Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel
Encyclopedia
Hans-Jürgen Erdmann von Cramon-Taubadel (14 November 1901 in Roschkowitz
– 6 November 1985) was German
Luftwaffe
Geschwaderkommodore
of Jagdgeschwader 53
(JG 53) "Pik As"
On 21 December 1939 von Cramon Taubadel was leading a flight of ten Bf 109Es from I./Jagdgeschwader 54
(JG 54) Stab
over the lines near Karlsruhe when they engaged 12 Morane-Saulnier M.S.406
s from GC II/7 escorting a Potez 63.11 of GR I/55. The reconnaissance aircraft was able to return safely to base. Although Hauptmann Paulizsch was hit and wounded in both legs, baling out north-west of Freiburg, von Cramon claimed 3 French aircraft shot down, with one confirmed. von Cramon-Taubadel then transferred to JG 53 in January 1940.
Major von Cramon-Taubadel was first married to Viola von Kaufmann-Asse (17 Aug 1912 – 4 November 1997) on 16 November 1933 and secondly to Ilse Wehrs (8 November 1919 – 16 June 1988) on 5 May 1948. Viola von Kaufmann-Asse was of Jewish ancestry, a fact which came to the attention of Hermann Göring
during the Battle of France
. The consequence was that Göring ordered that the entire JG 53 must remove their Ace of Spades badge (Pik As) and paint a red band around the noses of their aircraft as a mark of shame.
During August and September Göring replaced the majority of the pre-war Jagdgeschwader Kommodore with younger up-and-coming aces, and JG53 was no exception, the II./JG 53 commander Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
taking over from von Cramon-Taubadel on 30 September 1940, and the "Pik-As" badge was reinstated. However at the same time, as a mark of protest, the pilots of JG 53 had the Swastikas painted over on their aircraft fins.
von Cramon-Taubadel commenced a series of staff positions within the Luftwaffe, including Luftkriegs Akademie Berlin-Gatow (late 1940-Feb.1941), General Kommando II.Fliegerkorps (to late 1941) Stab, Luftgau Kommando/Norway (1941-43)and Stab, Luftgau/Finland (Sept.1943-Nov.1943)
Roszkowice, Kluczbork County
Roszkowice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Byczyna, within Kluczbork County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It lies approximately east of Byczyna, north of Kluczbork, and north-east of the regional capital Opole....
– 6 November 1985) was German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
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....
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 Jagdgeschwader 53
Jagdgeschwader 53
Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik-As was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated in Western Europe and in the Mediterranean.Jagdgeschwader 53 - or as it was better known, the "Pik As" Geschwader - was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to 1937...
(JG 53) "Pik As"
On 21 December 1939 von Cramon Taubadel was leading a flight of ten Bf 109Es from I./Jagdgeschwader 54
Jagdgeschwader 54
Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during the Second World War. It was known as the Green Hearts Wing, and it was the second highest scoring wing of all time, JG 52 being the highest...
(JG 54) Stab
Stab (Luftwaffe designation)
During World War II, the suffix Stab was used in the German Luftwaffe to designate a headquarters unit. This applied to subordinate units in each Gruppe or Geschwader — the equivalent units to wings and groups in other air forces.These command units used the green colour of their aircraft...
over the lines near Karlsruhe when they engaged 12 Morane-Saulnier M.S.406
Morane-Saulnier M.S.406
The M.S.406 was a French Armée de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II....
s from GC II/7 escorting a Potez 63.11 of GR I/55. The reconnaissance aircraft was able to return safely to base. Although Hauptmann Paulizsch was hit and wounded in both legs, baling out north-west of Freiburg, von Cramon claimed 3 French aircraft shot down, with one confirmed. von Cramon-Taubadel then transferred to JG 53 in January 1940.
Major von Cramon-Taubadel was first married to Viola von Kaufmann-Asse (17 Aug 1912 – 4 November 1997) on 16 November 1933 and secondly to Ilse Wehrs (8 November 1919 – 16 June 1988) on 5 May 1948. Viola von Kaufmann-Asse was of Jewish ancestry, a fact which came to the attention of 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"...
during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. The consequence was that Göring ordered that the entire JG 53 must remove their Ace of Spades badge (Pik As) and paint a red band around the noses of their aircraft as a mark of shame.
During August and September Göring replaced the majority of the pre-war Jagdgeschwader Kommodore with younger up-and-coming aces, and JG53 was no exception, the II./JG 53 commander Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
Oberst Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace and Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
taking over from von Cramon-Taubadel on 30 September 1940, and the "Pik-As" badge was reinstated. However at the same time, as a mark of protest, the pilots of JG 53 had the Swastikas painted over on their aircraft fins.
von Cramon-Taubadel commenced a series of staff positions within the Luftwaffe, including Luftkriegs Akademie Berlin-Gatow (late 1940-Feb.1941), General Kommando II.Fliegerkorps (to late 1941) Stab, Luftgau Kommando/Norway (1941-43)and Stab, Luftgau/Finland (Sept.1943-Nov.1943)
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 (15 February 1940)
- 1st Class (18 May 1940)
- 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 (14 April 1942) as MajorMajor (Germany)Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
and commander Luftwaffen-Gefechts-Abteilung Barg