Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn

Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
Born (1910-10-20)20 October 1910
Died 24 June 1953(1953-06-24) (aged 42)
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Rank Oberst
Commands held JG 53
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn (20 October 1910 – 24 June 1953) was a German pilot during World War II who commanded the Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53). He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, which was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Maltzahn.

Career

Maltzhan was born 20 October 1910 in Wodarg, Pomerania. A member of the German aristocracy, Maltzhan could use the title of Freiherr (Baron). Maltzahn entered the cavalry in 1931 although he had already undergone flight training at the commercial flying school in Schleissheim. In mid 1930s, Maltzahn joined the Luftwaffe as a flying instructor. In 1937 he was posted to 6./Jagdgeschwader 334 as a Staffelkapitän, the unit later renumbered 6./Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53).

With JG 53, Maltzahn participated in the Invasion of Poland, the Battle of France and the Low Countries and the Battle of Britain. On 9 October 1940, he was promoted Geschwaderkommodore of JG 53, and on 30 December was awarded the Knight's Cross, for 12 air victories, and also for his work organizing and leading the unit.

In 1941 JG 53 participated in the Invasion of the Soviet Union, achieving high numbers of air victories against the Soviet Air Force. Maltzahn reached 43 kills and on 24 July 1941 received the Oak Leaves. In September 1941 JG 53 was withdrawn from frontline duties to Holland for rest and refit. The Geschwader was then sent to Sicily in December and participated in the battles over Malta and the Mediterranean.

von Maltzahn in Italy, July 1943

Maltzahn reached 68 victories before leaving JG 53 in October 1943, assuming various staff positions with the Luftwaffenbefehlshabers Mitte (Luftwaffe Command of the Mediterranean), and later Jagdfliegerführer Italien, (Chief of Operations in Italy). In February 1945 he was detached to 9 Fliegerdivision, until the end of the war. Maltzahn flew 497 missions and claimed 68 victories, 67 of them in the west. He fought on the Western Front, Eastern Front and the Mediterranean.

After the war Maltzahn worked in agriculture and later in the "Amt Blank", a forerunner of the Ministry of Defence, on the reconstruction of the German Air Force. He was a candidate for the position of Inspector of the Air Force. He died of Hodgkin's lymphoma on 24 June 1953 in Düsseldorf at the age of 42. The street "Günther-von-Maltzahn-Straße" in Fürstenfeldbruck was named after him.[1]

Awards

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "Josef-Priller-Straße". strassenkatalog.de (in German). Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Thomas 1998, p. 55.
  3. ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 46.
  4. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 293.
  5. 1 2 Scherzer 2007, p. 525.

Bibliography

  • 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. 
  • Prien, Jochen (1997). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader March 1937 – May 1942. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-0175-9. 
  • 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. 
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9. 
Military offices
Preceded by
Major Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel		 Commander of Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik As
October 1940 – October 1943 		Succeeded by
Major Friedrich-Karl Müller
Preceded by
unknown		 Commander of Jagdfliegerführer Oberitalien
October 5, 1943 – December, 1944 		Succeeded by
Oberst Eduard Neumann
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