Hans von Hahn

Hans von Hahn (7 August 1914 – 5 November 1957) 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, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. During his career he was credited with 34 aerial victories, 15 on the Western Front and 19 on the Eastern Front.

World War II World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 18 September 1939, Hahn was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing). He was the first commander of the Staffel which was part of the newly created III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 53 under the command of Hauptmann Werner Mölders. Hahn claimed his first aerial victory on 22 December 1939 during "Phoney War". That day, he claimed a Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricane fighter from the No. 73 Squadron.

On 27 August 1940, Hahn was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). He replaced Oberleutnant Lothar Keller who had temporarily led the Gruppe after its former commander Hauptmann Günther Lützow had been Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 3 on 21 August. Command of 8. Staffel of JG 53 was given to Oberleutnant Hans Kunert.

War against the Soviet Union In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the I. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Dub on 18 June 1941. At the start of the campaign, JG 3 was subordinated to the V. Fliegerkorps (5th Air Corps), under command of General der Flieger Robert Ritter von Greim, which was part of Luftflotte 4 (4th Air Fleet), under command of Generaloberst Alexander Löhr. These air elements supported Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt's Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South), with the objective of capturing Ukraine and its capital Kiev.

Hahn was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 July for 21 aerial victories.

On 15 January 1942, I. Gruppe was detached from JG 3 and became the newly formed II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing). In consequence, Hahn commanded this Gruppe until June 1942 when he was temporarily replaced by Oberleutnant Detlev Rohwer.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to Obermaier, Hahn was credited with 34 aerial victories claimed in over 300 combat missions. This figure includes 19 claims on the Eastern Front and 15 over the Western Allies. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 31 aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 19 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 12 on the Western Front.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –"Phoney War" — 26 September 1939 – 9 May 1940 1 22 December 1939 15:05 Hurricane northeast of Metz – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940 2 21 May 1940 19:10 LeO 451 Châlons 4 31 May 1940 19:08 Curtiss Abbeville 21 May 1940 M.S.406 east of Paris 5 3 June 1940 14:35 Hurricane Paris 21 May 1940 Curtiss east of Paris 3 June 1940 M.S.406 Paris 3 24 May 1940 18:15 Curtiss 6 7 June 1940 16:53 M.S.406 Compiègne – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Battle of Britain and on the English Channel — 26 June – 26 August 1940 7 25 August 1940 18:27 Spitfire east of Portland – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 –Battle of Britain and on the English Channel — 27 August 1940 – 9 June 1941 8 5 September 1940 Spitfire vicinity of London 11 7 October 1940 Hurricane Thames Estuary 9 15 September 1940 Spitfire north of London 12 10 January 1941 14:35 Blenheim northeast of Nieuwpoort 10 7 October 1940 Hurricane Thames Estuary – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 16 September 1941 13 25 June 1941 15:10 I-153 northeast of Dubno 23 10 July 1941 15:15 SB-2 south of Barbolok 14 26 June 1941 06:10 DB-3 northeast of Brody 24 12 July 1941 14:55 DB-3 east of Zhytomyr 15 26 June 1941 06:15 DB-3 northeast of Brody 25 14 July 1941 14:30 DB-3 southwest of Berdychiv 16 26 June 1941 14:20 SB-2 Szczurowcze 26 14 July 1941 14:31 DB-3 southwest of Berdychiv 17 29 June 1941 15:00 I-153 west of Brody 27 14 July 1941 14:32 DB-3 southwest of Berdychiv 18 29 June 1941 15:05 I-153 west of Brody 28 11 August 1941 06:45 SB-2 southeast of Wihenkij 19 5 July 1941 11:45 Pe-2 northwest of Gudnow 29 11 August 1941 06:48 SB-2 west of Boryspil 20 6 July 1941 15:40 DB-3 southeast of Shepetivka 30 14 August 1941 12:50 I-16 southeast of Kaniv 21 6 July 1941 15:45 DB-3 southeast of Shepetivka 31 16 August 1941 10:00 I-17 (MiG-1) southwest of Kaniv 22 10 July 1941 15:10 I-17 (MiG-1) south of Kurin

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 July 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 3