Ulrich Wöhnert
Ulrich Wöhnert | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 October 1914 Wolfshagen, German Empire |
| Died | 14 August 1947 (aged 32) Kutaisi, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |  Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | ?–1945 |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | JG 54 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Ulrich Wöhnert (24 October 1914 – 14 August 1947) was a
ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career he was credited with 86 aerial victories, all over the Eastern Front.
Career
Wöhnert was born on 24 October 1914 in Wolfshagen in the Province of Brandenburg within the German Empire, present-day part of Uckerland in Brandenburg.[1]
On 7 April 1944 at 21:25 in the evening, Wöhnert was injured during an aerial bombing attack on Wesenberg, present-day Rakvere, keeping him out of combat for some time. Following his convalescence, he was assigned to 1. Staffel.[2]
Squadron leader
In August 1944, Wöhnert was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of Jgadgeschwader 54, replacing Oberleutnant Wilhelm Schilling in this capacity. The Staffel was subordinated to II. Gruppe of JG 54 under command of Major Erich Rudorffer.[3]
In May 1945, he was taken prisoner of war (POW) by Soviet forces. Imprisoned in a Soviet POW camp at Kutaisi,[4] he died on 14 August 1947. Official reports state that he died of pneumonia while fellow inmates claim that he committed suicide.[5]
Summary of career
Aerial victory claims
According to Spick, Wöhnert was credited with 86 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of missions, all of which on the Eastern Front.[6] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for at least 83 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[7]
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 47622". 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.[8]
| Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
| |||||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
| – 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[9] Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943 | |||||||||
| 1 | 21 July 1942 | 19:40 | Il-2[10] | 3 | 29 September 1942 | 09:15 | Yak-1 | 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Ostrowskij[11] 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Dubrovka | |
| 2 | 15 August 1942 | 12:35 | MiG-3 | PQ 47622[12] 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Staritsa |
|||||
| – 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[13] Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 | |||||||||
| 4 | 16 March 1943 | 16:32?[Note 1] | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 18211[14] 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa |
25 | 31 August 1943 | 13:59 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 25464[15] 20 km (12 mi) west of Yelnya |
| ?[Note 2] | 16 April 1943 | 19:04 | La-5 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Lomonosov | 26 | 31 August 1943 | 14:01 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 35371[15] 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya |
| 5 | 8 June 1943 | 16:14 | P-40 | PQ 36 Ost 10282[16] 35 km (22 mi) west-southwest of Volkhov |
27 | 2 September 1943 | 13:11 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 45413[15] 35 km (22 mi) northwest of Mosalsk |
| 6 | 21 June 1943 | 10:45 | LaGG-3 | PQ 36 Ost 0188[17] 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Shlisselburg |
28 | 4 September 1943 | 16:32 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 35532[15] 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Yelnya |
| 7 | 6 July 1943 | 14:34 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 63582[18] 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk |
29 | 5 September 1943 | 11:15 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 35371[15] 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya |
| 8 | 17 July 1943 | 19:01 | Yak-4 | PQ 35 Ost 63831[19] 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Maloarkhangelsk |
30 | 7 September 1943 | 15:16 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 44134[20] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southeast of Kirov |
| 9 | 20 July 1943 | 12:37 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 64875[19] 25 km (16 mi) south of Mtsensk |
31 | 7 September 1943 | 15:17 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 44122[20] 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Kirov |
| 10 | 20 July 1943 | 13:08 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 63241[19] 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Oryol |
32 | 7 September 1943 | 15:20 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 44114[20] 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Kirov |
| 11 | 21 July 1943 | 04:34 | Yak-7 | PQ 35 Ost 53127[19] 20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Tschaikowka |
33 | 7 September 1943 | 15:23 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 44144[20] 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Kirov |
| 12 | 4 August 1943 | 09:41 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 53433[21] 30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Oryol |
34 | 9 September 1943 | 12:31 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 45882[20] 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Kirov |
| 13 | 13 August 1943 | 17:14 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 51652[22] Grayvoron-Zolochiv |
35 | 10 September 1943 | 13:21 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 44144[20] 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Kirov |
| 14 | 14 August 1943 | 07:04 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 51674[22] 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Bohodukhiv |
36 | 11 September 1943 | 14:29 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 34243[20] 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Seshchinskaya |
| 15 | 14 August 1943 | 15:01 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 51731[22] 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bogoduchow |
37?[Note 3] | 14 September 1943 | 16:12 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 26442[20] |
| 16 | 19 August 1943 | 05:46 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 51621[22] 25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Shewsk |
38 | 24 September 1943 | 10:53 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 12361[24] |
| 17 | 19 August 1943 | 05:47 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 51623, Graiworon[22] vicinity of Grayvoron |
39 | 9 October 1943 | 08:45 | P-39 | PQ 35 Ost 06114[24] 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Nevel |
| 18 | 20 August 1943 | 05:41 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 51723[22] 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Okhtyrka |
40 | 10 October 1943 | 08:06 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 06163[24] northwest of Lake Jzenniza |
| 19 | 20 August 1943 | 05:47 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 51724[22] 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Bohodukhiv |
41 | 11 October 1943 | 14:40 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 06272[24] |
| 20 | 20 August 1943 | 09:47 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 41621[22] | 42 | 12 October 1943 | 07:52 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 96232, southeast of Nevel[25] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Nevel |
| 21 | 22 August 1943 | 10:33 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 41691[26] | 43 | 12 October 1943 | 07:53 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 96232, southeast of Nevel[25] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Nevel |
| 22 | 24 August 1943 | 07:40 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 51553[26] northeast of Bohodukhiv |
44 | 13 October 1943 | 08:09 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 15531[25] northeast of Gorki |
| 23 | 25 August 1943 | 05:22 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 51543[26] northeast of Bohodukhiv |
45 | 15 October 1943 | 10:04 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 15534, northeast of Gorki[25] |
| 24 | 26 August 1943 | 15:19 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 41813[26] | |||||
| – 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[13] Eastern Front — 1 January – 7 April 1944 | |||||||||
| 46 | 3 February 1944 | 14:16 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 06511[27] | 50 | 21 March 1944 | 09:18?[Note 4] | Il-2 | PQ 26 Ost 70443[28] Baltic Sea, 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Hungerburg |
| 47 | 5 March 1944 | 16:15 | Yak-9 | PQ 26 Ost 80713[27] 20 km (12 mi) south of Narva |
51 | 30 March 1944 | 14:13 | Pe-2 | PQ 26 Ost 70653[28] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Hungerburg |
| 48 | 8 March 1944 | 14:24 | La-5 | PQ 26 Ost 80552[28] east of Narva |
52 | 3 April 1944 | 16:58?[Note 5] | Pe-2 | PQ 26 Ost 60433[29] northeast of Kunda |
| 49 | 19 March 1944 | 10:06 | LaGG-3 | PQ 26 Ost 70354[28] Baltic Sea, 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Kunda |
53 | 3 April 1944 | 17:00 | Pe-2 | PQ 26 Ost 70343[29] Baltic Sea, 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Kunda |
| – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[23] Eastern Front — July – August 1944 | |||||||||
| 54 | 3 July 1944 | 11:46 | Il-2 | PQ OS-6/5[30] Polotsk |
61 | 28 July 1944 | 17:18 | P-39 | PQ KH-9/1[31] |
| 55 | 21 July 1944 | 14:41 | Yak-9 | PQ NM-5/1[30] | 62 | 28 July 1944 | 17:19 | P-39 | PQ KH-9/8[31] |
| 56 | 22 July 1944 | 16:40 | Yak-9 | PQ NQ-1/1[31] | 63 | 29 July 1944 | 16:18 | Il-2 | PQ MM-8/4[31] south of Subate |
| 57 | 23 July 1944 | 08:35 | Pe-2 | PQ ON-5/6[31] south of Zarasai |
64 | 29 July 1944 | 16:18 | Il-2 | PQ MM-8/4[31] south of Subate |
| 58 | 27 July 1944 | 15:52 | P-39 | PQ KH-9/7[31] Mitau |
65 | 6 August 1944 | 18:35 | Yak-9 | PQ MK-2/3[31] |
| 59 | 27 July 1944 | 17:48 | Pe-2 | PQ KH-3/5[31] Mitau |
66 | 6 August 1944 | 18:37 | Yak-9 | PQ MK-2/3[32] |
| 60 | 27 July 1944 | 17:49 | Pe-2 | PQ KH-3/6[31] Mitau |
67 | 7 August 1944 | 18:04 | Yak-9 | PQ LN-3/2[32] |
| – 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[33] Eastern Front — August – 31 December 1944 | |||||||||
| 68 | 25 August 1944 | 13:48 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 57266[34] 40 km (25 mi) north of Kreuzburg |
77 | 19 September 1944 | 15:42 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 69217[35] east of Weissenstein |
| 69 | 26 August 1944 | 11:19 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 69641[34] west of Dorpat |
78 | 19 September 1944 | 15:45 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 69245[35] 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Fellin |
| 70 | 26 August 1944 | 11:35 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 69626[34] north of Dorpat |
79 | 21 September 1944 | 16:30 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 58413[35] 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Walk |
| 71 | 28 August 1944 | 17:00 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 69664[34] | 80?[Note 3] | 26 September 1944 | 16:28 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 58575[35] |
| 72 | 3 September 1944 | 10:48 | Il-2 | PQ 26 Ost 60499[34] northeast of Kunda |
81 | 28 September 1944 | 14:34?[Note 6] | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 48822, east of Riga[35] north of Mālpils |
| 73 | 3 September 1944 | 10:50 | Yak-9 | PQ 26 Ost 60634[34] vicinity of Kotka |
82 | 28 September 1944 | 14:41 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 48865, east of Riga[35] 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Mālpils |
| 74 | 17 September 1944 | 10:29 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 57224[36] 50 km (31 mi) north-northwest of Kreuzburg |
83 | 9 October 1944 | 14:15 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 17845[37] 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Polangen |
| 75 | 17 September 1944 | 17:02 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 57166[35] 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Mālpils |
84?[Note 3] | 14 October 1944 | 14:07 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 17761[37] |
| 76 | 19 September 1944 | 15:05 | Pe-2 | PQ 25 Ost 59828[35] north of Weissenstein |
85 | 22 October 1944 | 14:20 | P-39 | PQ 25 Ost 17591[38] 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Pillau |
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class[39]
- Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 8 November 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot[40]
- German Cross in Gold on 14 November 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the 2./Jagdgeschwader 54[41]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 December 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 54[42][4]
Notes
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:57.[13]
- ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[14]
- ^ a b c This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[23]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:16.[13]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:56.[13]
- ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:37.[33]
References
Citations
- ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 225.
- ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 394.
- ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 471.
- ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 793.
- ^ Dixon 2023, p. 189.
- ^ Spick 1996, p. 235.
- ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1434–1436.
- ^ Planquadrat.
- ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1434–1435.
- ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 89.
- ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 94.
- ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 90.
- ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1435.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 172.
- ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 183.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 174.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 175.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 176.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 179.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2012, p. 184.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 180.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2012, p. 181.
- ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1435–1436.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 185.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 186.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 182.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 380.
- ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2022, p. 381.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 382.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 384.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2022, p. 385.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 386.
- ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1436.
- ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2022, p. 482.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2022, p. 484.
- ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 483.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 485.
- ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 486.
- ^ Dixon 2023, p. 188.
- ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 220.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 520.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 451.
Bibliography
- Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
- ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- 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.; 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.
- 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; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—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/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/III—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/III—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-07-9.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Balke, Ulf; Bock, Winfried (2022). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/II—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/II—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-28-4.
- 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.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
