TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Klaus, Johann-Alfred "Johannes"

Date of birth:
September 4th, 1918 (Treis an der Mosel/Rhineprovince, Germany)
Date of death:
July 7th, 2018
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Johann Klaus served after the Second World War in the Bundeswehr from 1st April 1956 until 30th September 1977. Here he finally reached the rank of Oberst im Generalstab.

Flew a total of 812 ground attack sorties during WWII.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer
Awarded on:
November 16th, 1942
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant)
Unit:
II. / Sturzkampfgeschwader 1
Awarded on:
July 22nd, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
Staffelführer 6. / Schlachtgeschwader 1
Awarded on:
March 26th, 1944
Awarded after flying approximately 600 ground attack sorties. By the time of his 500th mission he had destroyed the following enemy materiel…

- 65 tanks
- 10 trains
- 5 Katyusha rocket launchers
- 37 guns
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

  • Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
  • - OBERMAIER, ERNST, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe, Verlag Dieter Hoffmann, Mainz, 1976.
    - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
    - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
    - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
    - Patzwall K.D., Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg, Studien zur Geschichte der Auszeichnungen, Band 6, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2008, ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3
    - Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945

Photo