Hans Ritter von Adam
Encyclopedia
Hans Ritter von Adam was a German
flying ace
in World War I
, with 21 victories before being killed in action in 1917.
in the Lower Bavaria
region of the Kingdom of Bavaria
(a town now divided between Germany and the Czech Republic), son of a railway official, Andreas Adam, and his wife Hildegard née Fischer. Hans Adam entered the Royal Bavarian Army as a one-year volunteer (Einjährige-Freiwilliger) on October 1, 1906, serving in the 4th Infantry Regiment in Metz
. He then became a businessman in Munich
.
(Leutnant der Landwehr). He was assigned to the Bavarian 15th Reserve Infantry Regiment. He fought in the Battle of the Frontiers
and was wounded in the fighting around the French fortifications in the Nancy-Épinal
region on September 2, 1914. After recuperating, he returned to the front in late 1915, but then chose to enter pilot training (despite his age, which made him much older than most pilot trainees). He received his Observer's Badge on May 15, 1916 and began service as an observer. He flew as an observer for Eduard Ritter von Schleich
.
He scored his first three victories in an Albatros D.III
. In March 1917, he joined Jasta 34 and in July 1917 transferred to Jasta 6
. In July 1917 he shot down and killed ace Lt. A.W.B. Miller (6 claims) of No. 29 Squadron RFC
. He became squadron commander (Staffelführer) of Jasta 6 on August 30, 1917, after Eduard Ritter von Dostler
was shot down.
Leutnant Adam was shot down and killed on November 15, 1917 near Langemarck in his Albatros D.V, possibly by 29 Squadron or by Captain Kenneth Barbour Montgomery of No.45 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
.
On May 20, 1919, Bavaria's highest military decoration, the Military Order of Max Joseph (Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden), was bestowed on Adam, retroactive to July 28, 1917. On that date, as deputy Staffelführer of Jasta 6, while his Staffelführer chased one bomber, Adam had attacked and broken up the rest of a formation of enemy bombers, and continued the pursuit despite damage to his own aircraft, until his squadron had destroyed the enemy formation. For a commoner, award of the Military Order of Max Joseph carried with it a patent of non-hereditary nobility, signified by the title "Ritter von", and Hans Adam became Hans Ritter von Adam.
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...
flying ace
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...
in 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...
, with 21 victories before being killed in action in 1917.
Background
Von Adam was born Hans Adam in EisensteinBayerisch Eisenstein
Bayerisch Eisenstein is a village and a municipality in the Regen district, in Bavaria, Germany.-Geography:Bayerisch Eisenstein is part of Bayerischer Wald and borders the first German national park established in 1968. The town is both winter and summer resort. In the summer walking in the...
in the Lower Bavaria
Lower Bavaria
Lower Bavaria is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of the state.- Geography :Lower Bavaria is subdivided into two regions - Landshut and Donau-Wald. Recent election results mark it as the most conservative part of Germany, generally giving huge...
region of the Kingdom of Bavaria
Kingdom 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...
(a town now divided between Germany and the Czech Republic), son of a railway official, Andreas Adam, and his wife Hildegard née Fischer. Hans Adam entered the Royal Bavarian Army as a one-year volunteer (Einjährige-Freiwilliger) on October 1, 1906, serving in the 4th Infantry Regiment in Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
. He then became a businessman in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
Military service
When World War I began, Adam returned to service as a lieutenant in the Bavarian LandwehrLandwehr
Landwehr, or Landeswehr, is a German language term used in referring to certain national armies, or militias found in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Europe. In different context it refers to large scale, low strength fortifications...
(Leutnant der Landwehr). He was assigned to the Bavarian 15th Reserve Infantry Regiment. He fought in the Battle of the Frontiers
Battle of the Frontiers
The Battle of the Frontiers was a series of battles fought along the eastern frontier of France and in southern Belgium shortly after the outbreak of World War I. The battles represented a collision between the military strategies of the French Plan XVII and the German Schlieffen Plan...
and was wounded in the fighting around the French fortifications in the Nancy-Épinal
Épinal
Épinal is a commune in northeastern France and the capital of the Vosges department. Inhabitants are known as Spinaliens.-Geography:The commune has a land area of 59.24 km²...
region on September 2, 1914. After recuperating, he returned to the front in late 1915, but then chose to enter pilot training (despite his age, which made him much older than most pilot trainees). He received his Observer's Badge on May 15, 1916 and began service as an observer. He flew as an observer for Eduard Ritter von Schleich
Eduard Ritter von Schleich
Eduard Ritter von Schleich , née Eduard-Maria Joseph Schleich was a high scoring Bavarian flying ace of World War I. He was credited with 35 aerial victories at the end of the war...
.
He scored his first three victories in an Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
. In March 1917, he joined Jasta 34 and in July 1917 transferred to Jasta 6
Jasta 6
-History:Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 6 was founded on 25 August 1916. It was one of the original units of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe. The jasta was formed from Fokkerstaffel Sivry, itself an early attempt to use the new winged weapons of fighter aircraft...
. In July 1917 he shot down and killed ace Lt. A.W.B. Miller (6 claims) of No. 29 Squadron RFC
No. 29 Squadron RAF
No. 29 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was first raised in 1915, and is one of the world's oldest fighter squadrons. The second British squadron to receive the Eurofighter Typhoon, it is currently the Operational Conversion Unit for the RAF's newest fighter.-Service in World War I:This unit was...
. He became squadron commander (Staffelführer) of Jasta 6 on August 30, 1917, after Eduard Ritter von Dostler
Eduard Ritter von Dostler
Oberleutnant Eduard Ritter von Dostler , Pour le Mérite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Military Order of Max Joseph, Iron Cross, was a German World War I fighter ace credited with 26 victories.-Early service:...
was shot down.
Leutnant Adam was shot down and killed on November 15, 1917 near Langemarck in his Albatros D.V, possibly by 29 Squadron or by Captain Kenneth Barbour Montgomery of No.45 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
.
On May 20, 1919, Bavaria's highest military decoration, the Military Order of Max Joseph (Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden), was bestowed on Adam, retroactive to July 28, 1917. On that date, as deputy Staffelführer of Jasta 6, while his Staffelführer chased one bomber, Adam had attacked and broken up the rest of a formation of enemy bombers, and continued the pursuit despite damage to his own aircraft, until his squadron had destroyed the enemy formation. For a commoner, award of the Military Order of Max Joseph carried with it a patent of non-hereditary nobility, signified by the title "Ritter von", and Hans Adam became Hans Ritter von Adam.
Decorations
- 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....
, 1st and 2nd Class - Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Max JosephMilitary Order of Max JosephThe Military Order of Max Joseph was the highest purely military order of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was founded on 1 January 1806 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the first king of Bavaria...
- Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of HohenzollernHouse Order of HohenzollernThe House Order of Hohenzollern was an order of chivalry of the House of Hohenzollern. It was both a military and a civil award...