Eduard Neumann
Encyclopedia
Eduard 'Edu' Neumann was a German
Luftwaffe
Officer and commanded the famous Jagdgeschwader 27
‘Afrika’ during the North African Campaign
from 1941 to 1943.
, in the former Austria-Hungarian Empire. In 1914, at the age of three, Eduard lost his mother, and his father not long afterwards. He and his sister Else came under the affectionate but strict guidance of their Grandmother, after World War I
the family moved to Germany
.
to study mechanical and aviation engineering. It was here that he discovered his enthusiasm for flight and quickly became a member of the 'Akakflieg' Glider
club in 1929. In 1932 he passed his flying examinations in powered flight in Cottbus. In 1934 he began training on the Fieseler Fi 5
aircraft, then later the same year he joined the fledgling Luftwaffe
, which was still under secret construction. In Schleissheim he received final combat training, Neumann was then deployed to II./JG 132 ‘Richthofen’ in July 1935.
After the re-training on the Bf 109 D at Barth in August 1937 he was transferred to the Luftwaffe's ‘Condor Legion
’ which was to be sent to aid General Francisco Franco
's Fascists in the Spanish Civil War
along with other notable personalities like Adolf Galland
and Werner Mölders
. After a year's service Neumann returned to Germany at the rank of Oberleutnant
with two victories and the Spanish Cross
in Gold with Swords, and was then appointed Gruppenkommandeur with 4./JG 26 in Düsseldorf, remaining with the unit until departing for Jagdgeschwader 27
in early 1940, becoming the unit's Adjutant
.
The day after scoring his first (World War II) victory during the opening phase of the Battle of Britain
, a RAF No. 236 Squadron RAF
Blenheim
off the coast of Cherbourg on the 20 July 1940, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur
of I./JG 27 to replace Major Helmut Riegel, shot down and killed by 501 Squadron Hurricanes off the Island of Alderney.
After a brief participation In the Invasion of Yugoslavia, in April 1941 the unit moved to Ain-el Gazala, Libya, North Africa on 18 April 1941. He received the German Cross
in Gold on 11 May 1942 as Hauptmann
and Gruppenkommandeur
I./JG 27.
On 8 June 1942 he was promoted to Major and Geschwaderkommodore
of JG 27, which he successfully led until 22 April 1943 when he joined the Staff of General der Jagdflieger. In March 1943 Neumann was promoted to Oberstleutnant
(Lieutenant Colonel), and later in 1944 to Oberst
(Colonel
). Neumann finished the war as the Commander of Fighter Forces in Northern Italy.
Neumann was a believer in leading his squadron from the ground, and given these long periods of administrative command, Neumann's active combat career was somewhat limited, although he became one of the most respected and influential field commanders in the Luftwaffe. As a consequence he only achieved 13 victories during his Luftwaffe career (2 in Spain
). In early 1945 Neumann was among those courageous men to protest against Hermann Göring
in what came to be known as the "Fighter Pilots Revolt" or "Fighter Pilots Mutiny".
One of Neumann's most successful achievements was the moulding of the career of Hans-Joachim Marseille
, giving the unorthodox fighter pilot free rein to practice his tactics. Marseille went on to score 158 victories against the Western Allied Air Forces, a number no other pilot would match.
In 1989 Neumann and other members of JG 27 erected a Pyramid
with the co-operation of the Egyptian Government on the place that Marseille fell to his death.
, also known as The Star of Africa, directed by Alfred Weidenmann
and starring Joachim Hansen
as Marseille.
Neumann remained a member of the German Fighter Pilot's Association, until his death from a long illness aged 93.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
Officer and commanded the famous Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika was a World War II Luftwaffe Geschwader. It was most famous for service in the North African Campaign, supporting the Deutsches Afrikakorps.- Formation:...
‘Afrika’ during the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
from 1941 to 1943.
Early life
Neumann was born in the city of Molodia, BukovinaBukovina
Bukovina is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains.-Name:The name Bukovina came into official use in 1775 with the region's annexation from the Principality of Moldavia to the possessions of the Habsburg Monarchy, which became...
, in the former Austria-Hungarian Empire. In 1914, at the age of three, Eduard lost his mother, and his father not long afterwards. He and his sister Else came under the affectionate but strict guidance of their Grandmother, after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the family moved to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Into the Luftwaffe
In 1928 Neumann went to BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
to study mechanical and aviation engineering. It was here that he discovered his enthusiasm for flight and quickly became a member of the 'Akakflieg' Glider
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
club in 1929. In 1932 he passed his flying examinations in powered flight in Cottbus. In 1934 he began training on the Fieseler Fi 5
Fieseler Fi 5
-See also:-References:* . Flight, 2 November 1933, p. 1100....
aircraft, then later the same year he joined the fledgling Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, which was still under secret construction. In Schleissheim he received final combat training, Neumann was then deployed to II./JG 132 ‘Richthofen’ in July 1935.
After the re-training on the Bf 109 D at Barth in August 1937 he was transferred to the Luftwaffe's ‘Condor Legion
Condor Legion
The Condor Legion was a unit composed of volunteers from the German Air Force and from the German Army which served with the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War of July 1936 to March 1939. The Condor Legion developed methods of terror bombing which were used widely in the Second World War...
’ which was to be sent to aid General Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's Fascists in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
along with other notable personalities like Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe General and flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the Defence of the Reich fronts...
and Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War. Mölders became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 100 aerial victories—that is, 100 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft, and was...
. After a year's service Neumann returned to Germany at the rank of Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
with two victories and the Spanish Cross
Spanish Cross
The Spanish Cross was an award of Germany given to Germans who participated in the Spanish Civil War, fighting for Franco.- History :With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Germany sent the Condor Legion to give military aid to Francisco Franco's nationalist forces.On April 14, 1939, Germany...
in Gold with Swords, and was then appointed Gruppenkommandeur with 4./JG 26 in Düsseldorf, remaining with the unit until departing for Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika was a World War II Luftwaffe Geschwader. It was most famous for service in the North African Campaign, supporting the Deutsches Afrikakorps.- Formation:...
in early 1940, becoming the unit's Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
.
The day after scoring his first (World War II) victory during the opening phase of the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, a RAF No. 236 Squadron RAF
No. 236 Squadron RAF
The squadron was formed on 20 August 1918 from No's 493, 515 & 516 Flights at Mullion, in Cornwall. Equipped with DH6s, it carried out anti-submarine patrols along the coast until the end of the war, disbanding on 15 May 1919....
Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
off the coast of Cherbourg on the 20 July 1940, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of I./JG 27 to replace Major Helmut Riegel, shot down and killed by 501 Squadron Hurricanes off the Island of Alderney.
After a brief participation In the Invasion of Yugoslavia, in April 1941 the unit moved to Ain-el Gazala, Libya, North Africa on 18 April 1941. He received the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 11 May 1942 as Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
and Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
I./JG 27.
On 8 June 1942 he was promoted to Major and Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position , originating during World War II, that is the equivalent of a RAF Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander. A Geschwaderkommodore is usually of Oberstleutnant or Oberst rank...
of JG 27, which he successfully led until 22 April 1943 when he joined the Staff of General der Jagdflieger. In March 1943 Neumann was promoted to Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
(Lieutenant Colonel), and later in 1944 to Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
(Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
). Neumann finished the war as the Commander of Fighter Forces in Northern Italy.
Neumann was a believer in leading his squadron from the ground, and given these long periods of administrative command, Neumann's active combat career was somewhat limited, although he became one of the most respected and influential field commanders in the Luftwaffe. As a consequence he only achieved 13 victories during his Luftwaffe career (2 in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). In early 1945 Neumann was among those courageous men to protest against Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
in what came to be known as the "Fighter Pilots Revolt" or "Fighter Pilots Mutiny".
One of Neumann's most successful achievements was the moulding of the career of Hans-Joachim Marseille
Hans-Joachim Marseille
Hans-Joachim Marseille was a Luftwaffe fighter pilot and flying ace during World War II. He is noted for his aerial battles during the North African Campaign and his bohemian lifestyle. One of the best fighter pilots of World War II, he was nicknamed the "Star of Africa"...
, giving the unorthodox fighter pilot free rein to practice his tactics. Marseille went on to score 158 victories against the Western Allied Air Forces, a number no other pilot would match.
In 1989 Neumann and other members of JG 27 erected a Pyramid
Pyramid
A pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge at a single point. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least three triangular surfaces...
with the co-operation of the Egyptian Government on the place that Marseille fell to his death.
After the war
After the war Neumann developed an engineering company. He continued to fly as hobby, after the banning of civilian flight clubs had been lifted. Neumann worked as a technical consultant on the Hans-Joachim Marseille biographical film, Der Stern von AfrikaDer Stern von Afrika
Der Stern von Afrika is a 1957 black-and-white German war film portraying the combat career of Luftwaffe World War II fighter pilot Hans-Joachim Marseille. It stars Joachim Hansen and Marianne Koch and was directed by Alfred Weidenmann...
, also known as The Star of Africa, directed by Alfred Weidenmann
Alfred Weidenmann
Alfred Weidenmann was a German film director and screenwriter. He directed 36 films between 1942 and 1984.-Selected filmography:* Der Stern von Afrika * Sacred Waters * Adorable Julia...
and starring Joachim Hansen
Joachim Hansen (actor)
Joachim Hansen was a German actor. He was best known for film roles in the 1960s and 1970s where he was often cast in roles portraying Nazi officers and World War II German officials....
as Marseille.
Neumann remained a member of the German Fighter Pilot's Association, until his death from a long illness aged 93.