Kurt Tanzer

Kurt Tanzer

Kurt Tanzer
Born 1 November 1920(1920-11-01)
Moscow
Died 25 June 1960(1960-06-25) (aged 39)
Near the Balearic Islands
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945)
West Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht)
Luftwaffe (Bundeswehr)
Unit JG 51, Jafü 6, Jafü Ostpreußen
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
German Cross in Gold
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Kurt Tanzer (1 November 1920 – 25 June 1960) was a World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Tanzer is credited for shooting down approximately 128-143 enemy aircraft.[1]

Contents

Career

He was born in Moscow.[2] On 18 March 1942, he was transferred from Ergänzungsgruppe/Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51) to 12./JG 51 which was based on the Eastern front. Tanzer achieved his 35th victory on 5 May 1943. On 6 May, Soviet Ilyushin Il-2 attacked the airfield where Tanzer was stationed. He managed to scramble and destroyed two Ilyushin Il-2. Despite being wounded, he continued attacking the raiding Soviet aircraft and shot down two more aircraft. After further intense battle, Tanzer landed his heavily damaged Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Tanzer's right hand was seriously injured and he suffered from heavy blood loss.[2]

After being recovered from his injury, Tanzer returned to JG 51 and front line duty on 4 November.[2] He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 December 1943 for 35 victories.[3] In June 1944, Tanzer accompanied Karl-Gottfried Nordmann to the staff of Jagdfliegerführer 6.[2] He achieved his 100th victory in the same month in 1944 while serving with this formation.[2][4] He was then transferred to the staff of Jagdfliegerführer in East Prussia on 1 September 1944. Tanzer was transferred to 13./JG 51 on 10 February 1945 and was appointed Staffelkapitän of the unit on 12 March.[2] At the end of World War II, he had 128 victories.[4]

Later life and death

Kurt Tanzer survived World War II[2] and began as a volunteer at a chemical plant.[4] On 16 June 1957, he joined the post-war Bundesluftwaffe.[2][4] He died on 25 June 1960 when his T-33 Shooting Star crashed over the Balearic Islands in bad weather.[2][4]

Awards

References

Citations
  1. ^ Spick 1996, p. 229.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kurt Tanzer
  3. ^ Weal 2006, p. 106.
  4. ^ a b c d e Tanzer, Kurt (German)
  5. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 214.
  6. ^ Patzwall and Scherzer 2001. p. 470.
  7. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 419.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 - 1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-065-6.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
  • 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. Ivy Books. ISBN 0-8041-1696-2.
  • Weal, John (2006). Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders'. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1846030455.