Anton Resch

Anton Resch
Born	(1921-11-26)26 November 1921
Died	16 July 1975(1975-07-16) (aged 53)
Place of birth	Stolberg, Germany
Place of death	Stolberg, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1939–1945
Rank	Oberleutnant
Unit	JG 52
Commands held	3./JG 52
Battles/wars	World War II Eastern Front Western Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Anton Resch (26 November 1921 – 16 July 1975) was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace 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. Anton Resch was credited with 91 victories.

Career

He gained his first Soviet victory Il-2 Sturmovik over the Eastern Front on October 21, 1943. On 27 January 1944 he was seriously wounded by Russian fighters, but returned to duty in June of that same year. On 26 August he recorded seven Soviet victories and other seven on 31 August 1944. On 10 September 1944 was again wounded by Russian flak. After the war Resch was handed over to Soviets and spent many years in Soviet captivity. Anton Resch was credited with 91 victories, 64 of them over the Eastern Front, including 24 Il-2 Sturmoviks and other 27 victories over the Western Front.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• Wound Badge in Black
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• German Cross in Gold (January 1, 1945)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (April 7, 1945)

References

• Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
• Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
• Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X