Hartmann Grasser

Grasser was born on 23 August 1914 in Graz, Steiermark, Austria. After he received his Abitur, he started studying medicine and became a member of the Austrian Nazis. Following the failed coup attempt in the July Putsch, Grasser fled to Germany. On 1 April 1936, Grasser then joined the Luftwaffe with the rank of Fahnenjunker (cadet).{{sfn|Stockert|2012|p=368}} Following flight 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 I. Gruppe (1st group) of Zerstörergeschwader 52 (ZG 52—52nd Destroyer Wing) where he served with 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of ZG 52.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=58}}

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. At the time ZG 52 was commanded by Hauptmann Wilhelm Lessmann and was based at Biblis where it was tasked with protecting Germany's western border in the Saar region during the "Phoney War".{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001|p=539}} On 16 September, Grasser shot down a tethered balloon. The following day, he was awarded the Iron Cross second Class ({{Lang|de|Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse}}).{{sfn|Stockert|2012|p=369}} A week later, on 24 September 1939, his Messerschmitt Bf 109 109 D-1 was damaged in combat with a French Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, resulting in a forced landing at Bingen.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001|p=543}} That day, I. Gruppe of ZG 52 was also renamed and became the Jagdgruppe 152 (JGr. 152—152nd Fighter Group). On 6 January 1940, JGr. 152 was ordered to Graz where it was reequipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter and was renamed, again becoming the I. Gruppe of ZG 52.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001|p=539}} This unit was then renamed and became the II. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 2 (ZG 2—2nd Destroyer Wing). In consequence, Grasser became a pilot of 6. Staffel. Flying with this squadron, he participated in the Battle of France and Battle of England and claimed six aerial victories.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=58}} During these campaigns, Grasser was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 June 1940 and received the Iron Cross first Class ({{Lang|de|Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse}}) on 7 July.{{sfn|Stockert|2012|p=369}}

In October 1940, Grasser was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing).{{sfn|Stockert|2012|p=369}} There, he was assigned to the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) headed by Oberstleutnant Werner Mölders. Prior to his posting to JG 51, Grasser had been destined to become a night fighter pilot which was not what he wanted to do. Additionally, he helped in the formation of the Z-Staffel (Z—Zerstörer or destroyer) of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) which later became part of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing). Grasser also served as a test pilot, flying the Bf 109 T, the aircraft carrier variant, which were to be produced at Fieseler in Kassel. His acquaintance, Oberleutnant Hans Kolbow, introduced him to Mölders who arranged the transfer to JG 51 instead.{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=83}}

Grasser claimed his first aerial victory flying with JG 51 on 1 December 1940 when he shot down a Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricane fighter near Ashford.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=12}}

In June 1941, JG 51 and the majority of the Luftwaffe were transferred to the Eastern Front in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=85}} On 16 July 1941, Kolbow, the Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel was killed in action. He was replaced by Leutnant Hans-Joachim Steffens who was also killed in action shortly after. On 1 August, command of 5. Staffel was then handed to Grasser. The Staffel was a squadron of II. Gruppe, at the time commanded by Hauptmann Hubertus von Bonin.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=277}} On 11 October, the Gruppe was briefly detached from the Geschwaderstab of JG 51 and ordered east to Oryol. There, the Gruppe was subordinated to Gefechtsverband Schönborn (Detachment Schönborn), named after the commander of Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (StG 77—77th Diver Bomber Wing), Major Clemens Graf von Schönborn-Wiesentheid.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=274}} On 24 January 1942, Grasser attacked and shot down an Ilyushin DB-3 bomber. However, his Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 9704—factory number) was also hit by the aerial gunner of the DB-3 bomber resulting in a forced landing in no man's land. Grasser, who was wounded in the encounter, was rescued by the German infantry.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=82, 93, 97}}

In May 1942, II. Gruppe was based at Bryansk but periodically also operated from airfields at Oryol and Dugino.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|pp=280, 293}} On 2 July, the 9th Army launched Operation Seydlitz as part of the Battles of Rzhev. Defending against this operation, the Soviet Air Forces (VVS—Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily) attacked the Luftwaffe airfield at Bryansk on 5 July. II. Gruppe of JG 51 was scrambled and claimed 46 Soviet aircraft shot down for the loss of Bf 109s damaged. That day, Grasser was claimed eight aerial victories, making him an "ace-in-a-day".{{sfn|Bergström|Dikov|Antipov|Sundin|2006|p=109}}

II. Gruppe had been withdrawn from the Eastern Front in early October 1942 and sent to Jesau in East Prussia, present day Yushny, Bagrationovsky District, for conversion to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Conversion training began on 7 October and on 4 November, the unit received the order to convert back to the Bf 109 and to transfer to the Mediterranean theatre. Via various stopovers, II. Gruppe moved to Sidi Ahmed airfield, arriving on 14 November. There, the unit was subordinated to Fliegerführer Tunis (Flying Leader Tunis).{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2004|p=1}} On 28 March 1943, Grasser bailed out of his Bf 109 G-4 trop (Werknummer 15040) near Djemmal south of Sousse.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2010|p=367}} On 18 April, II. Gruppe received orders to exchange their newer Bf 109 G-4 and G-6 aircraft with older Bf 109 G-2 trop aircraft of JG 77 and retreat from Africa to Bari, Italy.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2010|p=338}}

File:Grasser, Nowotny, Rall e Wittgenstein.jpg

On 6 June, Grasser was transferred to the staff of commanding general of the 4. Jagd-Division (4th Fighter Division). Command of II. Gruppe was then given to Oberleutnant Karl Rammelt who had led 4. Staffel.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2010|p=359}} On 31 August, Grasser was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub}}). He was the 288th member of the German armed forces to be so honored.{{sfn|Stockert|2012|p=369}} The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters in Rastenburg on 22 September 1943. Three other Luftwaffe officers were presented with awards that day by Hitler, Hauptmann Günther Rall and Hauptmann Walter Nowotny were awarded the Swords to their Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, and Hauptmann Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein also received the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.{{sfn|Amadio|2002|p=199}} Grasser was promoted to Major on 1 December 1943.{{sfn|Stockert|2012|p=370}}

On 28 April 1944, Grasser succeeded Hauptmann Friedrich Eberle as commander of III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) which was based at Quedlinburg and fighting in Defense of the Reich.{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|p=897}} On 3 June, Grasser transferred command of III. Gruppe to Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Weber who had previously commanded 7. Staffel of JG 1 on the Eastern Front.{{sfn|Prien|Rodeike|1996|p=997}} On 15 October, Grasser took command of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 110 (JG 110—110th Fighter Wing).{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=415}}

In May 1945, Grasser was taken prisoner of war by the United States Army. In 1946, he was transferred to the Soviet Union and was released in 1949. Following his return to Germany, he relocated to India where he became a civilian flight instructor. In 1950, he moved to Syria to work as a military advisor to the Syrian Air Force in Damascus.{{sfn|Stockert|2012|p=370}} After his return to Germany, he settled with his wife and two sons in Cologne. There, he owned and operated a sheet metal factory. Grasser died on 2 June 1986 in Cologne and was interred in his hometown Graz.{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=124}}

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Grasser was credited with 103 aerial victories.{{sfn|Zabecki|2019|p=331}} Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for more than 96 aerial victory claims, plus six further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 83 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and over 13 on the Western Front, including one four-engined bomber.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=415–417}}

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 47524". 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 Class (17 September 1939){{sfn|Thomas|1997|p=216}}
• 1st Class (7 July 1940){{sfn|Thomas|1997|p=216}}
• German Cross in Gold on 19 September 1942 as Hauptmann in the II./Jagdgeschwader 51{{sfn|Patzwall|Scherzer|2001|p=146}}
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
• Knight's Cross on 4 September 1941 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the II./Jagdgeschwader 51{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=201}}{{refn|According to Scherzer as pilot in the Stab/Jagdgeschwader 51.{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=345}}|group="Note"}}
• 288th Oak Leaves on 31 August 1943 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=345}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=72}}

{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

{{Reflist|25em}}

{{refbegin|30em}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Aders

|first1=Gebhard

|last2=Held

|first2=Werner

|year=1993

|title=Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders' Eine Chronik – Berichte – Erlebnisse – Dokumente

|trans-title=Fighter Wing 51 'Mölders' A Chronicle - Reports - Experiences - Documents

|language=de

|location=Stuttgart, Germany

|publisher=Motorbuch Verlag

|isbn=978-3-613-01045-1

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Amadio

|first=Jill

|year=2002

|title=Günther Rall – a Memoir – Luftwaffe Ace & NATO General

|location=Placentia, CA

|publisher=Tangmere Productions

|isbn=978-0-9715533-0-9

}}

• {{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=13 September 2020

|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

|last1=Bergström

|first1=Christer

|author-link1=:sv:Christer Bergström

|last2=Dikov

|first2=Andrey

|last3=Antipov

|first3=Vlad

|last4=Sundin

|first4=Claes

|year=2006

|title=Black Cross / Red Star Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume 3, Everything for Stalingrad

|location=Hamilton MT

|publisher=Eagle Editions

|isbn=978-0-9761034-4-8

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Constable

|first1=Trevor J.

|last2=Toliver

|first2=Raymond F.

|title= Horrido!: Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe

|publisher=Barker

|year=1968

|isbn=978-0-213-76381-7

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Dixon

|first=Jeremy

|year=2023

|title=Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942

|publisher=Pen and Sword Books

|isbn=978-1-52677-864-2

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Fellgiebel

|first=Walther-Peer

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

|year=2000

|orig-year=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 2 G–L

|location=Walton on Thames

|publisher=Red Kite

|isbn=978-1-906592-19-6

}}

• {{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=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Rodeike

|first2=Peter

|year=1996

|title=Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11—Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945—Teil 2—1944

|trans-title=Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11—Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945—Volume 2—1944

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-24-3

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2001

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 2—Der "Sitzkrieg"—1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1941

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 2—The "Phoney War"—1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-59-5

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2002

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-64-9

}}

• {{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/I—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/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-69-4

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2004

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis Dezember 1942

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-74-8

}}

• {{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 December 1941 bis 30 April 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/II—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/II—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=978-3-923457-77-9

}}

• {{Cite book

|last1=Prien

|first1=Jochen

|last2=Stemmer

|first2=Gerhard

|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2010

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

|isbn=978-3-923457-95-3

}}

• {{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=Stockert

|first=Peter

|year=2012

|orig-year=1997

|title=Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 3

|trans-title=The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 3

|language=de

|edition=3rd

|location=Bad Friedrichshall, Germany

|publisher=Friedrichshaller Rundblick

|isbn=978-3-932915-01-7

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Thomas

|first=Franz

|year=1997

|title=Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K

|trans-title=The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K

|language=de

|location=Osnabrück, Germany

|publisher=Biblio-Verlag

|isbn=978-3-7648-2299-6

}}

• {{Cite book

|last=Weal

|first=John

|year=2007

|title=More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front

|location=Oxford, UK

|publisher=Osprey Publishing

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

}}

• {{Cite book

|first1=John

|last1=Weal

|first2=Alfred

|last2=Price

|title=Bf 109D/E Aces 1939–41

|publisher=Osprey Publishing

|year=1996

|isbn=978-1-85532-487-9

}}

• {{Cite book

|editor-last=Zabecki

|editor-first=David T.

|editor-link=David T. Zabecki

|year=2019

|title=The German War Machine in World War II

|location=Santa Barbara, California

|publisher=ABC-Clio

|isbn=978-1-44-086918-1

}}

{{refend}}

{{Top German World War II Aces}}

{{Knight's Cross recipients of JG 51}}

{{Subject bar

| portal1=Aviation

| portal2=Biography

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grasser, Hartmann}}

Category:1914 births

Category:1986 deaths

Category:German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union

Category:German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United States

Category:German World War II flying aces

Category:Military personnel from Graz

Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Category:Recipients of the Gold German Cross