Ernst Süß
Encyclopedia
Ernst Süß was a former German
Luftwaffe
fighter 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 68 aerial victories.
, became the most lethal unit of the Luftwaffe, and Süß, flying alongside Hermann Graf
(212 wins), Alfred Grislawski
(133) and Heinrich Füllgrabe
(67), formed one of the most deadly "Schwarm" in the skies of Russia. His first victory came on 08.08.1941 and in the next twelve months, fighting in the Caucasus and the Battle of Stalingrad, Süß reached a series of victories against the Soviets, for which he was awarded the Award of Honor of the Luftwaffe on 4.5.1942, the German Cross in Gold on 29.6.1942 and finally Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4.9.1942. In the spring of 1943, Süß was transferred to the Ergänzungsgruppe Ost
, where he remained a long time as an instructor. With this unit he reached his 64th and last victory on the Russian front on 31.5.1943. Promoted to Lieutenant, Süß was transferred to the Western Front in late June 1943 when, following an invitation of his friend Hermann Graf
, joined the JG 50.3.10.1943, Süß was named the Staffelkapitän 9./JG 11, unit active in the Defense of the Reich, with which he won his last four victories. On December 20, 1943, during a combat with P-38 Lightning
fighters south of Oldenburg, the Bf-109G6 (Wn 15,709) of Süß was hit by enemy fire, forcing him to jump from the plane. While he was in his parachute, Süss was gunned down by cowardly U.S. pilots, dying instantly. Oberleutnant Ernst Süß had dropped a total of 68 enemy planes - all, except for four (including two four-engine) on the eastern front.
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....
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. 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 68 aerial victories.
Career
As a reserve pilot, he was summoned to serve shortly after the start of World War II, when he was appointed to join as Unteroffizier 9./JG 52. With this unit he joined the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, without obtaining any victory confirmed in this period. On 22.06.1941, the beginning of the invasion to the USSR, Süß finally achieved success as a fighter pilot. In the months following the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, the 9./JG 52, now called Karaya QuartetKaraya Quartet
Jagdgeschwader 50 , sometimes erroneously referred to as Jagdgruppe 50, was a special high-altitude fighter unit that specialized in intercepting the Royal Air Force's de Havilland Mosquito light bombers during World War II.-History:...
, became the most lethal unit of the Luftwaffe, and Süß, flying alongside Hermann Graf
Hermann Graf
Colonel Hermann Graf was a German Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts...
(212 wins), Alfred Grislawski
Alfred Grislawski
Alfred Grislawski was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat...
(133) and Heinrich Füllgrabe
Heinrich Füllgrabe
Heinrich Füllgrabe was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II...
(67), formed one of the most deadly "Schwarm" in the skies of Russia. His first victory came on 08.08.1941 and in the next twelve months, fighting in the Caucasus and the Battle of Stalingrad, Süß reached a series of victories against the Soviets, for which he was awarded the Award of Honor of the Luftwaffe on 4.5.1942, the German Cross in Gold on 29.6.1942 and finally Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4.9.1942. In the spring of 1943, Süß was transferred to the Ergänzungsgruppe Ost
Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost
Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost was a figher pilot training unit of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on 27 January 1942 in Krakau and renamed Jagdgruppe Ost on 25 November 1942.-Gruppenkommandeure:...
, where he remained a long time as an instructor. With this unit he reached his 64th and last victory on the Russian front on 31.5.1943. Promoted to Lieutenant, Süß was transferred to the Western Front in late June 1943 when, following an invitation of his friend Hermann Graf
Hermann Graf
Colonel Hermann Graf was a German Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts...
, joined the JG 50.3.10.1943, Süß was named the Staffelkapitän 9./JG 11, unit active in the Defense of the Reich, with which he won his last four victories. On December 20, 1943, during a combat with P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
fighters south of Oldenburg, the Bf-109G6 (Wn 15,709) of Süß was hit by enemy fire, forcing him to jump from the plane. While he was in his parachute, Süss was gunned down by cowardly U.S. pilots, dying instantly. Oberleutnant Ernst Süß had dropped a total of 68 enemy planes - all, except for four (including two four-engine) on the eastern front.
Awards
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
in Gold - Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(May 4, 1942) - German CrossGerman CrossThe 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 (July 2, 1942) - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(September 4, 1942)