Viktor Petermann

Viktor Petermann (26 May 1916 – 19 May 2001) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Viktor Petermann was captured by American troops in May 1945, he was handed over to Soviet troops and was released in August 1945 due to his health problems. At the end of the war he flew the Me 262 fighter jet. During his career was credited with 64 aerial victories, four of them, after he lost his arm in an airfight,[1] all on the Eastern Front.

Viktor Petermann
Born26 May 1916
Weipert
Died19 May 2001(2001-05-19) (aged 84)
Freiberg
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945)
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–45
RankOberleutnant (first lieutenant)
UnitJG 52
JG 7
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career

Petermann was born on 26 May 1916 in Weipert, at the time part of the district of Kaaden in the Sudetenland, present-day Vejprty in the Czech Republic.[2]

On 6 June 1943, Petermann was wounded in aerial combat with Yakovlev Yak-1 fighters near Petrovskaya located approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) northwest of Slavyansk-on-Kuban. He made an emergency landing of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-4 (Werknummer 19527—factory number) near Krasny Oktyabr located 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Slavyansk-on-Kuban at 18:00. He returned to his unit on 10 June.[3]

On 1 October 1943, Petermann became a victim of friendly fire when his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 15851) was shot down by German anti-aircraft artillery resulting in an emergency landing at Nove Zaporizhzhya at 12:15.[4] His injuries were severe, requiring the amputation of his left arm and a toe on his left foot.[5]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Petermann was credited with 64 aerial victories.[6] Spick also lists him with 64 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of combat missions. All of his aerial victories were achieved over the Eastern Front.[7] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 64 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[8]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 54522". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, 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.[9]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Petermann did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[5]
Eastern Front — 17 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
1 1 July 1942 14:55 LaGG-3[10] vicinity of Volokonovka 6 7 September 1942 12:17?[Note 1] Boston PQ 54522[11]
2 2 July 1942 09:25 MiG-1[10] vicinity of Volokonovka 7 17 September 1942 14:27 Su-2 (Seversky) PQ 54331[11]
3 15 August 1942 06:45 I-153 PQ 34272[11] 8 29 September 1942 15:48 MiG-1 PQ 44591[11]
4 24 August 1942 15:04 one-engined bomber PQ 54194[11] 9 4 October 1942 15:04 LaGG-3 PQ 44432[11]
5 25 August 1942 15:20 Boston PQ 44274[11]
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[5]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 18 April 1943
10 11 February 1943 11:40 I-16 PQ 34 Ost 8512[12]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Novocherkassk		 13 12 March 1943 07:40 R-5 PQ 34 Ost 85152[13]
vicinity of Erdol
11 12 February 1943 14:38 I-153 PQ 34 Ost 85624[12]
Black Sea, south of Nowe Mikhaylovskoye		 14 19 March 1943 09:30 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 86594[14]
Ivanovskaya
12 13 February 1943 11:37 I-153 PQ 34 Ost 85194[12]
east of Derbentskaya		 15 18 April 1943 16:20 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 75494[15]
4 km (2.5 mi) east of Novorossiysk
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[8]
Eastern Front — 20 April – September 1943
16 20 April 1943 08:40 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85181, Neberdschajewskaja[15]
vicinity of Usun		 37 9 May 1943 18:22 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85141, northwest Abinskaja[16]
east of Krymsk
17 20 April 1943 15:51 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75452[15]
8 km (5.0 mi) south of Novorossiysk		 38 22 May 1943 06:15 R-5 PQ 34 Ost 96724[16]
east of Krasnodar
18 21 April 1943 07:10 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75461[15]
Black Sea, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Kabardinka		 39 26 May 1943 18:30 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76891[16]
vicinity of Kijewskoje
19 23 April 1943 05:02 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75415, southeast of Kabardinka[15] 40 27 May 1943 14:10 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 76864, Kruglik[16]
vicinity of Kecskemet
20 23 April 1943 05:08 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 7543, Novorossiysk[15] 41 28 May 1943 10:51 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 76892, northeast Kijewskoje[16]
vicinity of Kijewskoje
21 26 April 1943?[Note 3] 12:36 R-5 PQ 34 Ost 75733[15]
west of Nowomyschowskaja		 42 28 May 1943 13:21 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75232, southeast Kijewskoje[18]
north of Krymsk
22 26 April 1943?[Note 3] 12:39 R-5 PQ 34 Ost 85732[15]
west of Nowomyschowskaja
—
[Note 4]		 28 May 1943 18:00+ Il-2
23 27 April 1943 17:05 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85142[19]
vicinity of Abinsk		 43 31 May 1943 08:00 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76864, Kruglik[18]
north of Kecskemet
24 28 April 1943 11:48 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 86783[19]
Bondarenka		 44 31 May 1943 14:07 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 86771[18]
vicinity of Bondarenka
25 29 April 1943 13:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85161[19]
vicinity of Abinsk		 45 1 June 1943 18:18 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76892, northeast Kijewskoje[18]
vicinity of Kijewskoje
26 30 April 1943 16:39 Spitfire PQ 34 Ost 85751[19]
vicinity of Abinsk		 46 2 June 1943 10:45 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 76993[18]
27 2 May 1943 08:52 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85172[19]
southwest of Abinsk		 47 4 June 1943 18:17 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75491[18]
Black Sea, 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Kabardinka
28 3 May 1943 06:07 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85161[19]
vicinity of Nowenjkij		 48 4 June 1943 18:21 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75452[18]
8 km (5.0 mi) south of Novorossiysk
29 3 May 1943 06:34 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85181[19]
northeast of Usun		 49 23 July 1943 17:34 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 76894, east Kijewskoje[20]
vicinity of Kijewskoje
30 4 May 1943 14:58 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75324[19]
Black Sea, south of Anapa		 50 26 July 1943 06:18 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 76774[20]
Black Sea, west of Blagowetschskoje
31 4 May 1943 15:18 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85143[19]
southeast of Krymsk		 51 26 July 1943 06:25 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 75151[20]
Black Sea, west of Anapa
32 5 May 1943 09:22 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85261[19]
north of Nowo Bakanskaja		 52 26 July 1943 18:20 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 34 Ost 75262, southwest of Krymskaja[20]
south of Krymsk
33 5 May 1943 13:32 LaGG-3?[Note 5] PQ 34 Ost 85184, 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Abinskaja[19]
southeast of Tscherkassowski		 53 31 July 1943 18:20 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 75291, Neberdshajewskaja[20]
vicinity of Neberdshajewskaja
34 5 May 1943 17:32 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76893, southeast Kijewskoje[19]
south of Bakanskij		 54 7 September 1943 17:12 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 50242[21]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Olshany
35 6 May 1943 16:07 Yak-4 PQ 34 Ost 75454[16]
Black Sea, southwest of Anapa		 55 14 September 1943 07:17 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 50141[21]
40 km (25 mi) south-southwest of Bogodechow
36 8 May 1943 17:58 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85171, southwest Abinskaja[16]
vicinity of Usun
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[17]
Eastern Front — September – 1 October 1943
56 25 September 1943 11:57 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 11744[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi		 59 25 September 1943 12:19 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 10153[21]
vicinity of Rabotschi
57 25 September 1943 12:09 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 11783[21]
Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi		 60 26 September 1943 07:32 P-40 PQ 35 Ost 10133[22]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi
58 25 September 1943 12:12 Il-2 m.H.[Note 2] PQ 35 Ost 11753[21]
vicinity of Jerkownik
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[17]
Eastern Front — 1945
61 16 January 1945 12:06 Yak-9 PQ 91653[23] 63 16 March 1945 17:08 P-39 PQ 71342[23]
northeast of Münsterberg
62 11 February 1945 12:50 Yak-9 PQ 71167[23] 64 22 March 1945 15:46 Yak-9 PQ 71471[23]
west of Schädeburg

Awards

Notes
  1. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:15.[5]
  2. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed on 25 April 1943.[17]
  4. This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[18]
  5. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin La-5.[17]
  6. According to Obermaier on 9 September 1943.[2]
  7. According to Scherzer as pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 52.[27]

Works
  • Petermann, Viktor (2004). Klinnert, Falk (ed.). Luftkrieg 1939–1945—Der Jagdflieger Viktor Petermann: Pilot im Jagdgeschwader 52 [Air War 1939–1945—The Fighter Pilot Viktor Petermann: Pilot in Jagdgeschwader 52] (in German). OV Verlag. OCLC 918505663.

References

Citations
  1. Forsyth 2008, p. 74.
  2. Obermaier 1989, p. 178.
  3. Prien et al. 2012, p. 398.
  4. Prien et al. 2012, p. 400.
  5. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 952.
  6. Zabecki 2014, p. 1617.
  7. Spick 1996, p. 240.
  8. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 952–953.
  9. Planquadrat.
  10. Prien et al. 2006, p. 390.
  11. Prien et al. 2006, p. 391.
  12. Prien et al. 2012, p. 378.
  13. Prien et al. 2012, p. 379.
  14. Prien et al. 2012, p. 380.
  15. Prien et al. 2012, p. 381.
  16. Prien et al. 2012, p. 383.
  17. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 953.
  18. Prien et al. 2012, p. 384.
  19. Prien et al. 2012, p. 382.
  20. Prien et al. 2012, p. 386.
  21. Prien et al. 2012, p. 389.
  22. Prien et al. 2012, p. 390.
  23. Barbas 2010, p. 381.
  24. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 347.
  25. Patzwall 2008, p. 160.
  26. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 336.
  27. Scherzer 2007, p. 588.

Bibliography
  • Barbas, Bernd (2010). Die Geschichte der III. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 [The History of 3rd Group of Fighter Wing 52] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-94-6.
  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2008). Jagdgeschwader 7 'Nowotny'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-320-9.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims – Volume 3 M–R. Walton-on-Thames, UK: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
  • 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 15. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
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