Klaus Neumann
Encyclopedia
Klaus Neumann was a German
Leutnant and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
during World War II
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Neumann began his combat flying with 2./JG 51 on the Russian front in May 1943. He claimed his first victory on 15 July 1943. He was to record 12 victories over Russia.
On 25 June 1944, 2./JG 51 was transferred to Germany where it joined IV./JG 3 becoming 16./JG 3 on 10 August. Neumann was particularly successful against the Allied four-engined bombers. Although flying a heavily armed and thoroughly un-manoeuvrable Focke Wulf FW 190A-8
"Sturmbock" in close formation was totally different from the low altitude turning dog fights that characterised air combat over Russia, Neumann was to become one of IV./JG 3 leading bomber killers during the summer and autumn of 1944.
Feldwebel
Neumann was recommended for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
on 25 November 1944 and had it personally presented to him by Adolf Hitler
on 9 December 1944.
In January 1945, Neumann transferred to JG 7 in a staff position. Here he clashed with the unit’s recently appointed Kommodore, Major Theodor Weissenberger
. Shortly afterwards Oberst Johannes Steinhoff
and Generalleutnant Adolf Galland
approached him with an invitation to join JV 44
. Leutnant Neumann gained five victories flying the Messerschmitt Me 262
jet fighter.For a list of Luftwaffe jet aces see List of German World War II jet aces
At 3:00 PM on 24 April 1945 Neumann was one of four pilots to take off from Munich-Riem
to intercept B-26 Marauder
. Günther Lützow
, who failed to return from this mission, led the flight of four. Lützow's fate remains unknown to this date.
Klaus Neumann was credited with 37 victories achieved in about 200 combat missions. 12 of his victories were recorded over the Eastern front
and he shot down 19 four-engined bombers. He was also credited with shooting down five enemy aircraft flying the Me 262 jet fighter.
in Classic's Battle over Bavaria, (ISBN 0952686740). When approached for an interview in 2000 Klaus Neumann was very reluctant to talk about his Sturmgruppe experiences, apparently full of remorse for the loss of life he caused amongst the USAAF bomber crews. Klaus Neumann died at home on the 10 December 2000.
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...
Leutnant and 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...
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...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
World War II
UnteroffizierUnteroffizier
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...
Neumann began his combat flying with 2./JG 51 on the Russian front in May 1943. He claimed his first victory on 15 July 1943. He was to record 12 victories over Russia.
On 25 June 1944, 2./JG 51 was transferred to Germany where it joined IV./JG 3 becoming 16./JG 3 on 10 August. Neumann was particularly successful against the Allied four-engined bombers. Although flying a heavily armed and thoroughly un-manoeuvrable Focke Wulf FW 190A-8
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
"Sturmbock" in close formation was totally different from the low altitude turning dog fights that characterised air combat over Russia, Neumann was to become one of IV./JG 3 leading bomber killers during the summer and autumn of 1944.
Feldwebel
Feldwebel
Feldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. The word Feldwebel is usually translated as sergeant being rated OR-6 in the NATO rank comparison scale, equivalent to the British Army Sergeant and the US Army...
Neumann was recommended for 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...
on 25 November 1944 and had it personally presented to him by 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...
on 9 December 1944.
In January 1945, Neumann transferred to JG 7 in a staff position. Here he clashed with the unit’s recently appointed Kommodore, Major Theodor Weissenberger
Theodor Weissenberger
Major Theodor Weissenberger was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until the end of World War II in 1945. He flew more than 500 combat missions claiming 208 enemy aircraft shot down...
. Shortly afterwards Oberst Johannes Steinhoff
Johannes Steinhoff
Johannes Steinhoff was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace of World War II, and later a senior West German air force officer and military commander of NATO. Steinhoff was one of very few Luftwaffe pilots who survived to fly operationally through the whole of the war period 1939-45...
and Generalleutnant Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe General and flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the Defence of the Reich fronts...
approached him with an invitation to join JV 44
JV 44
Jagdverband 44 was a special fighter unit of top German fighter ace pilots in the Luftwaffe during the last months of World War II. The main aircraft used by the unit was the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter...
. Leutnant Neumann gained five victories flying the Messerschmitt Me 262
Messerschmitt Me 262
The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. Design work started before World War II began, but engine problems prevented the aircraft from attaining operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944...
jet fighter.For a list of Luftwaffe jet aces see List of German World War II jet aces
At 3:00 PM on 24 April 1945 Neumann was one of four pilots to take off from Munich-Riem
Munich-Riem Airport
Munich-Riem Airport was the main, international airport of Munich until it was closed down on 16 May 1992, the day before the new airport near Freising commenced operation. It was located near the old village of Riem in the Munich borough of Trudering-Riem.-History:Construction on the airport...
to intercept B-26 Marauder
B-26 Marauder
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
. Günther Lützow
Günther Lützow
Colonel Günther Lützow was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and a leader in the "Fighter Pilots Revolt". Lützow was credited with 110 victories achieved in over 300 combat missions. He scored 5 victories during the Spanish Civil War...
, who failed to return from this mission, led the flight of four. Lützow's fate remains unknown to this date.
Klaus Neumann was credited with 37 victories achieved in about 200 combat missions. 12 of his victories 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...
and he shot down 19 four-engined bombers. He was also credited with shooting down five enemy aircraft flying the Me 262 jet fighter.
After the war
Some of his experiences with JV 44 were related to Robert ForsythRobert Forsyth
Robert Forsyth is the Anglican Bishop of South Sydney - a region of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. He has been bishop since 2000. Prior to that he was the rector of St. Barnabas, Broadway.- Personal life:...
in Classic's Battle over Bavaria, (ISBN 0952686740). When approached for an interview in 2000 Klaus Neumann was very reluctant to talk about his Sturmgruppe experiences, apparently full of remorse for the loss of life he caused amongst the USAAF bomber crews. Klaus Neumann died at home on the 10 December 2000.
Awards
- 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 (25 October 1944) - 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 9 December 1944 as FeldwebelFeldwebelFeldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. The word Feldwebel is usually translated as sergeant being rated OR-6 in the NATO rank comparison scale, equivalent to the British Army Sergeant and the US Army...
and pilot in the 16./JG 3 "Udet"