Hermann Greiner

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Georg-Hermann Greiner
Hermann Greiner.jpg
Born (1920-01-02)2 January 1920
Heidenheim Germany
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Wangen im Allgäu, Germany
Allegiance  Nazi Germany (1938 to 1945)
 West Germany (1957 to 1972)
Service/branch Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht)
Luftwaffe (Bundeswehr)
Years of service 1938–45, 1957–72
Rank Hauptmann (Wehrmacht)
Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Unit NJG 1
Commands held IV./NJG 1
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Georg-Hermann Greiner (2 January 1920 – 26 September 2014)[1] was a German former Luftwaffe night fighter ace, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and a squadron commander in the prestigious Nachtjagdgeschwader 1, translated in English as the "1st Night Fighter Wing", the most successful Night Air Superiority unit of any nation during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was the fourth grade of Nazi Germany's highest award for military galantry and was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery and successful military leadership. Greiner primarily engaged British RAF crews in their bombing campaigns over greater Germany and was credited with 51 aerial victories over allied aircraft, having destroyed four American bombers during daylight hours and 47 British bombers at night.

Following the conclusion of the War, Greiner and close friend Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer were arrested illegally crossing the German-Swiss border attempting an escape to Argentina. Both Greiner and Schnaufer were detained in an Allied prisoner of war camp and released in 1947. Greiner went on to study law and returned to service in the West German Luftwaffe in 1957, retiring with the rank of Oberstleutnant in 1972. [Notes 1]

Awards

Notes

  1. For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.

References

Citations

  1. Hermann Greiner's obituary (Portuguese)
  2. Obermaier 1989, p. 77.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Thomas 1997, p. 221.
  4. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 147.
  5. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 168.
  6. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 84.

Bibliography

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External links

Military offices
Preceded by Commander of IV. Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
1 November 1944 – 8 May 1945
Succeeded by
None