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Siegfried Simsch

Siegfried Simsch (6 September 1913 – 8 June 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 54 aerial victories, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front, achieved in approximately 400 combat missions.

Siegfried Simsch
Born6 September 1913
Posen
Died8 June 1944(1944-06-08) (aged 30)
Rennes, France
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitJG 52, JG 11
Commands held5./JG 52, 10./JG 11, I./JG 11
Battles/wars
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Born in Posen and half Jewish, Simsch joined the military service in the Luftwaffe. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing) before World War II. In late 1940, Simsch was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) and fought against the Royal Air Force (RAF). During Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, he claimed his first aerial victory on 22 June 1941. In September 1941, he was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of JG 52. Simsch was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 July 1942. In November of that year, he was severely wounded in a flight accident, grounding him for a year. In November 1943, Simsch was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing), a unit fighting in Defense of the Reich. On 1 June 1944, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 11. One week later, and two days after the Normandy landings, Simsch was shot down and killed in action on 8 June 1944 over Rennes, France.

Early life and career edit

Simsch was born on 6 September 1913 in Posen, present-day Poznań in west-central Poland, at the time the capital of the Province of Posen, a Prussian province of the German Empire.[1] Despite being half Jewish, or Mischling under the Nuremberg Laws, he enlisted in the Luftwaffe and served with distinction.[2] Following flight training,[Note 1] he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing).[4]

World War II edit

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. In late 1940, Simsch was posted to 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing).[4] The Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant August-Wilhelm Schumann and subordinated to II. Gruppe of JG 52 which was headed by Hauptmann Wilhelm Ensslen. On 2 November, Ensslen was killed in action and replaced by Hauptmann Erich Woitke.[5]

On 15 April 1941, the Luftwaffe ordered an attack on the Royal Air Force (RAF) airfield at Manston. Due to adverse weather conditions, the attack was called off and only a Schwarm, a flight of four aircraft, under the leadership of Simsch, was assumed to have reached the target. The flight however had found the Luftwaffe airfield at Saint-Omer where II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) was based. In the attack, the Schwarm destroyed nine aircraft, wounding two pilots and five technicians.[6] The pilots Simsch, Feldwebel Georg Mayr, Gefreiter Adolf Glunz and Unteroffizier Hans Sembill were punished by Hermann Göring personally. In addition, Simsch's advancement in career—he had been scheduled to become a Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) prior to this event—was deferred.[7]

According to Barbas, Simsch claimed an unconfirmed aerial victory over a RAF Supermarine Spitfire north of Dover on 19 May 1941.[8][9] This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[10]

Operation Barbarossa edit

In preparation of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, II. Gruppe of JG 52, without a period of replenishment in Germany, was ordered to airfields close to the German-Soviet demarcation line. While the Gruppenstab (group headquarters unit) and 4. Staffel were based at Suwałki in northeastern Poland, 5. and 6. Staffel were transferred to a forward airfield at Sobolewo. For the invasion, II. Gruppe of JG 52 was subordinated to the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing). The Geschwader was part of the VIII. Fliegerkorps commanded by Generaloberst Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen which supported the northern wing of Army Group Centre.[11]

 
II./JG 52 insignia

On 22 June, the German forces launched the attack on the Soviet Union which opened the Eastern Front. That day, Simsch claimed his first aerial victory. He was credited with shooting down a Polikarpov I-15 fighter west of Varėna.[12] On 28 June, II. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Maladzyechna where they stayed until 4 July.[13] Here Simsch claimed two Polikarpov R-Z reconnaissance bomber aircraft shot down on 1 July.[12] Three days later, II. Gruppe moved further east to an airfield at Sloboda, east of Minsk before moving to Lyepyel on 5 July.[14] Fyling from Lyepyel, Simsch claimed a Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber shot down on 7 July and an Ilyushin DB-3 bomber on 9 July.[15] On 13 July, the Gruppe moved to Kamary, an airfield in the western parts of Vitebsk.[16]

On 6 September 1941, Simsch succeeded Oberleutnant August-Wilhelm Schumann as Staffelkapitän of 5. Staffel of JG 52. Schumann had been killed in action that day.[17][18] II. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Klin, located 85 kilometers (53 mi) northwest of Moscow, on 30 November.[19] There, Simsch claimed two I-61 fighters, an early German designation for the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter, one each on 2 and 4 December, in combat near Moscow.[20]

Eastern Front edit

On 29 May 1942, Simsch was wounded in combat with a Soviet bomber. He was forced to bail out of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4/R1 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) west of Izium. During his convalescence, he was replaced by Leutnant Waldemar Semelka (29 May – 30 June 1942) and later by Leutnant Heinz Schmidt (1 July – 30 September 1942).[21] On 1 July, Simsch was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes) for 45 aerial victories.[22] Simsch was one of four JG 52 pilots presented with the Knight's Cross that day. The other three pilots to receive the distinction that day were Feldwebel Alfred Grislawski, Feldwebel Karl Steffen and Unteroffizier Karl Gratz.[23]

On 3 November 1942, engine failure of his Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 13711—factory number) resulted in a forced landing northwest of Maykop. Simsch was severely injured in the accident.[24] Oberfeldwebel Willi Nemitz then briefly led 5. Staffel before Oberleutnant Gustav Denk officially took command of the Staffel in January 1943.[25]

Defense of the Reich edit

On 30 November 1943, following a lengthy period of convalescence, Simsch was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing) where he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 10. Staffel. He replaced Oberleutnant Günter Witt.[26] On 17 May 1944, seven RAF North American P-51 Mustang fighters from the Second Tactical Air Force attacked the Aalborg Airfield in Denmark. The RAF fighters claimed nine aerial victories before 10. Staffel intercepted the RAF fighters. In the pursuit, two No. 122 Squadron P-51 fighters were shot down, including one by Simsch.[27]

On 1 June 1944, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 11 to replace Oberleutnant Hans-Heinrich Koenig who was killed in action on 24 May. One week later, and two days after the Normandy landings Siegfried Simsch was shot down by a North American P-51 Mustang and killed on 8 June 1944 over Rennes, France.[28][29] His Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8 (Werknummer 730448) crashed near Vitré.[30]

Summary of career edit

Aerial victory claims edit

According to Obermaier, Simsch was credited with 54 aerial victories claimed in approximately 400 combat missions.[1] The author Rigg however lists him with 95 aerial victories claimed.[2] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 54 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[31]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 95754". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[32]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Simsch did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –
At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 9 June 1941
?[Note 2]
19 May 1941
Spitfire north of Dover[33]
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[31]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 6 September 1941
1 22 June 1941 10:00 I-15 west of Varėna[12] 8 28 July 1941 19:02 Pe-2[34]
2 1 July 1941 19:18 R-Z[12]?[Note 3] 9 29 July 1941 17:30 DB-3[34]
3 1 July 1941 19:19 R-Z[12]?[Note 3] 10 29 July 1941 17:36 DB-3[34]
4 7 July 1941 16:43 Pe-2[15] 11 27 August 1941 09:11 SB-2[35]
5 9 July 1941 13:36 DB-3[15] 12 6 September 1941 16:42 I-18 (MiG-1)[36]
6 15 July 1941 08:23 I-16[15] 13 6 September 1941 16:48?[Note 4] I-18 (MiG-1)[36]
7 25 July 1941 12:28 I-18 (MiG-1)[34]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[37]
Operation Barbarossa — 7 September – 5 December 1941
14 11 September 1941 08:52 I-18 (MiG-1)[36] 21 14 November 1941 08:38 I-18 (MiG-1)[38]
15 15 September 1941 08:59 DB-3[36] 22 14 November 1941 12:25 I-16[38]
16 15 September 1941 13:58 DB-3[36] 23 30 November 1941 10:26 I-26 (Yak-1)[39]
17 24 September 1941 16:23 I-18 (MiG-1)[36] 24 30 November 1941 10:34 U-2[39]
18 12 November 1941 15:40 I-18 (MiG-1)[38] 25 2 December 1941 09:48 I-61 (MiG-3) 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Moscow[39]
19 14 November 1941 08:25 I-18 (MiG-1)[38] 26 4 December 1941 10:32 I-61 (MiG-3) vicinity of Moscow[39]
20 14 November 1941 08:35 I-18 (MiG-1)[38]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[37]
Eastern Front — 7 May – 3 November 1942
27 8 May 1942 15:15 MiG-1[40] 41 27 May 1942 06:08 V-11 (Il-2)[41]
28 9 May 1942 12:36 I-153[40] 42 27 May 1942 15:36 LaGG-3[41]
29 9 May 1942 12:41 I-153[40] 43 27 May 1942 15:44 BB-100 3 km (1.9 mi) northwest of Petrovkaya[41]
30 9 May 1942 15:25 MiG-1[40] 44 28 May 1942 12:42 Il-2[41]
31 11 May 1942 11:34 R-5[40] 45 28 May 1942 12:43 Il-2[41]
32 15 May 1942 05:41 MiG-1[40] 46 6 October 1942 12:30 LaGG-3 PQ 95754[42]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Tuapse
33 15 May 1942 05:48 MiG-1[40] 47 10 October 1942 14:50 LaGG-3 PQ 95593[42]
30 km (19 mi) northeast of Tuapse
34 22 May 1942 15:00 BB-100[40] 48 11 October 1942 05:35 I-153 PQ 95761[42]
25 km (16 mi) east of Tuapse
35 24 May 1942 14:26 V-11 (Il-2)[40] 49 22 October 1942 09:35 I-16 PQ 95541, north of Maykop[42]
30 km (19 mi) north of Tuapse
36 24 May 1942 14:28 V-11 (Il-2)[40] 50 26 October 1942 12:25 La-5 PQ 44814[43]
37 26 May 1942 10:15 Il-2[40] 51 29 October 1942 12:55 LaGG-3 PQ 95152[43]
38 26 May 1942 15:36 BB-100[40] 52 29 October 1942 12:58 LaGG-3 PQ 95154[43]
vicinity of Lazarevskoye
39 26 May 1942 15:42 BB-100 1 km (0.62 mi) northeast of Petrovka[41] 53 30 October 1942 12:40 LaGG-3 PQ 95771[43]
Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tuapse
40 26 May 1942 15:46 BB-100[41] 54 30 October 1942 15:25 LaGG-3 PQ 94145[43]
vicinity of Lazarevskoye
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 11 –
Defense of the Reich — 1 January 1940 – 31 May 1944
55?[Note 5] 17 May 1944
P-51[44]

Awards edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[3]
  2. ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock,[10] nor is it listed by Mathews and Foreman.[4]
  3. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Polikarpov R-5.[4]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18:48.[37]
  5. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[37]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 207.
  2. ^ a b Rigg 2002, p. 39.
  3. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  4. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1223.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 151.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 149.
  7. ^ Braatz 2010, pp. 44–45.
  8. ^ Barbas 2005, pp. 41, 328.
  9. ^ Foreman & Johnson 1994, p. 236.
  10. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 156.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 26.
  12. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003, p. 41.
  13. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 77.
  14. ^ Barbas 2005, pp. 77–78.
  15. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 42.
  16. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 78.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 37.
  18. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 286.
  19. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 83.
  20. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 330.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 475, 502.
  22. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 80.
  23. ^ Weal 2004, pp. 78–79, 85.
  24. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 506.
  25. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 475.
  26. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1994, p. 551.
  27. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1996, pp. 943, 946.
  28. ^ Weal 2004, p. 50.
  29. ^ Weal 2011, p. 51.
  30. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1996, p. 1187.
  31. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1223–1224.
  32. ^ Planquadrat.
  33. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 328.
  34. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 43.
  35. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 44.
  36. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003, p. 45.
  37. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1224.
  38. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003, p. 46.
  39. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 47.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2006, p. 481.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 482.
  42. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 491.
  43. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 492.
  44. ^ Prien & Rodeike 1996, p. 1209.
  45. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 195.
  46. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 326.
  47. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 707.

Bibliography edit

  • Barbas, Bernd (2005). Die Geschichte der II. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 [The History of 2nd Group of Fighter Wing 52] (in German). ISBN 978-3-923457-71-7.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. . Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Braatz, Kurt [in German] (2010). Walter Krupinski - Jagdflieger, Geheimagent, General [Walter Krupinski - Fighter Pilot, Spy, General] (in German). Moosburg, Germany: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9811615-5-7.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
  • Foreman, John; Johnson, James Edgar (1994). Air War, 1941: From the Blitz to the non-stop Offensive. Northwestern University. ISBN 978-1-871187-27-4.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • 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. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter (1994). Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11: Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945: Teil 1, 1939–1943 [Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11: Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945] (in German). Vol. I 1939–1943. Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-21-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter (1996). Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11—Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945—Teil 2—1944 [Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11—Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945] (in German). Vol. II 1944. Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-24-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Rigg, Bryan Mark (2002). Hitler's Jewish Soldiers: The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-1178-2.
  • 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.
  • Schreier, Hans (1990). JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2. Weltkriegs [JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II] (in German). Berg am See: K. Vowinckel. ISBN 978-3-921655-66-5.
  • Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 15. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4.
  • Weal, John (2011). Fw 190 Defence of the Reich Aces. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 92. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-482-4.
Military offices
Preceded by
Oberleutnant Fritz Engau
Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 11
1 June 1944 – 8 June 1944
Succeeded by
Oberleutnant Fritz Engau

siegfried, simsch, september, 1913, june, 1944, german, luftwaffe, military, aviator, fighter, during, world, credited, with, aerial, victories, which, claimed, eastern, front, achieved, approximately, combat, missions, born6, september, 1913posendied8, june, . Siegfried Simsch 6 September 1913 8 June 1944 was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II He is credited with 54 aerial victories all of which claimed on the Eastern Front achieved in approximately 400 combat missions Siegfried SimschBorn6 September 1913PosenDied8 June 1944 1944 06 08 aged 30 Rennes FranceAllegiance Nazi GermanyService wbr branch LuftwaffeRankHauptmann captain UnitJG 52 JG 11Commands held5 JG 52 10 JG 11 I JG 11Battles warsSee battlesWorld War II Battle of Britain Eastern Front Defence of the Reich AwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross Born in Posen and half Jewish Simsch joined the military service in the Luftwaffe Following flight training he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 134 Horst Wessel JG 134 134th Fighter Wing before World War II In late 1940 Simsch was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 52 JG 52 52nd Fighter Wing and fought against the Royal Air Force RAF During Operation Barbarossa the German invasion of the Soviet Union he claimed his first aerial victory on 22 June 1941 In September 1941 he was made Staffelkapitan squadron leader of 5 Staffel 5th squadron of JG 52 Simsch was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 July 1942 In November of that year he was severely wounded in a flight accident grounding him for a year In November 1943 Simsch was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 11 JG 11 11th Fighter Wing a unit fighting in Defense of the Reich On 1 June 1944 he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur group commander of I Gruppe of JG 11 One week later and two days after the Normandy landings Simsch was shot down and killed in action on 8 June 1944 over Rennes France Contents 1 Early life and career 2 World War II 2 1 Operation Barbarossa 2 2 Eastern Front 2 3 Defense of the Reich 3 Summary of career 3 1 Aerial victory claims 3 2 Awards 4 Notes 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 BibliographyEarly life and career editSimsch was born on 6 September 1913 in Posen present day Poznan in west central Poland at the time the capital of the Province of Posen a Prussian province of the German Empire 1 Despite being half Jewish or Mischling under the Nuremberg Laws he enlisted in the Luftwaffe and served with distinction 2 Following flight training Note 1 he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 134 Horst Wessel JG 134 134th Fighter Wing 4 World War II editWorld War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland In late 1940 Simsch was posted to 5 Staffel 5th squadron of Jagdgeschwader 52 JG 52 52nd Fighter Wing 4 The Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant August Wilhelm Schumann and subordinated to II Gruppe of JG 52 which was headed by Hauptmann Wilhelm Ensslen On 2 November Ensslen was killed in action and replaced by Hauptmann Erich Woitke 5 On 15 April 1941 the Luftwaffe ordered an attack on the Royal Air Force RAF airfield at Manston Due to adverse weather conditions the attack was called off and only a Schwarm a flight of four aircraft under the leadership of Simsch was assumed to have reached the target The flight however had found the Luftwaffe airfield at Saint Omer where II Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 JG 53 53rd Fighter Wing was based In the attack the Schwarm destroyed nine aircraft wounding two pilots and five technicians 6 The pilots Simsch Feldwebel Georg Mayr Gefreiter Adolf Glunz and Unteroffizier Hans Sembill were punished by Hermann Goring personally In addition Simsch s advancement in career he had been scheduled to become a Staffelkapitan squadron leader prior to this event was deferred 7 According to Barbas Simsch claimed an unconfirmed aerial victory over a RAF Supermarine Spitfire north of Dover on 19 May 1941 8 9 This claim is not listed by Prien Stemmer Rodeike and Bock 10 Operation Barbarossa edit In preparation of Operation Barbarossa the German invasion of the Soviet Union II Gruppe of JG 52 without a period of replenishment in Germany was ordered to airfields close to the German Soviet demarcation line While the Gruppenstab group headquarters unit and 4 Staffel were based at Suwalki in northeastern Poland 5 and 6 Staffel were transferred to a forward airfield at Sobolewo For the invasion II Gruppe of JG 52 was subordinated to the Geschwaderstab headquarters unit of Jagdgeschwader 27 JG 27 27th Fighter Wing The Geschwader was part of the VIII Fliegerkorps commanded by Generaloberst Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen which supported the northern wing of Army Group Centre 11 nbsp II JG 52 insignia On 22 June the German forces launched the attack on the Soviet Union which opened the Eastern Front That day Simsch claimed his first aerial victory He was credited with shooting down a Polikarpov I 15 fighter west of Varena 12 On 28 June II Gruppe moved to an airfield at Maladzyechna where they stayed until 4 July 13 Here Simsch claimed two Polikarpov R Z reconnaissance bomber aircraft shot down on 1 July 12 Three days later II Gruppe moved further east to an airfield at Sloboda east of Minsk before moving to Lyepyel on 5 July 14 Fyling from Lyepyel Simsch claimed a Petlyakov Pe 2 bomber shot down on 7 July and an Ilyushin DB 3 bomber on 9 July 15 On 13 July the Gruppe moved to Kamary an airfield in the western parts of Vitebsk 16 On 6 September 1941 Simsch succeeded Oberleutnant August Wilhelm Schumann as Staffelkapitan of 5 Staffel of JG 52 Schumann had been killed in action that day 17 18 II Gruppe moved to an airfield at Klin located 85 kilometers 53 mi northwest of Moscow on 30 November 19 There Simsch claimed two I 61 fighters an early German designation for the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 3 fighter one each on 2 and 4 December in combat near Moscow 20 Eastern Front edit On 29 May 1942 Simsch was wounded in combat with a Soviet bomber He was forced to bail out of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F 4 R1 10 kilometers 6 2 miles west of Izium During his convalescence he was replaced by Leutnant Waldemar Semelka 29 May 30 June 1942 and later by Leutnant Heinz Schmidt 1 July 30 September 1942 21 On 1 July Simsch was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes for 45 aerial victories 22 Simsch was one of four JG 52 pilots presented with the Knight s Cross that day The other three pilots to receive the distinction that day were Feldwebel Alfred Grislawski Feldwebel Karl Steffen and Unteroffizier Karl Gratz 23 On 3 November 1942 engine failure of his Bf 109 G 2 Werknummer 13711 factory number resulted in a forced landing northwest of Maykop Simsch was severely injured in the accident 24 Oberfeldwebel Willi Nemitz then briefly led 5 Staffel before Oberleutnant Gustav Denk officially took command of the Staffel in January 1943 25 Defense of the Reich edit On 30 November 1943 following a lengthy period of convalescence Simsch was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 11 JG 11 11th Fighter Wing where he was appointed Staffelkapitan of 10 Staffel He replaced Oberleutnant Gunter Witt 26 On 17 May 1944 seven RAF North American P 51 Mustang fighters from the Second Tactical Air Force attacked the Aalborg Airfield in Denmark The RAF fighters claimed nine aerial victories before 10 Staffel intercepted the RAF fighters In the pursuit two No 122 Squadron P 51 fighters were shot down including one by Simsch 27 On 1 June 1944 he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur group commander of I Gruppe of JG 11 to replace Oberleutnant Hans Heinrich Koenig who was killed in action on 24 May One week later and two days after the Normandy landings Siegfried Simsch was shot down by a North American P 51 Mustang and killed on 8 June 1944 over Rennes France 28 29 His Focke Wulf Fw 190 A 8 Werknummer 730448 crashed near Vitre 30 Summary of career editAerial victory claims edit According to Obermaier Simsch was credited with 54 aerial victories claimed in approximately 400 combat missions 1 The author Rigg however lists him with 95 aerial victories claimed 2 Mathews and Foreman authors of Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 54 aerial victory claims all of which claimed on the Eastern Front 31 Victory claims were logged to a map reference PQ Planquadrat for example PQ 95754 The Luftwaffe grid map Jagermeldenetz covered all of Europe western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude an area of about 360 square miles 930 km2 These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km 4 km 1 9 mi 2 5 mi in size 32 Chronicle of aerial victories This and the dash indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Simsch did not receive credit This and the question mark indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas Prien Stemmer Rodeike Bock Mathews and Foreman Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location 5 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 At the Channel and over England 26 June 1940 9 June 1941 Note 2 19 May 1941 Spitfire north of Dover 33 4 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 31 Operation Barbarossa 22 June 6 September 1941 1 22 June 1941 10 00 I 15 west of Varena 12 8 28 July 1941 19 02 Pe 2 34 2 1 July 1941 19 18 R Z 12 Note 3 9 29 July 1941 17 30 DB 3 34 3 1 July 1941 19 19 R Z 12 Note 3 10 29 July 1941 17 36 DB 3 34 4 7 July 1941 16 43 Pe 2 15 11 27 August 1941 09 11 SB 2 35 5 9 July 1941 13 36 DB 3 15 12 6 September 1941 16 42 I 18 MiG 1 36 6 15 July 1941 08 23 I 16 15 13 6 September 1941 16 48 Note 4 I 18 MiG 1 36 7 25 July 1941 12 28 I 18 MiG 1 34 5 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 37 Operation Barbarossa 7 September 5 December 1941 14 11 September 1941 08 52 I 18 MiG 1 36 21 14 November 1941 08 38 I 18 MiG 1 38 15 15 September 1941 08 59 DB 3 36 22 14 November 1941 12 25 I 16 38 16 15 September 1941 13 58 DB 3 36 23 30 November 1941 10 26 I 26 Yak 1 39 17 24 September 1941 16 23 I 18 MiG 1 36 24 30 November 1941 10 34 U 2 39 18 12 November 1941 15 40 I 18 MiG 1 38 25 2 December 1941 09 48 I 61 MiG 3 20 km 12 mi southwest of Moscow 39 19 14 November 1941 08 25 I 18 MiG 1 38 26 4 December 1941 10 32 I 61 MiG 3 vicinity of Moscow 39 20 14 November 1941 08 35 I 18 MiG 1 38 5 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 37 Eastern Front 7 May 3 November 1942 27 8 May 1942 15 15 MiG 1 40 41 27 May 1942 06 08 V 11 Il 2 41 28 9 May 1942 12 36 I 153 40 42 27 May 1942 15 36 LaGG 3 41 29 9 May 1942 12 41 I 153 40 43 27 May 1942 15 44 BB 100 3 km 1 9 mi northwest of Petrovkaya 41 30 9 May 1942 15 25 MiG 1 40 44 28 May 1942 12 42 Il 2 41 31 11 May 1942 11 34 R 5 40 45 28 May 1942 12 43 Il 2 41 32 15 May 1942 05 41 MiG 1 40 46 6 October 1942 12 30 LaGG 3 PQ 95754 42 25 km 16 mi east northeast of Tuapse 33 15 May 1942 05 48 MiG 1 40 47 10 October 1942 14 50 LaGG 3 PQ 95593 42 30 km 19 mi northeast of Tuapse 34 22 May 1942 15 00 BB 100 40 48 11 October 1942 05 35 I 153 PQ 95761 42 25 km 16 mi east of Tuapse 35 24 May 1942 14 26 V 11 Il 2 40 49 22 October 1942 09 35 I 16 PQ 95541 north of Maykop 42 30 km 19 mi north of Tuapse 36 24 May 1942 14 28 V 11 Il 2 40 50 26 October 1942 12 25 La 5 PQ 44814 43 37 26 May 1942 10 15 Il 2 40 51 29 October 1942 12 55 LaGG 3 PQ 95152 43 38 26 May 1942 15 36 BB 100 40 52 29 October 1942 12 58 LaGG 3 PQ 95154 43 vicinity of Lazarevskoye 39 26 May 1942 15 42 BB 100 1 km 0 62 mi northeast of Petrovka 41 53 30 October 1942 12 40 LaGG 3 PQ 95771 43 Black Sea 10 km 6 2 mi south of Tuapse 40 26 May 1942 15 46 BB 100 41 54 30 October 1942 15 25 LaGG 3 PQ 94145 43 vicinity of Lazarevskoye 10 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 11 Defense of the Reich 1 January 1940 31 May 1944 55 Note 5 17 May 1944 P 51 44 Awards edit Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 20 December 1941 as Oberleutnant and pilot 45 Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 July 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitan of the 5 Jagdgeschwader 52 46 47 Notes edit Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1 A2 and B1 B2 referred to as A B flight training A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics navigation long distance flights and dead stick landings The B courses included high altitude flights instrument flights night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations 3 This claim is not listed by Prien Stemmer Rodeike and Bock 10 nor is it listed by Mathews and Foreman 4 a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Polikarpov R 5 4 According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18 48 37 This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman 37 References editCitations edit a b Obermaier 1989 p 207 a b Rigg 2002 p 39 Bergstrom Antipov amp Sundin 2003 p 17 a b c d Mathews amp Foreman 2015 p 1223 Prien et al 2002 p 151 Prien et al 2002 p 149 Braatz 2010 pp 44 45 Barbas 2005 pp 41 328 Foreman amp Johnson 1994 p 236 a b Prien et al 2002 p 156 Prien et al 2003 p 26 a b c d e Prien et al 2003 p 41 Barbas 2005 p 77 Barbas 2005 pp 77 78 a b c d Prien et al 2003 p 42 Barbas 2005 p 78 Prien et al 2003 p 37 Barbas 2005 p 286 Barbas 2005 p 83 Barbas 2005 p 330 Prien et al 2006 pp 475 502 Schreier 1990 p 80 Weal 2004 pp 78 79 85 Prien et al 2006 p 506 Prien et al 2006 p 475 Prien amp Rodeike 1994 p 551 Prien amp Rodeike 1996 pp 943 946 Weal 2004 p 50 Weal 2011 p 51 Prien amp Rodeike 1996 p 1187 a b Mathews amp Foreman 2015 pp 1223 1224 Planquadrat Barbas 2005 p 328 a b c d Prien et al 2003 p 43 Prien et al 2003 p 44 a b c d e f Prien et al 2003 p 45 a b c d Mathews amp Foreman 2015 p 1224 a b c d e Prien et al 2003 p 46 a b c d Prien et al 2003 p 47 a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al 2006 p 481 a b c d e f g Prien et al 2006 p 482 a b c d Prien et al 2006 p 491 a b c d e Prien et al 2006 p 492 Prien amp Rodeike 1996 p 1209 Patzwall 2008 p 195 Fellgiebel 2000 p 326 Scherzer 2007 p 707 Bibliography edit Barbas Bernd 2005 Die Geschichte der II Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 The History of 2nd Group of Fighter Wing 52 in German ISBN 978 3 923457 71 7 Bergstrom Christer in Swedish Bergstrom Black Cross Red Star website Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat Archived from the original on 22 December 2018 Retrieved 26 January 2022 Bergstrom Christer in Swedish Antipov Vlad Sundin Claes 2003 Graf amp Grislawski A Pair of Aces Hamilton MT Eagle Editions ISBN 978 0 9721060 4 7 Braatz Kurt in German 2010 Walter Krupinski Jagdflieger Geheimagent General Walter Krupinski Fighter Pilot Spy General in German Moosburg Germany NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag ISBN 978 3 9811615 5 7 Fellgiebel Walther Peer in German 2000 1986 Die Trager des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 1945 Die Inhaber der hochsten 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 Foreman John Johnson James Edgar 1994 Air War 1941 From the Blitz to the non stop Offensive Northwestern University ISBN 978 1 871187 27 4 Mathews Andrew Johannes Foreman John 2015 Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims Volume 4 S Z Walton on Thames Red Kite ISBN 978 1 906592 21 9 Obermaier Ernst 1989 Die Ritterkreuztrager 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 2008 Der Ehrenpokal fur besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War in German Norderstedt Germany Verlag Klaus D Patzwall ISBN 978 3 931533 08 3 Prien Jochen Rodeike Peter 1994 Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11 Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945 Teil 1 1939 1943 Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11 Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945 in German Vol I 1939 1943 Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 21 2 Prien Jochen Rodeike Peter 1996 Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11 Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945 Teil 2 1944 Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11 Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945 in German Vol II 1944 Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 24 3 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2002 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 4 II Einsatz am Kanal und uber England 26 6 1940 bis 21 6 1941 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 4 II Action at the Channel and over England 26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 64 9 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2003 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 6 II Unternehmen BARBAROSSA Einsatz im Osten 22 6 bis 5 12 1941 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 6 II Operation BARBAROSSA Action in the East 22 June to 5 December 1941 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 70 0 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2006 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 9 II Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad 1 5 1942 bis 3 2 1943 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 9 II From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad 1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 77 9 Rigg Bryan Mark 2002 Hitler s Jewish Soldiers The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military Lawrence Kansas University Press of Kansas ISBN 978 0 7006 1178 2 Scherzer Veit 2007 Die Ritterkreuztrager 1939 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine Waffen SS Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbundeter Streitkrafte 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 Schreier Hans 1990 JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2 Weltkriegs JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II in German Berg am See K Vowinckel ISBN 978 3 921655 66 5 Weal John 2004 Jagdgeschwader 52 The Experten Aviation Elite Units Vol 15 Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84176 786 4 Weal John 2011 Fw 190 Defence of the Reich Aces Aircraft of the Aces Vol 92 Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84603 482 4 Military offices Preceded byOberleutnant Fritz Engau Gruppenkommandeur of I Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 111 June 1944 8 June 1944 Succeeded byOberleutnant Fritz Engau Portals nbsp Aviation nbsp Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Siegfried Simsch amp oldid 1210980661, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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