Friedrich Obleser

Friedrich Obleser
Obleser during his service in the Bundeswehr
Born (1923-02-21)21 February 1923
Pottenstein, Austria
Died 5 June 2004(2004-06-05) (aged 81)
Neunkirchen, Austria
Allegiance
Service/branch Luftwaffe
German Air Force
Years of service 1940–45, 1956–83
Rank Generalleutnant
Unit JG 52
Commands held
Battles/wars World War II
Awards

Friedrich-Erich Obleser (21 February 1923 – 5 June 2004) was a German general in the Bundeswehr. During World War II, he served as a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe. A fighter ace, Obleser was credited with 120 aerial victories and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. 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

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] In August 1944, Obleser was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 87th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[2]

On December 30, 1944 Oblesse was wounded and did not see any further action before the end of the war in May 1945.

After Obleser was released from US captivity, he worked as a commissioner of a recycling company, which predominantly had to dismantle and dispose of bomber aircraft. He then became head of an industrial application department in the private industry. In 1956, Obleser continued his military career, joining the German Air Force of West Germany. Following multiple assignments to various fighter units, Obleser was appointed wing commander of Jagdgeschwader 72 in Leck, later known as Jagdbombergeschwader 43, and then commander of Jagdbombergeschwader 31 "Boelcke".[3]

From 1 October 1978 until his retirement on 31 March 1983, he held the position of Inspector of the Air Force in the Bundeswehr, achieving the rank of Generalleutnant.

In June 1981, the Federal Minister of Defence Hans Apel threatened Obleser with early retirement following Obleser's report to the Defense Committee of the German Bundestag (Verteidigungsausschuss des Deutschen Bundestages). Obleser had stated that, due to the latest defense budget cut, the German Air Force could only partially fulfill its obligations. Apel had viewed Obleser's statement as lack of loyalty towards his superiors. Earlier in March 1981, although skeptical of the proposal, Obleser had approved two budget cuts suggested by Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Jürgen Brandt.[4]

Death

Friedrich Obleser died of natural causes on June 5, 2004 in Neunkirchen, Germany, at 81 years of age.

Awards

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Scherzer on 26 March 1944.[7]

References

  1. ↑ interview by Colin Heaton Archived 2008-02-10 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  3. ↑ 1978–1982 Friedrich Obleser.
  4. ↑ Der Spiegel Volume 24/1981.
  5. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 335.
  6. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 328.
  7. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 574.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [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] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • "Ablösung für Obleser" [Replacement for Obleser]. Der Spiegel (in German). 24. 1981. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  • "Generalleutnant Friedrich Obleser" [Lieutenant General Friedrich Obleser]. Bundeswehr (in German). Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  • "Ich denk?, ich steh?". Der Spiegel (in German). 46. 1979. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  • "Ein schöner Tod - fürs Vaterland?". Der Spiegel (in German). 35. 1982. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
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		 Inspector of the Air Force
1 October 1978 – 31 March 1983		 Succeeded by
Generalleutnant Eberhard Eimler
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