Tales of War

[Transhumanist]

I created a similar thread on ABF, but, unfortunately, nobody contributed. Hopefully some of you folks will have some stories to share. If possible, although not necessary, it would be neat to tie the story with something tangible (eg your grandfather's soldbuch, an uncle's dog tags, etc.).

Also, my German is extremely rusty. I relied on the few years I took it in high school. Plus, some of the documents were in Sütterlin. I am not unfamiliar with Sütterlin, but I am far from comfortable with it. If any of the folks here speak German, and wish to correct or add to my translation, please feel free.

And, of course, please contribute to the thread by adding your own stories, those of relatives or friends, or those reconstructed based on your own research. I will begin with an example of the latter sort. This story will take a number of posts to complete. So, please be patient.

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Lt. Hasso Holst, Flugzeugführer, I./KG 54

Hasso Hermann Max Holst was born on 18 July,1920, in the Charlottenburg borough of Berlin. Frieda Holst, Hasso’s mother, passed away in 1933. His father, Paul, was an inspector of some sort. Hasso’s nationality is listed as German. He was an evangelical, never married, and his civilian occupation is listed as student.

Hasso studied English and French in school. Hasso was a member of the life-saving society of Germany, was certified in gliding, and a recipient of the Reich youth sport award.

His next of kin was listed as his father, Paul Holst, who resided in the Tempelhof borough of Berlin.

He is listed as volunteering for military service on 22.02.1938. He was found fit and listed under the untrained, under age 35, and not called up for service category.

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Sources
Radtke, Siegfried. Kampfgeschwader 54: von der Ju 52 zur Me 262. Schild Verlag Munich, 1990. ISBN 3-88014-0987
Shores, Christopher; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola. Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942. Grub Street, 1991. ISBN 0-948817-16-X
de Zeng, H.L; Stankey, D.G; Creek, E.J. Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945 Volume 1. Ian Allen Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-85780-279-5
Scheibert, Horst. Die Inhaber Des EhrenPokals Für Besondere Leistung Im Luftkrieg. Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, 1986. ISBN 3-7909-0283-7
Aviation History Society Norway: Luftwaffe Losses Detailed Information Site.
Operations Record Book (ORBs) for No.1435 Squadron, R.A.F. and 185 Squadron. The National Archives of the UK.

[Transhumanist]

On the date his wehrpass was issued from Wehrbezirks-Kommando Berlin VII, 21.11.1938, there is an entry indicating that Hasso volunteered for duty with the Luftwaffe as an officer candidate, to begin the following year, 1939.

Hasso began his RAD service in April of 1939, and as of the general mobilization declared on 26.08.1939, was assigned to one of the Bau-Bataillone.

He began his Luftwaffe training on 1.10.1939, found fit for duty on 5.10.1939, assigned to 2. Kompanie/Flieger-Ausbildungs-Regiment 42 in Salzwedel and swore his allegiance on 8.10.1939. He was issued his Luftwaffe soldbuch on 20.10.1939.

[Transhumanist]

His unit listing begins with his Bau-Bataillon assignment.

His Luftwaffe service:

2.10.1939 to 14.11.1939 --- 2. Kompanie / Flieger-Ausbildungs-Regiment 42
15.11.1939 to 20.07.1940 --- Schülerkompanie / Luftkriegsschule 5
21.07.1940 to 15.05.1941 --- Schülerkompanie /Flugzeugführerschule Kolberg
16.05.1941 to 15.06.1941 --- Schülerkompanie/ Blindflugschule 3
16.06.1941 to 2.11.1941 --- 4. Schülerkompanie / Große Kampffliegerschule 1
3.11.1941 to 31.01.1942 --- 4./Kampfgeschwader 54 (Totenkopf)
1.02.1942 to 14.10.1942 --- 1./Kampfgeschwader 54 (Totenkopf)

[Transhumanist]

Rank details listed as follows:

1.02.1940 – Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter
1.04.1940 – Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier
1.07.1940 – Fähnrich
1.12.1940 - Oberfähnrich
1.02.1941 - Leutnant


Weapons training listed as follows:
98K
l.m.g. 13
Pistole 08 (Pistol Permit issued 27.01.1941)

[Transhumanist]

Flugzeugführerschein issued 13.07.1940.

Flugzeugführerabzeichen awarded 19.08.1940 (Please see previous post, bottom of page 21 of the wehrpass for the entry)

[Transhumanist]

Now a part of I./KG 54, Holst receives the following awards:

10 April, 1942 - Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Bronze (20 Operational Sorties)

12 April, 1942 – Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse

29 April, 1942 – Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse

[Transhumanist]

26 May, 1942 - Holst’s Ju 88 (B3+MH-140212 or 140225) of 1. Staffel, I./KG 54 departs Eleusina with a stopover in Tympaki, Crete, heading toward Libya to provide aerial support for Rommel’s Panzer Armee Afrika as ground forces commence Operation “Theseus.” Upon returning from Africa, as a result of what is later described as a compass malfunction, Leutnant Holst is forced to ditch at sea for want of fuel, by the Greek island of Psathoura (N. Sporades) shortly after 0100 hours on 27 May. Holst and his crew manage to safely reach Psathoura thanks to an inflatable dinghy retrieved from the sinking aircraft.

The photo attached is of Holst's actual sunken Ju 88! (Appreciation to Tasos from another forum for sharing the image)

[Transhumanist]

27.05.1942 - Frontflugspange in Silber (60 Operational Sorties)

7.09.1942 - Frontflugspange in Gold (110 Operational Sorties)

[Transhumanist]

Monday, October 12, 1942 - The last major blitz by the Luftwaffe over Malta is underway. Hasso Holst is listed in the Ehrenliste Der Deutschen Luftwaffe. He has been awarded the Ehrenpokal.

[Transhumanist]

Tuesday, October 13, 1942 - Lt. Holst and his crew, which consisted of Beobachter Uffz. Joachim Elsasser, Bordfunker Uffz. Gerhard Richter, and Bordschütze Uffz. Alfred John, are celebrated upon their return from a raid over Malta for achieving the 5000th operational sortie flown by aircraft of the I./KG 54.

Image Source: Radtke, p.128.

[Transhumanist]

Wednesday, October 14, 1942 – Between 1000 and 1100 hours, Holst’s Ju 88 (B3+HH – 5839) along with six other Ju 88 of I./KG 54 depart their airfield in Catania, Sicily, tasked with another bombing raid over Malta. They are escorted by 45 Bf 109 of I and II./JG 53, I./JG 77 and I./JG 27, and 29 Macchi C.202 of 51o Stormo.

Flight Lieutenant “Wally” McLeod and seven other Spitfire of RAF No. 1435 Squadron engaged the German and Italian aircraft 20 miles north of Malta’s Grand Harbour. Flt. Lt. McLeod, a native of Regina, SK, later dubbed “The Eagle of Malta,” claimed one Ju 88 after pursuing the aircraft across the island and after it had released its ordnance.

Image Source: Wikipedia page of "Wally" McLeod, RCAF

[Transhumanist]

Nine other Spitfire of RAF No. 185 Squadron, led by Wing Commander John “Tommy” Thompson, also engaged the enemy aircraft. Thompson noted the following:

"I dived vertically on two 88s and attacked the starboard one. I opened fire with my cannons and machine guns at 200 yards closing to 50 yards, and saw cannon strikes which caused the enemy aircraft to burst into flames in the middle of the fuselage. Confirmed by ground observation from Luqa."

The author speculates that Thompson was responsible for the downing of Lt. Holst’s Ju 88 considering that the aircraft was reported shot down over the sea off of Malta and that this appeared consistent with Luftwaffe loss reports. The author adds that Holst’s aircraft may also be the one claimed by Flt. Lt. McLeod. (Note – The author identifies Holst’s Ju 88 as stammkennzeichen B3+AA).

Image Source: www.350sqn.be page of John Marlow Thompson

[Transhumanist]

As per the Luftwaffe loss report of the crash of Lt. Holst's aircraft, three parachutes were observed. According to Radtke, the entire crew remains listed as missing in action.

Entry noting Holst's status ("vermißt") as of 20.10.1942. Signature of DKiG recipient, Karl Palliardi.

[Transhumanist]

A friend of mine sent this to me a while back. It is a photo of Holst from the Vermisstenbildliste. Holst's rank is listed as Olt. in the Vermisstenbildliste, indicating a promotion (effectively posthumous) to the rank of Oberleutnant.

[The Lawspeaker]

I will try to find some information about my grandfather's time in the East Indies but since the family is rather quiet about it it will take time.

[Transhumanist]

I will try to find some information about my grandfather's time in the East Indies but since the family is rather quiet about it it will take time.

That would be terrific.

[Transhumanist]

This Wehrpass belonged to a German soldier reported MIA October, 1942 (nearly 70 years ago). The soldier's entire platoon, in fact, disappeared, apparently, without a trace, on the northern sector of the Eastern Front. Letters from the company commander and other German authorities/organizations, and the soldier's father are a part of this document group.

http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel01.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel02.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel03.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel03a.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel04.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel05.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel06.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel07.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel08.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel09.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel10.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel11.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel12.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel13.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel14a.jpg

[Transhumanist]

Part 2, of the immediately preceding post:

http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel14b.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel15.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel16.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel17.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel18.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel19.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel20.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel21.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel22.jpg
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h464/handschar1/Stoffel/Stoffel23.jpg

[Transhumanist]

I should add that this soldier, had yet to turn 18, at the time of his disappearance (MIA status).

[Sinbad]

I shall post my service record for you, along with everything you will need to orthenticate, such as name rank ect.
I am in a book called Whos Who...