Martin Harlinghausen

Martin Harlinghausen
Martin Harlinghausen
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Reichsmarine Luftwaffe
Years of service	1923–1945 1957–1961
Rank	Generalleutnant
Unit	X. Fliegerkorps
Commands	AS 88 (Condor Legion) Fliegerführer Atlantik Fliegerführer Tunesien
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Battle of Denmark Norwegian Campaign Western Front Battle of France Battle of the Atlantic North African Campaign
Awards	Spanish Cross in Gold with Diamonds Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub Great Cross of Merit

Martin Harlinghausen was a Luftwaffe Commander during World War II.

Harlinghausen was born in Rheda in January 1902 and joined the German Navy on 1 April 1923. Staying in the military, he transferred to the Luftwaffe in October 1933. In December 1937, he took Command of AS 88, an anti-shipping unit in the Condor Legion and specialized in that type of aerial warfare.

During World War II, he operated as a pilot, gaining the Ritterkreuz on 5 May 1940 for sinking 100,000 GRT of Allied shipping.

Sent to Italy in December 1940, he sank another 27,000 GRT of shipping and was awarded the Oak Leaves (Eichenlaub) 30 January 1941.

In March 1941 he was appointed Fliegerführer Atlantik, a post he held until July 1942. During his time as Fliegerführer Atlantik, Harlinghausen was held responsible for the Luftwaffe's failure to prevent the loss of the battleship Bismarck.

Harlinghausen was later appointed Fliegerführer Tunesien in July 1942.He remained in the Mediterranean theater until 18 June 1943, when disagreements with his superiors led to his replacement.

In December 1944 Harlinghausen was appointed Chef des Luftwaffenkommandos "West", a position he held until the cession of hostilities.

He was captured by American troops and was released in 1947. He served in the new Luftwaffe from 1957 to 1961 and died in Gütersloh in March 1986.

Awards

• Medalla de la Campaña de España
• Spanish Cross in Gold with Diamonds
• Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds
• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Wound Badge (1939) in Black
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 4 May 1940 as Major in the general staff and chief of staff of the X. Fliegerkorps
  • 8th Oak Leaves on 30 January 1941 as Oberstleutnant in the general staff and chief of staff of the X. Fliegerkorps
• Africa Cuffband
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
• Great Cross of Merit

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Jackson, Robert (2002). The Bismarck. Weapons of War: London. ISBN 1-86227-173-9.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939 - 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Helden der Wehrmacht - Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten (in German). München, Germany: FZ-Verlag GmbH, 2004. ISBN 3-924309-53-1.

External links

• Martin Harlinghausen @ Lexikon der Wehrmacht