Page 7
HISTORY
the offensive was halted in early June, and
the Luftwaffe relocated most of its units from
Kuban to the Kursk area.
Viktor Petermann
One of the German pilots who fought in this
region was Viktor Petermann, born during
the Great War on May 26, 1916, in the town of
Weipert (Czech: Vejprty) in the Ore Mountains
(German: Erzgebirge, Czech: Krušné hory).
At that time, the town was part of the Kingdom
of Bohemia within the Austro-Hungarian
Monarchy. Most of the town’s residents were
German-speaking, and by the war’s end, over
400 men were missing from their families,
either fallen, fatally wounded, or missing. Many
had served in the k.u.k. Infanterieregiment
"Edler von Hortstein" Nr. 92, based in Komotau
(Chomutov).
Petermann completed his primary and
secondary education in Vejprty after the
founding of Czechoslovakia. In his youth, he
became an active member of various technical
and sports clubs, focusing especially on skiing,
glider flying, and rowing. He joined the Sudeten
German rowing association Carolus in Děčín
(German: Tetschen) and, as part of a coxed
four team, successfully competed in several
races in both Czechoslovakia and Germany.
His physical fitness would later save his life
on multiple occasions.
Following the cession of the Czech and
Moravian borderlands (Sudetenland) to
Germany in autumn 1938 and the subsequent
occupation of the rest of Bohemia and Moravia
in March 1939, Petermann joined the German
armed forces. From July 1939 to April 1942,
he trained with Flg. Ausb. Regt. 53 and 52,
Jagdfliegerschule 3, Jagdgruppe Drontheim,
and 2./Erg. Jagdgruppe Ost. In early May 1942,
he was assigned as an Unteroffizier to the
Stab of JG 52 on the Eastern Front, where he
served until early 1943. For most of this time,
the unit Kommodores were Maj. Gordon Gollob
and Obstlt. Dieter Hrabak. Petermann achieved
nine aerial victories during this period and
became known for flying about 100 km with
a severely damaged wing after a collision with
an I-153. He continued correspondence with
Gollob later in the war.
After being promoted to Feldwebel,
Petermann fought in February 1943 with
4./JG 52 in the Kuban area and was reassigned
to 5./JG 52 in mid-April. By June 4, he had
recorded 38 victories on this battlefield. His
fellow pilots in the 5th Staffel included future
Luftwaffe aces such as Fw. Otto Fönnekold,
Uffz. Peter Düttmann, and Lt. Walter Wolfrum.
Fateful Sunday in June
Near the end of the Soviet offensive, on
Sunday, June 6, 1943, Viktor Petermann took
Viktor Petermann in a photo from 1944 after receiving the Knight's Cross. He now has a prosthetic arm
in place of his left hand. Photo: Viktor Petermann
Anapa airfield in spring 1943 during the battles in Kuban. The photo captures members of the Slovak 13./JG 52,
which operated under the command of II./JG 52, as did 5./JG 52, where Viktor Petermann served.
Photo: Bundesarchiv via Wikimedia Commons
INFO Eduard
7
November 2024