Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 12th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 16th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 20th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Sergeant)

Unit:

Flugzeugführer

Awarded on:

September 13th, 1942

According to other source the awarding date is 15-9-1942.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Flight Sergeant)

Unit:

6. Staffel, II. Gruppe, Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann", Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

November 17th, 1942

According to other source the awarding date is 30-11-1942.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 30th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant der Reserve

Unit:

Flugzeugführer, 4. Staffel, II. Gruppe, Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann", Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

April 16th, 1943

Bromen’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“Leutnant Bromen has served with the II./Sturzkampfgeschwader IMMELMANN Nr. 2 since the 17.01.1942. By now he has proven himself to be one of the best pilots in the Gruppe on account of his exceptional flying abilities, bravery and readiness for duty. This has resulted in him achieving multiple battle-deciding successes over the course of his total of 550 sorties flown. His utter dedication and determination are representative of the distinguished service record of the entire Sturzkampfwaffe.

In the war against the Soviet Union Leutnant Bromen has achieved great personal successes during operations that were of decisive importance for the conduct of combat for our ground troops.

During such fighting he demonstrated boldness in action that could not be broken by either fighters or AA artillery. He never deviated from his task of crushing the enemy and thereby supporting our own ground troops.

I. Combat Against the Serbian Revolutionary Movements:

Leutnant Bromen flew 32 sorties during the fighting to crush the revolting Serbians (25.09.-21.10.1941). In this time he demonstrated skill in delivering direct hits against camouflaged resistance nests, and this in spite of the fact that operations frequently had to be carried out in bad weather. On the 19.10.1941 Leutnant Bromen destroyed the revolutionaries’ only weapons factory at Selce [?] via a direct hit.

II. Sealing Off the Volkhov Pocket and Supporting the Encircled Troops at Cholm:

The Gruppe flew in support of our ground troops during the bitter fighting around Volkhov (February-May 1942) and during the defense against Russian forces at Leningrad. In this time the enemy tried desperately to relieve the Volkhov pocket with strong tank forces of their own. Over the course of never-ending operations, Leutnant Bromen achieved hits against tank concentrations, assembly areas and artillery/AA positions. In this time he destroyed 3 tanks, 2 artillery prime movers and an AA position via direct hits.

Intercepted Russian radio transmissions confirmed the effectiveness of our Stuka attacks, of which Leutnant Bromen had a major share.

Leutnant Bromen flew several missions in support of our encircled troops at Cholm. He was particularly successful in an attack against an important bridge south of Cholm on the 28.04.1941. Here he dodged the formidable enemy AA and fighter defenses, dropped a 500 kg bomb from the lowest possible altitude and achieved a direct hit. After this he dropped his remaining bombs on the nearby enemy truck concentrations, and in the process he destroyed 3 trucks. His unwavering dedication to duty here ensured the destruction of this bridge, which in turn disrupted the enemy’s resupply efforts.

III. 1942 Summer Offensive:

The Gruppe flew many missions to deliver killing blows to the enemy forces that were fleeing from our own troops.

During the creation of a friendly bridgehead at Popoff (which the enemy tried to prevent with strong forces of their own) the Gruppe had the mission of supporting the ground battle and securing the crossing over the Don. During these attacks, on the 17.07.1942, Leutnant Bromen spotted a Russian battery and knocked it out with his 4 bombs. On the same day he destroyed 1 tank (T-34) and set afire 2 trucks in boldly executed interdiction strikes. Later, on the 20.07.1942, he achieved a direct hit against a Russian heavy battery at Ssudky. In the sortie immediately after this he also set a tank ablaze (T-34).

On the 24.07.1942 he engaged enemy troop assemblies near Magajewskaja, inflicting heavy losses in men and trucks on the enemy in the process.

IV. Support of the Ground Troops in the Battle for the Great Don Bend and Stalingrad:

On the 08.08.1942 the Gruppe received the task of destroying the Don bridges at Kalatsch in order to prevent the enemy from pulling back across the river. However strong enemy fighter and AA defenses hindered this attack. However Leutnant Bromen nonetheless flew to the bridge and damaged it with a direct hit.

On the same day he also knocked out an enemy artillery position that was creating considerable problems for our own troops. He used his on-board weapons to set ablaze two enemy trucks that were attached to artillery limbers full of ammunition and fuel.

An attack was launched against the Tinguta railway station on the 10.08.1942. Although heavy AA and fighter defenses were encountered, Leutnant Bromen was still able to achieve a direct hit against a goods train with one 250 kg and four 50 kg bombs. This goods train had been loaded with important war materiel. Leutnant Bromen would go on to show great aggressiveness and decisiveness in almost 200 missions flown against the city of Stalingrad. Despite the presence of strong AA and fighter defenses, he flew repeated operations against his targets and achieved good hits. On the 12.09.1942 he set ablaze an oil storage tank in the northern part of the city, among other things.

On the 09.10.1942 his Staffel attacked a pontoon bridge that the enemy had built across the Volga to Stalingrad. Leutnant Bromen eliminated this with his bombs. The result was that the enemy lost an important supply line to Stalingrad.

V. Winter 1942/43 Defensive Battle:

On the 08.11.1942 Leutnant Bromen identified and destroyed an enemy AA battery at Eletskaja that was hitting our attacks and assembly areas with well-laid fire.

On the 16.11.1942 he engaged an enemy truck/tank assembly east of Eletskaja, and was able to destroy 1 tank and 3 trucks.

On the 25.11.1942 strong enemy cavalry formations attempted to overrun the Obliwskaja airfield. Leutnant Bromen thus carried out repeated missions against them, destroying horse-drawn wagons and shooting up the cavalry in courageous interdiction strikes. He inflicted bloody losses on the enemy, and thereby had a decisive share in the repulse of this hostile onslaught.

When the enemy tried to encircle Norosowskaja with strong tank forces, Leutnant Bromen flew up to 9 missions a day to try and frustrate this aim. To this end, in the time period 28.-31.12.1942, he destroyed 4 tanks, 1 battery and 18 trucks. The Heer formation here thus thanked the Gruppe for its dedicated support by writing a letter of appreciation.

On the 10.01.1943 he engaged an enemy AA battery near Nihsny-Wiasovij that was effectively interfering with our attacks. His bombs struck an ammunition dump that was blown sky high. The AA battery was so badly battered in the process that it ceased fire.

During the defensive combat along the Donez river he attacked a truck/tank assembly east of Voroshilovgrad on the 07.02.1943, destroying 1 tank and 3 trucks.

In addition to all these more noteworthy successes, Leutnant Bromen has proven successful in destroying a great deal of enemy materiel during the war on the Soviet front. In total, he has destroyed or knocked out:

76 trucks and horse-drawn wagons
7 limbered guns
21 tanks
3 AA batteries
5 artillery batteries
1 goods train.

Leutnant Bromen has been an inspiring role model for the crews of his Staffel due to his outstanding bravery and decisiveness on the battlefield, which brought about appropriate results. He is fully worthy of being awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross in recognition of his battle-deciding feats.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)

Awarded on:

February 13th, 1945

awarded with '600' pennant