| Hans Strelow | |
|---|---|
 Hans Strelow | |
| Born | March 26, 1922 |
| Died | 22 May 1942 (aged 20) |
| Place of birth | Berlin, Germany |
| Place of death | east of Mtsensk, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | JG 51 "Mölders" |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Hans Strelow (26 March 1922 – 22 May 1942) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He received the award two days before his 20th birthday making him the youngest recipient of the Oak Leaves.
To avoid capture by the Red Army Strelow committed suicide after he was shot down by a Petlyakov Pe-2 twin-engine bomber in Bf 109 F-2 "Black 10" (Werknummer 8239—factory number). He had made a forced landing 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) behind Soviet lines.
Awards[]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (17 October 1941)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 18 March 1942 as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 5./JG 51 "Mölders"[2]
- 84th Oak Leaves on 24 March 1942 as Leutnant and pilot in the 5./JG 51 "Mölders"[2]
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 18 June 1942
References in the Wehrmachtbericht[]
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 18 June 1942 | Der mit dem Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes ausgezeichnete Leutnant Strelow, Flugzeugführer in einem Jagdgeschwader, ist von einem Flug gegen den Feind nicht zurückgekehrt. Als Sieger in 68 Luftkämpfen zählte dieser erst zwanzigjährige tapfere Offizier zu den hervorragendsten Jagdfliegern.[3] | The with the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Strelow decorated lieutenant Strelow, pilot in a fighter wing, has not returned from a flight against the enemy. The only twenty years old brave officer, as a winner in 68 aerial battles, was one of the most outstanding fighter pilots. |
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939–1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-065-6.
- Schaulen, Fritjof (2005). Eichenlaubträger 1940 - 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe III Radusch - Zwernemann (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 3-932381-22-X.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2300-3.
- Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
External links[]
- "Hans Strelow". Aces of the Luftwaffe. http://www.luftwaffe.cz/strelow.html. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
