Josef Jennewein Explained

Josef Jennewein
Birth Date:	21 November 1919
Birth Place:	Sankt Anton am Arlberg, Austria
Death Place:	missing in action near Orel, Soviet Union
Rank:	Leutnant (second lieutenant)
Unit:	JG 51
Awards:	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Module:	Embed: yes Josef Jennewein Sport: Alpine skiing Show-Medals: yes

Josef Jennewein (21 November 1919 – 27 July 1943) was a German alpine skier and world champion. During World War II, he served first in the Wehrmacht and then in the Luftwaffe, and was credited with 86 air victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

Early life and sports career

Jennewein was born on 21 November 1919 at St Anton in the Tyrolean Alps, Austria. He became a world champion in the combined event in Zakopane in 1939, and received silver medals in slalom and in downhill.^[1] In 1941 Jennewein participated at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1941 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy and won gold medals in downhill and the combined event. In 1946, the results were cancelled by the FIS because of the limited number of participants from only German-friendly countries during World War II.

World War II

Jennewein joined the Luftwaffe as a fighter pilot and was posted to 4. Einsatzstaffel of Jagdfliegerschule 5 (JFS 5—5th Fighter Pilot School). In June 1941, most of the Luftwaffe fighter units were transferred east in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union launched on 22 June 1941. To augment the remaining fighter units fighting on the Western Front, JFS 5 was tasked with creation of a fourth squadron named 4. Einsatzstaffel — action or combat squadron — in June 1941. The Einsatzstaffel was placed under the command of Oberleutnant Fülbert Zink. In early July, the Einsatzstaffel transferred to Octeville-sur-Mer, north of Le Havre. There, 4. Einsatzstaffel was subordinated to the Stab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) and flew fighter protection in the area of Le Havre. Initially, 4. Einsatzstaffel was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 and E-7, later with the Bf 109 F-1 and F-2.

On 20 September 1941, the Royal Air Force (RAF) flew three "Circus" operations named No. 100A, 100B and 100C, against various targets in northern France. Circus No. 100A headed for the Hazebrouck marshalling yards, "Circus" No. 100B attacked the Abbeville marshalling yards, and Circus 100C targeted the shipyards at Rouen. Following the days actions, pilots on both sides overclaimed the number of aerial victories. That day, flying his fourth combat mission, Jennewein claimed three Supermarine Spitfire fighters shot down near Fécamp. On 15 October, the RAF flew "Ramrod" No. 69 mission against the Le Havre docks. Twelve Bristol Blenheim bombers from Westhampnett, escorted by Spitfire fighters from No. 234 Squadron, were intercepted by Bf 109 Luftwaffe fighters. In this encounter, Jennewein claimed the destruction of a Spitfire fighter and a Blenheim bomber.

Eastern Front

On 28 January 1942, Jennewein was posted to 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) and transferred on the Eastern Front. At the time, 2. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Friedhelm Höschen who was transferred in March and handed command of the Staffel to Leutnant Erwin Fleig. The Staffel was subordinated to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 51 and was based at Staraya Russa. By the end of July 1942, when he was posted to serve as a flight instructor, he had added 12 Russian aircraft to his tally. He returned to 2./JG 51 before the end of the year, starting a surprising sequence of multiple victories. On 18 January 1943, as a Feldwebel, flying a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 as a wingman of Leutnant Joachim Brendel, he attacked a formation of nine Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers from 202 BAP, in the area of Velikiye Luki, and claimed five kills in five minutes (Brendel claimed three, actual Soviet losses were six).

On 27 July 1943, Jennewein claimed his 86th and last aerial victory when he shot down an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. Shortly after, he was posted as missing in action when his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 550182 —factory number) was shot down by another Il-2 in aerial combat northwest of Mtsensk.

Summary of military career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Jennewein was credited with 86 aerial victories. Spick also lists Jennewein with 86 aerial victories, including five during the Battle of Britain and further 81 on the Eastern Front, claimed in 271 combat missions. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces - Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 83 aerial victory claims. This number includes five on the Western Front and 78 on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 44234". The Luftwaffe grid map (German: 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 360sqmi. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3x in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Unit	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Unit
– Claims with Jagdfliegerschule 5 in the West – 1 July 1942 – 31 December 1941
1	20 September 1941		Spitfire	northwest of Fécamp	4.(Eins.)/JFS 5	4	15 October 1941		Spitfire	Le Havre	4.(Eins.)/JFS 5
2	20 September 1941		Spitfire	northwest of Fécamp	4.(Eins.)/JFS 5	5	15 October 1941		Blenheim	Le Havre	4.(Eins.)/JFS 5
3	20 September 1941		Spitfire	northwest of Fécamp	4.(Eins.)/JFS 5
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" on the Eastern Front – 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942
6	21 March 1942	07:05	I-61 (MiG-3)		2./JG 51	9	5 April 1942	06:10	I-61 (MiG-3)		2./JG 51
7	29 March 1942	10:55	I-61?		2./JG 51	10	5 April 1942	06:40	I-61 (MiG-3)		2./JG 51
8	30 March 1942	12:00	I-17 (MiG-1)		2./JG 51
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" on the Eastern Front – Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
11	3 June 1942	19:22	MiG-1		2./JG 51	14	3 July 1942	13:25	MiG-3		2./JG 51
12	11 June 1942	07:57	Yak-1		2./JG 51	15	11 July 1942	06:00	MiG-3	PQ 44234 25km (16miles) north-northeast of Zhizdra	2./JG 51
13	2 July 1942	15:00	LaGG-3		2./JG 51
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Jennewein claimed one undocumented aerial victory in the timeframe 29 May an 15 September 1942.
17	26 July 1942	14:50	Pe-2		2./JG 51	22♠	18 January 1943	08:03	Pe-2	PQ 07783	2./JG 51
18	10 January 1943	13:30?	Il-2	PQ 01564	2./JG 51	23♠	18 January 1943	08:05	Pe-2	PQ 07783	2./JG 51
19	16 January 1943	08:15	MiG-3	PQ 17712, Velikiye Luki 35km (22miles) east-northeast of Toropa	2./JG 51	24♠	18 January 1943	08:06	Pe-2	PQ 07793	2./JG 51
20♠	18 January 1943	08:01	Pe-2	PQ 07741	2./JG 51	25	27 January 1943	09:15	MiG-3	PQ 17724 25km (16miles) east-northeast of Toropa	2./JG 51
21♠	18 January 1943	08:02	Pe-2	PQ 07741	2./JG 51	26	30 January 1943	08:40	Pe-2	PQ 63151 15km (09miles) southeast of Orel	2./JG 51
– Claims with Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" on the Eastern Front – Eastern Front — 4 February – 27 July 1943
27	22 February 1943	05:51	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 64473 15km (09miles) south of Arsenyevo	2./JG 51	57	16 May 1943	04:25	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 63844 5km (03miles) southeast of Zolotukhino	2./JG 51
28	22 February 1943	06:06	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 64611 20km (10miles) north of Mtsensk	2./JG 51	58	22 May 1943	04:25	P-39	PQ 35 Ost 63574 20km (10miles) south-southeast of Trosna	2./JG 51
29	22 February 1943	06:20	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 64612 20km (10miles) north of Mtsensk	2./JG 51	59?	22 May 1943		P-39		2./JG 51
30♠	23 February 1943	10:40	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 44292 15km (09miles) northeast of Zhizdra	2./JG 51	60?	28 May 1943	17:47	La-5	east of Orel	1./JG 51
31♠	23 February 1943	10:42	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 54123 20km (10miles) south-southwest of Sukhinichi	2./JG 51	61	30 May 1943	07:25	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 63553 15km (09miles) west of Maloarkhangelsk	1./JG 51
32♠	23 February 1943	10:45	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 54114 20km (10miles) southwest of Sukhinichi	2./JG 51	62	2 June 1943	04:25	P-39	PQ 35 Ost 63553 15km (09miles) west of Maloarkhangelsk	1./JG 51
33♠	23 February 1943	10:48	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 54111 20km (10miles) southwest of Sukhinichi	2./JG 51	63	2 June 1943	11:15	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 63534 vicinity of Maloarkhangelsk	1./JG 51
34♠	23 February 1943	10:55	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 54143 25km (16miles) northeast of Zhizdra	2./JG 51	64	13 July 1943	18:45	La-5	southeast of Mtsensk	1./JG 51
35♠	24 February 1943	10:41	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 44252 15km (09miles) north of Zhizdra	2./JG 51	65	13 July 1943	19:00	La-5	southwest of Grinow	1./JG 51
36♠	24 February 1943	10:43	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 44251 15km (09miles) north of Zhizdra	2./JG 51	66	14 July 1943	19:25	LaGG-3	east of Mitejewo	1./JG 51
37♠	24 February 1943	13:40	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 64611 20km (10miles) north of Mtsensk	2./JG 51	67	14 July 1943	19:40	LaGG-3	east of Gilkowa	1./JG 51
38♠	24 February 1943	13:42	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 64613 20km (10miles) north of Mtsensk	2./JG 51	68	16 July 1943	07:10	La-5	northwest of Baryomsky	1./JG 51
39♠	24 February 1943	13:45	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 64611 20km (10miles) north of Mtsensk	2./JG 51	69	17 July 1943	08:50	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 54725 25km (16miles) southwest of Kozelsk	2./JG 51
40♠	24 February 1943	13:51	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 64621 20km (10miles) north-northeast of Mtsensk	2./JG 51	70	17 July 1943	16:30	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 55858 15km (09miles) north of Kozelsk	2./JG 51
41♠	24 February 1943	13:53	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 64633 20km (10miles) northwest of Lipitsy	2./JG 51	71	17 July 1943	19:00	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 54642 20km (10miles) northeast of Znamenskoye	2./JG 51
42	9 March 1943	11:10	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 44223 25km (16miles) north of Zhizdra	2./JG 51	72	18 July 1943	14:32	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 54812 10km (10miles) east of Znamenskoye	2./JG 51
43	10 March 1943	15:55	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 55713 20km (10miles) northwest of Sukhinichi	2./JG 51	73	18 July 1943	14:34	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 54643 20km (10miles) northeast of Znamenskoye	2./JG 51
44	21 March 1943	06:25	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 45363 35km (22miles) northeast of Spas-Demensk	2./JG 51	74	19 July 1943	09:30	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 64881 15km (09miles) northeast of Znamenskoye	2./JG 51
45	23 March 1943	11:05	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 53591 15km (09miles) north-northeast of Dmitriyev-Lgovsky	2./JG 51	75	20 July 1943	14:40	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 64864 25km (16miles) southeast of Mtsensk	2./JG 51
46	27 March 1943	09:08	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 53484 15km (09miles) south-southwest of Kromy	2./JG 51	76	20 July 1943	14:50	LaGG-3	PQ 35 Ost 64876 10km (10miles) north of Zalegoshch	2./JG 51
47♠	6 May 1943	13:30	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 64762 20km (10miles) north-northwest of Zalegoshch	2./JG 51	77♠	21 July 1943	13:25	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 63164 10km (10miles) northeast of Orel	2./JG 51
48♠	6 May 1943	13:31	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 64762 20km (10miles) north-northwest of Zalegoshch	2./JG 51	78♠	21 July 1943	13:27	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 63165 10km (10miles) northeast of Orel	2./JG 51
49♠	6 May 1943	13:32	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 64763 20km (10miles) north-northwest of Zalegoshch	2./JG 51	79♠	21 July 1943	13:28	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 63243 10km (10miles) south of Zalegoshch	2./JG 51
50♠	6 May 1943	13:38	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 64844 20km (10miles) south of Mtsensk	2./JG 51	80♠	21 July 1943	13:29	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 63247 10km (10miles) south of Zalegoshch	2./JG 51
51♠	6 May 1943	13:42	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 64813 10km (10miles) south of Mtsensk	2./JG 51	81♠	21 July 1943	13:30	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 63251 15km (09miles) southeast of Zalegoshch	2./JG 51
52	8 May 1943	04:30	Pe-2	PQ 35 Ost 54731 vicinity of Znamenskoye	2./JG 51	82	24 July 1943	13:30	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 63271 20km (10miles) south of Zalegoshch	2./JG 51
53	8 May 1943	07:34	Il-2	PQ 35 Ost 63324 vicinity of Glazunowka	2./JG 51	83	26 July 1943	10:38	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 63145 10km (10miles) south of Orel	2./JG 51
54	8 May 1943	07:38	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 63321 vicinity of Glazunowka	2./JG 51	84	26 July 1943	10:44	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 53296 15km (09miles) north-northeast of Kromy	2./JG 51
55	8 May 1943	07:41	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 63324 vicinity of Glazunowka	2./JG 51	85	26 July 1943	11:10	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 63189 vicinity of Zmiyekka	2./JG 51
56	12 May 1943	08:01	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 63761 5km (03miles) southwest of Zolotukhino	2./JG 51	86	27 July 1943	11:25	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 54464 15km (09miles) northwest of Bolkhov	2./JG 51

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 1 March 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot
• German Cross in Gold on 12 April 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 December 1943 (posthumously) as Leutnant and pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"

See also

• List of people who disappeared

References

Bibliography

• Book: Bergström , Christer .

  sv:Christer Bergström

  . 2019 . Black Cross – Red Star, Air War over the Eastern Front. Volume 4. Stalingrad to Kuban . en . Eskilstuna . Vaktel Books . 978-91-88441-21-8.
• Web site: Bergström . Christer .

  sv:Christer Bergström

  . Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat . Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website . 3 September 2021 . .
• Book: Dixon , Jeremy . 2023 . Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945 . Barnsley . . 978-1-39903-073-1.
• Book: Fellgiebel , Walther-Peer .

  de:Walther-Peer Fellgiebel

  . 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 . de . Friedberg, Germany . Podzun-Pallas . 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Book: Franks , Norman . Norman Franks . Fighter Command's Air War 1941: RAF Circus Operations and Fighter Sweeps Against the Luftwaffe . Barnsley, South Yorkshire . Pen and Sword Books . 2016 . 978-1-47384-723-1.
• Book: Mathews . Andrew Johannes . Foreman . John . 2015 . Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L . Walton on Thames . Red Kite . 978-1-906592-19-6.
• Book: Obermaier , Ernst . 1989 . Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 . The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945 . de . Mainz, Germany . Verlag Dieter Hoffmann . 978-3-87341-065-7.
• Book: 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 . de . Norderstedt, Germany . Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall . 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Book: Patzwall . Klaus D. . 2008 . Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg . The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War . de . Norderstedt, Germany . Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall . 978-3-931533-08-3.
• Book: Prien . Jochen . Stemmer . Gerhard . Rodeike . Peter . Bock . Winfried . 2003 . Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 . The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942 . de . Eutin, Germany . Struve-Druck . 978-3-923457-68-7.
• Book: Prien . Jochen . Stemmer . Gerhard . Rodeike . Peter . Bock . Winfried . 2005 . Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 . The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942 . de . Eutin, Germany . Struve-Druck . 978-3-923457-76-2.
• Book: 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 . de . Eutin, Germany . Struve-Druck . 978-3-923457-77-9.
• Book: Prien . Jochen . Stemmer . Gerhard . Rodeike . Peter . Bock . Winfried . 2012 . Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 . The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/I—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943 . de . Eutin, Germany . Buchverlag Rogge . 978-3-942943-02-4.
• Book: Sarkar , Dilip . 2010 . Spitfire Voices: Life as a Spitfire Pilot in the Words of the Veterans . Amberley Publishing Limited . 978-1-4456-2457-0.
• Book: 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 . de . Jena, Germany . Scherzers Militaer-Verlag . 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Book: Spick , Mike . 1996 . Luftwaffe Fighter Aces . New York . . 978-0-8041-1696-1 . registration .
• Book: Weal , John . 2006 . Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" . Aviation Elite Units . 22 . Oxford, UK . Osprey Publishing . 978-1-84603-045-1.
• Book: Zabecki . David T. . David T. Zabecki . Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History . Santa Barbara, California . . 2014 . 978-1-59884-981-3.

External links

• Biography in Luftwaffe's aces website

Notes and References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20050214001915/http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/majorevents/fisworldskichampionships/alpinewsc.html Official results for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships