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| allegiance={{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| allegiance={{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| serviceyears=1936–45
| serviceyears=1936–45
| rank=''[[Oberst]]'' ([[colonel]])
| rank=[[Oberst]] ([[colonel]])
| branch={{Luftwaffe}}
| branch=[[Luftwaffe]]
| commands=[[SG 2]]
| commands=[[SG 2]]
| unit=[[StG 3]], [[StG 2]]
| unit=[[StG 3]], [[StG 2]]
| battles={{hidden
| battles=[[World War II]]
|''See battles''
|[[World War II]]
* [[Invasion of Poland]]
* [[Operation Barbarossa]]
:* [[Battle of Białystok–Minsk]]
:* [[Siege of Leningrad]]
:* [[Battle of Moscow]]
* [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]]
* [[Battles of Rzhev]]
* [[Battle of Stalingrad]]
* [[Battle of Kursk]]
* [[Operation Bagration]]
* [[Tartu Offensive]]
* [[Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive]]
* [[Battle of the Korsun–Cherkassy Pocket]]
* [[Battle of the Oder–Neisse]]
* [[Battle of Bautzen (1945)|Battle of Bautzen]]
|-
|headerstyle=background:#dbdbdb
|style=text-align:center;
}}
| awards=[[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds]]
| awards=[[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds]]
| laterwork=Writer, businessman, founder of relief organization for [[Nazi war criminals]] <br />[[Neo-Nazi]] activist <br>Election candidate from the extremist [[German Reich Party]]
| laterwork=Founder of relief organization for [[Nazi war criminals]] <br>[[Neo-Nazi]] activist <br>Election candidate from the extremist [[German Reich Party]]
}}
}}


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In the [[West German federal election, 1953|West German federal election of 1953]], Rudel, who had returned to [[West Germany]], was the top candidate for the far-right [[German Reich Party]] but was not elected to the [[Bundestag]]. Following the [[Revolución Libertadora]] in 1955, the uprising that ended the second presidential term of Perón, Rudel moved to Paraguay, where he acted as a foreign representative for several German companies. In 1977, he became a spokesman for the [[German People's Union]], a [[neo-Nazi]] political party founded by the extremist politician [[Gerhard Frey (politician)|Gerhard Frey]]. Rudel died in West Germany in 1982.
In the [[West German federal election, 1953|West German federal election of 1953]], Rudel, who had returned to [[West Germany]], was the top candidate for the far-right [[German Reich Party]] but was not elected to the [[Bundestag]]. Following the [[Revolución Libertadora]] in 1955, the uprising that ended the second presidential term of Perón, Rudel moved to Paraguay, where he acted as a foreign representative for several German companies. In 1977, he became a spokesman for the [[German People's Union]], a [[neo-Nazi]] political party founded by the extremist politician [[Gerhard Frey (politician)|Gerhard Frey]]. Rudel died in West Germany in 1982.


==Early life and career==
==Early life==
Rudel was born on 2 July 1916 in [[Grzędy, Lower Silesian Voivodeship|Konradswaldau]], [[Province of Silesia|Silesia]], a [[Provinces of Prussia|province]] in the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] (present-day Grzędy) in the administrative district of [[Gmina Czarny Bór]], within [[Wałbrzych County]], [[Lower Silesian Voivodeship]], in Poland. He was the third child of Lutheran minister Johannes Rudel and his wife Martha, née Mückner. He had two older sisters, Ingeborg and Johanna.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=9}} The children were raised in a number of different [[parish]]es, which included [[Świdnica|Schweidnitz]] (present-day Świdnica), [[Żagań|Sagan]] (present-day Żagań), [[Niesky]], [[Görlitz]] and [[Lubań|Lauban]] (present-day Lubań).{{sfn|Just|1986|p=11}} As a boy, Rudel was a poor scholar, but a very keen sportsman. From 1922 to 1936, he attended the ''[[Volksschule]]'', a [[primary school]], and the [[humanities]] oriented ''[[Gymnasium (Germany)|Gymnasium]]'', a [[secondary school]], in Lauban, and graduated with his ''[[Abitur]]'' ([[University-preparatory school|university-preparatory high school diploma]]).{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=30}} In late 1936, he attended the compulsory ''[[Reichsarbeitsdienst]]'' (Reich Labor Service) at [[Muskau]], working on the banks of the [[Lusatian Neisse]].{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=106}}
Rudel was born on 2 July 1916, in [[Grzędy, Lower Silesian Voivodeship|Konradswaldau]], in [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]. He was the third child of Lutheran minister Johannes Rudel.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=9}} As a boy, Rudel was a poor scholar, but a very keen sportsman. Rudel attended the [[humanities]] oriented ''[[Gymnasium (Germany)|Gymnasium]]'', in [[Lubań|Lauban]]. He joined the [[Hitler Youth]] in 1933.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=30}} After graduating with [[Abitur]] in 1936, he participated in the compulsory [[Reich Labour Service]] (RAD).{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=106}} Following the labour service, Rudel joined the [[Luftwaffe]] where he began his military career as an air reconnaissance pilot.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=107}}

On 4 December 1936, Rudel joined the ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' as a ''[[Fahnenjunker]]'' (officer cadet). Following basic training, his flight training began in June 1937 at the ''Luftkriegsschule'' 3 (3rd Air Warfare School) at Wildpark-Werder near [[Berlin]].{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=106}} In June 1938, now an ''[[Oberfähnrich]]'' (officer candidate), he joined I. ''[[Luftwaffe Organization#Gruppe|Gruppe]]'' (1st group) of ''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 168 (StG&nbsp;168—168th Dive Bomber Wing) at [[Graz]]-Thalerhof, present-day [[Graz Airport]].<ref group="Note">For an explanation of ''Luftwaffe'' unit designations see [[Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)|Organization of the ''Luftwaffe'' during World War II]].</ref> There, he was assigned to the 1. ''[[Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)#Staffel|Staffel]]'' (1st squadron) for [[Dive bomber|dive bombing]] training.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=34}} Rudel, as a [[teetotaler]] and non-smoker, was not well accepted among his peers. He also had difficulties learning the new techniques, and was considered unsuitable for combat flying, so on 1 December 1938, he was transferred to the ''Aufklärungsschule'' (Reconnaissance Flying School) at [[Hildesheim]] for [[air observer]] training in operational [[aerial reconnaissance]].{{sfn|Just|1986|p=12}} He was promoted to ''[[Leutnant]]'' (second lieutenant) on 1 January 1939. In June 1939, he was posted to the 2. ''Staffel'' (2nd squadron) of [[Aufklärungsgruppe 121|''Fernaufklärungsgruppe'' 121]] (121st Long-Range Reconnaissance Group) at [[Prenzlau]].{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=107}}


==World War II==
==World War II==
[[File:Damaged Marat.jpg|upright|thumb|Aerial photograph of the damaged ''Marat'']]
On Friday 1 September 1939, German forces [[Invasion of Poland|invaded Poland]] starting [[World War II]] in Europe. Shortly before the invasion, ''Aufklärungsgruppe''&nbsp;121 was moved to [[Piła|Schneidemühl]], present-day Piła, at the time close to the [[Polish Corridor]].{{sfn|Just|1986|p=12}} As an air observer, Rudel flew on long-range reconnaissance missions over Poland. He flew several missions over the [[Brest-Litovsk]] – [[Kovel]] – [[Lutsk]] railway line,{{sfn|Just|1986|p=13}} and earned the [[Iron Cross]] 2nd Class ({{lang|de|''Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse''}}) on 10 November 1939.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=31}} Following the invasion, Rudel submitted several requests for transfer back to the dive bomber force.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=107}} On 2 March 1940, he was posted to ''Fliegerausbildungs-Regiment'' 43 (43rd Aviators Training Regiment), based at [[Vienna]]-[[Floridsdorf|Stammersdorf]] and later at [[Crailsheim]]. There he served as a regimental [[adjutant]].{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=31}} During his time with ''Fliegerausbildungs-Regiment'' 43, Rudel participated in various sporting events, including a cross Vienna [[relay race]], and on 6 October 1940, he took third place in the Silesian [[decathlon]] championship.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=107}} In late June 1940, he was transferred to I. ''Gruppe'' of [[Sturzkampfgeschwader 3|''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 3]] (StG&nbsp;3—3rd Dive Bomber Wing), at [[Caen]], France.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=31}}
German forces [[Invasion of Poland|invaded Poland in 1939]] starting [[World War II]] in Europe. As an air observer, Rudel flew on long-range reconnaissance missions over Poland.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=31}} During 1940, he served as a regimental [[adjutant]] for the 43rd Aviators Training Regiment, based at Vienna.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=31}}


In early 1941, he underwent training as a ''[[Stuka]]'' pilot.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=32}} He was posted to a dive-bomber wing, [[Sturzkampfgeschwader 2]] (StG&nbsp;2), which was moved to occupied Poland in preparation for [[Operation Barbarossa]], the invasion of the Soviet Union, in June 1941.{{sfn|Brütting|1992|p=68}} On 21 September 1941, Rudel took part in an attack on the Soviet battleship [[Soviet battleship Marat|''Marat'']] of the [[Baltic Fleet]]. ''Marat''' was sunk at her moorings on 23 September 1941 by two near-simultaneous hits by {{convert|1000|kg|adj=on|sp=us}} bombs near the forward superstructure. They caused the explosion of the forward [[magazine (artillery)|magazine]] which demolished the superstructure and the forward part of the hull. 326 men were killed and the ship gradually settled to the bottom in {{convert|11|m|sp=us}} of water.{{sfn|McLaughlin|2004|p=402}} Her sinking is commonly credited to Rudel, but he dropped only one of the two bombs.{{sfn|Rohwer|2005|p=102}} Rudel's unit then took part in [[Operation Typhoon]], Army Group Center's attempt to capture the Soviet capital.{{sfn|Bergström|2008|p=13}}
Regarded as a poor pilot, Rudel did not fly operationally during the [[Battle of Britain]].{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=107}} Serving in a non-combatant role, he was promoted to ''[[Oberleutnant]]'' (first lieutenant) on 1 September 1940. In early 1941, he was transferred to the ''[[Stuka]]-Ergänzungsstaffel'' (Supplementary Dive Bomber Squadron) at Graz-Thalerhof, a specialized training unit for new dive bomber pilots.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=32}} There, according to his own account, he finally mastered the [[Junkers Ju 87]] two-man dive bomber. In mid-April 1941, with I. ''Gruppe'' of [[Sturzkampfgeschwader 2|''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2]] "Immelmann" (StG&nbsp;2—2nd Dive Bomber Wing) at [[Molaoi]], Greece, he spent the [[Battle of Crete]] in a non-combat role, his reputation as a poor pilot having preceded him.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=107}}


Rudel's gunner from October 1941 was Erwin Hentschel, who served with Rudel for the next two and a half years, earning the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during that period. He completed 1400 sorties with Rudel and drowned on 21 March 1944 when they were making their way to the German lines following a forced landing.<ref>John Ward: [https://books.google.com/books?id=ayoncdaxYkQC&pg=PA217&dq=%22Erwin+Hentschel%22+luftwaffe&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjH-8TIpsLRAhUhrFQKHYICB_IQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=%22Erwin%20Hentschel%22%20luftwaffe&f=false ''Hitler's Stuka Squadrons'']</ref>
===War against the Soviet Union===
[[File:Operation Barbarossa corrected border.png|thumb|right|Map indicating Operation Barbarossa's attack plan|alt=A map of Eastern Europe depicting the movement of military units and formations.]]
In June 1941, StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann" moved to [[Raczki, Podlaskie Voivodeship|Raczki]] in preparation for [[Operation Barbarossa]], the invasion of the [[Soviet Union]].{{sfn|Brütting|1992|p=68}} Initially, the ''[[Stab (Luftwaffe designation)|Geschwaderstab]]'' (headquarters unit), I. and III. ''Gruppe'' of StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann" had been placed under the control of [[8th Air Corps (Germany)|VIII. ''Fliegerkorps'']] (8th Air Corps), led by ''[[General der Flieger]]'' (General of the Aviators) [[Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen]], subordinated to [[Luftflotte 2|''Luftflotte'' 2]] (2nd Air Fleet) under the command of ''[[Generalfeldmarschall]]'' (Field Marshal) [[Albert Kesselring]], and supported the northern or left flank of [[Army Group Center]].{{sfn|Bergström|Mikhailov|2000|pp=31, 264}} The main objective of this army group, under the command of ''Feldmarschall'' [[Fedor von Bock]], was to capture the capital of the Soviet Union, [[Moscow]].{{sfn|Weal|2012|p=7}}{{sfn|Bergström|2008|p=13}}


In early 1942, Rudel got married while home on leave.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=22}} Later in the year, he took part in the [[Battle of Stalingrad]].{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=108}} In February 1943, Rudel flew his 1,000th combat mission.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=109}} He then participated in the experiments with using the Ju&nbsp;87&nbsp;G in the [[anti-tank]] role.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=26}} The anti-tank unit took part in operations against the Soviet [[Kerch–Eltigen Operation]]. The footage from an onboard [[gun camera]] was used in ''[[Die Deutsche Wochenschau]]'', a [[Reich Ministry of Propaganda]] newsreel.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=26}} In April 1943, Rudel was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, receiving them from Hitler personally in Berlin.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=109}} Rudel participated in the [[Battle of Kursk]] with the same unit.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=110}} In October 1943, Rudel was credited with the destruction of his 100th tank and was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords]] on 25 November.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=28}}{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=112}}
Rudel, who had been ordered to shuttle a Ju&nbsp;87 to the production facility at [[Cottbus]] for a maintenance overhaul of the aircraft, heard over the radio news of the invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. That day, he flew another aircraft to [[Tschernjachowsk|Insterburg]], present-day Tschernjachowsk, and then southeast to Raczki. There, he was assigned to 1. ''Staffel'' commanded by ''Oberleutnant'' [[Ewald Janssen]]. As Janssen's [[wingman]], Rudel flew his first four combat missions as a dive bomber pilot against Soviet [[tank]] and troop deployments in the vicinity of [[Grodno]] and [[Vawkavysk]] on 23 June 1941.{{sfn|Brütting|1992|p=68}}{{sfn|Just|1986|pp=15–16}} During the first two weeks of the campaign, StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann" flew ground support missions for armored units of [[3rd Panzer Group|''Panzergruppe'' 3]] (3rd Panzer Group) advancing towards [[Smolensk]].{{sfn|Murawski|2013|p=11}} He was then transferred to the III. ''Gruppe'' of StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann", under command of ''Hauptmann'' [[Heinrich Brücker]], and appointed ''Technischer Offizier'' (TO—Technical Officer), a role in which he was responsible for the supervision of all technical aspects, such as routine maintenance, servicing, and modifications of the ''Gruppe''.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=107}} On 18 July 1941, he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class ({{lang|de|''Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse''}}) and the [[Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe|Front Flying Clasp of the ''Luftwaffe'']] for Ground Attack Fighters in Gold ({{lang|de|''Frontflugspange für Schlachtflieger in Gold''}}).{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=34}}


Rudel was appointed ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of III. ''Gruppe'' on 22 February 1944.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=35}} On 20 March, Rudel performed a forced landing behind Soviet line and he and his gunner set out to the German lines on foot. The men attempted to swim across the Dniester River and Rudel's gunner drowned in the attempt.{{sfn|Ward|2004|p=217}} Upon his return, [[Ernst Gadermann]], previously the troop doctor of III. ''Gruppe'', joined Rudel as his new radio operator and air gunner.{{sfn|Brütting|1992|p=93}} Rudel was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds]] on 29 March 1944, the tenth member of the [[Wehrmacht]] to receive this award. The presentation was made by Hitler personally.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=115}}
[[File:Marat1939.jpg|thumb|left|''Marat'' in 1939]]
By August 1941, [[Adolf Hitler]] had shifted VIII. ''Fliegerkorps'' northwards in support of [[Army Group North]], under command of ''Feldmarschall'' [[Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb]], in its attempt to capture [[Saint Petersburg|Leningrad]], present-day Saint Petersburg.{{sfn|Bergström|2008|p=13}} As a consequence of this decision, on 29 August 1941, III. ''Gruppe'' was ordered to an airfield south of [[Luga, Leningrad Oblast|Luga]]. There, Rudel flew numerous combat missions in support of the [[16th Army (Wehrmacht)|16th Army]] and [[18th Army (Wehrmacht)|18th Army]] advancing northwards.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=17}} The [[Soviet Navy]] [[Baltic Fleet]], with its capital ships [[Soviet battleship Marat|''Marat'']] and [[Russian battleship Gangut (1911)|''Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya'']], supported by the [[heavy cruiser]]s [[Soviet cruiser Kirov|''Kirov'']] and [[Soviet cruiser Maxim Gorky|''Maxim Gorky'']], bombarded German forces on their advance towards Leningrad. Subsequently, Richthofen ordered StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann" to attack this Soviet naval task force. On 21 September 1941, Rudel flew his first mission against this task force, claiming a hit on the ''Marat'' with a {{convert|500|kg|lb|abbr=on|sp=us}} bomb.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=18}} On 23 September, StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann", now armed with {{convert|1000|kg|lb|abbr=on|sp=us}} armor-piercing bombs, again attacked the Soviet ships based at [[Kronstadt]] harbor. ''Oberleutnant'' [[Lothar Lau]] scored a hit on ''Marat'', causing a fire. Rudel also hit ''Marat'', causing an enormous explosion that put her out of action for several months.{{sfn|Bergström|Mikhailov|2000|p=187}}{{sfn|Rohwer|2005|p=102}}{{sfn|Bergström|2007a|p=85}} That day, III. ''Gruppe'' flew a second mission against the Soviet fleet at Kronstadt. Rudel did not participate in this mission. An accident while [[taxiing]] had rendered the aircraft of III. ''Gruppe'' commander, ''Hauptmann'' [[Ernst-Siegfried Steen]], unserviceable, and Steen ordered Rudel to hand over his Ju&nbsp;87 to him. Steen, with ''Unteroffizier'' Alfred Scharnowski, Rudel's regular [[air gunner]], led the ''Gruppe'' in this attack. Flying into intense anti-aircraft fire over Kronstadt, Steen and Scharnowski took a direct hit while attacking ''Kirov'', and both were [[killed in action]].{{sfn|Just|1986|p=20}}{{sfn|Ward|2004|p=220}} In October 1941, [[Erwin Hentschel]] joined Rudel as his new radio operator and air gunner.{{sfn|Ward|2004|p=217}}


[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-655-5976-04, Russland, Sturzkampfbomber Junkers Ju 87 G.jpg|thumb|upright|Ju&nbsp;87 equipped with the anti-tank cannon]]
Army Group Center opened Operation Taifun, the [[Battle of Moscow]], on 30 September 1941 and VIII. ''Fliegerkorps'' was again placed under the command of ''Luftflotte 2''.{{sfn|Bergström|2008|p=13}} On 20 October 1941, Rudel was awarded the [[Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe|Honor Goblet of the ''Luftwaffe'']] ({{lang|de|''Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe''}}), and on 2 December 1941, the [[German Cross]] in Gold ({{lang|de|''Deutsches Kreuz in Gold''}}), the first pilot of III. ''Gruppe'' to receive this distinction.{{refn|According to Patzwall and Scherzer, the presentation was made on 2 December 1941.{{sfn|Patzwall|Scherzer|2001|p=389}} Just and Obermaier state that this occurred on 8 December 1941.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=20}}{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=31}}|group="Note"|name="German Cross"}} By the end of December, he had flown his 400th mission, and on 6 January 1942 received the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] ({{lang|de|''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes''}}). The presentation was made by Richthofen on 15 January.{{sfn|Brütting|1992|p=75}} Rudel had been nominated for the Knight's Cross for severely damaging the battleships ''Marat'' and ''Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya'', sinking one heavy cruiser, and rendering another one unserviceable. In actions against land targets, he was credited with damaging or destroying 15 bridges, 23 artillery positions, 4 [[armored train]]s, and 17 tanks or [[assault gun]]s.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=107}} In the winter of 1941–42, Rudel fought in the combat zones of the [[Volga River|Volga]]–[[Daugava (river)|Daugave]]–[[Dnieper]] rivers near the [[Valdai Hills]], in the vicinity of the [[Kholm Pocket|Kholm]] and [[Demyansk Pocket]]s, both pockets resulting from the German retreat following their defeat during the Battle of Moscow, in the area west of [[Rzhev]], and over the railway line at [[Sychyovka, Sychyovsky District, Smolensk Oblast|Sychyovka]].{{sfn|Just|1986|p=22}}
Rudel was promoted to ''Oberstleutnant'' on 1 September 1944, and appointed leader of SG&nbsp;2, replacing Stepp, on 1 October 1944.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=36}} On 22 December 1944, Rudel completed his 2,400th combat mission, and the next day, he reported his 463rd tank destroyed. On 29 December 1944, Rudel was promoted to ''[[Oberst]]'' (colonel), and was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds]], the only person to receive this decoration. This award was presented to him by Hitler on 1 January 1945.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=36}}


On 8 February 1945, Rudel was badly wounded in the right foot, and crash landed inside German lines. Rudel's leg was amputated below the knee.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=34}} He returned to flying on 25 March 1945. He claimed 26 more tanks destroyed by the end of the war.{{sfn|Hamilton|1996|p=425}} On 19 April 1945, the day before Hitler's final birthday, Rudel met with Hitler in the ''[[Führerbunker]]'' at the Reich Chancellery in Berlin.{{sfn|Fraschka|1994|p=132}} On 8 May 1945, Rudel fled westward from an airfield near [[Prague]], landing in US controlled territory, and surrendered.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=35, 43}}{{sfn|Scutts|1999|p=90}}
In early 1942, Rudel spent some leave with his parents in [[Stary Węgliniec|Alt-Kohlfurt]], present-day Stary Węgliniec, and got married. He and his wife then took a skiing vacation in [[Tirol, Austria|Tirol]], Austria.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=22}} From March to August 1942, Rudel was leader of the ''Ergänzungsstaffel'' at Graz-Thalerhof, and transferred with this ''Staffel'' to Sarabus, present-day Hwardijske, located {{Convert|10|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} north of [[Simferopol]] on the [[Crimean peninsula]]. Beginning on 15 August 1942, flying with the ''Stuka-Ergänzungsstaffel'' and as ''[[Staffelkapitän]]'' (squadron leader) of 9. ''Staffel'' (9th squadron) of StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann", Rudel flew missions in the [[Caucasus]] and over the [[Black Sea]].{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=35}} On 23 September 1942, he damaged a {{GRT|4000|disp=long}} merchant ship in the harbor of [[Tuapse]], and flew his 500th combat mission the following day. In early November 1942, Rudel was briefly hospitalized in [[Rostov-on-Don]] and treated for [[hepatitis]]. On 17 November 1942, Rudel was appointed ''Staffelkapitän'' of the 1. ''Staffel'' (1st squadron) of StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann", and flew with this unit in the [[Battle of Stalingrad]].{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=108}} Besides StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann", Richthofen had ordered the Stukas of II. ''Gruppe'' of [[Sturzkampfgeschwader 1|''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 1]] (StG&nbsp;1—1st Dive Bomber Wing) and elements of [[Sturzkampfgeschwader 77|''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 77]] (StG&nbsp;77—77th Dive Bomber Wing) to break Soviet opposition from the air.{{sfn|Bergström|Dikov|Antipov|Sundin|2006|p=214}} On 25 November 1942, I. ''Gruppe'' of StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann" defended an airfield occupied by StG&nbsp;1 at [[Oblivsky District|Oblivskaya]] against attacks from a Soviet cavalry division. That day, Rudel flew 17 combat missions in its defense.{{sfn|Murawski|2013|p=24}} Following his 750th combat mission, he was nominated for—but not awarded—the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]] ({{lang|de|''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub''}}) on 14 December 1942.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=109}}


==Nazi activist==
===Anti-tank operations===
While Rudel had been interned, his family [[Flight and expulsion of Germans (1944–50)|fled from the advancing Red Army]] and had found refuge with Gadermann's parents in [[Wuppertal]]. Rudel was released in April 1946 and went into private business.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=110}} In 1948, he emigrated to [[Argentina]] via the [[Ratlines (World War II aftermath)|ratlines]], travelling via the Austrian [[Zillertal]] to Italy. In [[Rome]], with the help of [[South Tyrol]]ean smugglers, and aided by the Austrian bishop [[Alois Hudal]], he bought himself a fake [[Red Cross]] passport with the cover name "Emilio Meier", and took a flight from Rome to [[Buenos Aires]], where he arrived on 8 June 1948.{{sfn|Goñi|2003|p=287}}{{sfn|Steinacher|2011|loc=chpt. 1.6 "Fake Papers"}}
On 10 February 1943, Rudel flew his 1,000th combat mission from Gorlovka against forces of the [[57th Army (Soviet Union)|57th Army]] in the vicinity of [[Izium]].{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=109}}{{sfn|Weal|2012|p=66}} He was then sent on fourteen days home leave, which he spent at [[St Anton am Arlberg|St. Anton]], skiing on the [[Arlberg]].{{sfn|Just|1986|p=26}}

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-655-5976-04, Russland, Sturzkampfbomber Junkers Ju 87 G.jpg|thumb|right|Ju&nbsp;87&nbsp;G-2 "''Kanonenvogel''" with its twin ''Bordkanone'' BK 3.7, 37&nbsp;mm cannon]]
Following this leave, he was ordered to the ''Luftwaffe'' main testing ground at [[Rechlin–Lärz Airfield|Rechlin]]. There, under the command of ''Hauptmann'' [[Hans-Karl Stepp]], the ''Luftwaffe'' was experimenting with using the Ju&nbsp;87&nbsp;G in the [[anti-tank]] role, armed with two {{convert|37|mm|adj=mid|abbr=off|sp=us}} [[BK 37|''Bordkanone BK 3,7'']] under-wing [[autocannon]]s.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=26}} On 1 April 1943, he was promoted to ''Hauptmann'' with a [[Commission (document)|rank age]] backdated to 1 April 1942.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=35}} The anti-tank unit ''Versuchskommando zur Panzerbekämpfung'' was later located at [[Bryansk]]-Desna, and then at an airfield at [[Kerch]] on the [[Kerch Peninsula]]. The airfield was also used by StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann", which at the time was flying missions against the [[Kuban bridgehead]] near [[Krymsk]].{{sfn|Just|1986|p=26}} There, flying along with StG 2 "Immelmann", Rudel was credited with the destruction of 70 Soviet [[landing craft]]s, flying the cannon equipped Ju&nbsp;87.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=35}} Some of these attacks were filmed by an onboard [[gun camera]] and shown in ''[[Die Deutsche Wochenschau]]'', a [[newsreel]] released in German cinemas, its production supervised and [[Censorship in Germany|censored]] by the [[Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda]].{{sfn|Just|1986|p=26}} ''[[Der Adler]]'', a biweekly [[Nazi propaganda]] magazine published by the ''Luftwaffe'', also reported his actions in volume 12 of 1943. On 14 April 1943, Rudel was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross for his achievements in over 1,000 combat missions. He was the 229th member of the German armed forces to be so honored. Rudel received the Oak Leaves from Hitler personally at his office in the [[Reich Chancellery|New Reich Chancellery]] in Berlin.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=109}}

On 5 July 1943, the first day of the [[Battle of Kursk]], Rudel flew his first combat missions with the cannon-equipped Ju&nbsp;87&nbsp;G against Soviet tanks in the area of [[Belgorod]], destroying four [[T-34]]s on the first mission. In total, he was credited with twelve tanks destroyed that day.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=110}}{{refn|Bergström indicates that the exact date on which Rudel destroyed 12 tanks at Kursk is not entirely clear, circumstantial data indicates that it may have been 12 July and not 5 July.{{sfn|Bergström|2007b|p=79}}|group="Note"}} The same day, Rudel and his squadron flew in support of [[2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich|2nd SS Panzer Division ''Das Reich'']] and its advance towards Teterevino. At 10:30, a group of about 30 T-34s from the [[5th Guards Tank Corps]], possibly belonging to the 22nd Guards Tank Brigade, attacked SS-''[[Obersturmbannführer]]'' [[Hans Albin Freiherr von Reitzenstein]]'s [[Panzer]]s. In two days, 5th Guards Tank Corps lost approximately 100 of its 200 tanks to Rudel's Stukas and SS Panzers.{{sfn|Nipe|2011|p=167}} On 17 July 1943, ''Hauptmann'' [[Walter Krauß]], ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of III. ''Gruppe'', was killed in action near [[Oryol]]. Two days later, Rudel was appointed leader of III. ''Gruppe''. On the morning of 12 August 1943, Rudel and Hentschel respectively completed their 1,300th and 1,000th combat missions. Hentschel was the first air gunner to achieve this mark.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=110}}

On the morning of 9 October 1943, Rudel and Hentschel respectively completed their 1,500th and 1,200th combat mission. Rudel was the first pilot to achieve this mark. The event was celebrated at an airfield at Kostromka, south of [[Kryvyi Rih]], and was attended by ''General der Flieger'' [[Kurt Pflugbeil]], commanding general of the [[4th Air Corps (Germany)|IV. ''Fliegerkorps'']] (4th Air Corps).{{sfn|Weal|2012|p=75}} StG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann" was redesignated to [[Schlachtgeschwader 2|''Schlachtgeschwader'' 2]] "Immelmann" (SG&nbsp;2—2nd Ground Support Wing) on 18 October 1943. On 30 October 1943, Rudel, flying the Ju&nbsp;87&nbsp;G near [[Kirovohrad]], was credited with the destruction of his 100th tank.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=111}} He flew his 1,600th mission in November 1943, and was credited with seven tanks destroyed on 23 November 1943.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=112}} For this achievement, on 25 November, he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords]] ({{Lang|de|''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern''}}), the 42nd member of the German armed forces to be so honored. On that day, Hentschel was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=28}} The presentation to Rudel and Hentschel was made by Hitler at the [[Führer Headquarters|''Führer'' Headquarter]] ''[[Wolf's Lair|Wolfsschanze]]'' (Wolf's Lair) in [[Kętrzyn|Rastenburg]], now Kętrzyn in Poland. At Rastenburg that day, ''[[Oberstleutnant]]'' (Lieutenant Colonel) [[Dietrich Hrabak]], ''Geschwaderkommodore'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 52|''Jagdgeschwader'' 52]] (JG&nbsp;52—52nd Fighter Wing), was also present at the award ceremony, and received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=112}}

===Defeat on the Eastern Front===
In January 1944, Rudel led III. ''Gruppe'' in defensive support of the [[8th Army (Wehrmacht)|8th Army]]. During the [[Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive#Kirovograd Offensive|Kirovohrad Offensive]] (1–16 January 1944), the [[Steppe Front|2nd Ukrainian Front]], under command of [[Ivan Konev]], attacked the German 8th Army. The Soviet operation was successful and led to German forces being encircled in the [[Battle of the Korsun–Cherkassy Pocket]] (24 January&nbsp;– 16 February 1944).{{sfn|Bergström|2008|p=38}} From 7 to 10 January 1944, Rudel was credited with the destruction of 17 Soviet tanks in these battles; he claimed his 150th tank victory on 11 January 1944, and flew his 1,700 mission on 16 January 1944.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=113}} He was officially appointed ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of III. ''Gruppe'' on 22 February 1944, and promoted to ''Major'' on 1 March 1944, with his seniority back dated to 1 October 1942.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=35}} On 20 March, Rudel landed behind Soviet lines to save a downed crew from captivity. This was his eighth mission of the day; the target area had been a bridge spanning the [[Dniester]] near [[Yampil, Vinnytsia Oblast|Yampil]]. Unable to take off as the wheels of his aircraft had sunk into the soft ground, the four headed back to German held territory on foot. Pursued by Soviet troops, the men attempted to swim across the Dniester River. Rudel and two of the others made it across, while the fourth, Hentschel, drowned in the attempt.{{sfn|Ward|2004|p=217}} Soon afterwards, the three were captured. Rudel was wounded by small arms fire in the shoulder as he made his escape and returned to German held territory the following day.{{sfn|Just|1986|pp=29–30}} Upon his return, [[Ernst Gadermann]], previously the troop doctor of III. ''Gruppe'', joined Rudel as his new radio operator and air gunner.{{sfn|Brütting|1992|p=93}}

{{Quote_box
|quote="Only he is lost who gives himself up for lost."{{sfn|Bourne|2013|p=277}}
|source=Hans-Ulrich Rudel's motto in life
|width=20%
|align=left
}}
Rudel completed his 1,800 combat mission on 25 March 1944. The next day he flew several more sorties during the prelude of the [[First Jassy–Kishinev Offensive]] (8 April&nbsp;– 6 June 1944), and was credited with the destruction of 17 tanks at [[Fălești]], {{Convert|40|km|sp=us}} north of [[Iași]]. This achievement was mentioned in the ''[[Wehrmachtbericht]]'', a [[propaganda]] radio report, the first of five such mentions, on 27 March 1944.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=114}} The next day, Rudel was again mentioned in the ''Wehrmachtbericht'', which reported his 202nd tank kill. For this he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds]] ({{Lang|de|''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten''}}) on 29 March 1944. Rudel was the tenth member of the ''[[Wehrmacht]]'', and the seventh pilot, who had received this award. The presentation was made at the [[Berghof (residence)|''Berghof'']], Hitler's home in the [[Obersalzberg]] of the [[Bavarian Alps]] near [[Berchtesgaden]].{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=115}} Following the presentation, Rudel went on vacation, and stayed with his wife and son at Alt-Kohlfurt. He then returned to the Eastern Front, flying to join his ''Gruppe'', which was based at [[Huși]], southeast of Iași.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=182}} Rudel flew his 2,000th combat mission on 1 June 1944, destroying his 301st tank that day, 78 of which had been destroyed with bombs and 223 with the 37&nbsp;mm cannon.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=35}} This event earned him his third mention in the ''Wehrmachtbericht'', which was broadcast on 3 June 1944. The [[Commander-in-Chief]] of the ''Luftwaffe'', ''[[Reichsmarschall]]'' (Marshal of the Reich) [[Hermann Göring]], presented Rudel with the [[Combined Pilots-Observation Badge]] in Gold with Diamonds ({{Lang|de|''Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen in Gold mit Brillanten''}}), and the Golden Front Flying Clasp of the ''Luftwaffe'' for Ground Attack Fighters with Pennant "2,000" ({{Lang|de|''Frontflugspange für Schlachtflieger in Gold mit Anhänger "2,000"''}}).{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=116}}

On 13 July 1944, III. ''Gruppe'' was transferred from Huși, Romania, to the central sector of the Eastern Front, where the [[Red Army]] approached the [[Vistula]] in [[Operation Bagration]]. Flying from an airfield at [[Chełm]], the Gruppe targeted [[Rava-Ruska]] and other targets in the Ukraine and Belarus area. On 22 July, the Gruppe moved to [[Mielec]] in the Vistula-[[San (river)|San]] triangle; from Mielec missions against armored columns at [[Jarosław]], [[Rzeszów]], and the [[Wisłok]] were flown.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=207}} On 5 August 1944, Rudel claimed 11 tanks destroyed, earning him his fourth mention in the ''Wehrmachtbericht''. Rudel's number of tank kills had now reached 378, including 300 destroyed with the 37&nbsp;mm cannon.{{sfn|Bergström|2008|p=81}} Fighting on the [[Courland]] front, he was credited with 8 tank kills on 14 August 1944, taking the total to 320 tank kills with the 37&nbsp;mm cannon. On 19 August, Rudel's aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the vicinity of [[Ērgļi]], Latvia. In the resulting [[forced landing]], both he and Gadermann were injured, Rudel in the leg, and Gadermann suffering several broken ribs.{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=116}} Rudel's unit was then ordered to transfer back to Romania, and then to Hungary. From 28 August onwards, Rudel operated from airfields at [[Buzău]], {{Convert|70|km|sp=us}} northeast of the vital [[Oil refinery|oil refineries]] at [[Ploiești]], namely [[Tășnad]] near [[Tokaj]], [[Miskolc]], [[Sajókaza]] northeast of [[Lake Balaton]], [[Farmos]] near [[Szolnok]], [[Vecsés]] near [[Budapest]], and Börgönd near [[Székesfehérvár]].{{sfn|Just|1986|p=211}}

===Wing Commander===
Rudel was promoted to ''Oberstleutnant'' on 1 September 1944, and appointed leader of SG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann", replacing Stepp, on 1 October 1944.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=36}}{{refn|According to Brütting, Rudel took command of SG&nbsp;2 "Immelmann" on 1 August 1944.{{sfn|Brütting|1992|pp=95, 266}}|group="Note"}} He handed over command of his III. ''Gruppe'' to ''Hauptmann'' [[Kurt Lau]]. On 17 November 1944, he was wounded in the thigh, and had to make an emergency landing at a fighter airfield near Budapest. Following his release from the hospital, he flew subsequent missions with his leg in a plaster cast.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=43}}

[[File:Sturzkampfgeschwader 2.svg|thumb|left|upright=0.6|StG&nbsp;2 emblem]]
On 22 December 1944, Rudel completed his 2,400th combat mission, and the next day, he reported his 463rd tank destroyed. On 29 December 1944, Rudel was promoted to ''[[Oberst]]'' (colonel), and was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds]] ({{Lang|de|''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten''}}), the first and only person to receive this distinction. This award was presented to him by Hitler at the ''[[Adlerhorst]]'', Hitler's headquarters in the [[Taunus]] mountains during the [[Battle of the Bulge]], on 1 January 1945. On 14 January 1945, Rudel received the Hungarian [[Medal of Bravery (Hungary)|Golden Medal for Bravery]] ({{Lang|hu|''Vitézségi Érem Arany''}}), which was presented to him by Hungary's [[Head of State]] [[Ferenc Szálasi]] at [[Sopron]], Hungary.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=36}}

On 8 February 1945, Rudel was credited with the destruction of 13 tanks near [[Lebus]] on the [[Oder River]], earning him his fifth mention in the ''Wehrmachtbericht'' on 10 February 1945.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=43}} During the attack on the 13th tank, a {{Convert|40|mm|abbr=on|sp=us}} shell hit his aircraft. He was badly wounded in the right foot, and crash landed inside German lines. His observer/gunner Gadermann stemmed the bleeding. Rudel was taken to a [[field hospital]] of the [[Waffen-SS]] at [[Seelow]], where his leg had to be amputated below the knee.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=34}} He was then hospitalized in the [[Zoo flak tower]] in Berlin, and was flying operationally again with a modified rudder pedal on 25 March 1945. He claimed 26 more tanks destroyed by the end of the war.{{sfn|Hamilton|1996|p=425}} On 19 April 1945, the day before Hitler's final birthday, Rudel spent the evening talking to Hitler in the ''[[Führerbunker]]'', an [[air-raid shelter]] located near the Reich Chancellery in Berlin.{{sfn|Fraschka|1994|p=132}} According to [[John Toland (author)|John Toland]], author of the book ''Adolf Hitler'', who based his statement on Rudel's book ''Stuka Pilot'' and personal interviews with Rudel, Hitler had ordered him to take charge of all jet fighter aircraft. Rudel refused, as he preferred flying to a desk job. By the time Rudel left, it was after midnight.{{sfn|Toland|1977|p=1183}}

On 8 May 1945, determined not to fall into Soviet hands, he left his ground personnel behind and led three Ju&nbsp;87s and four Fw&nbsp;190s westward from an airfield at [[Klecany]], north of [[Prague]], landing at [[Kitzingen Army Airfield|Kitzingen airfield]], which was held by the [[United States Army Air Forces]] [[405th Fighter Group]].{{sfn|Just|1986|p=35, 43}}{{sfn|Scutts|1999|p=90}} Rudel had his men lock the brakes and collapse the landing gear to render the aircraft useless; all but one obeyed his order, subsequently ripping off the undercarriages of their aircraft.{{sfn|Weal|2003|p=116}} There he surrendered to US forces. Over the next eleven months, as a [[prisoner of war]], he was held captive in [[Erlangen]] and [[Wiesbaden]], then in prison camps in England and France, before he was taken to [[Fürth]] in Bavaria.{{sfn|Just|1986|p=36}}

==Post-war life==
In April 1946, Rudel was released from captivity at Fürth. While Rudel was interned, his family [[Flight and expulsion of Germans (1944–50)|fleeing from the advancing Red Army]] had found refuge with Gadermann's parents in [[Wuppertal]]. There, Gadermann helped Rudel look for work. He was offered an office job, but he did not accept the position.{{sfn|Müller-Marein|1953|p=2}} He then owned and operated a [[haulage]] company in [[Coesfeld]].{{sfn|Stockert|1997|p=110}} In 1948, he emigrated to Argentina via the [[Ratlines (World War II aftermath)|ratlines]], travelling via the Austrian [[Zillertal]] to Italy. In [[Rome]], with the help of [[South Tyrol]]ean smugglers, and aided by the [[Austria]]n [[titular bishop]] [[Alois Hudal]], he bought himself a fake [[Red Cross]] passport with the cover name "Emilio Meier", and took a flight from Rome to [[Buenos Aires]], where he arrived on 8 June 1948.{{sfn|Goñi|2003|p=287}}{{sfn|Steinacher|2011|loc=chpt. 1.6 "Fake Papers"}}


===In South America===
===In South America===
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Rudel flew 2,530 combat missions on the Eastern Front of World War II. The majority of these were undertaken while flying the Junkers Ju&nbsp;87, although 430 were flown in ground-attack variants of the [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]]. He was credited with the destruction of 519 tanks, severely damaging the battleship ''Marat'', as well as sinking a [[cruiser]], a [[destroyer]] and 70 landing craft. Rudel also claimed to have destroyed more than 800 vehicles of all types, over 150 artillery, anti-tank or anti-aircraft positions, 4 armored trains, as well as numerous bridges and supply lines. Rudel was also credited with 9 aerial victories, 7 of which were fighter aircraft and 2 [[Ilyushin Il-2]]s. He was shot down or forced to land 30 times due to anti-aircraft artillery, was wounded five times and rescued six stranded aircrew from enemy held territory.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=36}}
Rudel flew 2,530 combat missions on the Eastern Front of World War II. The majority of these were undertaken while flying the Junkers Ju&nbsp;87, although 430 were flown in ground-attack variants of the [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]]. He was credited with the destruction of 519 tanks, severely damaging the battleship ''Marat'', as well as sinking a [[cruiser]], a [[destroyer]] and 70 landing craft. Rudel also claimed to have destroyed more than 800 vehicles of all types, over 150 artillery, anti-tank or anti-aircraft positions, 4 armored trains, as well as numerous bridges and supply lines. Rudel was also credited with 9 aerial victories, 7 of which were fighter aircraft and 2 [[Ilyushin Il-2]]s. He was shot down or forced to land 30 times due to anti-aircraft artillery, was wounded five times and rescued six stranded aircrew from enemy held territory.{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=36}}


Rudel received the following decorations:
===Aerial victory claims===
* [[Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe|Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe]] as ''[[Oberleutnant]]'' in a ''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' (20 October 1941){{sfn|Patzwall|2008|p=174}}
Matthews and Foreman, authors of ''Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims'', researched the [[German Federal Archives]] and indicate that Rudel was credited with the destruction of nine fighter and two [[Ilyushin Il-2]] ground attack aircraft, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.{{sfn|Matthews|Foreman|2015|pp=1064–1065}}
* [[Iron Cross]] (1939) 2nd Class (10 November 1939) & 1st Class (15 July 1941){{sfn|Thomas|1998|p=229}}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders collapsible collapsed" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; text-align:right;"
|-
! colspan="8" | Chronicle of aerial victories
|-
!scope="col"| Date
!scope="col"| Time
!scope="col" width="100px"| Type
!scope="col"| Location
!scope="col" style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | Date
!scope="col"| Time
!scope="col" width="100px"| Type
!scope="col"| Location
|-
! colspan="8" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Schlachtgeschwader'' 2 –{{sfn|Matthews|Foreman|2015|pp=1064–1065}}
|-
| 2 August 1942
| 17:03
| [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1|MiG-1]]
| Eastern Front{{sfn|Matthews|Foreman|2015|p=1064}}
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" |
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="8" | – II. ''Gruppe'' of ''Schlachtgeschwader'' 2 –
|-
| 23 September 1944
| 14:25
| Il-5
| Eastern Front{{sfn|Matthews|Foreman|2015|p=1065}}
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 14 October 1944
| 15:10
| [[Ilyushin Il-2|Il-2]]
| Eastern Front{{sfn|Matthews|Foreman|2015|p=1065}}
|-
| 16 November 1944
| 10:35
| Il-2
| Eastern Front{{sfn|Matthews|Foreman|2015|p=1065}}
| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" |
|
|
|
|}
===Awards===
* [[Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe|Honor Goblet of the ''Luftwaffe'']] (''Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe'') as ''[[Oberleutnant]]'' in a ''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' (20 October 1941){{sfn|Patzwall|2008|p=174}}
* [[Wound Badge]] in Gold{{sfn|Berger|1999|p=297}}
* [[Pilot/Observer Badge]] in Gold with Diamonds{{sfn|Berger|1999|p=297}}
* [[German Cross]] in Gold on 2 December 1941 as ''Oberleutnant'' in the III./''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2<ref group="Note" name="German Cross"/>
* [[Iron Cross]] (1939)
** 2nd Class (10 November 1939){{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=31}}{{sfn|Thomas|1998|p=229}}
** 1st Class (18 July 1941){{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=31}}{{refn|According to Thomas on 15 July 1941.{{sfn|Thomas|1998|p=229}}|group="Note"}}
* [[Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe|Front Flying Clasp of the ''Luftwaffe'']] in Gold and Diamonds with Pennant "2000"
** in Gold (18 July 1941){{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=31}}
** in Gold and Diamonds with Pennant "2000"{{sfn|Berger|1999|p=297}}
* [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds]]
* [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds]]
** Knight's Cross on 6 January 1942 as ''Oberleutnant'' and ''[[Staffelkapitän]]'' of the 9./''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2 "Immelmann"{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=366}}{{refn|According to Scherzer as pilot and technical officer in the III./''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2 "Immelmann".{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=643}}|group="Note"}}
** Knight's Cross on 6 January 1942 as ''Oberleutnant'' and ''[[Staffelkapitän]]'' of the 9./''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=366}}{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=643}}
** 229th Oak Leaves on 14 April 1943 as ''Oberleutnant'' and ''Staffelkapitän'' of the 1./''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2 "Immelmann"{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=643}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=68}}
** 229th Oak Leaves on 14 April 1943 as ''Oberleutnant'' and ''Staffelkapitän'' of the 1./''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2 "Immelmann"{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=643}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=68}}
** 42nd Swords on 25 November 1943 as ''[[Hauptmann]]'' and ''[[Gruppenkommandeur]]'' of the III./''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2 "Immelmann"{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=41}}{{refn|According to Scherzer as leader of the III./''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2 "Immelmann".{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=643}}|group="Note"}}
** 42nd Swords on 25 November 1943 as ''[[Hauptmann]]'' and ''[[Gruppenkommandeur]]'' of the III./''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2 "Immelmann"{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=41}}{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=643}}
** 10th Diamonds on 29 March 1944 as ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]'' and ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of the III./''Schlachtgeschwader'' 2 "Immelmann"{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=643}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=37}}
** 10th Diamonds on 29 March 1944 as ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]'' and ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of the III./''Schlachtgeschwader'' 2 "Immelmann"{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=643}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=37}}
** 1st Golden Oak Leaves on 29 December 1944 as ''[[Oberstleutnant]]'' and ''[[Geschwaderkommodore]]'' of ''Schlachtgeschwader'' 2 "Immelmann"{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=643}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=35}}
** 1st Golden Oak Leaves on 29 December 1944 as ''[[Oberstleutnant]]'' and ''[[Geschwaderkommodore]]'' of ''Schlachtgeschwader'' 2 "Immelmann"{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=643}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=35}}
* 8th (1st and only foreign) [[Medal of Bravery (Hungary)|Hungarian Gold Medal of Bravery]] (14 January 1945){{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=31}}
* 8th (1st and only foreign) [[Medal of Bravery (Hungary)|Hungarian Gold Medal of Bravery]] (14 January 1945){{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=31}}
* Italian [[Silver Medal of Military Valor]]{{sfn|Berger|1999|p=297}}
* Five named referecens in the ''[[Wehrmachtbericht]]'' (27 March 1944, 28 March 1944, 3 June 1944, 6 August 1944, 10 February 1945){{sfn|''Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3''|pp=66–67, 116, 192, 438}}

===Promotions===
{| style="background:none;"
| 1 January 1939: || ''[[Leutnant]]'' (second lieutenant){{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=34}}
|-
| 1 September 1940: || ''[[Oberleutnant]]'' (first lieutenant){{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=34}}
|-
| 1 April 1943: || ''[[Hauptmann]]'' (captain), with a date of rank of 1 April 1942{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=35}}
|-
| 1 March 1944: || ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]'' (major), with a date of rank of 1 October 1942{{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=35}}
|-
| 1 September 1944: || ''[[Oberstleutnant]]'' (lieutenant colonel){{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=35}}
|-
| 29 December 1944: || ''[[Oberst]]'' (colonel){{sfn|Obermaier|1976|p=36}}
|}


==Publications==
==Publications==
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}}
}}
{{Refend}}
{{Refend}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="Note"}}


==References==
==References==
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|publisher=Walter de Gruyter Saur
|publisher=Walter de Gruyter Saur
|isbn=978-3-11-030535-7
|isbn=978-3-11-030535-7
|ref=harv
}}
* {{Cite book
|last=Berger
|first=Florian
|year=1999
|title=Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges
|trans-title=With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War
|language=German
|location=Vienna, Austria
|publisher=Selbstverlag Florian Berger
|isbn=978-3-9501307-0-6
|ref=harv
|ref=harv
}}
}}
Line 570: Line 427:
|ref=harv
|ref=harv
}}
}}
* {{cite book|last=McLaughlin|first=Stephen|title=Russian & Soviet Battleships|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, MD|year=2003|isbn=1-55750-481-4|ref=harv}}
* {{Cite book
|last1=Matthews
|first1=Andrew Johannes
|last2=Foreman
|first2=John
|year=2015
|title=Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R
|location=Walton on Thames
|publisher=Red Kite
|isbn=978-1-906592-20-2
|ref=harv
}}
* {{cite book
|last=McLaughlin
|first=Stephen
|title=Russian & Soviet Battleships
|publisher=Naval Institute Press
|location=Annapolis, MD
|year=2003
|isbn=1-55750-481-4
|ref=harv
}}
* {{Cite news
* {{Cite news
|last=Müller-Marein
|last=Müller-Marein
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|isbn=978-3-86153-573-7
|isbn=978-3-86153-573-7
|ref=harv
|ref=harv
}}
* {{Cite book
|year=1985
|title=Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945
|trans-title=The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945
|language=German
|location=München, Germany
|publisher=Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
|isbn=978-3-423-05944-2
|ref={{sfnRef|''Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3''}}
}}
}}
* {{Cite web
* {{Cite web

Revision as of 00:49, 16 March 2018

Hans-Ulrich Rudel
A man wearing a peaked cap and black leather military coat with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his uniform collar.
Hans-Ulrich Rudel in 1944
Born(1916-07-02)2 July 1916
Konradswaldau, German Empire
Died18 December 1982(1982-12-18) (aged 66)
Rosenheim, West Germany
Buried
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchLuftwaffe
Years of service1936–45
RankOberst (colonel)
UnitStG 3, StG 2
CommandsSG 2
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds
Other workFounder of relief organization for Nazi war criminals
Neo-Nazi activist
Election candidate from the extremist German Reich Party

Hans-Ulrich Rudel (2 July 1916 – 18 December 1982) was a German ground-attack pilot during World War II. Post-war, he was a prominent neo-Nazi activist in Latin America and West Germany.

During the war, Rudel was credited with the destruction of 519 tanks, as well as a number of ships. He claimed 9 aerial victories and the destruction of more than 800 vehicles of all types. He flew 2,530 ground-attack missions exclusively on the Eastern Front, usually flying the Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" dive bomber, and 430 missions flying fighter aircraft. Rudel was the most decorated German serviceman of World War II receiving the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds in January 1945; the decoration was created specifically for him. Rudel surrendered to US forces on 8 May 1945.

Rudel fled to Argentina in 1948. A committed and unrepentant Nazi, he founded the "Kameradenwerk", a relief organization for Nazi criminals that helped fugitives escape to Latin America and the Middle East. Together with Willem Sassen, Rudel helped shelter Josef Mengele, the notorious former SS doctor at Auschwitz. He worked as an arms dealer and a military advisor to the regimes of Juan Perón in Argentina, of Augusto Pinochet in Chile, and of Alfredo Stroessner in Paraguay. Due to these activities, he was placed under observation by the US Central Intelligence Agency.

In the West German federal election of 1953, Rudel, who had returned to West Germany, was the top candidate for the far-right German Reich Party but was not elected to the Bundestag. Following the Revolución Libertadora in 1955, the uprising that ended the second presidential term of Perón, Rudel moved to Paraguay, where he acted as a foreign representative for several German companies. In 1977, he became a spokesman for the German People's Union, a neo-Nazi political party founded by the extremist politician Gerhard Frey. Rudel died in West Germany in 1982.

Early life

Rudel was born on 2 July 1916, in Konradswaldau, in Prussia. He was the third child of Lutheran minister Johannes Rudel.[1] As a boy, Rudel was a poor scholar, but a very keen sportsman. Rudel attended the humanities oriented Gymnasium, in Lauban. He joined the Hitler Youth in 1933.[2] After graduating with Abitur in 1936, he participated in the compulsory Reich Labour Service (RAD).[3] Following the labour service, Rudel joined the Luftwaffe where he began his military career as an air reconnaissance pilot.[4]

World War II

Aerial photograph of the damaged Marat

German forces invaded Poland in 1939 starting World War II in Europe. As an air observer, Rudel flew on long-range reconnaissance missions over Poland.[5] During 1940, he served as a regimental adjutant for the 43rd Aviators Training Regiment, based at Vienna.[5]

In early 1941, he underwent training as a Stuka pilot.[6] He was posted to a dive-bomber wing, Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 (StG 2), which was moved to occupied Poland in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, in June 1941.[7] On 21 September 1941, Rudel took part in an attack on the Soviet battleship Marat of the Baltic Fleet. Marat' was sunk at her moorings on 23 September 1941 by two near-simultaneous hits by 1,000-kilogram (2,200 lb) bombs near the forward superstructure. They caused the explosion of the forward magazine which demolished the superstructure and the forward part of the hull. 326 men were killed and the ship gradually settled to the bottom in 11 meters (36 ft) of water.[8] Her sinking is commonly credited to Rudel, but he dropped only one of the two bombs.[9] Rudel's unit then took part in Operation Typhoon, Army Group Center's attempt to capture the Soviet capital.[10]

Rudel's gunner from October 1941 was Erwin Hentschel, who served with Rudel for the next two and a half years, earning the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during that period. He completed 1400 sorties with Rudel and drowned on 21 March 1944 when they were making their way to the German lines following a forced landing.[11]

In early 1942, Rudel got married while home on leave.[12] Later in the year, he took part in the Battle of Stalingrad.[13] In February 1943, Rudel flew his 1,000th combat mission.[14] He then participated in the experiments with using the Ju 87 G in the anti-tank role.[15] The anti-tank unit took part in operations against the Soviet Kerch–Eltigen Operation. The footage from an onboard gun camera was used in Die Deutsche Wochenschau, a Reich Ministry of Propaganda newsreel.[15] In April 1943, Rudel was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, receiving them from Hitler personally in Berlin.[14] Rudel participated in the Battle of Kursk with the same unit.[16] In October 1943, Rudel was credited with the destruction of his 100th tank and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords on 25 November.[17][18]

Rudel was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III. Gruppe on 22 February 1944.[19] On 20 March, Rudel performed a forced landing behind Soviet line and he and his gunner set out to the German lines on foot. The men attempted to swim across the Dniester River and Rudel's gunner drowned in the attempt.[20] Upon his return, Ernst Gadermann, previously the troop doctor of III. Gruppe, joined Rudel as his new radio operator and air gunner.[21] Rudel was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds on 29 March 1944, the tenth member of the Wehrmacht to receive this award. The presentation was made by Hitler personally.[22]

Ju 87 equipped with the anti-tank cannon

Rudel was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 September 1944, and appointed leader of SG 2, replacing Stepp, on 1 October 1944.[23] On 22 December 1944, Rudel completed his 2,400th combat mission, and the next day, he reported his 463rd tank destroyed. On 29 December 1944, Rudel was promoted to Oberst (colonel), and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, the only person to receive this decoration. This award was presented to him by Hitler on 1 January 1945.[23]

On 8 February 1945, Rudel was badly wounded in the right foot, and crash landed inside German lines. Rudel's leg was amputated below the knee.[24] He returned to flying on 25 March 1945. He claimed 26 more tanks destroyed by the end of the war.[25] On 19 April 1945, the day before Hitler's final birthday, Rudel met with Hitler in the Führerbunker at the Reich Chancellery in Berlin.[26] On 8 May 1945, Rudel fled westward from an airfield near Prague, landing in US controlled territory, and surrendered.[27][28]

Nazi activist

While Rudel had been interned, his family fled from the advancing Red Army and had found refuge with Gadermann's parents in Wuppertal. Rudel was released in April 1946 and went into private business.[16] In 1948, he emigrated to Argentina via the ratlines, travelling via the Austrian Zillertal to Italy. In Rome, with the help of South Tyrolean smugglers, and aided by the Austrian bishop Alois Hudal, he bought himself a fake Red Cross passport with the cover name "Emilio Meier", and took a flight from Rome to Buenos Aires, where he arrived on 8 June 1948.[29][30]

In South America

After Rudel moved to Argentina, he became a close friend and confidant of the President of Argentina Juan Perón, and Paraguay's dictator Alfredo Stroessner. In Argentina, he founded the "Kameradenwerk" (lit. "comrades work" or "comrades act"), a relief organization for Nazi war criminals. Prominent members of the "Kameradenwerk" included SS officer Ludwig Lienhardt, whose extradition from Sweden had been demanded by the Soviet Union on war crime charges,[31] Kurt Christmann, a member of the Gestapo sentenced to 10 years for war crimes committed at Krasnodar, Austrian war criminal Fridolin Guth, and the German spy in Chile, August Siebrecht. The group maintained close contact with other internationally wanted fascists, such as Ante Pavelić, Carlo Scorza and Konstantin von Neurath. In addition to these war criminals that fled to Argentina, the "Kameradenwerk" also assisted Nazi criminals imprisoned in Europe, including Rudolf Hess and Karl Dönitz, with food parcels from Argentina and sometimes by paying their legal fees.[32] In Argentina, Rudel became acquainted with notorious Nazi concentration camp doctor and war criminal Josef Mengele.[33] Rudel, together with Willem Sassen, a former Waffen-SS and war correspondent for the Wehrmacht, who initially worked as Rudel's driver,[34] helped to relocate Mengele to Brazil by introducing him to Nazi supporter Wolfgang Gerhard.[35][36] In 1957, Rudel and Mengele together travelled to Chile to meet with Walter Rauff, the inventor of the mobile gas chamber.[37]

In Argentina, Rudel lived in Villa Carlos Paz, roughly 36 kilometers (22 mi) from the populous Córdoba City, where he rented a house and operated a brickworks.[38] There, Rudel wrote his wartime memoirs Trotzdem ("Nevertheless" or "In Spite of Everything").[39] The book was published in November 1949 by the Dürer-Verlag in Buenos Aires. Dürer-Verlag (1947–1958) issued a variety of apologia by former Nazis and their collaborators. Besides Rudel, among the early editors are Wilfred von Oven, the personal Press adjutant of Goebbels, and Naumann. Sassen convinced Adolf Eichmann to share his view on the Holocaust. Together with Eberhard Fritsch, a former Hitler Youth leader, Sassen began interviewing Eichmann in 1956 with the intent of publishing his views.[34] The Dürer-Verlag went bankrupt in 1958.[40]

Discussion ensued in Germany on Rudel being allowed to publish the book, because he was a known Nazi. In the book, he supported Nazi policies. This book was later re-edited and published in the United States, as the Cold War intensified, under the title, Stuka Pilot, which supported the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Pierre Clostermann, a French fighter pilot, had befriended Rudel and wrote the foreword to the French edition of his book Stuka Pilot.[41] In 1951, he published a pamphlet Dolchstoß oder Legende? ("Stab in the Back or Legend?"), in which he claimed that "Germany's war against the Soviet Union was a defensive war", moreover, "a crusade for the whole world".[42] In the 1950s, Rudel befriended Savitri Devi, a writer and proponent of Hinduism and Nazism, and introduced her to a number of Nazi fugitives in Spain and the Middle East.[43]

With the help of Perón, Rudel secured lucrative contracts with the Brazilian military. He was also active as a military adviser and arms dealer for the Bolivian regime, Augusto Pinochet in Chile and Stroessner in Paraguay.[44] He was in contact with Werner Naumann, formerly a State Secretary in Goebbels' Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda in Nazi Germany. Following the Revolución Libertadora in 1955, a military and civilian uprising that ended the second presidential term of Perón, Rudel was forced to leave Argentina and move to Paraguay. During the following years in South America, Rudel frequently acted as a foreign representative for several German companies, including Salzgitter AG, Dornier Flugzeugwerke, Focke-Wulf, Messerschmitt, Siemens and Lahmeyer International, a German consulting engineering firm.[45] Rudel's input was used during the development of the A-10 Thunderbolt II, a United States Air Force aircraft designed solely for close air support, including attacking ground targets as tanks and armored vehicles.[46]

According to the historian Peter Hammerschmidt, based on files of the German Federal Intelligence Service and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the BND, under the cover-up company "Merex", was in close contact with former SS and Nazi Party members. In 1966, Merex, represented by Walter Drück, a former Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht and BND agent, helped by the contacts established by Rudel and Sassen, sold discarded equipment of the Bundeswehr (German Federal armed forces) to various dictators in Latin America. According to Hammerschmidt, Rudel assisted in establishing contact between Merex and Friedrich Schwend, a former member of the Reich Main Security Office and involved in Operation Bernhard. Schwend, according to Hammerschmidt, had close links with the military services of Peru and Bolivia. In the early sixties, Rudel, Schwend and Klaus Barbie, founded a company called "La Estrella", the star, which employed a number of former SS officers who had fled to Latin America.[47][48] Rudel, through La Estrella, was also in contact with Otto Skorzeny, who had his own network of former SS and Wehrmacht officers.[49]

Rudel returned to West Germany in 1953 and became a leading member of the Neo-Nazi nationalist political party, the German Reich Party (Deutsche Reichspartei or DRP).[50] In the West German federal election of 1953, Rudel was the top candidate for the DRP, but was not elected to the Bundestag.[51] According to Josef Müller-Marein, editor-in-chief of Die Zeit, Rudel had an egocentric character. In his political speeches, Rudel made generalizing statements, claiming that he was speaking on behalf of most, if not all, former German soldiers of World War II. Rudel heavily criticized the Western Allies during World War II for not having supported Germany in its war against the Soviet Union. Rudel's political demeanor subsequently alienated him from his former comrades, foremost Gadermann. Müller-Marein concluded his article with the statement: "Rudel no longer has a Geschwader!"[52] In 1977, he became a spokesman for the German People's Union, a nationalist political party founded by Gerhard Frey.[53]

Public scandals

In October 1976, Rudel inadvertently triggered a chain of events, which were later dubbed the Rudel-Affäre (Rudel Scandal). Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 (51st Reconnaissance Wing), the latest unit to hold the name "Immelmann", held a reunion for members of the unit, including those from World War II. The Secretary of State in the Federal Ministry of Defence, Hermann Schmidt authorized the event. Fearing that Rudel would spread Nazi propaganda on the German Air Force airbase in Bremgarten near Freiburg, Schmidt ordered that the meeting could not be held at the airbase. News of this decision reached Generalleutnant Walter Krupinski, at the time commanding general of NATO's Second Allied Tactical Air Force, and a former World War II fighter pilot. Krupinski contacted Gerhard Limberg, Inspector of the Air Force, requesting that the meeting be allowed to be held at the airbase. Limberg later confirmed Krupinski's request, and the meeting was held on Bundeswehr premises, a decision to which Schmidt still had not agreed. Rudel attended the meeting, at which he signed his book and gave a few autographs but refrained from making any political statements.[54]

During a routine press event, journalists, who had been briefed by Schmidt, questioned Krupinski and his deputy Karl Heinz Franke about Rudel's presence. In this interview, the generals compared Rudel's past as a Nazi and Neo-Nazi supporter to the career of prominent Social Democrat leader Herbert Wehner, who had been a member of the German Communist Party in the 1930s, and who had lived in Moscow during World War II, where he was allegedly involved in NKVD operations. Calling Wehner an extremist, they described Rudel as an honorable man, who "hadn't stolen the family silver or anything else". When these remarks became public, the Federal Minister of Defense Georg Leber, complying with §50 of the Soldatengesetz [de] (Military law), ordered the generals into early retirement as of 1 November 1976. Leber, a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), was heavily criticized for his actions by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) opposition, and the scandal contributed to the minister's subsequent retirement in early 1978.[54] On 3 February 1977, the German Bundestag debated the scandal and its consequences. The Rudel Scandal subsequently triggered a military-tradition discussion, which the Federal Minister of Defense Hans Apel ended with the introduction of "Guidelines for Understanding and Cultivating Tradition" on 20 September 1982.[55]

During the 1978 FIFA World Cup, held in Argentina, Rudel visited the German national football team in their training camp in Ascochinga. The German media criticized the German Football Association, and viewed Rudel's visit as being sympathetic to the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina following the 1976 Argentine coup d'état. During the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, he visited the German team at Malmö on 8 June 1958. There he was welcomed by team manager Sepp Herberger.[56]

Personal life, death and funeral

Rudel's grave in Dornhausen

Rudel was married three times. His 1942 marriage to Ursula, nicknamed "Hanne", produced two sons, Hans-Ulrich and Siegfried. They divorced in 1950. According to the news magazine Der Spiegel, one reason for the divorce was that his wife had sold some of his decorations, including the Oak Leaves with Diamonds, to an American collector, but she also refused to move to Argentina.[57] On 27 March 1951, Der Spiegel published Ursula Rudel's denial of selling his decorations, and further stated she had no intention of doing so.[58] Rudel married his second wife, Ursula née Daemisch in 1965. The marriage produced his third son, Christoph, born in 1969.[59] A year later, Rudel survived a stroke on 26 April 1970.[60] Following his divorce in 1977, he married Ursula née Bassfeld.[59]

Rudel died after suffering another stroke in Rosenheim on 18 December 1982,[42] and was buried in Dornhausen on 22 December 1982. During Rudel's burial ceremony, two Bundeswehr F-4 Phantoms appeared to make a low altitude flypast over his grave. Although Dornhausen was situated in the middle of a flightpath regularly flown by military aircraft, Bundeswehr officers denied deliberately flying aircraft over the funeral. Four mourners were photographed giving Nazi salutes at the funeral, and were investigated under a law banning the display of Nazi symbols. The Federal Minister of Defence Manfred Wörner declared that the flight of the aircraft had been a normal training exercise.[61]

Summary of military career

Rudel flew 2,530 combat missions on the Eastern Front of World War II. The majority of these were undertaken while flying the Junkers Ju 87, although 430 were flown in ground-attack variants of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. He was credited with the destruction of 519 tanks, severely damaging the battleship Marat, as well as sinking a cruiser, a destroyer and 70 landing craft. Rudel also claimed to have destroyed more than 800 vehicles of all types, over 150 artillery, anti-tank or anti-aircraft positions, 4 armored trains, as well as numerous bridges and supply lines. Rudel was also credited with 9 aerial victories, 7 of which were fighter aircraft and 2 Ilyushin Il-2s. He was shot down or forced to land 30 times due to anti-aircraft artillery, was wounded five times and rescued six stranded aircrew from enemy held territory.[23]

Rudel received the following decorations:

Publications

  • Wir Frontsoldaten zur Wiederaufrüstung [We Frontline Soldiers and Our Opinion on the Rearmament of Germany] (in German). Buenos Aires, Argentina: Dürer-Verlag. 1951. OCLC 603587732.
  • Dolchstoß oder Legende? [Daggerthrust or Legend?]. Schriftenreihe zur Gegenwart, Nr. 4 (in German). Buenos Aires, Argentina: Dürer-Verlag. 1951. OCLC 23669099.
  • Es geht um das Reich [It is about the Reich]. Schriftenreihe zur Gegenwart, Nr. 6 (in German). Buenos Aires, Argentina: Dürer-Verlag. 1952. OCLC 48951914.
  • Trotzdem [Nevertheless] (in German). Göttingen, Germany: Schütz. 1966 [1949]. OCLC 2362892.
  • Stuka Pilot. Translated by Hudson, Lynton. New York: Ballantine Books. 1958. OCLC 2362892.
  • Hans-Ulrich Rudel—Aufzeichnungen eines Stukafliegers—Mein Kriegstagebuch [Hans-Ulrich Rudel—Notes by a Dive Bomber Pilot—My War Diary] (in German). Kiel, Germany: ARNDT-Verlag. 2001. ISBN 978-3-88741-039-1.
  • Mein Leben in Krieg und Frieden [My life in war and peace] (in German). Rosenheim, Germany: Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft. 1994. OCLC 34396545.

References

Citations

  1. ^ Just 1986, p. 9.
  2. ^ Obermaier 1976, p. 30.
  3. ^ Stockert 1997, p. 106.
  4. ^ Stockert 1997, p. 107.
  5. ^ a b c Obermaier 1976, p. 31.
  6. ^ Obermaier 1976, p. 32.
  7. ^ Brütting 1992, p. 68.
  8. ^ McLaughlin 2004, p. 402.
  9. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 102.
  10. ^ Bergström 2008, p. 13.
  11. ^ John Ward: Hitler's Stuka Squadrons
  12. ^ Just 1986, p. 22.
  13. ^ Stockert 1997, p. 108.
  14. ^ a b Stockert 1997, p. 109.
  15. ^ a b Just 1986, p. 26.
  16. ^ a b Stockert 1997, p. 110.
  17. ^ Just 1986, p. 28.
  18. ^ Stockert 1997, p. 112.
  19. ^ Obermaier 1976, p. 35.
  20. ^ Ward 2004, p. 217.
  21. ^ Brütting 1992, p. 93.
  22. ^ Stockert 1997, p. 115.
  23. ^ a b c Obermaier 1976, p. 36.
  24. ^ Just 1986, p. 34.
  25. ^ Hamilton 1996, p. 425.
  26. ^ Fraschka 1994, p. 132.
  27. ^ Just 1986, p. 35, 43.
  28. ^ Scutts 1999, p. 90.
  29. ^ Goñi 2003, p. 287.
  30. ^ Steinacher 2011, chpt. 1.6 "Fake Papers".
  31. ^ Goñi 2003, p. 130.
  32. ^ Goñi 2003, p. 134.
  33. ^ Astor 1986, p. 170.
  34. ^ a b Benz 2013, p. 160.
  35. ^ Levy 2006, p. 273.
  36. ^ Posner & Ware 1986, p. 162.
  37. ^ Goñi 2003, p. 290.
  38. ^ Der Spiegel Volume 51/1950.
  39. ^ Just 1986, p. 237.
  40. ^ Benz 2013, p. 161.
  41. ^ Just 1986, p. 272.
  42. ^ a b Der Spiegel Volume 52/1982.
  43. ^ Goodrick-Clarke 2002, pp. 102–103.
  44. ^ Goñi 2003, p. 288.
  45. ^ Wulffen 2010, p. 139.
  46. ^ Coram 2004, p. 235.
  47. ^ Hammerschmidt 2014, pp. 254–257.
  48. ^ Gessler 2011.
  49. ^ Hammerschmidt 2014, p. 257.
  50. ^ Hamilton 1996, p. 426.
  51. ^ Federal Election 1953.
  52. ^ Müller-Marein 1953, pp. 1–3.
  53. ^ Der Tagesspiegel—Visit.
  54. ^ a b Die ZEIT Volume 46/1976.
  55. ^ The Rudel-Scandal.
  56. ^ Just 1986, p. 270.
  57. ^ Der Spiegel Volume 48/1950.
  58. ^ Der Spiegel Volume 13/1951.
  59. ^ a b Neitzel, Sönke 2005, p. 160.
  60. ^ Just 1986, p. 37.
  61. ^ Der Spiegel Volume 1/1983.
  62. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 174.
  63. ^ Thomas 1998, p. 229.
  64. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 366.
  65. ^ a b c d e Scherzer 2007, p. 643.
  66. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 68.
  67. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 41.
  68. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 37.
  69. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 35.

Bibliography

Further reading

Military offices
Preceded by
Oberstleutnant Hans-Karl Stepp
Commander of Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"
1 October 1944 – 8 February 1945
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Oberstleutnant Kurt Kuhlmey
Commander of Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"
April 1945 – 8 May 1945
Succeeded by
none