Herbert Bareuther
Encyclopedia
Herbert Bareuther was a World War II
fighter ace
from Nazi Germany
. He was born on 29 July 1914 at Asch
in Egerland
. Bareuther was credited with having shot down a total of 55 enemy aircraft. All the victories he achieved were recorded over the Eastern front
.
and was posted to Jagdgeschwader 51
(JG 51) in spring 1941 as Unteroffizier
. He achieved his first victory over the Eastern Front on 22 June after he shot down a Soviet bomber Ilyushin DB-3
. By the end of 1941 he had shot down a total of nine enemy aircraft. He then become involved in flying close air support
missions. Bareuther also undertook a lengthy period of fighter pilot instructing. He was promoted to the rank of Leutnant in summer 1944. By the middle of August 1944, he had 44 victories to his credit. But he was shot down over Warsaw in an aerial combat. Bareuther bailed out injured but was captured by partisan forces. Later he was freed by German troops.
In February 1945, Bareuther returned to combat duty in Luftwaffe
and served with the IV./JG 3 based on the Eastern front. While serving with this unit, he achieved his last eleven victories. In mid-April Bareuther was appointed Staffelkapitän
.
area. His aircraft hit a tree and he was killed in the subsequent crash. Leutnant Bareuther was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 5 May 1945.
Herbert Bareuther is listed as a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
in Ernst Obermaier's book Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 - 1945. However he is not listed in Walther-Peer Fellgiebel's work Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 nor in Veit Scherzer's book Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives.
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...
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...
from Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. He was born on 29 July 1914 at Asch
Asch
Asch may refer to:In People:*Frank Asch , American writer*Moe Asch , founder of Folkways Records, son of Sholem Asch*Nathan Asch , American writer*Peter Asch , American water polo player...
in Egerland
Egerland
The Egerland is a historical region in the far north west of Bohemia in the Czech Republic at the border with Germany. It is named after the German name Eger for the city of Cheb and the main river Ohře...
. Bareuther was credited with having shot down a total of 55 enemy aircraft. All the victories he achieved were recorded over the Eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
.
Service
In early 1939, Bareuther joined the LuftwaffeLuftwaffe
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 was posted to Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II, named after the fighter ace Werner Mölders in 1942. JG 51's pilots won more Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes than any other Jagdgeschwader, and flew combat from 1939 in all major theatres of war. Flying Bf 109s and then...
(JG 51) in spring 1941 as Unteroffizier
Unteroffizier
Unteroffizier is both a specific military rank as well as a collective term for non-commissioned officers of the German military that has existed since the 19th century. The rank existed as a title as early as the 17th century with the first widespread usage occurring in the Bavarian Army of the...
. He achieved his first victory over the Eastern Front on 22 June after he shot down a Soviet bomber Ilyushin DB-3
Ilyushin DB-3
The Ilyushin DB-3 was a Soviet bomber aircraft of World War II. It was a twin-engined, low-wing monoplane that first flew in 1935. It was the precursor of the Ilyushin Il-4...
. By the end of 1941 he had shot down a total of nine enemy aircraft. He then become involved in flying close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
missions. Bareuther also undertook a lengthy period of fighter pilot instructing. He was promoted to the rank of Leutnant in summer 1944. By the middle of August 1944, he had 44 victories to his credit. But he was shot down over Warsaw in an aerial combat. Bareuther bailed out injured but was captured by partisan forces. Later he was freed by German troops.
In February 1945, Bareuther returned to combat duty in 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 served with the IV./JG 3 based on the Eastern front. While serving with this unit, he achieved his last eleven victories. In mid-April Bareuther was appointed Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
.
Death
On 30 April 1945, Bareuther was hit by Russian flak undertaking a ground support mission in the PasewalkPasewalk
Pasewalk is a town in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. Located on the Uecker river, it is the capital of the former Uecker-Randow district, and the seat of the Uecker-Randow-Tal Amt of which it is not part.Pasewalk became a town during the 12th...
area. His aircraft hit a tree and he was killed in the subsequent crash. Leutnant Bareuther was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 5 May 1945.
Awards
Herbert Bareuther received a total of three awards.- 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...
awarded on 15 February 1943 - Deutsches Kreuz in Gold awarded on 5 February 1944 as Oberfeldwebel in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 51
Herbert Bareuther is listed as a 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...
in Ernst Obermaier's book Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 - 1945. However he is not listed in Walther-Peer Fellgiebel's work Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 nor in Veit Scherzer's book Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives.