TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Kupfer, Ernst

Date of birth:
July 2nd, 1907 (Coburg/Bavaria, Germany)
Date of death:
November 6th, 1943 (Kilkis, Greece)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Dionyssos-Rapendoza
Plot: 1. Row: 4. Grave: 7.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Ernst Kupfer died in an aicraft accident on 6th November 1943. He achieved a total of 636 sorties.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit:
Staffelkapitän 7. / Stukageschwader 2 „Immelmann“
Awarded on:
November 23rd, 1941
Awarded for his successes over the course of 260 sorties. In this time he particularly distinguished himself by assisting in the sinking of the British cruiser “HMS Gloucester” on the 22.05.1941. Later while serving on the Eastern front, at the end of September 1941, he also participated in attacks on the Soviet fleet at Kronstadt. Here he claimed to have sunk a cruiser, and on a second mission 5 hours later he damaged the battleship “October Revolution” with a direct hit.

375th Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
October 10th, 1942

Date according to the Ehrenpokal. Published in the Ehrenliste on Octobwe 14th, 1942.
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
II. / Stuka-Geschwader 2
Awarded on:
October 15th, 1942
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major (Squadron Leader)
Unit:
Kommandeur II. / Stukageschwader 2 „Immelmann“
Awarded on:
January 8th, 1943
The following newspaper excerpt (dated 13.01.1943) describes why Kupfer received the Knight’s Cross…

“Major Dr. Kupfer led his Staffeln in bold attacks against Stalingrad and significantly contributed to the attrition of enemy forces in the factory quarters of the city. On the 30.10.1942 Major Kupfer flew his 500th sortie. He wears the Wound Badge in Gold due to his receiving several battle wounds.”

173rd Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst
Unit:
Oberst in der Dienststellung des Generals der Schlachtflieger
Awarded on:
April 11th, 1944
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern
Awarded for his personal and command successes during the air battles over the Kuban and Kursk. His unit also helped to hinder broken-through enemy armoured units during the fighting for the Orel salient in July-August 1943.

62nd Award.
Awarde posthumous.

Sources

Photo