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Hans-Jürgen Stumpff
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R77799, Berlin - Karlshorst, die deutsche Kapitulation.jpg
Hans-Jürgen Stumpff (sitting left) at the unconditional surrender of Germany in Berlin Karlshorst
Born (1889-06-15)15 June 1889
Died 9 March 1968(1968-03-09) (aged 78)
Place of birth Kolberg, Province of Pomerania, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire (now Kołobrzeg, Poland)
Place of death Frankfurt am Main, West Germany
Allegiance German Empire German Empire (to 1918)
Weimar Republic Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany Flensburg Government
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Rank Generaloberst
Commands held Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff, Luftflotte 5
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations Horst Stumpff (brother)

Hans-Jürgen Stumpff (15 June 1889 – 9 March 1968), was a German general of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War and was one of the signatories to Germany's unconditional surrender at the end of the war.

Early life[]

Born in Kolberg, Stumpff entered the Brandenburgisches Grenadierregiment Nr. 12 "Prinz Karl von Preußen" as an ensign in 1907. Promoted to lieutenant in 1908, by the start of the First World War, Stumpff served in the general staff. At the end of the war Stumpff had reached the rank of captain. During the Weimar Republic, Stumpff served as a staff officer in the Reichswehrministerium.

Luftwaffe service[]

On 1 September 1933, Stumpff, with rank of lieutenant colonel, became head of personnel in the (illegal) Luftwaffe. After the Luftwaffe became formally legal in Germany, Stumpff served as its chief of staff from 1 June 1937 until 1 January 1939. In 1938, Stumpff was promoted to the rank of General der Flieger.

During the Second World War, Stumpff commanded various Luftflotten. In 19 July 1940, Stumpff was promoted to the rank of Generaloberst and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Until the end of 1943 Stumpff commanded Luftflotte 5, with which he took part in the Battle of Britain, operating out of Norway against Scotland and Northern England.

Stumpff was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

In January 1944, Stumpff commanded Luftwaffe forces in the Defense of the Reich campaign against the Allied bombing attacks. On 8 May 1945, Stumpff served as the Luftwaffe representative at the signing of the unconditional surrender of Germany in Berlin.

Stumpff was released from British captivity in 1947 and died in Frankfurt am Main in 1968.

Awards and decorations[]

References[]

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by
none
Chief of the Luftwaffe Personnel Office
1 September 1933 – 31 May 1937
Succeeded by
Robert Ritter von Greim
Preceded by
Generalleutnant Albert Kesselring
Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff
1 June 1937 – 31 January 1939
Succeeded by
Generaloberst Hans Jeschonnek
Preceded by
Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring
Commander of Luftflotte 1
12 January 1940 – 10 May 1940
Succeeded by
General Wilhelm Wimmer
Preceded by
Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch
Commander of Luftflotte 5
10 May 1940 – 27 November 1943
Succeeded by
General Josef Kammhuber
Preceded by
Generaloberst Hubert Weise
Commander of Luftwaffen-Befehlshaber Mitte
23 December 1944 – 5 February 1945
Succeeded by
Luftflotte Reich
Preceded by
Luftwaffen-Befehlshaber Mitte
Commander of Luftflotte Reich
5 February 1945 – 8 May 1945
Succeeded by
none
Preceded by
General der Flieger Karl Koller
Acting Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff
8 May 1945 – 23 May 1945
Succeeded by
none





All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Hans-Jürgen Stumpff and the edit history here.
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