Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)

Unit:

x. Staffel, Kampfgruppe zur besonderen Verwendung 9, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

February 4th, 1942

Written in Patzwall / Scherzer as Hermann Mersmann.
According to the Vorschlag of the Ritterkreuz awarded on 7-2-1942.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)

Unit:

Staffelkapitän, 1. Staffel, Kampfgruppe zur besonderen Verwendung 9, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

December 23rd, 1942

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

“Hauptmann Mersmann has flown with the 3./K.Gr. z.b.V. 9 since the outbreak of the war. In all the Gruppe’s areas of operation (at Norway, Holland, France, the Mediterranean, North Africa and the East) he has consistently proven himself to be an especially motivated pilot. He has carried out all his tasks with great personal courage and confidence, and has never failed to give his all in order to ensure total success.

During the air landing operation in Holland Mersmann’s aircraft shot-up aircraft could not be restarted, and so he was deployed in ground combat as a Zugführer. Here he particular distinguished himself through his bravery whilst commanding his Zug.

In numerous sorties over the Mediterranean Mersmann frequently came under fighter attack, however his skillful flying abilities enabled him to repeatedly escape these attacks and successfully land either his cargo or troop load in North Africa. Mersmann also showed great bravery whilst carrying out several sorties from Italy to Rhodes.

During the East in winter 1941/42 Mersmann delivered extremely valuable service as a Staffelkapitän. Here he was an inspiring example for his crews. His great personal bravery and flying abilities enabled him to repeatedly overcome weather conditions that bordered on impossible flying conditions.

In this capacity he was initially employed in the central sector of the front, flying sorties from Vitebsk to Tschaikowka, Kaluga and Rzhev. These sorties involved particularly pronounced enemy activity, as the aircraft were frequently assailed by fighters, and even the destination airfields were usually under artillery or mortar fire. However Hauptmann Mersmann’s heroic spirit and impeccable soldierly conduct enabled him to accomplish his missions even so. By doing so he repeatedly showed himself to be a model for his crews, and the aid he delivered significantly contributed to the defensive successes of the troops that his cargo reached.

After these operations the Gruppe transferred to the northern sector of the eastern front. Here Mersmann first flew several missions to Cholm, and in doing so he contributed to victory for a decisive defensive battle. Every landing at Cholm brought the aircraft within the immediate vicinity of the foe, and they did not hesitate to bring the landed planes under fire.

Afterwards he was involved in a series of missions to resupply Fortress Demyansk. Here it proved necessary to break strong hostile resistance in order to reach the encircled troops, and so especially high demands were placed on the courage and bravery of each aircrew involved. Each flying leader had to quickly asses the ever-changing tactical situation in order to find good points along the roads to fly over, which would in turn enable them to carry out their missions successfully and without loss. It was also necessary to avoid fighter attacks, and it demanded the greatest of flying skill to escape these interceptions and carry out each mission to its conclusion.

Hauptmann Mersmann once again distinguished himself during the operation to resupply Fortress Stalingrad (one which was carried out in the face of strong hostile defenses and very bad weather conditions). In this time he repeatedly conducted successful sorties despite powerful AA defenses and numerous fighter attacks. Here he was, again, a magnificent example of personal courage and unfailing dutifulness for the crews of his Staffel.

Hauptmann Mersmann is worthy to be awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on account of his proven record of soldierly conduct and personal bravery over the course of his total of over 300 front flights flown.

Entered service on the 01.10.1934
With the Gruppe since the 18.08.1939

Operational Record:
Norway - 3 sorties (6 front flights)
Holland - 1 sortie (5 front flights)
France - 3 sorties (3 front flights)
Mediterranean - 35 sorties (46 front flights)
Russia in summer 1941 - 23 sorties (23 front flights)
Central Russia in winter - 12 sorties (15 front flights)
Demyansk operation - 113 sorties (160 front flights)
Cholm operation - 3 sorties (6 front flights)
Southern Russia - 16 sorties (16 front flights)
Missions to Pitomnik - 9 sorties (27 front flights)

Total - 218 sorties (307 front flights).”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 10th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 10th, 1940