Edmund Roßmann
| Edmund Roßmann | |
|---|---|
 Edmund Roßmann | |
| Nickname(s) | "Paule" |
| Born |
11 January 1918 Caaschwitz, Principality of Reuss-Gera |
| Died |
4 April 2005 (aged 87) Krefeld |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe |
| Rank | Leutnant |
| Unit | JG 52, EJGr Ost |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Edmund "Paule" Roßmann (11 January 1918 – 4 April 2005) was a German World War II fighter ace and was credited with 93 aerial victories achieved in 640 combat missions, among the numerous ground attack missions. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] He is also noted as being an early mentor of Erich Hartmann, history's leading fighter ace.
Unteroffizier "Paule" Roßmann was transferred to 7./Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52 — 7th Squadron of the 52nd Fighter Wing) on 1 March 1940 and participated in the Battle of France and Battle of Britain. He was credited with six aerial victories in the western theatre before JG 52 was deployed to Operation Barbarossa.
By the end of 1941 he had accumulated 32 aerial victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross after 250 combat missions and 49 aerial victories. From March to June 1942 he was posted to Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost as fighter pilot instructor and returned to his Staffel afterwards. Nevertheless, he almost doubled his score by the end of 1942 and claimed his 80th victory on 29 November 1942.
On 9 July 1943 Roßmann attempted to rescue a crash landed fellow pilot behind Russian lines. At this moment the Russian Infantry arrived and Leutnant Seyler was shot and Roßmann was wounded. Roßmann was taken prisoner of war and was released in October 1949.
Awards
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (6 November 1941)[2]
- Iron Cross 2nd and 1st class
- German Cross in Gold on 22 January 1942 as Feldwebel in the III./JG 52[3]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 March 1942 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 7./JG 52[4]
References
Citations
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.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.