Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Sergeant)

Unit:

Flugzeugführer

Awarded on:

January 25th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Sergeant)

Unit:

8. Staffel, III. Gruppe, Sturzkampfgeschwader 77, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

September 7th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Flight Sergeant)

Unit:

Flugzeugführer, 8. Staffel, III. Gruppe, Schlachtgeschwader 77, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

February 29th, 1944

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

“Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit has so far taken part in the French, Balkan and Russian campaigns. Since the time of having been awarded the German Cross in Gold he has shown an outstanding performance on 327 more missions flown in the Orel, Vyazma, Demyansk and lower Don areas, during the great defensive battle in the southern sector in 1943 at Belgorod, the Mius front, the Kharkov-Poltava-Akhtyrka area and the Dnieper.

On these missions Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit once again proved his supreme airmanship, daring and outstanding courage, being an example for the other aircrews with his fighting spirit. From the very beginning he led his flight to particular successes and was, due to the absence of the Staffelkapitän, leader of the Staffel from the 25.08.-23.09.1942. He not only displayed personal courage by destroying 15 tanks and 1 armoured train in the Vyazma area despite heavy enemy opposition, but he also inspired the other Staffeln to achieve similar successes due to his own personal example. He fulfilled his tasks with such an exactness and conscientiousness that the hard fighting ground troops received noticeable relief.

Among his successes achieved prior to his being awarded the German Cross in Gold his role in the fighting in the Sevastopol area has to be singled out. During these operations Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit succeeded in destroying 5 supply ships (with approximately 17000 GRT) and damaging a further 3 via close hits, this total including both heavily defended convoy and single ships. During a Soviet landing attempt he destroyed a fully-loaded landing craft. On the 27.06.1942 he succeeded in sinking a destroyer south of Balaklava by extremely low dive bombing attacks. This feat received special praise in the Army Daily Bulletin. He was instrumental in helping the advance of our ground troops by destroying enemy fortifications (Bastion 2, Maxim Gorky, and Bunker 4) and achieving a direct hit on an ammunition dump in the Imkerman ravine. During the battle of Sevastopol Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit flew 120 missions, up to 8 missions a day.

During the winter fighting in the southern sector of the eastern front he flew his missions under adverse weather conditions since the cloud base was rarely higher than 150 metres. On the 16.12.1942 he rescued his Staffelkapitän, who had made a forced landing on enemy territory, by landing beside the damaged aircraft despite deep snow and heavy enemy fire and rescuing the crew. On the 18.12.1942 he was himself shot down by an La-5 in front of the German lines and rescued by his Staffelkapitän.

During the great defensive battle in the southern sector of the eastern front he conducted a particularly noteworthy attack on the fuel dump and railway station of Bataisk, which were heavily defended by massed Flak and fighter units. He succeeded in achieving a direct hit on the fuel dump, setting it ablaze. Subsequent dogfights lasted way over the Sea of Azov up to Taganrok. Near Provolnoye he destroyed an important bridge by a direct hit, which had been used to bring support to a Soviet bridgehead. Following makeshift repairs of this bridge he succeeded in destroying it again by a direct hit on the 28.05.1943.

On the 06.06.1943 Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit again displayed his outstanding airmanship. By diving to extremely low altitudes he managed to destroy an important bridge southeast of Petrovka even though it was heavily defended by Flak. This feat brought recognition by the Commanding General and mention in the Army Daily Bulletin of the 09.06.1943.

Within the framework of the defensive battle the dive bombers were always deployed at the focal points of operation. By his exemplary spirit, which was not diminished by extremely bad weather conditions and strong enemy fighter and Flak defenses, Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit was a shining example for the other aircrews of the Staffel. During the attacks in the Belgorod area, where in each operation numerically superior fighter forces were to be fought, Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit unswervingly attacked the assigned targets and succeeded in destroying numerous tanks. In addition, he also played an important role in the shattering of an enemy infantry regiment at the Mius front by flying daring attacks, using both bombs and his guns. In continuous operations near Bogodukhov, where strong enemy tank units had come as close as 15 km to the airfield, Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit and his flight succeeded in throwing back the enemy. During the battle of Kharkov Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit achieved the following successes:

2 anti-aircraft guns destroyed, 1 enemy assembly area effectively attacked, 11 trucks, 16 horse-drawn wagons and 2 guns destroyed. During the subsequent withdrawal operations he gave valuable air support to the infantry by low-level attacks on advancing enemy forces and the destruction of a gun emplacement in the Akhtyrka area.

In the area north of Kiev an in attacks against the Soviet bridgehead near Rshishchev he was able to score several bomb hits, destroying several landing craft. He also attacked a landed Soviet infantry regiment with bombs and guns.

During the subsequent heavy defensive operations south of Kremenchug he again displayed his outstanding fighting spirit.

The overall successes of Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit are as follows:

5 supply ships (with 17200 GRT) sunk in the Feodosia harbour and Black Sea
1 destroyer sunk
3 fortifications damaged
1 ammunition dump set ablaze
1 coastal battery destroyed
1 radio station destroyed
2 armoured trains destroyed
7 bridges destroyed
11 freight trains destroyed
12 railways disrupted
34 tanks destroyed
45 battery embankments destroyed
26 anti-aircraft guns disabled
2 railway anti-aircraft guns destroyed
67 trucks destroyed
74 horse-drawn wagons destroyed
8 landing craft
32 enemy positions effectively attacked.

In 627 missions, including 2 against Britain and the others against the Soviet Union, Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit displayed outstanding courage and conspicuous bravery. On the basis of his unique accomplishments and successes I deem Oberfeldwebel Dawedeit as worthy of being awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Sergeant)

Awarded on:

July 13th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Feldwebel (Sergeant)

Awarded on:

July 30th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberfeldwebel (Flight Sergeant)

Awarded on:

August 13th, 1942