Hermann-Friedrich Joppien

Hermann-Friedrich Joppien
Joppien in France, 1940
Born (1912-07-19)19 July 1912
Bochum
Died 25 August 1941(1941-08-25) (aged 29)
near Yelnya, southwest of Bryansk
Allegiance  Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Reichsheer (1931–35)
 Luftwaffe (1935–41)
Years of service 1931–41
Rank Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit JG 51
Commands held 1./JG 51, I./JG 51
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Hermann-Friedrich Joppien (19 July 1912 – 25 August 1941) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace who claimed 70 enemy aircraft shot down in roughly 270 combat missions. He claimed 42 victories over the Western Front, of which 23 were Supermarine Spitfires, the remaining victories were recorded over the Eastern Front.

Born in Bochum, Joppien volunteered for military service, at first with the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic and later with the Luftwaffe of Nazy Germany. He was posted to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) in 1939 and fought in the Battle of France and Britain on the Western Front. In October 1940 he was given command of I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 51. On account of his 40th aerial victory claimed, he was awarded Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. It was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Joppien.[Note 1] Fighting on the Eastern Front, he was killed in action with Soviet fighters on 25 August 1941.

Early life and career

Joppien was born on 19 July 1912 in Bochum in the Province of Westphalia, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. His father was a laborer and when he found new work in 1917, the family moved to Hersfeld. After Joppien completed his schooling, he received a vocational education and learned the trade of a typesetter in a printing firm. In October 1931, Joppien joined the military service with Infanterie-Regiment 15 (15th Infantry Regiment) of the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic in Gießen. There he was promoted to Unteroffizier (corporal) in 1933.[2]

In parallel to his military service at Gießen, Joppien was very much interested and involved in glider construction and glider flight. His transfer to the Luftwaffe was somewhat delayed as Joppien had been tasked with the training of new officer recruits. On 15 October 1935, his transfer to the Luftwaffe was finally authorized. Until Christmas 1935, he had logged 100 solo flights and in June 1936 he became a flight instructor. He was promoted to Unterfeldwebel (junior non-commissioned officer) on 1 October 1936, to Feldwebel (non-commissioned officer) on 1 February 1937, and to Oberfeldwebel (staff sergeant) on 1 July 1937.[2]

He was then selected for officer training and posted to a Kriegsschule (war school). Graduating among the top of his class of 130 students, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 23 December 1938. Initially serving as a pilot and Staffeloffizier (squadron officer) in Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing),[Note 2] named after the after World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen, he was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieuntenant) on 1 June 1939. He then held the position of Technischer Offizier (technical officer) with Stab of Jagdgruppe 176 (176th Fighter Group), which later formed the basis of II. Gruppe (2nd Group) of Zerstörergeschwader 76 (ZG 76—76th Destroyer Wing). In mid 1939, Joppien was posted to the 1. Staffel (1st Squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing).[2]

World War II

World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. On 23 November 1939, on the Western Front, Joppien claimed his first victory, an Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 of GC III/7, piloted by Sergent (Sergeant) Guillaume who crash landed at Heillecourt where the aircraft completely burned out. During the encounter, his Messerschmitt Bf 109 was damaged by enemy fire resulting in undercarriage failure on landing. His aircraft overturned, fortunately for Joppien, he escaped unhurt.[3] For this achievement he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse) on 13 December 1939.[2]

Battle of France and Britain

The Battle of France, the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, began on 10 May 1940. During this campaign, Joppien was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) on 10 June 1940.[2] By 25 June 1940, the date which marked the end of the French campaign, he claimed three further victories, which brought his total to four aerial victories. On 6 August 1940 Joppien became Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of JG 51.[4]

Joppien then led his Staffel in the Battle of Britain against the Royal Air Force (RAF) which began on 10 July and was fought until 31 October 1940. During these battles, after 29 aerial victories, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 16 September 1940. Two days later, he was promoted to Hauptmann (captain). One month later, on 18 October 1940, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 51. His number of aerial victories increased to 30 by 5 December, the last of 1940. His next two victories were claimed on 26 February 1941.[2]

He accumulated further victories against the RAF and on account of his 40th victory achieved on 21 April was honorably mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht radio report, the first of three such mentions, on 22 April. The next day, he was the 11th officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht honored with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) which was presented to him by Adolf Hitler.[2]

Operation Barbarossa and death

In June 1941, JG 51 and the majority of the Luftwaffe were transferred to the Eastern Front in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. There, on 30 June 1941, he shot down five Soviet bombers near Bobruysk in eastern Belarus, his aerial victories 47–51. This "ace-in-a-day" achievement earned him his second mention in the Wehrmachtbericht on 1 July 1941.[2] On 5 July 1941, he was wounded following his 58th victory claimed and spent several weeks in convalescence.[4]

On 25 August 1941, Joppien and his wingman, Leutnant Erwin Fleig, engaged in combat with Soviet fighters and bombers near Yelnya, Bryansk Oblast, a village in Krasnovichsky Selsoviet of Unechsky District of Bryansk Oblast, 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Bryansk. In the subsequent action Joppien was shot down and killed in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 9670—factory number) "Black" by a Soviet Polikarpov I-16 fighter.[4][5] Fleig later gave to protocol that he and Joppien had attacked three Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers, escorted by three I-16 fighter aircraft, at an altitude of 600–700 meters (2,000–2,300 feet). Fleig saw that Joppien had attacked a Pe-2 bomber, which trailing smoke, was going down. Fleig then observed Joppien's Bf 109 making a sharp right turn and crashed into the ground. By this date, Joppien had shot down 70 enemy aircraft claimed in roughly 270 combat missions. The Wehrmachtbericht announced his death on 29 August 1941.[6]

An after action report was written by Erwin Fleig who was Joppien’s wingman.

Captain Joppien and I started in Miglin on the 25.8.41 around 11.00 AM to patrol around the area of Starodub, Brjansk. After about 20 minutes of flight time Captain Joppien reported a Russian tank train standing on the Unjetscha Shurawka railroad line east of Starodub. Until about the 50th flight minute, we stayed in the area of Kostobor over an advancing German tank column to the south. After that we flew toward north-north east and arrived into the area of Brjansk. 

Captain Joppien reported us about 15 km south of Brjansk and to our lower right 3 P-2 that flew toward southwest.  Through a large right curve, we approached deeply from behind the Russian airplanes.  In the approach, we recognized to the left about 100 to 200 m. height over the bomber group, a Type J16 fighter.  The fighters flew in about 5-600 m height with interval of 150-200 m. Captain Joppien gave the command to the attack the fighters.  He attacked to the right of flight and I to the left behind and under of the flying group.   Before I shot at the fighter flying before me, I saw already that the airplane was shot by Captain Joppien went down to the lower right with a strong smoke plume.

After the Russian plane went down, I saw how Capt.Joppien BF109 abruptly pulled around. I also moved to the right and watched over while the rudderless Capt. Joppien from about 600-700 m height from the steep curve stalled and unable to pull out hit the ground. I witnessed his crash. Whether Capt.Joppien was shot down by the Russian Flight Leader or a shot by the flying bombers on the lower right, I could not tell.

Due to lack of fuel I had to stop the air campaign.

Comment: Cloud height: 1,100 m 7/10 cloud cover. Recognized airplanes: 3 P-2, 3 I-16: Crash of Capt. Joppien: About 12:20 PM. Place- about 20 km SW of Brjansk.


Hauptmann Joppien und ich starteten in Miglin am 25.8.41 um 11.00 Uhr zur Freien Jag dim Raume Starodub-Brjansk. Nach etwa 20 Minuten Flugzeit meldete Hauptmann Joppien einen auf der Eisenbahnlinie Unjetscha-Shurawka stehenden russischen Panzerzug oestlich Starodub. Bis etwa zur 50. Flugminute hielten wir uns im Raume Kostobor ueber nach Sueden vordringenden deutschen Panzerspitze auf. Danach flogen wir in Richtung Nordnordost und gelangten in den Raum Brjansk.

Etwa 15 km südlich Brjansk meldete Hauptmann Joppien rechts unter uns 3 P-2, die in Richtung Südwest flogen. Durch eine Große Rechtskurve naeherten wir uns von tief hinten den russischen Flugzeugen. Bei der Annaeherung erkannten wir links ueber der Bomberkette etwa 100 bis 200 m Hoehe eine Kette Jaeger vom Typ J16. Die Jaeger flogen in etwa 5-600 m Hoehe mit Zwischenraum von 150-200 m. Hauptmann Joppien gab nun den Befehl zum Angriff auf die Jaeger. Er griff rechts fliegende und ich die links fleigende Maschine von hinten unter an. Bevor ich auf die vor mir fliegende maschine schoss, sah ich schon wie die durch Hauptmann Joppien beschossene Machine mit einer starken Rauchfahne steuerlos nach rechts unten stürzte. Den Aufschlag dieser Maschine konnte ich nicht beobachten, weil ich inzwischen den vor mir fliegenden russichen Jaeger unter feuer nahm.

Nachdem auch dieser mit einer starken, dunklen Rauchfahne nach unter stürzte, sah ich wie Hptm. Joppien seine BF109 ruckartig herumriss. Ich zog ebenfals nach rechts und beobachtete, wie Hptm. Joppien aus etwa 6-700 m Hoehe aus der Steilkurve steuerlos in den Sturzflug ueberging und ohne zu versuchen abzufangen, auf dem Boden aufschlug. Aufschlagbrand wurde von mir beobachtet. Ob Hptm. Joppien durch den Kettenfuehrer der russischen Jaeger oder durch einer rechts tiefer von ihm fliegenden Bomber abgeschossen wurde, konnte ich nicht festellen.

Wegen Brennstoffmangels musste ich den Luftkampf abbrechen.

Anmerkung: Wolkenhoehe: 1 100 m 7/10 bedeckt. Erkannte Flugzeuge: 3 P-2, 3 J 16. Auf schlag von Hptm. Joppien: Etw


[7]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 59 confirmed aerial victory claims, plus eleven further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 32 aerial victories on the Western Front and 27 on the Eastern Front.[8]

  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Lipfert an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Lipfert did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Matthews and Foreman.

Awards

Notes

  1. ↑ Until late September 1941, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves was second only to the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), which was awarded only to senior commanders for winning a major battle or campaign, in the military order of Nazi Germany. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves as highest military order was surpassed on 28 September 1941 by the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern).[1]
  2. ↑ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  3. ↑ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Bristol Blenheim.[9]
  4. ↑ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Hawker Hurricane.[9]
  5. ↑ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 20:08.[9]
  6. ↑ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at Kenley.[9]
  7. ↑ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 12:30.[9]
  8. ↑ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Ilyushin Il-2.[21]
  9. ↑ According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51.[24] According to Von Seemen as Staffelkapitän in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51.[25]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Williamson & Bujeiro 2004, pp. 3, 7.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Stockert 1996, p. 97.
  3. ↑ Shores, Foreman & Ehrengardt 1992, p. 116.
  4. 1 2 3 Obermaier 1989, p. 45.
  5. ↑ Weal 2006, pp. 67–68.
  6. ↑ Stockert 1996, p. 98.
  7. ↑ Jägerblatt 1982 Nr. 4 Seite 34, Erwin Fleig
  8. 1 2 Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 588–589.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 588.
  10. ↑ Prien et al. 2001, p. 276.
  11. 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2000, p. 274.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2002, p. 33.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Prien et al. 2002, p. 34.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Prien et al. 2002, p. 35.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Prien et al. 2002, p. 38.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prien et al. 2003, p. 248.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Prien et al. 2003, p. 250.
  18. ↑ Prien et al. 2003, p. 251.
  19. 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2003, p. 252.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prien et al. 2003, p. 253.
  21. ↑ Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 589.
  22. 1 2 Thomas 1997, p. 331.
  23. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 245.
  24. 1 2 Scherzer 2007, p. 423.
  25. ↑ Von Seemen 1976, p. 182.
  26. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 54.
  27. ↑ Von Seemen 1976, p. 25.
  28. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, pp. 500, 598, 659.

Bibliography

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