Hans-Eberhardt Gandert
Encyclopedia
General-major Hans-Eberhardt Gandert (2 September 1892–24 July 1947) was a German professional soldier who began his 33 year military career in 1912. He learned to fly in the early days of World War I, went on to become a flying ace
credited with eight aerial victories, including killing British ace Edwin Benbow
, and ended the war in command of a fighter group. In the wake of Germany's defeat, he would serve in the German Army
until 1934. He would then transfer into the newly established Luftwaffe
and serve in increasingly responsible posts until mid-World War II. He retired on 28 February 1945.
on 2 September 1892. On 22 March 1912, he entered military service by joining Jäger
Battalion Nr. 8 as a Fähnrich
. He was commissioned as a leutnant on 16 June 1913. He then attended aviation training at Niederneuendorf from 2 June to 18 August 1914.
. During these postings, he served on the Russian Front
; he was shot down on 10 October 1914, but evaded capture and returned to German lines on 13 October.
Gandert continued to serve in two-seaters, being often transferred. He was promoted to oberleutnant
on 18 August 1916. Gandert finally scored his first two victories while serving in Romania
in November 1917. At some point during his service on the Eastern Front, probably while he was in Romania, Germany's ally, Austria-Hungary
, awarded him its Military Merit Cross
.
On 9 January 1918, he moved out of two seaters into a fighter unit, Jasta 51, which was stationed on the Western Front
in France. He was assigned to command the squadron until being promoted to command a fighter group. He would lead from the front, scoring five confirmed victories and one unconfirmed, including killing British ace Edwin Benbow
. In August 1918, he was awarded the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern; he had previously been awarded both classes of the 1914 Iron Cross
.
On 29 September 1918, Gandert was shot down and wounded while attacking British observation balloon
s, either by ground fire or by No. 210 Squadron RAF
. He was detained as a prisoner of war
.
27 December 1914: Transferred to Army Flight Park South
6 June 1916: Transferred to Flieger-Abteilung 54
3 November 1916: Awaiting reassignment while in replacement pool
13 July 1917: Transferred back to Army Flight Park South
4 August 1917: Posted to Flieger-Abteilung 242
2 November 1917: Posted to Flieger-Abteilung 24
23 December 1917: Awaiting reassignment while in replacement pool
9 January 1918: Appointed Staffelführer
of Jagdstaffel 51
28 February 1918: Appointed to command of Jagdgruppe 6
29 September 1918–9 April 1919: Detained as a prisoner of war
Confirmed victories are numbered and listed chronologically. Unconfirmed victories are denoted by "u/c" and may or may not be listed by date.
to find German aviation being dismantled in the wake of Germany's defeat. He remained in the German military, serving in ground units. After a short spell in motor transport
, he began infantry service on 1 October 1920. As he filled increasingly consequential positions, he was promoted to Hauptmann
on 1 August 1923, and to Major on 1 July 1933.
Shortly after the Luftwaffe
was established, Gandert transferred into it, on 1 October 1934. While performing staff duties in the Reich Air Ministry
, he underwent refresher training in aviation; it is probable that he earned his Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge at this time. Following schooling, he served again in motor transport. He was promoted to Oberstleutnant
on 1 July 1935. Reassignment to command of an air station and its aviation training regiment
was next. His promotion to Oberst
on 1 August 1937 was followed by elevation to command of flying schools. On eof his students was Robert Heuer
.
at Neuruppin
1 April 1920: Posted to Defense Ministry
6 May 1920: Assigned to serve in motor transport
1 October 1920: Assigned to infantry service, rising to company
command and gaining staff experience
1 October 1934: Transferred to Luftwaffe
, with duties in the Reich Air Ministry
1 April 1935: Seconded to bomber aviation training, followed by detachment to flying school at Cottbus
15 May 1935: Seconded to motor transport duties
1 February 1936: Appointed to command both the 12th Flying Training Regiment and Airbase Quedlinburg
, rising to command of flying schools
1 July 1938: Appointed as a department chief in the Reich Labor Ministry
.
Hans-Eberhard Gandert died in Augsburg, Germany on 24 July 1947.
1 May 1942: Placed in charge of the Luftwaffe Exercise Grounds at Zingst
26 November 1944–28 February 1945: Reserve duty
Royal House Order of Hohenzollern
Wound Badge
Austro-Hungarian Military Merit Cross
Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge
Wehrmacht Long Service Award
----
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with eight aerial victories, including killing British ace Edwin Benbow
Edwin Benbow
Captain Edwin Louis Benbow was an English flying ace during the First World War, credited with eight victories, comprising six destroyed and one shared destroyed, and one 'out of control'. He was the only pilot to gain 'ace' status flying the Royal Aircraft Factory FE.8 exclusively...
, and ended the war in command of a fighter group. In the wake of Germany's defeat, he would serve in the German Army
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
until 1934. He would then transfer into the newly established 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....
and serve in increasingly responsible posts until mid-World War II. He retired on 28 February 1945.
Early life
Hans-Eberhardt Gandert was born in Sandberg, Kingdom of BavariaKingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
on 2 September 1892. On 22 March 1912, he entered military service by joining Jäger
Jäger
Jäger is the German word for "hunter", and also a common Jäger is the [[German language|German]] word for "[[hunter]]", and also a common Jäger is the [[German...
Battalion Nr. 8 as a Fähnrich
Fähnrich
Fähnrich is a German and Austrian military rank in armed forces which translates as "Ensign" in English. The rank also exists in a few other European military organizations, often with historical ties to the German system. Examples are Sweden, Norway and Finland . The French Army has a similar...
. He was commissioned as a leutnant on 16 June 1913. He then attended aviation training at Niederneuendorf from 2 June to 18 August 1914.
Activities
Gandert then began service as a pilot in two-seater units of the LuftstreitkräfteLuftstreitkräfte
The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte , known before October 1916 as Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches , or simply Die Fliegertruppen, was the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I...
. During these postings, he served on the Russian Front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
; he was shot down on 10 October 1914, but evaded capture and returned to German lines on 13 October.
Gandert continued to serve in two-seaters, being often transferred. He was promoted to 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...
on 18 August 1916. Gandert finally scored his first two victories while serving in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in November 1917. At some point during his service on the Eastern Front, probably while he was in Romania, Germany's ally, Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, awarded him its Military Merit Cross
Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary)
The Military Merit Cross was a decoration of the Empire of Austria and, after the establishment of the Dual Monarchy in 1867, the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was first established on October 22, 1849 and underwent several revisions to its design and award criteria over the years of its existence...
.
On 9 January 1918, he moved out of two seaters into a fighter unit, Jasta 51, which was stationed on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
in France. He was assigned to command the squadron until being promoted to command a fighter group. He would lead from the front, scoring five confirmed victories and one unconfirmed, including killing British ace Edwin Benbow
Edwin Benbow
Captain Edwin Louis Benbow was an English flying ace during the First World War, credited with eight victories, comprising six destroyed and one shared destroyed, and one 'out of control'. He was the only pilot to gain 'ace' status flying the Royal Aircraft Factory FE.8 exclusively...
. In August 1918, he was awarded the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern; he had previously been awarded both classes of the 1914 Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The 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....
.
On 29 September 1918, Gandert was shot down and wounded while attacking British observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
s, either by ground fire or by No. 210 Squadron RAF
No. 210 Squadron RAF
No. 210 Squadron was a Royal Air Force unit established in World War I. Disbanded and reformed a number of times in the ensuing years, it operated as a fighter squadron during World War I and as a maritime patrol squadron during the Spanish Civil War, World War II and the Cold War before it was...
. He was detained as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
.
Unit assignments
14 September 1914: Posted to Feldflieger Abteilung 3127 December 1914: Transferred to Army Flight Park South
6 June 1916: Transferred to Flieger-Abteilung 54
3 November 1916: Awaiting reassignment while in replacement pool
13 July 1917: Transferred back to Army Flight Park South
4 August 1917: Posted to Flieger-Abteilung 242
2 November 1917: Posted to Flieger-Abteilung 24
23 December 1917: Awaiting reassignment while in replacement pool
9 January 1918: Appointed Staffelführer
Staffelführer
Staffelführer was one of the first paramilitary ranks used by the German Schutzstaffel in the early years of that group’s existence...
of Jagdstaffel 51
28 February 1918: Appointed to command of Jagdgruppe 6
29 September 1918–9 April 1919: Detained as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
List of aerial victories
See also Aerial victory standards of World War IAerial victory standards of World War I
During World War I, the national air services involved developed their own methods of assessing and assigning credit for aerial victories.The victory scores of the pilots represented at List of World War I flying aces often cannot be definitive, but are based on itemized lists that are the best...
Confirmed victories are numbered and listed chronologically. Unconfirmed victories are denoted by "u/c" and may or may not be listed by date.
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 November 1917 | Observation balloon Observation balloon Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today.... |
Destroyed | Juridika, Kingdom of Romania Kingdom of Romania The Kingdom of Romania was the Romanian state based on a form of parliamentary monarchy between 13 March 1881 and 30 December 1947, specified by the first three Constitutions of Romania... |
||
| 2 | 11 November 1917 | Farman Farman Farman Aviation Works was an aeronautic enterprise founded and run by the brothers; Richard, Henri, and Maurice Farman. They designed and constructed aircraft and engines from 1908 until 1936; during the French nationalization and rationalization of its aerospace industry, Farman's assets were... |
Destroyed | Bondarewka, Kingdom of Romania | ||
| u/c | 17 March 1918 | Enemy aircraft | ||||
| 3 | 30 May 1918 @ 2035 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | Destroyed | Nieppewald | Victim was Edwin Benbow Edwin Benbow Captain Edwin Louis Benbow was an English flying ace during the First World War, credited with eight victories, comprising six destroyed and one shared destroyed, and one 'out of control'. He was the only pilot to gain 'ace' status flying the Royal Aircraft Factory FE.8 exclusively... , killed in action Killed in action Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to... |
|
| 4 | 2 June 1918 @ 1630 hours | Probably a Fokker D.VII Fokker D.VII The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft... |
Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | Destroyed | Southwest of Bailleul, France | Victim was from No. 1 Squadron RAF No. 1 Squadron RAF No. 1 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated the Harrier GR9 from RAF Cottesmore until 28 January 2011.The squadron motto is In omnibus princeps , appropriate for the RAF's oldest squadron and one that has been involved in almost every major British military operation since... |
| 5 | 21 June 1918 @ 1815 hours | Probably a Fokker D.VII | Sopwith Camel Sopwith Camel The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult... serial number B6326 |
Destroyed | Gapaard | Victim was from No. 54 Squadron RAF |
| 6 | 24 July 1918 @ 2100 hours | Fokker D.VII | Bristol F.2 Fighter Bristol F.2 Fighter The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft... |
Destroyed | Armentières Armentières Armentières is a commune in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole, and lies on the Belgian border, northwest of the city of Lille, on the right bank of the river Lys.... , France |
Victims were from No. 20 Squadron RAF No. 20 Squadron RAF No. 20 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was until March 2010, the OCU for the BAE Harrier GR9, and T12, operating from RAF Wittering... ; M. S. Samson was KIA Killed in action Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to... ; H. D. Aldridge held as POW Prisoner of war A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict... |
| 7 | 15 August 1918 @ 1930 hours | Fokker D.VII | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | Destroyed | Becelacre | |
| 8 | 28 August 1918 | Fokker D.VII | Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8 | Destroyed | Victim was from No. 13 Squadron RAF | |
Activities
Gandert returned from captivity with his Wound BadgeWound Badge
Wound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
to find German aviation being dismantled in the wake of Germany's defeat. He remained in the German military, serving in ground units. After a short spell in motor transport
Motor transport
Motor transport refers to the operation and maintenance of a military vehicle fleet , and sometimes to the servicemembers to operate and maintain them. Traditionally, motor transport organizations are responsible for a unit's military trucks and associated equipment, as well as the transport of...
, he began infantry service on 1 October 1920. As he filled increasingly consequential positions, he was promoted to 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...
on 1 August 1923, and to Major on 1 July 1933.
Shortly after the 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....
was established, Gandert transferred into it, on 1 October 1934. While performing staff duties in the Reich Air Ministry
Reich Air Ministry
thumb|300px|The Ministry of Aviation, December 1938The Ministry of Aviation was a government department during the period of Nazi Germany...
, he underwent refresher training in aviation; it is probable that he earned his Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge at this time. Following schooling, he served again in motor transport. He 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...
on 1 July 1935. Reassignment to command of an air station and its aviation training regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
was next. His promotion 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...
on 1 August 1937 was followed by elevation to command of flying schools. On eof his students was Robert Heuer
Robert Heuer
Robert Heuer was a highly decorated Oberleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
.
Duty assignments
11 April 1919: Assigned to the aerodromeAerodrome
An aerodrome, airdrome or airfield is a term for any location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve cargo, passengers or neither...
at Neuruppin
Neuruppin
Neuruppin is a town in Brandenburg, Germany. Located on the shore of Ruppiner See , it is the capital of the district of Ostprignitz-Ruppin. Population: 32,800 .-Overview:...
1 April 1920: Posted to Defense Ministry
6 May 1920: Assigned to serve in motor transport
Motor transport
Motor transport refers to the operation and maintenance of a military vehicle fleet , and sometimes to the servicemembers to operate and maintain them. Traditionally, motor transport organizations are responsible for a unit's military trucks and associated equipment, as well as the transport of...
1 October 1920: Assigned to infantry service, rising to company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
command and gaining staff experience
1 October 1934: Transferred to 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....
, with duties in the Reich Air Ministry
Reich Air Ministry
thumb|300px|The Ministry of Aviation, December 1938The Ministry of Aviation was a government department during the period of Nazi Germany...
1 April 1935: Seconded to bomber aviation training, followed by detachment to flying school at Cottbus
Cottbus
Cottbus is a city in Brandenburg, Germany, situated around southeast of Berlin, on the River Spree. As of , its population was .- History :...
15 May 1935: Seconded to motor transport duties
1 February 1936: Appointed to command both the 12th Flying Training Regiment and Airbase Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
, rising to command of flying schools
1 July 1938: Appointed as a department chief in the Reich Labor Ministry
Activities
Gandert received his final promotion, to Generalmajor, on 1 December 1939. Starting on 19 July 1941, his prior experience in logistics was utilized supplying food and clothing to the entire Luftwaffe. His next posting was also Luftwaffe-wide. After a transfer to the reserves, he retired on 28 February 1945. After 33 years service to his nation, he had richly earned his Wehrmacht Long Service AwardWehrmacht Long Service Award
The Wehrmacht Long Service Award was a military service decoration of Nazi Germany issued for satisfactory completion of a given years of military service...
.
Hans-Eberhard Gandert died in Augsburg, Germany on 24 July 1947.
Duty assignments
19 July 1941: Appointed as Inspector of Clothing and Food Supplies for the Luftwaffe1 May 1942: Placed in charge of the Luftwaffe Exercise Grounds at Zingst
Zingst
Zingst Peninsula is the easternmost portion of the three-part Fischland-Darß-Zingst Peninsula, located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany between the cities Rostock and Stralsund on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. The area is part of the Pomeranian coast...
26 November 1944–28 February 1945: Reserve duty
Awards and decorations
Iron Cross, First and Second ClassRoyal House Order of Hohenzollern
Wound Badge
Wound Badge
Wound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
Austro-Hungarian Military Merit Cross
Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary)
The Military Merit Cross was a decoration of the Empire of Austria and, after the establishment of the Dual Monarchy in 1867, the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was first established on October 22, 1849 and underwent several revisions to its design and award criteria over the years of its existence...
Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge
Wehrmacht Long Service Award
Wehrmacht Long Service Award
The Wehrmacht Long Service Award was a military service decoration of Nazi Germany issued for satisfactory completion of a given years of military service...
Endnotes
--------