| Hans-Joachim Brand | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 16, 1916 |
| Died | 18 April 1945 (aged 28) |
| Place of birth | Lüneburg |
| Place of death | Cottbus |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1936–1945 |
| Rank | Hauptmann |
| Unit |
StG 2 StG 77 SG 77 |
| Commands held | I./Schlachtgeschwader 77 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Hans-Joachim Brand (16 May 1916 – 18 April 1945) was a highly decorated Hauptmann and ground attack pilot in the Luftwaffe during World War II.[Notes 1] He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Hans-Joachim Brand was shot down by Soviet flak on 18 April 1945 near Cottbus while flying a ground-attack mission. His Focke Wulf Fw 190F was hit by anti-aircraft fire at a height of 1,600 feet (490 m) and he fatally crashed near Alteno/Luckau in the Spreewald. His body was never recovered. During his career he flew 964 missions and he had been nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), which was never approved.[1]
Awards and decorations[]
- Flugzeugführerabzeichen
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "900"
- Iron Cross (1939)
- German Cross in Gold (13 January 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 December 1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 1./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[2]
Notes[]
- ↑ For a list of Luftwaffe ground attack aces see List of German World War II Ground Attack aces
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Brütting, Georg (1995). Das waren die deutschen Stuka-Asse 1939 - 1945 (in German). Motorbuch, Stuttgart. ISBN 3-87943-433-6.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- MacLean, French L. (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports — For the Knight's Cross Winners. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-2657-8.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
External links[]
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