Josef Zwernemann
Nickname(s)	"Jupp"
Born	26 March 1916 Kirchworbis
Died	8 April 1944(1944-04-08) (aged 28) nearGardelegen
Cause of death	Killed in action
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/ branch	Kriegsmarine (to 1936)  Luftwaffe
Years of service	1935–1944
Rank	Hauptmann (captain)
Unit	JG 52,JG 77,JG 11
Commands	5./JG 52, 1./JG 11
Battles / wars	See battles World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Battle of Crete Eastern Front Operation Barbarossa Defense of the Reich  †
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Josef Zwernemann (26 March 1916 – 8 April 1944) was a GermanLuftwaffemilitary aviator duringWorld War II and afighter ace credited with 126 enemy aircraft shot down in over 600 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed on theEastern Front, with ten aerial victories claimed over theWestern Front during theBattle of Britain and inDefense of the Reich.

Born inKirchworbis, Zwernemann volunteered for military service in theKriegsmarine ofNazi Germany in 1935 and transferred to the Luftwaffe a year later. Following flight training, he was posted toJagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in 1940. Zwernemann participated in theBattle of France and Battle of Britain where he claimed his first three aerial victory on 24 July 1940. In July 1941, he fought in theBattle of Crete andOperation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Following his 57th aerial victory he was awarded theKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 June 1942 and theKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 31 October 1942 after 102 aerial victories.

In December 1943, Zwernemann was appointedStaffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 1.Staffel (1st squadron) ofJagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing) which was based in Germany and fighting in Defense of the Reich. Zwernemann claimed nine more victories before he waskilled in action in combat with aNorth American P-51 Mustangs on 8 April 1944.

Zwernemann was born on 26 March 1916 inKirchworbis in the province of Thuringia. He was the son of acordwainer who later worked as aminer. Following graduation from school, Zwernemann worked as aclerk (Handlungsgehilfe) in the metal industry. Zwernemann joined the military service of theKriegsmarine on 1 October 1935 with the 2nd department of the standing ship division of theBaltic Sea inStralsund.^{[Tr 1][Tr 2][Tr 3]} On 2 January 1936, he transferred to theLuftwaffe where he was assigned to theFliegerhorstkompanie (Airfield Company) in Holtenau.^[1]

On 1 April 1938, Zwernemann was promoted toUnteroffizier (non-commissioned officer) and was trained as a pilot.^[1] Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.^[2]

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Following flight training, Zwernemann was posted to the newly created 7.Staffel (7th squadron) ofJagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52–52nd Fighter Wing) began on 1 March 1940.^[1] At the time, 7.Staffel was commanded byOberleutnant Herbert Ferner. TheStaffel was subordinated to III.Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 52 headed byMajor Wolf-Heinrich von Houwald.^[3] TheGruppe had been formed on 1 March 1940 atStrausberg and was equipped with theMesserschmitt Bf 109 E-1 and E-3. On 6 April, theGruppe was moved toMannheim-Sandhofen Airfield where it was placed under the control of theStab (headquarter unit) ofJagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53–53rd Fighter Wing).^[4]

Zwernemann participated in theBattle of France on 10 May 1940.^[1] III.Gruppe supported the German attack ofArmy Group A in northern France, Luxembourg and the area of theArdennes in southern Belgium.^[5] On 18 June, III.Gruppe was withdrawn from combat operations in France and relocated back to Germany.^[6] In preparation for theBattle of Britain, theGruppe began moving to theEnglish Channel on 20 July, arriving at an airfield nearCoquelles located southwest ofCalais two days later. On 24 July, III.Gruppe flew its firstcombat air patrols where they encounteredRoyal Air Force fighters off ofMargate during aKanalkampf mission.^[7] In this encounter, Zwernemann claimed his first aerial victory over aSupermarine Spitfire fighter.^[8] HisRottenflieger (wing man) on this mission wasEdmund Roßmann.^[9] That day, 7.Staffel lost itsStaffelkapitän Fermer who waskilled in action. He was replaced byOberleutnant Wilhelm Keidel who was killed the next day. Keidel was then temporarily succeeded byOberleutnant Willy Bielefeld who was also killed on 25 July. This led to the assignment ofHauptmann Erwin Bacsilla as temporary commander of 7.Staffel. The action on 24 July also resulted in the loss ofGruppenkommandeur Houwald who was temporarily succeeded byHauptmann Wilhelm Ensslen.^[10] On 1 August, III.Gruppe was already withdrawn from the English Channel and moved to an airfield atZerbst for a period of replenishment.^[11]

In defense of Germany's southeastern borders, with its primary objective defending the oil fields and refineries atPloiești, Romania, theLuftwaffenmission Rumänien (Luftwaffe Mission Romania) was created. On 15 October, theStab and 9.Staffel of III.Gruppe of JG 52 were sent toBucharest Pipera Airfield, followed by 7. And 8.Staffel in late November. There, the III.Gruppe of JG 52 temporarily became the I.Gruppe ofJagdgeschwader 28 (JG 28—28th Fighter Wing). On 4 January 1941, theGruppe again became the III.Gruppe of JG 52.^[12] There in April, Zwernemann was awarded theIron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse).^[1] On 25 May, III.Gruppe was sent to Greece where it was subordinated toJagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) and fought in theBattle of Crete.^[12]

Following its brief deployment in theBalkan Campaign, III.Gruppe was back in Bucharest by mid-June.^[13] There, the unit was again subordinated to theLuftwaffenmission Rumänien and reequipped with the new, more powerful Bf 109F-4 model. On 21 June, theGruppe was ordered toMizil in preparation ofOperation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Its primary objective was to provide fighter protection for the oil fields and refineries at Ploiești.^[14] German forces launched the invasion on 22 June. Four days later, Zwernemann claimed his second aerial victory when he shot down a SovietIlyushin DB-3 bomber nearConstanța.^[15] Following two aerial victories claimed over DB-3 bombers on 8 July northeast ofMamaia,^[16] he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) in August.^[1]

By the end of 1941, Zwernemann had claimed 25 aerial victories,^[17] and had been awarded theHonor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 15 December 1941.^[18] In May 1942, the number of victories had increased by 32 and he was honored with theGerman Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 25 May 1942. Zwernemann received theKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 57 victories on 23 June 1942.^[19] In the month of September 1942 he claimed over thirty victories. On 1 October 1942, Zwernemann was promoted toLeutnant (second lieutenant) with a rank age date 1 October 1941.^[20]

Sources differ as to exactly when Zwernemann claimed his 100th aerial victory. According to Obermaier, Zwernemann claimed his 100th to 103rd victories on 1 October 1942.^[21] This would make him the 26th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.^[22] The authors Bergström, Dikov, Antipov, and Sundin indicate that Zwernemann achieved his 100th aerial victory on 31 October.^[23] While authors Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, and Bock date this event on 25 October.^[24] This is also the same date listed by Mathews and Foreman.^[25] Irrespective, Zwernemann was awardedKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 31 October 1942. He was the 141st member of the German armed forces to be so honored. The presentation was made byAdolf Hitler at theWolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters inRastenburg. Two other Luftwaffe officers were presented with the Oak Leaves that day by Hitler,HauptmannWolfgang Schenck andHauptmannFriedrich Lang.^[20] One of Zwernemanns'wingmen and students was history's top-scoring aceErich Hartmann.^[26]

On 9 May 1943, Zwernemann was temporarily appointedStaffelführer (squadron leader) of 5.Staffel of JG 52. He succeededLeutnant Helmut Haberda who had been killed in action on 8 May. He led theStaffel until 26 May when command was passed toOberleutnantWilhelm Batz.^[27] Zwernemann was then posted to the fighter pilot training schoolErgänzungsgruppe Ost. On 1 October, he was promoted toOberleutnant (first lieutenant) and returned to combat service with 3.Staffel of JG 77 based in Italy.^[28] TheStaffel was commanded byLeutnantErnst-Wilhelm Reinert and based atTuscania.^[29]

In November 1943, Zwernemann was transferred toDefense of the Reich duties in Germany. On 15 December 1943, he was posted to 1.Staffel ofJagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11–11th Fighter Wing) which at the time was based atHusum airfield.^[30] There, he initially served as actingStaffelführer (squadron leader), representingHauptmann (Captain)Siegfried Simsch, before officially being appointedStaffelkapitän of 1.Staffel on 8 February 1944.^[31][32]

Zwernemann claimed his first aerial victory in this theater of operations on 10 February 1944. That day, theUnited States Army Air Forces (USAAF) targetedBraunschweig with 169Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from the3rd Bombardment Division. The primary objective were theLuther-Werke, a mechanical engineering company, and the repair facilities at Waggum. The bombers were escorted by 466 fighter aircraft.^[33] Zwernemann claimed the destruction of aLockheed P-38 Lightning fighter that day.^[34] In total, the Luftwaffe claimed 51 aerial victories, including 32 four-engine bombers while the USAAF reported the loss of 30 four-engine bombers and eleven escort fighters.^[35]

On 8 April 1944, theEighth Air Force again targeted Braunschweig as well as various Luftwaffe airfields in northwestern Germany and the Netherlands. In total the USAAF 664 four-engine bombers, escorted by 780 fighters, including 206North American P-51 Mustangs, were intercepted by 20 Luftwaffe fighter groups.^[36] In this encounter, the Luftwaffe claimed 87 aerial victories, including 65 four-engine bombers.^[37] This figure includes a B-24 bomber and a P-51 fighter claimed shot down by Zwernemann taking his total to 126 aerial victories.^[38] Following this encounter, the USAAF reported the loss of 36 four-engine bombers and 25 escort fighters and claimed at least 158 Luftwaffe aircraft shot down plus further 55 destroyed on the ground. In total the Luftwaffe lost 78 aircraft destroyed, 42 pilots killed and another 13 wounded.^[37] Among those pilots killed in action was Zwernemann who was shot down in hisFocke-Wulf Fw 190 A-7/R6 (Werknummer 431164—factory number) nearGardelegen,Altmark.^[39] His comrades, includingOberleutnant Fritz Engau from 2.Staffel, reported that Zwernemann had bailed out but wasshot in his parachute by a P-51 pilot.^{[36][40][41][42]}

Zwernemann was given amilitary funeral and buried at the cemetery in Kirchworbis on 11 April 1944. His grave was ordered leveled by the authorities ofEast Germany in 1988. Posthumously, Zwernemann had been promoted toHauptmann, his rank age backdated to 1 April 1944.^[43]

According to US historianDavid T. Zabecki, Zwernemann was credited with 126 aerial victories.^[44] Spick also list Zwernemann with 126 aerial victories, of which 106 were claimed over the Eastern Front and further 20 over the Western Front and Mediterranean theater, claimed in approximately 600 combat missions.^[45] Mathews and Foreman, authors ofLuftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched theGerman Federal Archives and found records for 123 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 116 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and seven over theWestern Allies, including five four-engined bombers.^[46]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ =Planquadrat), for example "PQ 49214". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15minutes oflatitude by 30 minutes oflongitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km²). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.^[47]

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (April 1941)^[88]
  • 1st Class (August 1941)^[88]
• Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 15 December 1941 asFeldwebel and pilot^{[89][Note 8]}
• German Cross in Gold on 11 May 1942 asOberfeldwebel in the III./Jagdgeschwader 52^[90]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 23 June 1942 asOberfeldwebel and pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 52^[91][92]
  • 141st Oak Leaves on 31 October 1942 asOberfeldwebel and pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 52^[91][93]

• 1916 births
• 1944 deaths
• German World War II flying aces
• Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II
• Luftwaffe pilots
• Recipients of the Gold German Cross
• Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
• Kriegsmarine personnel
• Military personnel from Thuringia
• Aviators killed by being shot down
• People from Eichsfeld (district)

• Articles containing German-language text
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from December 2019
• CS1 German-language sources (de)
• CS1 interwiki-linked names