Alfred Teumer

Teumer was born on 11 February 1918 in Neustadt am Rübenberge in the Province of Hanover of the German Empire. Following completion of flight and fighter pilot training,{{refn|Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.{{sfn|Bergström|Antipov|Sundin|2003|p=17}}|group="Note"}} he was posted to 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) on 2 December 1941 during the final days of Operation Barbarossa holding the rank of Leutnant.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=215}} At the time, 3. Staffel was temporarily commanded by Oberleutnant Max-Hellmuth Ostermann, who was substituting for Oberleutnant Hans Schmoller-Haldy. The Staffel was subordinated to Gruppe (1st group) of JG 54 headed by Hauptmann Erich von Selle and was based at Krasnogvardeysk, present-day Gatchina. The Gruppe fought in the northern sector of the Eastern Front in the aerial battles of the Siege of Leningrad.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|pp=195–197}}

On 28 December 1941, I. Gruppe flew combat air patrols along the Volkhov where German ground forces were retreating fighting against the Volkhov Front. During these missions, Teumer claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|pp=178, 199}} On 5 January 1942, command of I. Gruppe was given to Hauptmann Franz Eckerle when Selle was transferred.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=195}} Teumer claimed his second aerial victory on 9 January over a I-26 fighter, an early war German designation for the Yakovlev Yak-1. That day, the Gruppe again flew missions in support of the Heer (army) along the Volkhov in the combat area southeast of Leningrad near Tosno. Two days later, flying over the same combat area, Teumer was credited with two I-18 fighters shot down, a reference to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 fighter aircraft.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|pp=180, 199}} The fighting along the Volkhov continued in the second half of January, predominately in the area between Leningrad and Shlisselburg. On 26 January, Teumer claimed his fifth aerial victory when he shot down a Pe-2 bomber.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|pp=182, 199}} Then on 30 January, Teumer made an emergency landing in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 9685—factory number) at Chudovo, damaging the aircraft to 40%.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=203}} On 14 February, Eckerle was killed in action and command of I. Gruppe went to Hauptmann Hans Philipp.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|pp=195, 203}} In early March, the Gruppe supported the German 18th Army which was fighting in the Battle of Lyuban. In these battles, Teumer claimed a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter on 5 March. The next day, he was credited with another P-40 fighter and an I-18 fighter shot down.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|pp=190, 201}}

On 9 February 1943, Teumer's Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 10321) was hit by anti-aircraft artillery and suffered engine failure, resulting in a forced landing at Sologubowka, approximately {{convert|70|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} southeast of Saint Petersburg.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=189}} Teumer was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 54 in April 1943. He replaced Hauptmann Paul Steindl who was transferred.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=264}} On 20 June, the creation of a newly formed IV. Gruppe (4th group) of JG 54 was ordered. Its first commander was Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=321}} Teumer was tasked with the creation of 10. Staffel in July, a squadron of IV. Gruppe.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=344}} On 3 September, he was wounded in aerial combat flying a Bf 109 G-6 northwest of Gatchina.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=351}} He was replaced Oberleutnant Robert Weiß as commander of 10. Staffel.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=344}} During his convalescence, Teumer was awarded the German Cross in Gold ({{Lang|de|Deutsches Kreuz in Gold}}) on 17 October.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1312}} After his recovery, he took command of 2. Staffel of JG 54 from Oberleutnant Otto Vinzent in December 1943.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=165}} On 14 February, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield named Wesenberg near Rakvere, located approximately {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} north of Lake Peipus and {{convert|105|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} west of Narva. Here the Gruppe was subordinated to the 3. Flieger-Division (3rd Air Division) and fought in the Battle of Narva.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Balke|Bock|2022|p=315}}

File:Combatbox.gif

In April 1944, Teumer was transferred to 7. Staffel of JG 54. He took command of the Staffel from Oberleutnant Rudolf Klemm who had been wounded in aerial combat on 9 April. The Staffel was subordinated to III. Gruppe led by Major Werner Schröer.{{sfn|Prien|Balke|Stemmer|Bock|2019|p=446}} At the time, the Gruppe was based at Lüneburg Airfield and subordinated to 2. Jagd-Division (2nd Fighter Division) fighting in Defence of the Reich.{{sfn|Prien|Balke|Stemmer|Bock|2019|p=447}} On 20 April, III. Gruppe relocated to Landau an der Isar for conversion training to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. In consequence of this relocation, the Gruppe came under the control of 7. Jagd-Division (7th Fighter Division). Conversion training was relatively short and the Gruppe flew its first mission on the Fw 190 against attacking United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) heavy bombers on 19 May.{{sfn|Prien|Balke|Stemmer|Bock|2019|p=439}} That day, Teumer was credited with an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from its combat box which was counted as an aerial victory—over a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber. The Gruppe flew further missions on 22, 24, 25, 27, 28 and 29 May. On 24 May, Teumer was credited with shooting down a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber followed by another Herausschuss over a B-17 bomber on 27 May.{{sfn|Prien|Balke|Stemmer|Bock|2019|pp=439, 451}}

When Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the invasion of German-occupied Western Europe on 6 June, III. Gruppe was immediately ordered to relocate to Villacoublay Airfield. That day, the Gruppe reached Nancy, arriving in Villacoublay the following day where it was subordinated to II. Fliegerkorps (2nd Air Corps). Its primary objective was to fly fighter-bomber missions in support of the German ground forces. The Gruppe flew its first missions on 7 June to the combat area east of Caen and the Orne estuary.{{sfn|Prien|Balke|Stemmer|Bock|2019|p=439}} Teumer claimed his first aerial victory in this combat area on 8 June when he shot down a USAAF North American P-51 Mustang fighter.{{sfn|Weal|2001|p=91}} Two days later, he was shot down in aerial combat near the Orne estuary. He managed to bail out of his Fw 190 A-8 ZY (Werknummer 730384) but was wounded in the encounter.{{sfn|Prien|Balke|Stemmer|Bock|2019|p=459}} In July, the Gruppe supported the German forces fighting in the Battle of Saint-Lô and the combat area near Paris predominantly under the control of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing). In these battles, Teumer claimed a Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter on 26 July.{{sfn|Prien|Balke|Stemmer|Bock|2019|pp=440, 452}} In early August, combat shifted to Avranches, Mortain and Falaise. On 8 and 9 August, Teumer was credited with two further P-38 fighters shot down, one on each of these dates.{{sfn|Prien|Balke|Stemmer|Bock|2019|pp=441, 453}}

On 16 August, III. Gruppe was withdrawn from the front and sent to München Gladbach, present-day Mönchengladbach, for a period of rest and replenishment.{{sfn|Prien|Balke|Stemmer|Bock|2019|p=441}} There, Teumer was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}) on 19 August 1944 for 76 aerial victories claimed.{{sfn|Weal|2001|p=92}} During this period, Teumer served as acting Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe until 17 September.{{sfn|Prien|Balke|Stemmer|Bock|2019|p=446}} Teumer, who was childhood friend of Martin Drewes,{{sfn|Drewes|2011|p=23}} took command of 2. Staffel of Kommando Nowotny, flying the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. The unit was named after Major Walter Nowotny and was tasked with testing the Me 262 under operational conditions. Teumer, who had received some training on the Me 262 at Rechlin, was killed in a flying accident on 4 October 1944 at Hesepe airfield. His Me 262 A-1a (Werknummer 170044) had suffered engine failure during the landing approach.{{sfn|Morgan|Weal|1998|p=24}}{{sfn|Weal|2007|p=75}}

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Teumer was credited with 76 aerial victories.{{sfn|Zabecki|2014|p=1615}} Spick also lists him with 76 aerial victories, 66 of which on the Eastern Front and ten on the Western Front, claimed in over 300 combat missions.{{sfn|Spick|1996|p=237}} Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 74 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 67 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and seven over the Western Allies, including three four-engined bombers.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=1312–1314}}

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 00283". The Luftwaffe grid map ({{lang|de|Jägermeldenetz}}) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about {{Convert|360|sqmi|sqkm}}. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area {{Convert|3|x|4|km|mi|abbr=on|sp=us}} in size.{{sfn|Planquadrat}}

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=148}}
• Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 12 April 1943 as Oberleutnant and pilot{{sfn|Patzwall|2008|p=203}}
• German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Oberleutnant in the VI./Jagdgeschwader 54{{sfn|Patzwall|Scherzer|2001|p=472}}
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 August 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 54{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=420}}{{refn|According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän in the III./Jagdgeschwader 54.{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=740}}|group="Note"}}

{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

{{Reflist|25em}}

{{Refbegin|30em}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Bergström

|first1=Christer

|author-link1=:sv:Christer Bergström

|last2=Antipov

|first2=Vlad

|last3=Sundin

|first3=Claes

|year=2003

|title=Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces

|location=Hamilton MT

|publisher=Eagle Editions

|isbn=978-0-9721060-4-7

}}

• {{Cite web

|last=Bergström

|first=Christer

|author-link=:sv:Christer Bergström

|work=Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat

|title=Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website

|url=http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm

|access-date=21 October 2022

|ref={{sfnRef|Planquadrat}}

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222042030/http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm

|archive-date=22 December 2018

|url-status=dead

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Dixon

|first=Jeremy

|year=2023

|title=Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945

|location=Barnsley

|publisher=Pen and Sword Books

|isbn=978-1-39903-073-1

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Drewes

|first=Martin

|author-link=Martin Drewes

|editor-first=Kurt

|editor-last=Braatz

|editor-link=:de:Kurt Braatz

|year=2011

|title=Sand und Feuer — Jagdflieger im Irak und über Deutschland

|trans-title=Sand and Fire — Fighter Pilot over Iraq and Germany

|language=German

|publisher=NeunundzwanzigSechs

|location=Moosburg, Germany

|isbn=978-3-9811615-6-4

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Fellgiebel

|first=Walther-Peer

|author-link=:de:Walther-Peer Fellgiebel

|year=2000

|orig-date=1986

|title=Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile

|trans-title=The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches

|language=de

|location=Friedberg, Germany

|publisher=Podzun-Pallas

|isbn=978-3-7909-0284-6

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Mathews

|first1=Andrew Johannes

|last2=Foreman

|first2=John

|year=2015

|title=Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z

|location=Walton on Thames

|publisher=Red Kite

|isbn=978-1-906592-21-9

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Morgan

|first1=Hugh

|last2=Weal

|first2=John

|year=1998

|title=German Jet Aces of World War 2

|series=Aircraft of the Aces

|volume=17

|location=London; New York

|publisher=Osprey Publishing

|isbn=978-1-85532-634-7

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Obermaier

|first=Ernst

|year=1989

|title=Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945

|trans-title=The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945

|language=de

|location=Mainz, Germany

|publisher=Verlag Dieter Hoffmann

|isbn=978-3-87341-065-7

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Patzwall

|first1=Klaus D.

|last2=Scherzer

|first2=Veit

|year=2001

|title=Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II

|trans-title=The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2

|language=de

|location=Norderstedt, Germany

|publisher=Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall

|isbn=978-3-931533-45-8

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Patzwall

|first1=Klaus D.

|year=2008

|title=Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg

|trans-title=The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War

|language=de

|location=Norderstedt, Germany

|publisher=Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall

|isbn=978-3-931533-08-3

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2003

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-70-0

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2005

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-76-2

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2006

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-78-6

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2012

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/III—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/III—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Buchverlag Rogge

|isbn=978-3-942943-07-9

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Balke

|first2=Ulf

|last3=Stemmer

|first3=Gerhard

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2019

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/V—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/V—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-942943-21-5

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Balke

|first3=Ulf

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2022

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 15/II—Einsatz im Osten—1.1. bis 31.12.1944

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 15/II—Action in the East—1 January to 31 December 1944

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Buchverlag Rogge

|isbn=978-3-942943-28-4

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Scherzer

|first=Veit

|year=2007

|title=Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives

|trans-title=The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives

|language=de

|location=Jena, Germany

|publisher=Scherzers Militaer-Verlag

|isbn=978-3-938845-17-2

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Spick

|first=Mike

|year=1996

|title=Luftwaffe Fighter Aces

|location=New York

|publisher=Ivy Books

|isbn=978-0-8041-1696-1

|url-access=registration

|url=https://archive.org/details/luftwaffefighter00mike

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Weal

|first=John

|year=2001

|title=Jagdgeschwader 54 "Grünherz"

|series=Aviation Elite Units

|volume=6

|location=Oxford, UK

|publisher=Osprey Publishing

|isbn=978-1-84176-286-9

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Weal

|first=John

|year=2007

|title=More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front

|series=Aircraft of the Aces

|volume=76

|location=Oxford, UK

|publisher=Osprey Publishing

|isbn=978-1-84603-177-9

}}

• {{Cite book

|editor-last=Zabecki

|editor-first=David T.

|editor-link=David T. Zabecki

|title=Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History

|location=Santa Barbara, California

|publisher=ABC-Clio

|year=2014

|isbn=978-1-59884-981-3

}}

{{Refend}}

{{Subject bar

| portal1=Aviation

| portal2=Biography

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Teumer, Alfred}}

Category:1918 births

Category:1944 deaths

Category:German World War II flying aces

Category:Recipients of the Gold German Cross

Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Category:Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II

Category:People from Neustadt am Rübenberge

Category:Military personnel from the Province of Hanover

Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1944

Category:Military personnel from Lower Saxony

Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Germany