Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn

Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
Born	(1910-10-20)20 October 1910 Wodarg, Province of Pomerania
Died	24 June 1953(1953-06-24) (aged 42) Düsseldorf
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer (1931 – 1935) Luftwaffe (1935 – 1945)
Years of service	1931 – 1945
Rank	Oberst
Unit	JG 53
Commands held	II./JG 53, JG 53
Battles/wars	World War II Poland Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Mediterranean Theatre
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Template:Foreignchar Oberst Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn (20 October 1910 – 24 June 1953) was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace and Geschwaderkommodore of JG 53 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Von Maltzhan was born 20 October 1910 in Wodarg, Pomerania.A member of the German aristocracy, Gunther Von Maltzhan could use the title of Freiherr (Count). Von Matzahn entered the cavalry in 1931 although he had already undergone flight training at the commercial flying school in Schleissheim. In mid 1930s, von Maltzahn was joined the Luftwaffe as a flying instructor. In 1937 he was posted to 6./Jagdgeschwader 334 as a Staffelkapitan, the unit later renumbered 6./ JG 53.

By september 1939, von Maltzahn, as Gruppenkommandeur of II./ JG 53, led his unit through the Polish campaign, the Battle of France and the Low Countries and the Battle of Britain. On 9 October 1940 he was promoted Geschwaderkommodore of JG 53, and on 30 December was awarded the Knight's Cross, for 12 air victories, and also for his work organizing and leadin the unit.

In 1941 JG 53 participated in the Invasion of the Soviet Union, achieving high numbers of air victories against the Soviet Air Force. Major Von Maltzahn reached 43 kills and on 24 July 1941 received the Oak Leaves. In September 1941 JG 53 was withdrawn from frontline duties to Holland for rest and refit. The Geschwader was then sent to Sicily in December an participated in the battles over Malta and the Mediterranean.

Von Maltzahn reached 68 victories before leaving JG 53 in October 1943, assuming various staff positions with the Luftwaffenbefehlshabers Mitte (Luftwaffe Command of the Mediterranean), and later Jagdfliegerführer Italien, (Chief of Operations in Italy). In February 1945 he was detached to 9 Fliegerdivision, until the end of the war.

After the war Maltzahn worked in agriculture and then in the new Luftwaffe . He died in 1953, at the age of 43, due to illness.

Oberst Gunther Freiherr von Maltzahn flew 497 missions and claimed 68 victories, half of them against western opponents.. He fought on the Western Front, Eastern Front and the Mediterranean.

Awards

• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (23 March 1942)
• German Cross in Gold (23 December 1942)
• Iron Cross 2nd and 1st class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 30 December 1940 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./JG 53
  • 29th Oak Leaves on 24 July 1941 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of JG 53
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 18 November 1940

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Monday, 18 November 1940	Ein Jagdgeschwader unter der Führung des Majors von Maltzahn errang am 15. November seinen 501. Luftsieg.	A fighter wing under the leadership of Major von Maltzahn achieved its 501st aerial victory on November 15.

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 - 1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-065-6.
• Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
• Prien, Jochen (1997). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader March 1937 - May 1942. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 0-7643-0175-6.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die 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.
• Williamson, Gordon & Bujeiro, Ramiro (2005). Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves Recipients 1941-45. Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84176-642-9.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.

External links

• "Lexikon der Wehrmacht". Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn. Retrieved 30 May 2007.