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Friedrich Obleser
File:GenLt Friedrich Obleser.jpg
Generalleutnant Friedrich Obleser
Born (1923-02-21)21 February 1923
Died 5 June 2004(2004-06-05) (aged 81)
Place of birth Pottenstein, Austria
Place of death Neunkirchen, Austria
Allegiance
Service/branch
Years of service 1940–1945, 1956–1983
Rank
Unit JG 52
Commands held 8./JG 52
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work Bundeswehr

Friedrich Obleser (21 February 1923 – 5 June 2004) was a German World War II fighter ace and was credited with 127 aerial victories achieved in 500 combat missions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. For his post-war service in the German Air Force, he received the Grand Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Career[]

Friedrich Obleser at one point questioned the aerial claims made by Erich Hartmann. Hartmann asked Günther Rall to have Obleser transferred to be Hartmann's wingman for a while. Obleser became a witness on some of Hartmann's claims and no longer questioned Hartmann's claims.[1]

After World War II, Friedrich Obleser settled in West Germany and continued his career in the Luftwaffe der Bundeswehr after the re-militarization of West Germany in 1955. From 1 October 1978 until his retirement on 31 March 1983, he held the position of Inspekteur der Luftwaffe der Bundeswehr. At the end of his career, he had attained the rank of Generalleutnant and was the last active general in the Bundeswehr who had received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.

Awards[]

Notes[]

  1. According to Scherzer on 26 March 1944.[5]

References[]

Citations
  1. - interview by Colin Heaton
  2. Obermaier 1989, p. 175.
  3. Patzwall and Scherzer 2001, p. 335.
  4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 328.
  5. Scherzer 2007, p. 574.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches]. Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989) (in German). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1941 – 1945]. Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7. 
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001) (in German). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2]. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. 
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007) (in German). 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives]. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by
Oberstleutnant Erich Hohagen
Commander of Jagdgeschwader 72
1 November 1961 – 19 December 1963
Succeeded by
Oberstleutnant Benno Schmieder
Preceded by
Oberstleutnant Wilhelm Meyn
Commander of Jagdbombergeschwader 31 Boelcke
December 1963 – November 1966
Succeeded by
Oberst Paul Monreal
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Gerhard Limberg
Inspekteur der Luftwaffe
1 October 1978 – 31 March 1983
Succeeded by
General Eberhard Eimler




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