Otto Bertram
Encyclopedia
Otto Bertram was a was a German Spanish Civil War
and World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until the end of World War II. After World War II he joined the Bundeswehr and served as military attaché
.
"Otsch" Bertram shot down a total of 22 enemy aircraft, nine of which were claimed during the Spanish Civil War.
Bertram joined the Condor Legion
in March 1938, supporting Franco
's Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. During the course of the war Leutnant Bertram claimed nine victories flying with 1./J 88, becoming one of the most successful fighter pilots in that conflict. On 4 October 1938, he was shot down by a Republican I-15
fighter. After bailing out he was taken prisoner of war. For his accomplishments in Spain he was awarded the Spanish Cross
in Gold with Diamonds.
On 26 October 1939, Bertram was appointed Staffelkapitän
of 1./JG 2. Oberleutnant
Bertram claimed his first aerial victory of World War II on 20 April 1940, when he downed a Morane 406 fighter over Saint-Avold
, flown by future French ace Sgt. Chef Antoine Casenobe. However, the claim was not confirmed. In total he claimed four victories during the Battle of France
, although he was shot down and crash-landed after gaining two victories on 19 May 1940, returning to his unit unhurt.
Bertram led 1./JG 2 during the opening phases of the Battle of Britain
. He claimed seven RAF fighters downed in five days between 2 September 1940 and 6 September with the unit. On 26 September 1940, Bertram was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 2. He claimed two further victories with the unit, two RAF Bristol Blenheim
twin-engine bombers shot down near Le Havre on 9 October, to record his 21st and 22nd victories.
On 28 October 1940, Hauptmann
Bertram was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
for 13 victories in World War II and was banned from further combat flying and ordered to return to Germany.
Both of Bertram's brothers serving in the Luftwaffe had recently been killed in action. Hans Bertram, Gruppenadjutant of I./JG 27, was shot down over England in September 1940, and Karl Bertram, a nightfighter pilot with 9./NJG 1, was killed when he crashed his Bf 110 west of Kiel
following an engagement with a RAF bomber on 28 October.
Otto Bertram, as the sole surviving brother, was hence excused from further combat duty. He was to spend the remainder of the war in administrative posts or training units. He served at the Jagdfliegerschule 5 at Wien-Schwechat during 1940/1941 and was Gruppenkommandeur
of I./JG 101 from 6 January 1943 to 30 April 1944. From February 1945, Major Bertram was Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 6, a position he held until the end of the war.
Bertram joined the Bundeswehr
after the re militarisation of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1956. Major Bertram held various positions in the Bundeswehr including Press-Officer. Promoted to Oberstleutnant
he served as military attaché in Belgium
and Luxembourg
.
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until the end of World War II. After World War II he joined the Bundeswehr and served as military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
.
"Otsch" Bertram shot down a total of 22 enemy aircraft, nine of which were claimed during the Spanish Civil War.
Biography
Just like his two brothers, Hans and Karl, Otto Bertram joined the Luftwaffe in 1935.Bertram joined the Condor Legion
Condor Legion
The Condor Legion was a unit composed of volunteers from the German Air Force and from the German Army which served with the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War of July 1936 to March 1939. The Condor Legion developed methods of terror bombing which were used widely in the Second World War...
in March 1938, supporting Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. During the course of the war Leutnant Bertram claimed nine victories flying with 1./J 88, becoming one of the most successful fighter pilots in that conflict. On 4 October 1938, he was shot down by a Republican I-15
Polikarpov I-15
The Polikarpov I-15 was a Soviet biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s. Nicknamed Chaika because of its gulled upper wings, it was operated in large numbers by the Soviet Air Force, and together with the Polikarpov I-16 monoplane, was one of the standard fighters of the Spanish Republicans during...
fighter. After bailing out he was taken prisoner of war. For his accomplishments in Spain he was awarded the Spanish Cross
Spanish Cross
The Spanish Cross was an award of Germany given to Germans who participated in the Spanish Civil War, fighting for Franco.- History :With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Germany sent the Condor Legion to give military aid to Francisco Franco's nationalist forces.On April 14, 1939, Germany...
in Gold with Diamonds.
On 26 October 1939, Bertram 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....
of 1./JG 2. 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...
Bertram claimed his first aerial victory of World War II on 20 April 1940, when he downed a Morane 406 fighter over Saint-Avold
Saint-Avold
Saint-Avold is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is situated twenty-eight miles east of Metz and seventeen miles southwest of Saarbrücken....
, flown by future French ace Sgt. Chef Antoine Casenobe. However, the claim was not confirmed. In total he claimed four victories 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...
, although he was shot down and crash-landed after gaining two victories on 19 May 1940, returning to his unit unhurt.
Bertram led 1./JG 2 during the opening phases of the 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...
. He claimed seven RAF fighters downed in five days between 2 September 1940 and 6 September with the unit. On 26 September 1940, Bertram was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 2. He claimed two further victories with the unit, two RAF Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
twin-engine bombers shot down near Le Havre on 9 October, to record his 21st and 22nd victories.
On 28 October 1940, 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...
Bertram was awarded 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...
for 13 victories in World War II and was banned from further combat flying and ordered to return to Germany.
Both of Bertram's brothers serving in the Luftwaffe had recently been killed in action. Hans Bertram, Gruppenadjutant of I./JG 27, was shot down over England in September 1940, and Karl Bertram, a nightfighter pilot with 9./NJG 1, was killed when he crashed his Bf 110 west of Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
following an engagement with a RAF bomber on 28 October.
Otto Bertram, as the sole surviving brother, was hence excused from further combat duty. He was to spend the remainder of the war in administrative posts or training units. He served at the Jagdfliegerschule 5 at Wien-Schwechat during 1940/1941 and was Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of I./JG 101 from 6 January 1943 to 30 April 1944. From February 1945, Major Bertram was Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 6, a position he held until the end of the war.
Bertram joined the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
after the re militarisation of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1956. Major Bertram held various positions in the Bundeswehr including Press-Officer. Promoted to Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant 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...
he served as military attaché in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
.
Awards
- Spanish CrossSpanish CrossThe Spanish Cross was an award of Germany given to Germans who participated in the Spanish Civil War, fighting for Franco.- History :With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Germany sent the Condor Legion to give military aid to Francisco Franco's nationalist forces.On April 14, 1939, Germany...
in Gold with Diamonds - Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
(1939) in Silver - Pilot's Badge
- 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 28 October 1940 as HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann 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...
and GruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of the III./JG "Richthofen"