Date of birth:

March 26th, 1916 (Kirchworbis/Saxony, Germany)

Date of death:

April 8th, 1944 (Arnewitz-Gardelegen/Saxony-Anhalt, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Josef Zwernemann achieved 126 victories in about 600 sorties. Was promoted to Hauptmann with effective date of 1st April 1944.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Sergeant)

Unit:

III. Gruppe, Schlachtgeschwader 52, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

August 1st, 1941

Awarded for:

Operation Barbarossa

Royal Degree No. 2217

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Sergeant)

Unit:

III. Gruppe, Schlachtgeschwader 52, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

August 1941

Awarded for:

Operation Barbarossa

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

III. Gruppe, Schlachtgeschwader 52, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

December 12th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Flight Sergeant)

Unit:

III. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 52, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

May 11th, 1942

Award 22/52.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Unterfeldwebel

Unit:

7. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 52, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

June 23rd, 1942

The following newspaper excerpt (dated 04./05.07.1942) describes why Zwernemann received the Knight’s Cross…

“The Führer has given the same award [the Knight’s Cross] to pilot Oberfeldwebel Zwernemann. Over the course of over 300 sorties he shot down 57 aircraft, and in the same time he also conducted many bold low-level attacks that saw him destroy 8 aircraft on the ground, 4 locomotives and numerous trucks and sled columns.”

490th Award.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)

Unit:

1. Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 11, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

October 31st, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv/Norbert Beyerlein
• Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  - Pop-up photo Gravestone Kirchworbis via Norbert Beyerlein
  
• - OBERMAIER, E., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe, Hoffmann, 1989.
  - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
  - 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
  - Traditionsgemeinschaft JG 52
  - Oaks-Holder LW Pilots with Romanian award - Axis History Forum
  - Kösliner Zeitung (Edition 182/183)