Wikipedia

Helmut Grollmus

Helmut Grollmus (8 January 1918 – 19 June 1944) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Helmuth Grollmus was credited with 75 aerial victories during World War II. In 1944 he was killed in action during a dogfight over Finland.[2]

Helmut Grollmus
Born(1918-01-08)8 January 1918
Lissa
Died19 June 1944(1944-06-19) (aged 26)
Viipuri, Finland
Cause of deathKilled in action
Buried
Helsinki-Hietaniemi Cemetery
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchLuftwaffe
Years of service1942–1944
RankLeutnant[1]
UnitJG 54
Commands2./JG 54
Battles / wars
Awards

Career

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Grollmus was born on 8 January 1918 in Lissa, at the time in the Province of Posen, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. Today Lissa is Leszno in western Poland. Following flight training, Grollmus was posted to the Ergänzungsjagdgruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing), a supplementary training group, in November 1941.[3] On 9 March 1942, the Ergänzungsgruppe of JG 54 was disbanded and the pilots were transferred to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 54.[4] In consequence, Grollmus was transferred to 2. Staffel of JG 54.[5] As part of a Luftwaffe plan to exchange fighter units operating on the Eastern Front with fighter units flying on the Western Front, Grollmus was assigned to 12. Staffel of JG 54 in July 1943 which had been newly formed from elements of 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) and 4. Staffel of JG 54 and was subordinated to II. Gruppe of JG 54.[6]

 
Hietaniemi Cemetery, Grollmus is listed at the bottom of the middle column.

Grollmus was killed in action over Viipuri, Finland 19 June 1944.[7][1] He was shot down in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 470075—factory number) during aerial combat with Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers and Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters in a position 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Viipuri.[8] Grollmus parachuted out safely but was killed by ground fire. He is buried in the Helsinki-Hietaniemi Cemetery.[5]

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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According to Spick, Grollmus was credited with 75 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number missions on the Eastern Front.[7] Heaton, Lewis, Olds and Schulze also list him with 75 aerial victories.[9] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 68 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[10]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 10163". 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.[11]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Grollmus an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 1. Staffel of Ergänzungsgruppe/Jagdgeschwader 54 –[12]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 9 March 1942
1 28 January 1942?[Note 1] 09:42 I-18 (MiG-1) southwest of Malaya Vishera[14] 2?[Note 2] 5 February 1942 08:50 I-18 (MiG-1) Malaya Vishera[14]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[15]
Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
3 21 July 1942?[Note 3] 19:09 MiG-3[16] 5 15 January 1943 13:50 Il-2 PQ 10163[17]
southwest of Vishera
4 23 July 1942?[Note 4] 08:05 MiG-3[16]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[12]
Eastern Front — 1 May – 30 June 1943
6 24 February 1943 11:30 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10162[18] 7 28 February 1943 15:40 Pe-2 PQ 26 Ost 90164[18]
southeast of Shlisselburg
– 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[15]
Eastern Front — 1 July – 31 December 1943
8 12 July 1943 14:44 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 64683[19]
southeast of Shlisselburg 		26 1 September 1943 18:17 Il-2?[Note 5] PQ 35 Ost 35363[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Yelnya
9 13 July 1943 05:27 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 64894[19]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Lomonosov 		27 7 October 1943 07:23 La-5 southwest of Oster[21]
10 13 July 1943 10:45 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63256[19] 28 11 October 1943 12:32 Yak-9 east of the Dnieper[21]
11 13 July 1943 10:48 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63283[19]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Mtsensk 		29 13 October 1943 05:56 Yak-9 southeast of Kiev[22]
12 1 August 1943 07:16?[Note 6] LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10143[23]
south of Shlisselburg 		30 13 October 1943 06:07 Yak-9 southeast of Kiev[22]
13 2 August 1943 10:13 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10322[23]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Mga 		31 21 October 1943 09:48 Il-2 eastern bank of the Dnieper[22]
14 3 August 1943 14:02 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10272[23]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Mga 		32 21 October 1943 09:56 Pe-2 eastern bank of the Dnieper[22]
15 8 August 1943 17:10 Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 5336[23] 33 21 October 1943 15:20 La-5 west-northwest of Rshitschtschew[22]
16 13 August 1943 16:31?[Note 7] Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 44891[24]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Karachev 		34 24 October 1943 14:56 La-5 northeast of Kanev[25]
17 14 August 1943 05:05 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 4575[24] 35 3 November 1943 14:56 Yak-9 south of Ljutesh[26]
18 16 August 1943 13:15?[Note 8] Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 45553[24]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Kirov 		36 5 November 1943 14:29 Il-2 southeastern suburbs of Kiev[26]
19 19 August 1943 12:47 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 43863[24]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Sevsk 		37 5 November 1943 14:41 Il-2 southern suburbs of Kiev[26]
20 23 August 1943 13:32 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 53413[20]
30 km (19 mi) northeast of Dmitrowsk 		38 22 November 1943 14:19 Il-2 east of Zhytomyr[27]
21 24 August 1943 07:06 DB-3 PQ 35 Ost 44452[20] 39 22 November 1943 14:23 Yak-9 east of Zhytomyr[27]
22 24 August 1943 07:12 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 44532[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Datrovo 		40 29 November 1943 06:54 La-5 west of Kornin[27]
23 26 August 1943 16:05 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 43794[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Sevsk 		41 29 November 1943 06:55 La-5 west of Kornin[27]
24 26 August 1943 16:10 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 43782[20]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Sevsk 		42 29 November 1943 10:38 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91531[27]
30 km (19 mi) north of Zelenogorsk
25 31 August 1943 10:05 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 25463[20]
20 km (12 mi) west of Yelnya 		43 13 December 1943 12:34 Il-2 northeast of Hrebinky[27]
– 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[13]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 27 February 1944
44 24 January 1944 10:26 La-5 PQ 26 Ost 80694[28]
35 km (22 mi) east-southeast of Narva 		47 13 February 1944 13:36 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 00783[28]
20 km (12 mi) south of Siversky
45 24 January 1944 10:32 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 90574[28]
35 km (22 mi) southwest of Lissino 		48 16 February 1944 10:28 U-2 PQ 36 Ost 00831[28]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Leningrad
46 29 January 1944 10:34 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 90584[28]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Lissino
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[29]
Eastern Front — 1 March – 19 June 1944
49 7 March 1944 08:49 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 70321[28]
Baltic Sea, 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Kunda 		60 8 April 1944 09:52 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 88853[30]
40 km (25 mi) southeast of Ostrov
50 19 March 1944 08:57 LaGG-3 PQ 25 Ost 88411[31]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Pskov 		61 15 April 1944 15:06 Yak-1?[Note 9] PQ 25 Ost 88355[30]
east of Ostrov
51 19 March 1944 09:10 LaGG-3 PQ 25 Ost 88274[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Pskov 		62 17 June 1944 13:25?[Note 10] Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 91545[32]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Zelenogorsk
52 19 March 1944 09:10?[Note 11] Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88122[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) north-northwest of Pskov 		63 17 June 1944 13:40 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 81664[32]
35 km (22 mi) south-southeast of Vyborg
53 26 March 1944 13:00 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 78284[31]
40 km (25 mi) west of Pskov 		64♠ 19 June 1944 12:48?[Note 12] P-39 PQ 26 Ost 81462[32]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Vyborg
54 26 March 1944 15:38 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 89722[31]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Pskov 		65♠ 19 June 1944 12:53 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 81467[32]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Vyborg
55 27 March 1944 06:26 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 78262[31] 66♠ 19 June 1944 12:56 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 81497[32]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Vyborg
56 1 April 1944 10:24 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 88524[31]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Selo 		67♠ 19 June 1944 17:07 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 91377[32]
30 km (19 mi) south-southeast of Vyborg
57 3 April 1944 12:33 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Selo 68♠ 19 June 1944 17:42 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 91381[32]
35 km (22 mi) southeast of Vyborg
58 7 April 1944 09:43 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 88355[30]
vicinity of Selo 		69♠ 19 June 1944 20:25 P-39 PQ 26 Ost 81833[32]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Vyborg
59 8 April 1944 09:47 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 88854[30]
40 km (25 mi) southeast of Ostrov

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman, this claim is dated 28 January 1943.[13]
  2. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[10]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman, this claim is dated 21 July 1943.[13]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman, this claim is dated 23 July 1943.[13]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3.[13]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:06.[13]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18:31.[13]
  8. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:18.[13]
  9. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-9.[13]
  10. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:35.[13]
  11. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 09:18.[13]
  12. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:48.[33]
  13. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 54.[38]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Hannig 2004, p. 127.
  2. ^ Weal 2012, p. 180.
  3. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 122.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 260.
  5. ^ a b deZeng IV, Henry L.; Stankey, Douglas G. "Career Summaries - Luftwaffe Officers 1935 - 1945" (PDF). ww2.dk. Michael Holm. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 223–224, 264.
  7. ^ a b Spick 1996, p. 237.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 491.
  9. ^ Heaton et al. 2011, p. 236.
  10. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 429–431.
  11. ^ Planquadrat.
  12. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 429.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 430.
  14. ^ a b Prien et al. 2005, p. 263.
  15. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 429–430.
  16. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 89.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 98.
  18. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 170.
  19. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 272.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 276.
  21. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 278.
  22. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 279.
  23. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 274.
  24. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 275.
  25. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 280.
  26. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 281.
  27. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 282.
  28. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2022, p. 476.
  29. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 430–431.
  30. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2022, p. 478.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2022, p. 477.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2022, p. 479.
  33. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 431.
  34. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 152.
  35. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 89.
  36. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 149.
  37. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 204.
  38. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 349.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
  • 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.
  • Hannig, Norbert (2004). Luftwaffe Fighter Ace. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-904010-94-4. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  • Heaton, Colin D.; Lewis, Anne-Marie; Olds, Robin; Schulze, Kurt (2011). The German Aces Speak: World War II Through the Eyes of Four of the Luftwaffe's Most Important Commanders. Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-1-61059-748-7.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • 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.
  • 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 (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] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1 May 1942 bis 3 February 1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/III—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/III—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-07-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Balke, Ulf; Bock, Winfried (2022). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/II—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/II—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-28-4.
  • 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: The Jadgflieger and their Combat Tactics and Techniques. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Weal, John (20 October 2012). Jagdgeschwader 54 'Grünherz'. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78200-533-9.
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