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Ulrich Wöhnert

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Ulrich Wöhnert
Born24 October 1914
Wolfshagen, German Empire
Died14 August 1947(1947-08-14) (aged 32)
Kutaisi, Soviet Union
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchLuftwaffe
Years of service?–1945
RankLeutnant
UnitJG 54
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Ulrich Wöhnert (24 October 1914 – 14 August 1947) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career he was credited with 86 aerial victories, all over the Eastern Front.

Career

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Wöhnert was born on 24 October 1914 in Wolfshagen in the Province of Brandenburg within the German Empire, present-day part of Uckerland in Brandenburg.[1]

On 7 April 1944 at 21:25 in the evening, Wöhnert was injured during an aerial bombing attack on Wesenberg, present-day Rakvere, keeping him out of combat for some time. Following his convalescence, he was assigned to 1. Staffel.[2]

Squadron leader

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In August 1944, Wöhnert was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of Jgadgeschwader 54, replacing Oberleutnant Wilhelm Schilling in this capacity. The Staffel was subordinated to II. Gruppe of JG 54 under command of Major Erich Rudorffer.[3]

In May 1945, he was taken prisoner of war (POW) by Soviet forces. Imprisoned in a Soviet POW camp at Kutaisi,[4] he died on 14 August 1947. Official reports state that he died of pneumonia while fellow inmates claim that he committed suicide.[5]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to Spick, Wöhnert was credited with 86 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of missions, all of which on the Eastern Front.[6] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for at least 83 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[7]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 47622". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[8]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[9]
Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
1 21 July 1942 19:40 Il-2[10] 3 29 September 1942 09:15 Yak-1 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Ostrowskij[11]
3 km (1.9 mi) north of Dubrovka
2 15 August 1942 12:35 MiG-3 PQ 47622[12]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Staritsa
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[13]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
4 16 March 1943 16:32?[Note 1] LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 18211[14]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa 		25 31 August 1943 13:59 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 25464[15]
20 km (12 mi) west of Yelnya
?[Note 2] 16 April 1943 19:04 La-5 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Lomonosov 26 31 August 1943 14:01 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 35371[15]
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya
5 8 June 1943 16:14 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 10282[16]
35 km (22 mi) west-southwest of Volkhov 		27 2 September 1943 13:11 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 45413[15]
35 km (22 mi) northwest of Mosalsk
6 21 June 1943 10:45 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 0188[17]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Shlisselburg 		28 4 September 1943 16:32 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 35532[15]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Yelnya
7 6 July 1943 14:34 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 63582[18]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 		29 5 September 1943 11:15 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 35371[15]
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya
8 17 July 1943 19:01 Yak-4 PQ 35 Ost 63831[19]
40 km (25 mi) southeast of Maloarkhangelsk 		30 7 September 1943 15:16 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 44134[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southeast of Kirov
9 20 July 1943 12:37 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64875[19]
25 km (16 mi) south of Mtsensk 		31 7 September 1943 15:17 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 44122[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Kirov
10 20 July 1943 13:08 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63241[19]
35 km (22 mi) southeast of Oryol 		32 7 September 1943 15:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 44114[20]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Kirov
11 21 July 1943 04:34 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 53127[19]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Tschaikowka 		33 7 September 1943 15:23 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 44144[20]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Kirov
12 4 August 1943 09:41 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 53433[21]
30 km (19 mi) south-southwest of Oryol 		34 9 September 1943 12:31 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 45882[20]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Kirov
13 13 August 1943 17:14 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51652[22]
Grayvoron-Zolochiv 		35 10 September 1943 13:21 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 44144[20]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Kirov
14 14 August 1943 07:04 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51674[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Bohodukhiv 		36 11 September 1943 14:29 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 34243[20]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Seshchinskaya
15 14 August 1943 15:01 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 51731[22]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bogoduchow 		37?[Note 3] 14 September 1943 16:12 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 26442[20]
16 19 August 1943 05:46 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 51621[22]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Shewsk 		38 24 September 1943 10:53 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 12361[24]
17 19 August 1943 05:47 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 51623, Graiworon[22]
vicinity of Grayvoron 		39 9 October 1943 08:45 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 06114[24]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Nevel
18 20 August 1943 05:41 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 51723[22]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Okhtyrka 		40 10 October 1943 08:06 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 06163[24]
northwest of Lake Jzenniza
19 20 August 1943 05:47 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 51724[22]
20 km (12 mi) northwest of Bohodukhiv 		41 11 October 1943 14:40 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 06272[24]
20 20 August 1943 09:47 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 41621[22] 42 12 October 1943 07:52 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 96232, southeast of Nevel[25]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Nevel
21 22 August 1943 10:33 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 41691[26] 43 12 October 1943 07:53 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 96232, southeast of Nevel[25]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Nevel
22 24 August 1943 07:40 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51553[26]
northeast of Bohodukhiv 		44 13 October 1943 08:09 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 15531[25]
northeast of Gorki
23 25 August 1943 05:22 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 51543[26]
northeast of Bohodukhiv 		45 15 October 1943 10:04 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 15534, northeast of Gorki[25]
24 26 August 1943 15:19 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 41813[26]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[13]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 7 April 1944
46 3 February 1944 14:16 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 06511[27] 50 21 March 1944 09:18?[Note 4] Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 70443[28]
Baltic Sea, 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Hungerburg
47 5 March 1944 16:15 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 80713[27]
20 km (12 mi) south of Narva 		51 30 March 1944 14:13 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 70653[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Hungerburg
48 8 March 1944 14:24 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80552[28]
east of Narva 		52 3 April 1944 16:58?[Note 5] Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 60433[29]
northeast of Kunda
49 19 March 1944 10:06 LaGG-3 PQ 26 Ost 70354[28]
Baltic Sea, 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Kunda 		53 3 April 1944 17:00 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 70343[29]
Baltic Sea, 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Kunda
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[23]
Eastern Front — July – August 1944
54 3 July 1944 11:46 Il-2 PQ OS-6/5[30]
Polotsk 		61 28 July 1944 17:18 P-39 PQ KH-9/1[31]
55 21 July 1944 14:41 Yak-9 PQ NM-5/1[30] 62 28 July 1944 17:19 P-39 PQ KH-9/8[31]
56 22 July 1944 16:40 Yak-9 PQ NQ-1/1[31] 63 29 July 1944 16:18 Il-2 PQ MM-8/4[31]
south of Subate
57 23 July 1944 08:35 Pe-2 PQ ON-5/6[31]
south of Zarasai 		64 29 July 1944 16:18 Il-2 PQ MM-8/4[31]
south of Subate
58 27 July 1944 15:52 P-39 PQ KH-9/7[31]
Mitau 		65 6 August 1944 18:35 Yak-9 PQ MK-2/3[31]
59 27 July 1944 17:48 Pe-2 PQ KH-3/5[31]
Mitau 		66 6 August 1944 18:37 Yak-9 PQ MK-2/3[32]
60 27 July 1944 17:49 Pe-2 PQ KH-3/6[31]
Mitau 		67 7 August 1944 18:04 Yak-9 PQ LN-3/2[32]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[33]
Eastern Front — August – 31 December 1944
68 25 August 1944 13:48 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 57266[34]
40 km (25 mi) north of Kreuzburg 		77 19 September 1944 15:42 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 69217[35]
east of Weissenstein
69 26 August 1944 11:19 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 69641[34]
west of Dorpat 		78 19 September 1944 15:45 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 69245[35]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Fellin
70 26 August 1944 11:35 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 69626[34]
north of Dorpat 		79 21 September 1944 16:30 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 58413[35]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Walk
71 28 August 1944 17:00 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 69664[34] 80?[Note 3] 26 September 1944 16:28 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 58575[35]
72 3 September 1944 10:48 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 60499[34]
northeast of Kunda 		81 28 September 1944 14:34?[Note 6] Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 48822, east of Riga[35]
north of Mālpils
73 3 September 1944 10:50 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 60634[34]
vicinity of Kotka 		82 28 September 1944 14:41 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 48865, east of Riga[35]
20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Mālpils
74 17 September 1944 10:29 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 57224[36]
50 km (31 mi) north-northwest of Kreuzburg 		83 9 October 1944 14:15 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 17845[37]
30 km (19 mi) northeast of Polangen
75 17 September 1944 17:02 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 57166[35]
35 km (22 mi) southeast of Mālpils 		84?[Note 3] 14 October 1944 14:07 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 17761[37]
76 19 September 1944 15:05 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 59828[35]
north of Weissenstein 		85 22 October 1944 14:20 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 17591[38]
35 km (22 mi) southeast of Pillau

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:57.[13]
  2. ^ This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[14]
  3. ^ a b c This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[23]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:16.[13]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:56.[13]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:37.[33]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 225.
  2. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 394.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 471.
  4. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 793.
  5. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 189.
  6. ^ Spick 1996, p. 235.
  7. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1434–1436.
  8. ^ Planquadrat.
  9. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1434–1435.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 89.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 94.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 90.
  13. ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1435.
  14. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 172.
  15. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 183.
  16. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 174.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 175.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 176.
  19. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 179.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2012, p. 184.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 180.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2012, p. 181.
  23. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1435–1436.
  24. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 185.
  25. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 186.
  26. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 182.
  27. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 380.
  28. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2022, p. 381.
  29. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 382.
  30. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 384.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2022, p. 385.
  32. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 386.
  33. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1436.
  34. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2022, p. 482.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2022, p. 484.
  36. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 483.
  37. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 485.
  38. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 486.
  39. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 188.
  40. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 220.
  41. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 520.
  42. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 451.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
  • 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 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • 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.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/III—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/III—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-07-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Balke, Ulf; Bock, Winfried (2022). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/II—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/II—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-28-4.
  • 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.
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