Kurt Tanzer

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Kurt Tanzer

Kurt Tanzer
Born (1920-11-01)1 November 1920
Moscow
Died 25 June 1960(1960-06-25) (aged 39)
Near the Balearic Islands
Allegiance Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (to 1945)
West Germany 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]

Career

He was born in Moscow.[2] On 18 March 1942, he was transferred from Ergänzungsgruppe/Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) 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. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Kurt Tanzer
  3. ↑ Weal 2006, p. 106.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 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 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [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 1941 – 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 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 1-84603-045-5. 

External links

  • "Kurt Tanzer". Aces of the Luftwaffe. Retrieved 11 April 2012. 
  • "Kurt Tanzer". Lexikon der Wehrmacht (in German). Retrieved 11 April 2012. 
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