Johann Schalanda

Johann Schalanda
Nickname(s) "Bazi"
Born 7 February 1921
Vienna
Died 26 March 1945(1945-03-26) (aged 24)
Küstrin
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Luftwaffe
Years of service 1939–45
Rank Hauptmann
Unit StG 1
SG 1
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Johann "Hans" Franz Schalanda (7 February 1921 – 26 March 1945) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Johann Schalanda was killed on 26 March 1945 by Soviet anti-aircraft fire over Küstrin. Johann Schalanda was credited with flying 933 missions during the war.

Career

Schalanda joined the Luftwaffe in October 1939. Following flight and specialized dive bomber training, he was posted to the III. Gruppe (3rd group) of Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 (StG 1—1st Dive Bomber Wing) where he was assigned to the 8. Staffel (8th squadron).[1]

With this squadron, he flew his first combat missions in the Siege of Malta. In April–May 1941, he flew missions against the port of Tobruk, Libya, during the Siege of Tobruk and was credited with the destruction of 4,000 gross register tons (GRT) of Allied supply shipping.[1]

Awards and decorations

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Obermaier 1976, p. 70.
  2. ↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 177.
  3. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 399.
  4. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 304.
  5. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 76.

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 (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe 1939–1945 Band II Stuka- und Schlachtflieger [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe 1939–1945 Volume II Dive Bomber and Attack Aircraft] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-021-3. 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
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