Joachim-Friedrich Huth
Encyclopedia
Joachim-Friedrich Huth (31 July 1896 – 27 March 1962) was a German soldier serving in the Luftstreitkräfte
during World War I
, in the Luftwaffe
during World War II
and Luftwaffe of the Bundeswehr
in post World War II Germany. Huth retired from the military service in 1961 holding the rank of Generalleutnant.
and entered military service in the Imperial German Army
shortly before the outbreak of World War I, on 13 July 1914. He was promoted to Leutnant on 4 January 1915 and served as platoon leader and company chief in the Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 58 (58th infantry regiment). He was injured three times. He transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte
in June 1917 and claimed his first aerial victory on 28 January 1918. He was severely injured on 23 February 1918, losing his right lower leg. Huth was awarded both classes of the Iron Cross
(1914) and the Knight's Cross to the House Order of Hohenzollern
with Swords during the war.
Oberleutnant
Huth left the military service after the war. The treaty of Versailles
had imposed severe restrictions on Germany's military strength and had denied Germany an air force. With Adolf Hitler
's rise to power and the remilitarisation of Germany, Huth reentered the military service of the Luftwaffe on 1 March 1934, holding the rank of Hauptmann
. He became the Geschwaderkommodore
of the Zerstörergeschwader 26
"Horst Wessel
." Huth earned the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 11 September 1940 in this position for the successful leadership of his fighter wing in the Battle of France
and Battle of Britain
. In August, 1940, a military dispatch mentioned him by name for his wing's success in shooting down 51 enemy aircraft.
Generalleutnant Huth commanded various fighter divisions from 1942 until 1944 before taking command of the 1. Jagdkorps
(1st Fighter Corps) on 26 January 1945. He held this position until the end of the war, when he was taken prisoner by the British forces. He was released in 1946.
In 1956 Huth joined the Bundeswehr
after the remilitarisation of the Federal Republic of Germany, holding the rank of Generalmajor. He led the Luftwaffe school at Fürstenfeldbruck
and, until his retirement, the Luftwaffengruppe Süd (Air Force Group South) in Karlsruhe
. Huth retired on 30 September 1961 with a Großer Zapfenstreich
(Grand Tattoo) holding the rank of Generalleutnant. Huth died half a year later on 27 March 1962 in Koblenz
.
Luftstreitkräfte
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 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...
, in 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....
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...
and Luftwaffe of the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
in post World War II Germany. Huth retired from the military service in 1961 holding the rank of Generalleutnant.
Biography
Joachim-Friedrich Huth was born on 31 July 1896 in NeuhofKuhfelde
Kuhfelde is a municipality in the district Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
and entered military service in the Imperial German Army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
shortly before the outbreak of World War I, on 13 July 1914. He was promoted to Leutnant on 4 January 1915 and served as platoon leader and company chief in the Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 58 (58th infantry regiment). He was injured three times. He transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte
Luftstreitkräfte
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...
in June 1917 and claimed his first aerial victory on 28 January 1918. He was severely injured on 23 February 1918, losing his right lower leg. Huth was awarded both classes of the 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....
(1914) and the Knight's Cross to the House Order of Hohenzollern
House Order of Hohenzollern
The House Order of Hohenzollern was an order of chivalry of the House of Hohenzollern. It was both a military and a civil award...
with Swords during the war.
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...
Huth left the military service after the war. The treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
had imposed severe restrictions on Germany's military strength and had denied Germany an air force. With Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's rise to power and the remilitarisation of Germany, Huth reentered the military service of the Luftwaffe on 1 March 1934, holding the rank of 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...
. He became the 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 the Zerstörergeschwader 26
Zerstörergeschwader 26
Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" was a Luftwaffe heavy/destroyer Fighter Aircraft-wing of World War II.-History:Zerstörergeschwader 26 was formed in early 1936 from the Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel". The Geschwaderstab and I. Gruppe was located in Dortmund, II. Gruppe in Werl and III....
"Horst Wessel
Horst Wessel
Horst Ludwig Wessel was a German Nazi activist who was made a posthumous hero of the Nazi movement following his violent death in 1930...
." Huth earned 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...
(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 11 September 1940 in this position for the successful leadership of his fighter wing in 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...
and Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. In August, 1940, a military dispatch mentioned him by name for his wing's success in shooting down 51 enemy aircraft.
Generalleutnant Huth commanded various fighter divisions from 1942 until 1944 before taking command of the 1. Jagdkorps
1st Fighter Corps (Germany)
I. Jagdkorps For more details see Luftwaffe Organization was formed 15 September 1943 in Zeist from the XII. Fliegerkorps and the Luftwaffenbefehlshaber Mitte, and later subordinated to the Luftflotte Reich. The Stab relocated to Brunswick-Querum in March 1944 and to Treuenbrietzen in October 1944...
(1st Fighter Corps) on 26 January 1945. He held this position until the end of the war, when he was taken prisoner by the British forces. He was released in 1946.
In 1956 Huth joined the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
after the remilitarisation of the Federal Republic of Germany, holding the rank of Generalmajor. He led the Luftwaffe school at Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Fürstenfeldbruck. it has a population of 35,494. Since the 1930s, Fürstenfeldbruck has had an air force base....
and, until his retirement, the Luftwaffengruppe Süd (Air Force Group South) in Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
. Huth retired on 30 September 1961 with a Großer Zapfenstreich
Großer Zapfenstreich
The is a military ceremony performed in Germany and Austria. It is similar to the military tattoo ceremony carried out in English-speaking countries, and is the most important ceremonial act executed by the German federal armed forces, the Bundeswehr...
(Grand Tattoo) holding the rank of Generalleutnant. Huth died half a year later on 27 March 1962 in Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
.
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....
(1914) 2nd and 1st Class - Knight's Cross to the 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...
with Swords - Clasp to the 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 and 1st Class - 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...
on 11 September 1940 as OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant 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...
and GeschwaderkommodoreGeschwaderkommodoreGeschwaderkommodore 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 ZG 26 "Horst Wessel" - Mentioned in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
on 19 August 1940
Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, 19 August 1940 | An mehreren Stellen entwickelten sich heftige Luftkämpfe, in deren Verlauf unsere Zerstörer und Jäger dem Feind schwere Verluste beibrachten. Das Zerstörergeschwader "Horst Wessel" unter der Führung seines Kommodore, Oberstleutnant Huth, schoß allein an diesem Tage 51 Flugzeuge ab. | Heavy aerial battles broke out in many places. Our destroyers and fighters infringed heavy losses on the enemy during their course. The destroyer wing "Horst Wessel," under the leadership of their commodore, Oberstleutnant Huth, alone shot down 51 aircraft on this day. |