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Karl-Heinz Leesmann
Born (1915-05-03)May 3, 1915
Died 25 July 1943(1943-07-25) (aged 28)
Place of birth Osnabrück
Place of death over Heligoland in the North Sea
Allegiance Flag of German Reich (1935–1945) Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1936–1943
Rank Major
Unit JG 52
JG 1
Commands held I./JG 52
III./JG 1
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl-Heinz Leesmann (3 May 1915 – 25 July 1943) was a German Luftwaffe 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. Karl-Heinz Leesmann was shot down on 25 July 1943, by a B-17 bomber that he was attacking. During his career he was credited with 37 aerial victories, 27 on the Western Front and 10 on the Eastern Front.

Awards[]

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht[]

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Wednesday, 2 July 1941 Hauptmann Balthasar errang am 26. Juni seinen 39. und 40., Leutnant Leesmann am 30. Juni seinen 21. und 22. Luftsieg.[3] Captain Balthasar on 26 June achieved his 39th and 40th, Second Lieutenant Leesmann on 30 June his 21st and 22nd aerial victory.

References[]

Citations
  1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 235.
  2. Patzwall and Scherzer 2001, p. 272.
  3. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 602.
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. 
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1. 
  • (in German) Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, 1 September 1939 to 31 December 1941]. München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. 

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by
Hauptmann Wolfgang Ewald
Commander of I. Jagdgeschwader 52
25 May 1941 – 6 November 1941
Succeeded by
Oberleutnant Carl Lommel
Preceded by
Major Walter Spies
Commander of II. Jagdgeschwader 1
1 April 1943 – 25 July 1943
Succeeded by
Hauptmann Robert Olejnik
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