Dietrich Hrabak

Dietrich "Dieter" Hrabak (19 December 1914 – 15 September 1995) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II. Following the war, he became a Generalmajor (major general) in the German Air Force of West Germany. As a fighter ace, he claimed 125 enemy aircraft shot down in over 1000 combat missions. The majority of his aerial victories were claimed over the Eastern Front with 16 claims over the Western Allies.

Dietrich Hrabak
Born(1914-12-19)19 December 1914
Großdeuben, Saxony
Died15 September 1995(1995-09-15) (aged 80)
Pfaffenhofen
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branch Reichsmarine (to 1935)
 Luftwaffe
 German Air Force
Years of service1934–45
1955–70
RankOberst (World War II)
Generalmajor (Bundeswehr)
UnitJG 138, JG 76
Commands heldJG 54, JG 52
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Born in Großdeuben, Hrabak grew up in the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. Following graduation from school, he volunteered for military service in the Reichsmarine in 1934. In November 1935, he transferred to the Luftwaffe. Following flight training, he was posted to a Jagdgeschwader (fighter wing). In 1939, Hrabak was made a Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) and with Jagdgeschwader 76 (JG 76—76th Fighter Wing) participated in the Invasion of Poland and Battle of France and claimed his first aerial victory on 13 May 1940. In July 1940, JG 76 was integrated into Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). During the Battle of Britain, Hrabak was made a Gruppenkommandeur in JG 54 and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in October 1940. In 1941, he participated in Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. In November 1942, Hrabak left JG 54 and was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing). There, following his 118th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 25 November 1943. In October 1944 Hrabak, returned to JG 54, serving as its last Geschwaderkommodore until the end of the war.

Following World War II, Hrabak initially worked in the private industry. During the Wiederbewaffnung (rearmament) of West Germany, Hrabak joined the newly established German Air Force in 1955. He then went on to command the Advanced Pilot Training Center at Fürstenfeldbruck. Following further command positions, Hrabak was named NATO's Chief of Air Defense/Central Europe until becoming special manager for the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter programme. Hrabak retired in September 1970 and died on 15 September 1995.

Early life and career

Hrabak was born on 19 December 1914 in Großdeuben, part of Böhlen, in the Kingdom of Saxony, a federated state of the German Empire, the son of a real estate developer. Following his graduation from the Königin-Carola-Gymnasium, a secondary school, he volunteered for military service. On 8 April 1934, Hrabak joined the Reichsmarine,[Note 1] the German navy of the Weimar Republic and in November 1935 transferred to the newly emerging Luftwaffe (German air force) as an Oberfähnrich (officer candidate). On 1 April 1936, Hrabak was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant).[1]

Following the Anschluss, Austria's annexation into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938, Hrabak was posted to I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 138 (JG 138—138th Fighter Wing) stationed in Wien-Schwechat also referred to as the "Wiener-Jagdgruppe" ("Vienna fighter group"). There, he was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 January 1939 and was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of JG 138.[1] On 1 May 1939, his unit I./JG 138 was re-designated I./Jagdgeschwader 76 (I./JG 76—1st group of the 76th Fighter Wing).[2]

World War II

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. In preparation of the invasion, I. Gruppe of JG 76 had been moved to an airfield at Stubendorf, present-day Izbicko in Poland, in mid-August 1939 and supported the German advance on the central and southern sectors of the front.[3] On 3 September, Hrabak made a forced landing behind enemy lines following combat with PZL.23 light bombers and returned to his unit the next day.[4]

On 14 September, I. Gruppe was withdrawn from combat operations and returned to its home airfield at Wien-Aspern where it arrived on 26 September.[3] On 26 October, the Gruppenstab and 1. Staffel were ordered to Frankfurt Rhein-Main where it was united again with 2. and 3. Staffel on 2 November. From Frankfurt Rhein-Main, the Gruppe flew fighter protection during the "Phoney War" for the Frankfurt, Rhine and Saar region. In April 1940, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Mainz-Finthen, originally named Fliegerhorst Ober-Olm. The Gruppe stayed at Ober-Olm until the Battle of France began.[5]

On 13 May 1940, he claimed his first victory, and he claimed five more victories before the Armistice of 22 June 1940. On 26 June 1940, I. Gruppe of JG 76 was moved to the airfield at Waalhaven in the Netherlands and subordinated to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). There, the Gruppe was tasked with providing aerial protection over the Dutch coastal area. On 5 July, I./JG 76 was officially integrated into JG 54 and was renamed to II./JG 54 and 1./JG 76 became 4./JG 54.[6]

On 25 August 1940 during the Battle of Britain, Hrabak was made Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 54. In consequence, Oberleutnant Hans Philipp was given command of 4./JG 54.[7] During the Battle of Britain he added ten victories against Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters. On 21 October 1940 Hrabak was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The presentation was made by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring in his personal command train at Beauvais on 23 October.[1] Hrabak served in the Balkans campaign.

Operation Barbarossa
Map indicating Operation Barbarossa's attack plan

Following the surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army on 17 April 1941, JG 54 received orders on 3 May 1941 to turn over all Bf 109-Es so they could receive the new Bf 109-F variant. Transition training was completed at Airfield Stolp-Reitz in Pomerania. Following intensive training, the Geschwader was moved to airfields in Eastern Prussia. II. Gruppe under command of Hrabak was moved to Trakehnen on 20 June 1941.[8] The Wehrmacht launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, on 22 June with II. Gruppe supporting Army Group North in its strategic goal towards Leningrad.[9]

In August to early September 1941, Hrabak was on home leave. He was promoted to Major (major) on 1 October 1942.[10]

Wing commander

On 1 November 1942, Hrabak left JG 54 and took over command of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) as Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander). At the time, JG 52 was based at Prokhladny and Gonschtakowka and operated over the front at the Terek River in the Northern Caucasus.[11] Under Hrabak's leadership, JG 52 claimed its 10,000th aerial victory on 2 September 1944.[12]

On 23 November, the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) of JG 52 began its retreat from the Caucasus region and moved to Maykop. There, Hrabak claimed his first aerial victory as Geschwaderkommodore on 13 December over a Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber. While the Battle of Stalingrad was coming to end, Hrabak and the Geschwaderstab were ordered to Rostov-on-Don on 20 January 1943 to organize fighter protection over the retreating Army Group A.[11]

Hrabak was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 July 1943.[13] On 2 August, Hrabak claimed his 100th victory. He was the 48th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[14] On 25 November 1943, Hrabak was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). He was the 337th member of the German armed forces to be so honored and at the time was credited with 118 aerial victories. The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters in Rastenburg, present-day Kętrzyn in Poland, on 9 December. Also presented with awards that day by Hitler were Hauptmann Hans-Ulrich Rudel, who received the Swords to his Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. Rudel's air gunner and radio operator Oberfeldwebel (Master Sergeant) Erwin Hentschel was honored with the Knight's Cross.[13]

On 20 September 1944, Hrabak scored the last of his 125 victories. In October 1944 Hrabak returned to JG 54, serving as its last Geschwaderkommodore until the end of the war. His greatest contribution to the Luftwaffe was not his combat record however but his command, tactical and leadership qualities, which endeared him to the men under his command and sealed his reputation within the Luftwaffe leadership.

Later life

In 1956, he commanded the Advanced Pilot Training Center at Fürstenfeldbruck. In 1962, he took charge of the air defense covering northern Germany and the Netherlands. In 1964, he was named NATO's Chief of Air Defense/Central Europe until becoming special manager for the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter programme. As a major general, he commanded the GAF's tactical command. Hrabak died on 15 September 1995.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 125 aerial victory claims, all of which confirmed. This number includes 109 on the Eastern Front and 16 on the Western Front.[15]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 54291". 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 × 4 km in size.[16]

Awards

Flugzeugfuhrer-bzw.Luftw.Doppelabz. 100 Luftsieges

Notes
  1. The German Reichsmarine was renamed the Kriegsmarine on 1 June 1935.
  2. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Supermarine Spitfire.[17]
  3. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-1.[30]
  4. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  5. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov of unknown type.[45]
  6. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin Il-2.[45]

References

Citations
  1. Stockert 2013, p. 171.
  2. Prien et al. 2000a, p. 263.
  3. Prien et al. 2000a, p. 445.
  4. Prien et al. 2000a, p. 450.
  5. Prien et al. 2001, p. 438.
  6. Prien et al. 2002, p. 304.
  7. Prien et al. 2002, p. 310.
  8. Prien et al. 2003b, pp. 212, 222.
  9. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 212.
  10. Stockert 2013, p. 172.
  11. Prien et al. 2006a, p. 383.
  12. Weal 2004, p. 112.
  13. Stockert 2013, p. 173.
  14. Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  15. Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 556–558.
  16. Planquadrat.
  17. Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 556.
  18. Prien et al. 2000b, p. 376.
  19. Prien et al. 2000b, p. 377.
  20. Prien et al. 2000b, p. 378.
  21. Prien et al. 2002, p. 313.
  22. Prien et al. 2002, p. 314.
  23. Prien et al. 2002, p. 315.
  24. Prien et al. 2002, p. 316.
  25. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 228.
  26. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 233.
  27. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 230.
  28. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 231.
  29. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 234.
  30. Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 557.
  31. Prien et al. 2005, p. 220.
  32. Prien et al. 2005, p. 222.
  33. Prien et al. 2005, p. 223.
  34. Prien et al. 2005, p. 224.
  35. Prien et al. 2006b, p. 145.
  36. Prien et al. 2006b, p. 149.
  37. Prien et al. 2006b, p. 150.
  38. Prien et al. 2006b, p. 151.
  39. Prien et al. 2006b, p. 146.
  40. Prien et al. 2006b, p. 152.
  41. Prien et al. 2006a, p. 391.
  42. Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 557–558.
  43. Prien et al. 2012, p. 206.
  44. Prien et al. 2012, p. 207.
  45. Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 558.
  46. Thomas 1997, p. 306.
  47. Obermaier 1989, p. 59.
  48. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 200.
  49. Scherzer 2007, p. 406.
  50. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 236.
  51. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 75.

Bibliography
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Military offices
Preceded by
Major Herbert Ihlefeld		 Commander of Jagdgeschwader 52
1 November 1942 – 30 September 1944		 Succeeded by
Oberstleutnant Hermann Graf
Preceded by
Oberstleutnant Anton Mader		 Commander of Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz
1 October 1944 – 8 May 1945		 Succeeded by
none
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