Joachim Wandel

Joachim "Gnom" Wandel (7 May 1914 – 7 October 1942) was a 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. Joachim Wandel was killed on 7 October 1942 when he was shot down and crashed near Oschtaschkow, Russia. He was credited with 75 victories, 5 over the Western Front and 70 over the Eastern Front.

Joachim Wandel
Nickname(s)	"Gnom"
Born	7 May 1914 Schlochau
Died	7 October 1942 (aged 28) Oschtaschkow, Russia
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Army  Luftwaffe
Years of service	1935–42
Rank	Hauptmann
Unit	Condor Legion JG 54
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Awards

• Spanish Cross in Silver with Swords
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (28 May 1942)
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• German Cross in Gold (27 July 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 August 1942 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 54[1][Note 1]

Notes

1. According to Scherzer on 23 August 1942.[2]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 436.
2. Scherzer 2007, p. 767.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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.
• 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.
• 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.