Meinicke, Johannes

Date of birth:: June 24th, 1919 (Znin/Posen, Germany)
Date of death:: September 4th, 1943 (near Bresinow, Soviet Union)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Johannes Meinicke finally reached the rank of Hauptmann. Flew a total of over 500 ground attack sorties including around 300 during the battle of Stalingrad.

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

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leutnant (Pilot Officer)
Unit:: Staffelführer, 1.Staffel, I. Gruppe, Schlachtgeschwader 1, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:: April 7th, 1943

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

“Leutnant Meinicke has demonstrated unceasing courage and readiness for duty over the course of flying over 400 sorties with the I./Schlachtgeschwader 1. Before this time he already received the Iron Cross First & Second Class for his outstanding bravery as a Fallschirmjäger during the fighting for Fortress Holland. In 1942 he was awarded the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe and the German Cross in Gold for his outstanding achievements during the winter battles of 1941/42 and summer 1942.

During the fighting for Stalingrad Meinicke repeatedly showcased his singular offensive spirit. The boldly executed low-level attacks with bombs and guns that he carried out with his Schwarm frequently aided our attacking Infanterie-Divisionen to a considerable degree. Furthermore there were multiple instances where his precise reconnaissance reports enabled the entire Gruppe to be deployed for decisive effect. Meinicke was also decisively involved in the great defensive successes of his Schlachtgruppe during the fighting for the Don Bend in November and December 1942. In this period he was a great example of fearlessness amidst conditions that sometimes included cloud cover which was only 50-100 metres.

He achieved notable successes during the fighting for the Obliwakaja airfield. Since he had extensive infantry training from his time as a Fallschirmjäger, he was transferred to assist the Gruppe on the ground. His prudence and great personal bravery were essential for enabling him and his relatively weak forces to repulse an extremely ferocious night attack against the airfield by several Bolshevik divisions. On the next morning he took advantage of the Schlachtgruppe’s aerial attacks to launch a counterattack on his own initiative, and this inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. Numerous weapons of all kinds as well as prisoners were captured. This attack deterred the Bolsheviks from conducting offensive activity against this airfield for a considerable length of time.

Subsequently, Leutnant Meinicke demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership as a Staffelführer during combat in the Donbas region. Here he and his Staffel had a decisive share in the great successes of the Gruppe. He proved to be a shining example for his pilots over battlefields ranging from Tatzinskaja to Voroshilovgrad.

Leutnant Meinicke is particularly worthy of being awarded the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross on account of the incredible achievements he has brought about thus far.”

By the time this recommendation was written (20.02.1943) Leutnant Meinicke had flown 419 combat sorties.