Ralph von Rettberg

Ralph von Rettberg
Born	1 March 1911 Bad Homburg
Died	25 February 2004(2004-02-25) (aged 92) Munich
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1931–1945
Rank	Oberst (colonel)
Unit	ZG 26, ZG 1
Commands	II./ZG 26 Zerstörergeschwader 1 Zerstörergeschwader 2
Battles / wars	World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Invasion of Yugoslavia Operation Barbarossa
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Ralph von Rettberg (1 March 1911 – 25 February 2004) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and wing commander. As a fighter ace, he claimed eight enemy aircraft shot down.

Early life and career

On 7 April 1931, he began his pilot training at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (DVS—German Air Transport School) at Schleißheim. He and 29 other trainees were part of Kameradschaft 31 (camaraderie of 1931), abbreviated "K 31". Among the members of "K 31" were future Luftwaffe staff officers Bernd von Brauchitsch, Günther Radusch, Günther Lützow, Wolfgang Falck and Hannes Trautloft. von Rettberg graduated from the DVS on 19 February 1932.

On 1 March 1937, von Rettberg was appointed adjutant to Oberst Kurt-Bertram von Döring, the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing). On 1 April 1938, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1. Staffel (1st squadron), a squadron of I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 134, which was based at Dortmund and commanded by Oberstleutnant Hermann Frommherz who was succeeded by Hauptmann Karl Kaschka on 1 February 1939. On 1 November 1938, I. Gruppe was renamed to I. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 142 (ZG 142—142nd Destroyer Wing), a unit which became the I. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 26 (ZG 26—26th Destroyer Wing) on 1 May 1939. In consequence, von Rettberg commanded the 1. Staffel of ZG 142, and later the 1. Staffel of ZG 26. The Gruppe was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1 fighter. During the prelude of World War II in August 1939, I. Gruppe of ZG 26 deployed to an airfield at Varel.

World War II

On Friday 1 September 1939, German forces invaded Poland starting World War II in Europe. I. Gruppe of ZG 26 was tasked with patrolling the North Sea. In October, the Gruppe began equipping with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 C heavy fighter. In December, I. Gruppe was moved to Lippstadt. Von Rettberg was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II. Gruppe of ZG 26 on 1 April 1940. He let this unit during the Battle of France, Battle of Britain and the Invasion of Yugoslavia.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Rettberg is credited with approximately eight aerial victories. This number includes three claims on the Eastern Front and five on the Western Front.

Awards

• Flugzeugführerabzeichen
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) (28 September 1940)
• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 June 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel"
• German Cross in Gold on 7 October 1942 as Major in Zerstörergeschwader 2

References

Bibliography

• Braatz, Kurt [in German] (2005). Gott oder ein Flugzeug – Leben und Sterben des Jagdfliegers Günther Lützow [God or an Airplane – Life and Death of Fighter Pilot Günther Lützow] (in German). Moosburg, Germany: NeunundzwanzigSechs Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9807935-6-8.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
• Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton-on-Thames, UK: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
• 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.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-54-0.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 2—Der "Sitzkrieg"—1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 2—The "Phoney War"—1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-59-5.
• 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.
• Weal, John (2012) [1999]. Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer Aces of World War 2. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-753-5.