Karl Allmenroder s Albatros D III fighter was painted red and white Allmenroder claimed his first victim a BE 2c from No 16 Squadron RFC at noon on 17 February 1917 He scored four more victories the following month becoming an ace on 30 March On 24 March 1917 he was awarded the Iron Cross First Class for his valor 1 He had achieved nine victories by the end of April 1917 Then in May he shot down 13 more enemy airplanes Nor was that all of his May On 13 May with his victory list at 11 he was deputed as the squadron commander while Richthofen was on leave Allmenroder shot down two British machines that day for victories 12 and 13 The German ace continued to inflict casualties on the Royal Flying Corps throughout the next 11 days shooting down five enemy aircraft On 25 May Allmenroder shot down a British Nieuport 23 on his morning flight and a DH 4 at 20 45 hours driving his victory total to 20 note 2 Also at some point on that day he was slightly wounded in combat The wound did not prevent him shooting down New Zealand ace Captain Alan Scott on 28 May 1917 1 5 On 6 June 1917 Allmenroder was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Royal Hohenzollern House Order and on 14 June he received the German Empire s most prestigious award the Prussian Pour le Merite 1 The following day the man who had appointed him acting commanding officer Manfred von Richthofen returned from leave and resumed command until the 23rd 1 6 His 29th and penultimate victory was scored on 25 June against Canadian ace Flight Lieutenant Gerald Ewart Nash who became a prisoner 7 Allmenroder had succeeded to permanent command of Jagdstaffel 11 on that day when von Richthofen had been promoted to command of Germany s first fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 1 commonly called The Flying Circus 6 Killed in action EditThe end of June 1917 saw Jagdstaffel 11 in frequent clashes with the opposing Canadian and British pilots of the Royal Naval Air Service On the 24th Allmenroder killed Naval 10 s Robert Saunders in his Sopwith Triplane on a morning mission The evening of the next day Canadian ace Gerald Ewart Nash pounced on Allmenroder after an epic dogfight Nash was shot down and crashed behind German lines On 26 June Allmenroder shot down a Nieuport for his 30th victory 1 nbsp Collishaw s Sopwith Triplane Black Maria 1917 On 27 June Allmenroder split his force into a trio flying at medium height as a decoy while another three Germans lurked well above A Naval 10 evening patrol fell for the trap diving on the bait trio As the Sopwith Triplanes dived to the attack the higher German trio swooped down on them Raymond Collishaw was leading the British assault When he realized the second force of Germans was on his tail Collishaw took a hasty long range snapshot at a lower level Albatros D V only to find himself embroiled in a dogfight with the Germans attacking his rear The shot at German was seen to crash by other British pilots It has been suggested that this Albatros was Allmenroder however Allmenroder was reportedly killed eight hours prior to that Another possibility presents that it was antiaircraft fire brought down the German ace that morning In any case German infantry retrieved Allmenroder s body the night of 27 28 June On Thursday 28 June Nash in his hospital bed could hear church bells chiming his guard told him the funeral bells rang for Allmenroder 2 8 9 Karl Allmenroder was interred at the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Wald 5 Manfred von Richthofen attended the services to honor his fallen friend 10 Legacy EditKarl Allmenroder s legacy of valor was later used by the Nazis for propaganda purposes For this reason streets named after him have been renamed since the fall of the Third Reich and Karl Allmenroder goes unhonored in his hometown 2 Decorations and awards EditPour le Merite 14 June 1917 Knights Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern 6 June 1917 Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class Friedrich August Cross 1st and 2nd class Grand Duchy of Oldenburg 20 July 1917 Military Merit Order Bavaria Pilot s Badge German Empire 1 Footnote Edit Wilhelm also became a fighter pilot scoring two victories flying for Jagdstaffel 11 before being seriously wounded and medically discharged At this stage of the war the twentieth victory made an ace eligible for the prestigious Pour le Merite References Edit a b c d e f g h Above the Lines The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 1918 pp 59 60 a b c d e Pour le Merite Pour le Merite Archived from the original on 2016 07 25 Retrieved 2013 06 16 Albatros Aces of World War 1 p 31 Raymond Collishaw and the Black Flight p 118 a b Karl Karlchen Allmenroder Theaerodrome com Retrieved 2013 06 16 a b Jasta 11 Theaerodrome com Retrieved 2013 06 16 Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War I p 73 Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War I p 84 Raymond Collishaw and the Black Flight pp 118 121 Raymond Collishaw and the Black Flight p 121 Sources EditNorman Franks Frank W Bailey Russell Guest 1993 Above the Lines The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914 1918 London UK Grub Street Publishing ISBN 978 0 948817 73 1 Norman Franks Albatros Aces of World War 1 2000 Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 85532 960 7 Norman Franks Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War 1 2004 Oxford UK Osprey Publishing 2004 ISBN 9781841767284 Roger Gunn Raymond Collishaw and the Black Flight 2013 Ontario Canada Dundurn Press ISBN 978 1459706606Further reading EditJohn Norman Harris Knights of the Air Canadian Aces of World War I 1958 New York USA MacMillan Publishers ASIN B000J44F4O Greg VanWyngarden and Harry Dempsey Richthofen s Circus Jagdgeschwader Nr 1 2004 Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1841767260Portals nbsp Aviation nbsp Biography nbsp Military of Germany nbsp World War I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Karl Allmenroder amp oldid 1174132196, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
