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Franz Hrdlicka
Franz Hrdlicka (15 October 1920 – 25 March 1945) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.Alternative spelling is Herdlicka. Hrdlicka was credited with 60 aerial victories, potentially up to 96 claims. He was shot down and killed in action on 25 March 1945 near Betzenrod, now a suburb of Schotten, Hesse. Early life and career Hrdlicka was born on 15 October 1920 in Maxdorf in Mähren, now the suburb Dvorska of Brno in the Czech Republic. In late 1939, he volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe. Following flight training, Hrdlicka was posted to the ''Ergänzungsgruppe'' (a training unit) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) based at Götzendorf an der Leitha in early 1940. He received further training with 1. '' Staffel'' (1st squadron) of ''Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Merseburg'', a supplementary training unit based at Merseburg. In May 1941, Hrdlicka was posted to 5. ''Staffel'' of JG 77. Wor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland became part of Nazi Germany, while the country lost further territories to First Vienna Award, Hungary and Trans-Olza, Poland (the territories of southern Slovakia with a predominantly Hungarian population to Hungary and Zaolzie with a predominantly Polish population to Poland). Between 1939 and 1945, the state ceased to exist, as Slovak state, Slovakia proclaimed its independence and Carpathian Ruthenia became part of Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946), Hungary, while the German Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was proclaimed in the remainder of the Czech Lands. In 1939, after the outbreak of World War II, former Czechoslovak President Edvard Beneš formed Czechoslovak government-in-exile, a government-in-exile and sought recognition from the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hesse
Hesse or Hessen ( ), officially the State of Hesse (), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt, which is also the country's principal financial centre. Two other major historic cities are Darmstadt and Kassel. With an area of 21,114.73 square kilometers and a population of over six million, it ranks seventh and fifth, respectively, among the sixteen German states. Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Germany's second-largest metropolitan area (after Rhine-Ruhr), is mainly located in Hesse. As a cultural region, Hesse also includes the area known as Rhenish Hesse (Rheinhessen) in the neighboring state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Etymology The German name , like the names of other German regions ( "Swabia", "Franconia", "Bavaria", "Saxony"), derives from the dative plural form of the name of the inhabitants or German tribes, eponymous tribe, the Hessians (, singular ). The geographical name represents a short equivalent o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Army Group South
Army Group South () was the name of one of three German Army Groups during World War II. It was first used in the 1939 September Campaign, along with Army Group North to invade Poland. In the invasion of Poland, Army Group South was led by Gerd von Rundstedt and his chief of staff Erich von Manstein. Two years later, Army Group South became one of three army groups into which Germany organised their forces for Operation Barbarossa. Army Group South's principal objective was to capture Soviet Ukraine and its capital Kiev. In September 1944, Army Group South Ukraine was renamed Army Group South in Eastern Hungary. It fought in Western Hungary until March 1945 and retired to Austria at the end of the Second World War, where it was renamed Army Group Ostmark on 2 April 1945. Operation Barbarossa Ukraine was a major center of Soviet industry and mining and had the good farmland required for Hitler's plans for ''Lebensraum'' ('living space'). Army Group South was to advance up ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lehrgeschwader 2
''Lehrgeschwader'' 2 (LG 2) (Demonstration Wing 2) was a Luftwaffe unit during World War II, operating three fighter, night fighter, reconnaissance and ground support ''Gruppen'' (groups). ''Lehrgeschwader'' were in general mixed-formation units tasked with the operational evaluation of new types of aircraft and/or with the development/evaluation of new operational tactics or practices. Each ''Gruppe'' within the unit was equipped with a different type of aircraft. Each ''Gruppe'' consisted of several ''Staffel''n ( squadrons). The ''Gruppe'' was identified by Roman numbers (I./LG 2) and the ''Staffel'' by Arabic numbers (10./LG 2). In 1939 Lehrgeschwader 2 thus consisted of a Bf 109 fighter ''Gruppe'' (designated I.(J)/LG 2), a Henschel Hs 123 ground assault ''Gruppe'' (II.(Schl.)/LG 2), and a reconnaissance ''Gruppe'' (III.(Aufkl.)/LG 2). History The unit was created to control the ''Lehrgruppe'' in the Luftwaffe. '' Stab'' and I.(J)/LG 2 was formed on 1 November 1938 in G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and several of its European Axis allies starting on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during World War II. More than 3.8 million Axis troops invaded the western Soviet Union along a front, with the main goal of capturing territory up to a line between Arkhangelsk and Astrakhan, known as the A-A line. The attack became the largest and costliest military offensive in history, with around 10 million combatants taking part in the opening phase and over 8 million casualties by the end of the operation on 5 December 1941. It marked a major escalation of World War II, opened the Eastern Front—the largest and deadliest land war in history—and brought the Soviet Union into the Allied powers. The operation, code-named after the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa ("red beard"), put into action Nazi Germany's ideological goals of eradicating communism and conquering the western Soviet Union to repopulate it w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anton Mader
Anton Mader (7 January 1913 – 19 February 1984) was a German pilot during World War II. He claimed 86 victories and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He commanded the fighter wing ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 in 1944. Early life and career Mader was born on 7 January 1913 in Castelnuovo, at the time in the Kingdom of Dalmatia of Austria-Hungary, present-day Kaštel Novi in Dalmatia, Croatia. He was the son of an Imperial and Royal ''Kapellmeister'', a leader of a musical ensemble, who later served in the Austrian Armed Forces. In 1933, Mader was conscripted into the Austrian Armed Forces serving with ''Alpenjägerregiment'' 10, the 10th Alpine Mountain Regiment. He then attended the military academy at Enns and the Theresian Military Academy at Wiener Neustadt. Promoted to ''Leutnant'' (second lieutenant), he was transferred to ''Fliegerregiment'' 2, the 2nd Flight Regiment of the Austrian Air Force. Following the ''Anschluss'' in March 1938, the forced inco ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Invasion Of Poland
The invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign, Polish Campaign, and Polish Defensive War of 1939 (1 September – 6 October 1939), was a joint attack on the Second Polish Republic, Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Slovak Republic (1939–1945), Slovak Republic, and the Soviet Union, which marked the beginning of World War II. The German invasion began on 1 September 1939, one week after the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, and one day after the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union had approved the pact. The Soviet invasion of Poland, Soviets invaded Poland on 17 September. The campaign ended on 6 October with Germany and the Soviet Union dividing and annexing the whole of Poland under the terms of the German–Soviet Frontier Treaty. The aim of the invasion was to disestablish Poland as a sovereign country, with its citizens destined for The Holocaust, extermination. German and Field Army Bernolák, Slovak forces ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Merseburg
Merseburg () is a town in central Germany in southern Saxony-Anhalt, situated on the river Saale, and approximately 14 km south of Halle (Saale) and 30 km west of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg. The University of Merseburg is located within the town. Merseburg has around 35,000 inhabitants. Names * * * * * * Geography The town Merseburg consists of Merseburg proper and the following four ''Ortschaften'' or municipal divisions:Hauptsatzung der Stadt Merseburg § 15, April 2019. * Beuna (Geiseltal) * [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Organization Of The Luftwaffe (1933–1945)
Between 1933 and 1945, the organization of the Luftwaffe underwent several changes. Originally, the German military high command, for their air warfare forces, decided to use an organizational structure similar to the army and navy, treating the aviation branch as a strategic weapon of war. Later on, during the period of rapid rearmament, the Luftwaffe was organized more in a geographical fashion. Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919), Germany was prohibited from having an air force, with the former German Empire's ''Luftstreitkräfte'' disbandment in 1920. German pilots were secretly trained for military aviation, first in the Soviet Union during the late 1920s, and then in Germany in the early 1930s. In Germany, the training was done under the guise of the German Air Sports Association ( (DLV)) at the Central Commercial Pilots School ( (ZVF)). Following its 15 May 1933 formation in secret, the formation of the German air arm was openly announced in February 1935, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Götzendorf An Der Leitha
Götzendorf an der Leitha is a village in the district of Bruck an der Leitha in Lower Austria in Austria. Up until the end of the Cold War it was the headquarters of the 9th Panzergrenadier Brigade of the 1st Panzergrenadier Division with the 9th Panzer Staff Battalion (12 × M42 Duster); 33rd Panzer Battalion (54 × M60 Patton); 35th Panzergrenadier Battalion (65 × Saurer SPzA1 IFVs, 12 × SK-105 Kürassier, 8 × SPzA1GrW 81 mm mortars); 1st Jagdpanzer (Tank-destroyer) Battalion (60 × SK-105 Kürassier The SK-105 ''Kürassier'' is an Austrian light tank armed with a rifled 105 mm gun in an oscillating turret. It is estimated that over 700 have been produced, with initial deliveries in 1971. It shares its CN 105-57 main gun with the French ...); and the 9th Panzer Artillery Battalion (18 × M109 155 mm howitzer). Geography Götzendorf an der Leitha lies in the industrial area of Lower Austria. About 4.76 percent of the municipality is forested. Referen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jagdgeschwader 77
''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 (JG 77) ''Herz As'' ("Ace of Hearts") was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II. It served in all the German theaters of war, from Western Europe to the Eastern Front, and from the high north in Norway to the Mediterranean. All three ''Gruppe (military), gruppen'' (groups) within the unit operated variants of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. II. Gruppe was the only German unit entirely equipped, albeit only during November–December 1943, with the Macchi C.205, a highly regarded Italy, Italian fighter. Formation Initially, JG 77 was created with two ''Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)#Gruppe, Gruppen'' (groups) and without a Stab (Luftwaffe designation), ''Geschwaderstab'' (headquarters unit). I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 77 was created from IV. ''Gruppe'' of Jagdgeschwader 132, ''Jagdgeschwader'' 132 (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing), which had become I. ''Gruppe'' of Jagdgeschwader 331, ''Jagdgeschwader'' 331 (JG 331—331st Fighter Wing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flight Training
Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills. Flight training can be conducted under a structured accredited syllabus with a flight instructor at a flight school or as private lessons with no syllabus with a flight instructor as long as all experience requirements for the desired pilot certificate/license are met. Typically flight training consists of a combination of two parts: * ''Flight Lessons'' given in the aircraft or in a certified Flight Training Device. * ''Ground School'' primarily given as a classroom lecture or lesson by a flight instructor where aeronautical theory is learned in preparation for the student's written, oral, and flight pilot certification/licensing examinations. Although there are various types of aircraft, many of the principles of piloting them have common techniques, especially those aircraft ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
