"Jupp"
(1912-07-19)19 July 1912
25 August 1941(1941-08-25) (aged 29)
near Yelnya, southwest of Bryansk
Reichsheer (1931–35)
Luftwaffe (1935–41)
Hauptmann (Captain)
JG 51
1./JG 51, I./JG 51
Hermann-Friedrich Joppien (19 July 1912 – 25 August 1941) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 70 enemy aircraft shot down in roughly 270 combat missions. He claimed 42 victories over the Western Front, of which 23 were Supermarine Spitfires, the remaining victories were recorded over the Eastern Front.
He was also recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. It was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Hermann-Friedrich Joppien.[Note 1] Joppien was killed in action with Soviet fighters on 25 August 1941.
1 Early life and career
2 World War II
2.1 Battle of France and Britain
2.2 Operation Barbarossa and death
Joppien was born on 19 July 1912 in Bochum in the Province of Westphalia, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. His father was a laborer and when he found new work in 1917, the family moved to Hersfeld. After Joppien completed his schooling, he received a vocational education and learned the trade of a typesetter in a printing firm. In October 1931, Joppien joined the military service with Infanterie-Regiment 15 (15th Infantry Regiment) of the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic in Gießen. There he was promoted to Unteroffizier (corporal) in 1933[2]
In parallel to his military service at Gießen, Joppien was very much interested and involved in glider construction and glider flight. His transfer to the Luftwaffe was somewhat delayed as Joppien had been tasked with the training of new officer recruits. On 15 October 1935, his transfer to the Luftwaffe was finally authorized. Until Christmas 1935, he had logged 100 solo flights and in June 1936 he became a flight instructor. He was promoted to Unterfeldwebel (junior non-commissioned officer) on 1 October 1936, to Feldwebel (non-commissioned officer) on 1 February 1937, and to Oberfeldwebel (staff sergeant) on 1 July 1937.[2]
He was then selected for officer training and posted to a Kriegsschule (war school). Graduating among the top of his class of 130 students, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 23 December 1938. Initially serving as a pilot and Staffeloffizier (squadron officer) in Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing),[Note 2] named after the after World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen, he was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieuntenant) on 1 June 1939. He then held the position of Technischer Offizier (technical officer) with Stab of Jagdgruppe 176 (176th Fighter Group), which later formed the basis of II. Gruppe (2nd Group) of Zerstörergeschwader 76 (ZG 76—76th Destroyer Wing). In mid 1939, Joppien was posted to the 1. Staffel (1st Squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing).[2]
World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. On 23 November 1939, on the Western Front, Joppien claimed his first victory, an Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 of GC III/7, piloted by Sergent (Sergeant) Guillaume who crash landed at Heillecourt where the aircraft completely burned out. During the encounter, his Messerschmitt Bf 109 was damaged by enemy fire resulting in undercarriage failure on landing. His aircraft overturned, fortunately for Joppien, he escaped unhurt.[3] For this achievement he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse) on 13 December 1939.[2]
Battle of France and Britain
In France 1940
The Battle of France, the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, began on 10 May 1940. During this campaign, Joppien was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) on 10 June 1940.[2] By 25 June 1940, the date which marked the end of the French campaign, he claimed three further victories, which brought his total to four aerial victories. On 6 August 1940 Joppien became Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of JG 51.[4]
Joppien then led his Staffel in the Battle of Britain against the Royal Air Force (RAF) which began on 10 July and was fought until 31 October 1940. During these battles, after 29 aerial victories, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 16 September 1940. Two day later, he was promoted to Hauptmann (captain). One month later, on 18 October 1940, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 51. His number of aerial victories increased to 30 by 5 December, the last of 1940. His next two victories were claimed on 26 February 1941.[2]
He accumulated further victories against the RAF and on account of his 40th victory achieved on 21 April was honorably mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht radio report, the first of three such mentions, on 22 April. The next day, he was the 11th officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht honored with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) which was presented to him by Adolf Hitler.[2]
Operation Barbarossa and death
In June 1941, JG 51 and the majority of the Luftwaffe were transferred to the Eastern Front in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. There, on 30 June 1941, he shot down five Soviet bombers near Bobruysk in eastern Belarus, his aerial victories 47–51. This "ace-in-a-day" achievement earned him his second mention in the Wehrmachtbericht on 1 July 1941.[2] On 5 July 1941, he was wounded following his 58th victory claimed and spent several weeks in convalescence.[4]
On 25 August 1941, Joppien and his wingman, Leutnant Erwin Fleig, engaged in combat with Soviet fighters and bombers near Yelnya, 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Bryansk. In the subsequent action Joppien was shot down and killed in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 9670—factory number) "Black <<" by a Soviet Polikarpov I-16 fighter.[4][5] Fleig later gave to protocol that he and Joppien had attacked a three Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers, escorted by three I-16 fighter aircraft, at an altitude of 600–700 meters (2,000–2,300 feet). Fleig saw that Joppien had attacked a Pe-2 bomber, which trailing smoke, was going down. Fleig then observed Joppien's Bf 109 making a sharp right turn and crashed into the ground. By this date, Joppien had shot down 70 enemy aircraft claimed in roughly 270 combat missions. The Wehrmachtbericht announced his death on 29 August 1941.[6]
2nd Class (13 December 1939)[7]
1st Class (10 June 1940)[7]
Knight's Cross on 16 September 1940 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51[8][Note 3]
11th Oak Leaves on 23 April 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of I./Jagdgeschwader 51[9][11][12]
Mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht
Tuesday, 22 April 1941 Hauptmann Joppin errang seinen 40. Luftsieg.[13] Hauptmann Joppien achieved his 40th aerial victory.
Tuesday, 1 July 1941 ...Oberstleutnant Mölders errang hierbei seinen 82., Hauptmann Joppien seinen 52. Luftsieg.[14] ...Oberstleutnant Mölders achieved hereby his 82nd., Hauptmann Joppien his 52nd aerial victory.
Friday, 29 August 1941 Hauptmann Joppien, Inhaber des Eichenlaubes zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, Gruppenkommandeur in einem Jagdgeschwader, kehrte nach seinem 70. Luftsieg vom Feindflug nicht zurück. Mit ihm verliert die Luftwaffe einen ihrer kühnsten und erfolgreichsten Jagdflieger.[15] Hauptmann Joppien, recipient of the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, group commander in a fighter wing, did not return from a combat mission after his 70th aerial victory. With him the Luftwaffe loses one of their most daring and successful fighter pilots.
↑ Until late September 1941, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves was second only to the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), which was awarded only to senior commanders for winning a major battle or campaign, in the military order of the Third Reich. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves as highest military order was surpassed on 28 September 1941 by the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern).[1]
↑ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
↑ According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51.[9] According to Von Seemen as Staffelkapitän in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51.[10]
↑ Williamson & Bujeiro 2004, pp. 3, 7.
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Stockert 1996, p. 97.
↑ Shores; Foreman & Ehrengardt 1992, p. 116.
↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Obermaier 1989, p. 45.
↑ Weal 2006, pp. 67–68.
↑ Stockert 1996, p. 98.
↑ 9.0 9.1 Scherzer 2007, p. 423.
↑ Von Seemen 1976, p. 182.
↑ Von Seemen 1976, p. 25.
Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7. Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Shores, Christopher F.; Foreman, John; Ehrengardt, Chris (1992). Fledgling eagles. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-42-7. <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6. Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Stockert, Peter (1996). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1 (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. ISBN 978-3-9802222-7-3. Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Von Seemen, Gerhard (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 : die Ritterkreuzträger sämtlicher Wehrmachtteile, Brillanten-, Schwerter- und Eichenlaubträger in der Reihenfolge der Verleihung : Anhang mit Verleihungsbestimmungen und weiteren Angaben (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7909-0051-4. Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Weal, John (2006). Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-045-1. <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Williamson, Gordon; Bujeiro, Ramiro (2004). Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves Recipients 1939–40. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-641-6. <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Frey, Gerhard; Herrmann, Hajo: Helden der Wehrmacht III - Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten (in German). München, Germany: FZ-Verlag GmbH, 2007. ISBN 978-3-924309-82-4.
"Aces of the Luftwaffe". Hermann-Friedrich Joppien. Retrieved 12 May 2007. <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
"Lexikon der Wehrmacht". Hermann-Friedrich Joppien (in German). Retrieved 16 August 2012. CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of Jagdgeschwader 51
Heinrich Bär (Oak Leaves & Swords)
Friedrich Beckh
Franz-Josef Beerenbrock (Oak Leaves)
Wolfgang Böwing-Treuding
Adolf Borchers
Joachim Brendel (Oak Leaves)
Kurt Dombacher
Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber
Erwin Fleig
Josef Fözö
Herbert Friebel
Otto Gaiser
Bernd Gallowitsch
Hartmann Grasser (Oak Leaves)
Anton Hafner (Oak Leaves)
Heinrich Höfemeier
Heinrich Hoffmann (Oak Leaves)
Erich Hohagen
Wilhelm Hübner
Herbert Huppertz1 (Oak Leaves)
Josef Jennewein
Hermann-Friedrich Joppien (Oak Leaves)
Günther Josten (Oak Leaves)
Peter Kalden
Heinrich Klöpper
Kurt Knappe
Hans Kolbow
Heinrich Krafft
Heinz Lange
Heinz Leber
Richard Leppla
Anton Lindner
Fritz Losigkeit
Max-Hermann Lücke
Fritz Lüddecke
Heinz Marquardt
Maximilian Mayerl
Wilhelm Mink
Werner Mölders2 (Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds)
Joachim Müncheberg3 (Oak Leaves & Swords)
Karl-Gottfried Nordmann (Oak Leaves)
Walter Oesau4 (Oak Leaves & Swords)
Josef Priller5 (Oak Leaves & Swords)
Herbert Puschmann
Karl Rammelt
Alfred Rauch
Oskar Romm
Günther Rübell
Günther Schack (Oak Leaves)
Karl-Heinz Schnell
Helmut Schönfelder
Otto Schultz
Georg Seelmann
Hermann Staiger
Hubert Straßl
Hans Strelow (Oak Leaves)
Otto Tange
Kurt Tanzer
Edwin Thiel
Horst Tietzen
Bernhard Vechtel
Edmund Wagner
Rudolf Wagner
Karl-Heinz Weber (Oak Leaves)
Ernst Weismann
Walther Wever
Otto Würfel
1 Oak Leaves with JG 2. 2 Knight's Cross with JG 53. 3 Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves with JG 26. 4 Oak Leaves and Swords with JG 3. 5 Oak Leaves and Swords with JG 26.
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People from Bochum
Luftwaffe pilots
German World War II flying aces
German military personnel killed in World War II
People from the Province of Westphalia
Aviators killed by being shot down