Hannes Trautloft

{{Short description|German aviator (1912–1995)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Use American English|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox military person | name = Hannes Trautloft | birth_date = {{Birth date|1912|3|3|df=y}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1995|1|12|1912|3|3|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Großobringen]] | death_place = [[Bad Wiessee]] | burial_place = Waldfriedhof Solln | image = Hannes Trautloft age 58.jpg | caption = Trautloft in the ''Bundesluftwaffe'' | nickname = | allegiance = {{flag|Nazi Germany}} (to 1945) {{flag|West Germany}} | branch = {{air force|Nazi Germany}} {{air force|West Germany}} | service_years = 1931–1945 1957–1970 | rank = ''[[Oberst]]'' (colonel) ''[[Generalleutnant]]'' (lieutenant general) | commands = III./[[JG 51]], [[JG 54|JG 54 ''Grünherz'']] ---- Air Force Group South | unit = III./[[JG 134]] ---- [[Condor Legion]] ---- [[JG 77]], [[JG 51]], [[JG 54]] | battles = {{hidden |''See battles'' |[[Spanish Civil War]] ---- [[World War II]] *[[Polish September Campaign|Invasion of Poland]] *[[Battle of France]] *[[Battle of Britain]] *[[Balkans Campaign (World War II)|Balkans Campaign]] *[[Operation Barbarossa]] |- |headerstyle=background:#dbdbdb |style=text-align:center; }} | awards = [[Spanish Cross]] in Gold with Swords [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|Great Cross of Merit with Star]] | other_work = }} '''Otto Hans "Hannes" Trautloft''' (3 March 1912 – 12 January 1995) was a German [[Luftwaffe]] [[military aviation|military aviator]] during the [[Spanish Civil War]] and [[World War II]], and [[general]] in the postwar [[German Air Force]]. As a [[fighter ace]], he is credited with 58 enemy aircraft shot down, including 5 in Spain, 8 on the [[Western Front (World War II)|Western Front]] and 45 on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] of World War II.

Born in [[Großobringen]], Trautloft volunteered for military service in the ''[[Reichswehr|Reichsheer]]'' of the [[Weimar Republic]] in 1931. In parallel, he was accepted for flight training with the ''[[Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule]]'', a [[Covert operation|covert military-training organization]], and at the [[Lipetsk fighter-pilot school]]. Following flight training, he served with [[Jagdgeschwader 134|''Jagdgeschwader'' 134]] "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing) and was one of the first German volunteers to fight in the Spanish Civil War. From August to December 1936, he claimed five aerial victories. For his service in Spain he was awarded the [[Spanish Cross]] in Gold with Swords.

Following his service in Spain, Trautloft held various command positions, and at the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, he was the ''[[Staffelkapitän]]'' (squadron leader) of 2. ''[[Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)#Staffel|Staffel]]'' (2nd squadron) of [[Jagdgeschwader 77|''Jagdgeschwader'' 77]] (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing). He claimed his first aerial victory during the [[Invasion of Poland]] and was appointed ''[[Gruppenkommandeur]]'' (group commander) of I. ''Gruppe'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 20|''Jagdgeschwader'' 20]] which later became III. ''Gruppe'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 51|''Jagdgeschwader'' 51]] (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). In August 1940, during the [[Battle of Britain]], Trautloft was given command of [[Jagdgeschwader 54|''Jagdgeschwader'' 54]] (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). He led JG 54 in [[Operation Barbarossa]], the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. There, he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] on 27 July 1941. Trautloft continued to lead JG 54 on the Eastern Front until July 1943 when he was called to the staff of the ''[[General der Jagdflieger]]'' (General of Fighters), assisting in the readiness, training and tactics of the Luftwaffe fighter force.

After the war, Trautloft joined the new [[German Air Force]] of [[West Germany]] in 1957. Serving as deputy [[Inspector of the Air Force (Germany)|Inspector of the Air Force]] and commander of {{lang|de|Luftwaffengruppe Süd}} (Air Force Group South), Trautloft retired in 1970 holding the rank of ''[[Generalleutnant]]'' (lieutenant general). He died on 12 January 1995 in [[Bad Wiessee]].

==Early life== Trautloft was born on 3 March 1912 in [[Großobringen]] near [[Weimar]] in [[Thuringia|Thüringen]]{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=216}} to Elsa (née Hilpert) and Otto Trautloft.<ref name=Ancestry1>{{cite web |last= Herrmann |first= Rüdiger |title= Johannes Trautloft |url= https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/107995843/person/210064775904/facts|website= Ancestry |accessdate= 6 July 2023}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=July 2023}} He had a sister, Gretel.<ref name=Ancestry2>{{cite web |last= Herrmann |first= Rüdiger |title= Otto Trautloft |url= https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/107995843/person/210064775243/facts |website= Ancestry |accessdate= 6 July 2023}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=July 2023}}

==Early military career== On 7 April 1931, he began his pilot training at the ''[[Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule]]'' (German Air Transport School) at [[Flugplatz Schleißheim|Schleißheim]]. The course he and 29 other trainees attended was called ''Kameradschaft 31'', abbreviated "K 31". Among the members of "K 31" were future Luftwaffe [[Staff (military)|staff officers]] [[Bernd von Brauchitsch]], [[Wolfgang Falck]], [[Günther Lützow]], [[Günther Radusch]] and [[Ralph von Rettberg]]. Trautloft graduated from the ''Deutsche Verkehrfliegerschule'' 19 February 1932. From "K 31" Trautloft and 9 others were recommended for ''Sonderausbildung'' (special training) at the [[Lipetsk fighter-pilot school]]. These 10 men were the privileged few and were allowed to attend fighter pilot training.{{sfn|Braatz|2005|pp=28–51}} Following four months of training in the [[Soviet Union]], he returned to Germany and joined the military service of the ''[[Reichswehr]]'' and attended the ''[[Kriegsschule (Wehrmacht)|Kriegsschule]]'' (war school) in [[Dresden]].{{sfn|Braatz|2005|pp=101–104}} on 1 May 1934, In October 1934, Trautloft was posted to the ''[[Jagdfliegerschule]]'' at [[Schleißheim]].{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=216}}

On 1 May 1936, Trautloft was posted to [[Jagdgeschwader 134|''Jagdgeschwader'' 134]] "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing), named after the Nazi [[martyr]] [[Horst Wessel]].{{sfn|Braatz|2005|p=120}} At the time of the outbreak of the [[Spanish Civil War]], Trautloft was serving in the 9. ''[[Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)#Staffel|Staffel]]'' (9th squadron) of JG 134.<ref group="Note">For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see [[Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)|Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II]].</ref> This squadron was subordinated to III. ''[[Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)#Gruppe|Gruppe]]'' (3rd group) of JG 134 and was commanded by ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]'' [[Oskar Dinort]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|p=368}} The ''Gruppe'' had been moved to an airfield at [[Cologne Butzweilerhof Airport|Cologne-Butzweilerhof]] on 9 March 1936 following the [[Remilitarization of the Rhineland]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|p=366}} There on 28 July, Dinort called Trautloft and informed him of the unfolding events in Spain and Trautloft proactively volunteered for service in Spain.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=12}}

==Spanish Civil War== Sworn to secrecy, Trautloft was instructed to immediately travel to [[Dortmund]] where he received further instructions from [[Kurt-Bertram von Döring]], and then to the assembly location at [[Dallgow-Döberitz|Döberitz]].{{sfn|Braatz|2005|p=133}} There, 25 officers and 66 [[non-commissioned officers]], soldiers and civilian technicians gathered, including six pilots of which Trautloft was one.{{refn|The other five pilots were ''Oberleutnant'' Herwig Knüppel, ''Leutnant'' Otto-Heinrich Freiherr von Houwald, also from III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 134, and ''Oberleutnant'' Kraft Eberhardt, ''Leutnant'' Gerhard Klein and ''Leutnant'' Ekkehard Hefter.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=13}}|group="Note"}} This detachment was then placed under the overall command of ''[[Oberst]]'' (Colonel) Alexander von Scheele. The volunteers were then discharged from the [[Wehrmacht]] and dressed in civilian clothes. As tourists of the ''Reisegesellschaft Union'' (Union Travel Association), the volunteers travelled aboard the SS ''Usaramo'', a passenger ship of the [[Woermann-Linie]] from [[Hamburg]] to [[Cádiz]] on 31 July. The ''Usaramo'' also transported the equipment and weapons, including six disassembled and boxed [[Heinkel He 51]] biplane fighter aircraft.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|pp=12–13}}{{sfn|Braatz|2005|p=133}}

The ship arrived in Cádiz on 7 August 1936 and the men then travelled by train to [[Seville]]. At [[Seville Airport|Tablada airfield]], the pilots assisted in reassembling the He-51 fighters, the first of which becoming operational on 10 August.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|pp=13–14}} On 25 August, during the [[Drive on Madrid|Nationalist advance on Madrid]], Trautloft and two other German pilots flew their first combat mission in Spain. In the vicinity of [[Madrid]], the Germans spotted a flight of three [[Republican faction (Spanish Civil War)|Republican]] [[Bréguet 19]] light bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Trautloft attacked one of the Republican aircraft, shooting it down near the village of [[Colmenar Viejo]]. This claim may have been the first aerial victory by a German pilot in Spain.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|pp=20–21}} Five days later, shortly after claiming a [[Potez 540]] aircraft, Trautloft was himself shot down by a [[Dewoitine D.372]], forcing him to [[Parachute|bail out]] over [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Nationalist]]-held territory.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|pp=21–22}}{{sfn|Braatz|2005|pp=133–134}}

[[File:JG-54 Emblem.svg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|"Green Heart" of [[Thuringia]]]] Following German recognition of [[Francisco Franco]]'s government on 30 September, German efforts in Spain were reorganized and expanded, and the contingent of German forces was named [[Condor Legion]] by [[Hermann Göring]]. By October, the Condor Legion was augmented, receiving more equipment and men. This made it possible to split the fighter force in two, with Trautloft leading the detachment sent to [[León Airport|Léon airfield]].{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|pp=25–26, 40}} As the war escalated, the [[Soviet Union]] sent better planes to aid the Republicans. Among these were the [[Polikarpov I-15]] and [[Polikarpov I-16]] fighter aircraft, outclassing the German He-51s.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|pp=27, 32}} By mid-November, the fighter force had increased and the [[Jagdgruppe 88|''Jagdgruppe'' 88]] was created.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=41}} In December, ''Versuchsjagdstaffel 88'' (VJ/88), an experimental fighter squadron for testing new aircraft under operational conditions was created at Tablada. Trautloft was chosen as one of the pilots to test the then new [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]].{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|pp=52–51}} Trautloft had this aircraft personalized with the "Green Heart" of [[Thuringia]]. He wrote several recommendations on how to improve the design and combat operations of the Bf 109.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=54}} On 2 March 1937, Trautloft who had claimed five aerial victories, left Spain and returned to Germany.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|pp=55, 71}}{{sfn|Braatz|2005|pp=144–145}}

In 1937, Trautloft participated in the 4th international flight meeting held at the [[Dübendorf Air Base|Dübendorf military airfield]], Switzerland from 23 July to 1 August. Trautloft, ''Hauptmann'' Werner Restemeier and ''Oberleutnant'' Fritz Schleif, flying a flight of three BF 109 B-1s and B-2 took first place in the category Alpine flight.{{sfn|Brütting|1979|p=138}}{{sfn|Jackson|2015|p=21}}

On 15 March 1937, Trautloft was transferred and appointed ''[[Staffelkapitän]]'' (squadron leader) of 1. ''Staffel'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 135|''Jagdgeschwader'' 135]] (JG 135—135th Fighter Wing). This squadron was subordinated to I. ''[[Organization of the Luftwaffe (1933–1945)#Gruppe|Gruppe]]'' of JG 135 which had just been created on 15 March and was commanded by ''Major'' [[Max Ibel]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|p=208}} Trautloft served in this capacity until 1 July 1938 when he was transferred to command the newly created 12. ''Staffel'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 132|''Jagdgeschwader'' 132]] (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing), a squadron of IV. ''Gruppe'' headed by ''Oberstleutnant'' [[Theo Osterkamp]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|p=150}} This ''Staffel'' was reassigned to 2. ''Staffel'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 331|''Jagdgeschwader'' 331]] (JG 331—331st Fighter Wing) on 3 November.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|p=150}} With this unit, Trautloft participated in the [[German occupation of Czechoslovakia]] in March 1939. On 1 May, the squadron was again renamed, becoming 2. ''Staffel'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 77|''Jagdgeschwader'' 77]] (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing).{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|pp=268–269}} In 1939, Trautloft published his Spanish War diaries named {{lang|de|Als Jagdflieger in Spanien}} [As a Fighter Pilot in Spain] with a foreword by [[Ernst Udet]].{{sfn|Braatz|2005|p=192}}

==World War II== World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces [[Invasion of Poland|invaded Poland]]. In preparation for the invasion in end-August 1939, I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 77, to which the 2. ''Staffel'' was subordinated, had been moved from [[Copernicus Airport Wrocław|Breslau-Schöngarten]] to an airfield at Juliusburg, present-day [[Dobroszyce]]. The ''Gruppe'' operated over the left flank of [[Army Group South]], supporting the [[8th Army (Wehrmacht)|8th Army]] advance into Poland. Its main task was flying [[combat air patrol]]s but had relatively little enemy contact, claiming three aerial victories, including one by Trautloft. On 5 September, Trautloft was credited with the destruction of a [[PZL.23 Karaś]] bomber near [[Warta, Poland|Warta]], {{Convert|15|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} northwest of [[Sieradz]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|pp=455, 461}}

On 20 September, Trautloft was promoted to ''[[Hauptmann]]'' (captain) and appointed ''[[Gruppenkommandeur]]'' (group commander) of I. ''Gruppe'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 20|''Jagdgeschwader'' 20]] (JG 20—20th Fighter Wing) on 23 September.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|p=456}} At the time of his posting to JG 20, the ''Gruppe'' had already been withdrawn from Poland and was based at [[:de:Flugplatz Brandenburg-Briest|Brandenburg-Briest]]. Subordinated to the ''[[Stab (Luftwaffe designation)|Stab]]'' (headquarters unit) of [[Jagdgeschwader 2|''Jagdgeschwader'' 2]] "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing), I./JG 20 flew fighter protection over central Germany. On 6 November, the ''Gruppe'' was moved to Döberitz where it remained until 21 February 1940. That day, I./JG 20 was ordered to [[Alpen, Germany|Bönninghardt]] and placed under the control of the ''Stab'' of [[Jagdgeschwader 51|''Jagdgeschwader'' 51]] (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). There, the ''Gruppe'' patrolled Germany's western border during the "[[Phoney War]]" period of World War II.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001|p=134}}

===Battle of France=== Trautloft led I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 20 during the [[Battle of France]] which began on 10 May 1940. At the beginning of the campaign, I. ''Gruppe'' was still based at Bönninghardt and subordinated to JG 51. The ''Gruppe''{{'}}s area of operation was the Netherlands and northeastern Belgium, flying fighter escort missions for the bombers. On 16 May, the ''Gruppe'' was ordered to move to [[Eindhoven Airport|Eindhoven airfield]] where it remained until 20 May when it relocated to an airfield at [[Hoogerheide]]. From Hoogerheide, I. ''Gruppe'' initially flew missions to [[Bruges]] and on 24 May, the area of operations shifted towards [[Dunkirk]] and [[Calais]]. On the morning of 29 May, I./JG 20 moved further west to an airfield at [[Sint-Denijs-Westrem]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000b|p=181}} That evening, Trautloft claimed a [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) [[Supermarine Spitfire]] shot down southeast of Dunkirk. Two days later, Trautloft claimed another Spitfire during the [[Battle of Dunkirk]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000b|p=187}} In preparation for [[Operation Paula]] on 3 June, I./JG 20 was ordered to [[Vitry-En-Artois Airport|Vitry-En-Artois]] and flew escort missions in the afternoon. It was then ordered back to Sint-Denijs-Westrem before moving to [[Saint-Omer, Pas-de-Calais|Saint-Omer]] to support ''[[Fall Rot]]'', the second phase of the conquest of France.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000b|pp=181–182}}

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1997-026-32A, Flugzeug Me 109, Wartung und Bewaffnung.jpg|thumb|right|Bf 109 from JG 20]] Supporting [[Army Group B]], the ''Gruppe'' advanced to [[Estrées-lès-Crécy]] on 8 June and claimed its last aerial victory of the Battle of France on 13 June. The next day, I./JG 20 moved to an airfield southeast of [[Rouen]] and to [[Vouziers]] on 20 June. On 22 June, I./JG 20 returned to Saint-Omer where it patrolled the French coast on the [[English Channel]]. In total, I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 20 under Trautloft's command claimed 35 aerial victories during the Battle of France, losing five pilots [[killed in action]], two were taken [[prisoner of war]] and three were wounded. In addition, ten Bf 109s were lost in combat.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000b|pp=182–183}} Following the [[armistice of 22 June 1940]], the Battle of France ended on 25 June. By this date, the official allotted strength of I./JG 20 had been reduced to 60%.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=73}}

===Battle of Britain and Balkans campaign=== On 4 July, I./JG 20 was officially integrated into JG 51 becoming its III. ''Gruppe''. The end of the Battle of France marked the beginning of the [[Battle of Britain]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=73}} The ''Gruppe'' received new aircraft during the second half of July, bringing its strength nearly to its allotment. On 19 July, III. ''Gruppe'' claimed the destruction of eleven [[Boulton Paul Defiant]] interceptor aircraft in aerial combat south of [[Folkestone]], including one claim by Trautloft.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|pp=73, 83}} According to British records, [[No. 141 Squadron RAF|No. 141 Squadron]] lost six aircraft in this encounter.{{sfn|Bekker|1994|p=142}} Trautloft claimed his last aerial victory with JG 51 on 8 August. That day, the ''Gruppe'' claimed five victories over RAF fighters, including a Spitfire near [[Dungeness (headland)|Dungeness]] by Trautloft.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|pp=74, 83}}

In late August it was becoming apparent to the ''[[Oberkommando der Wehrmacht]]'' (German High Command) that the Battle of Britain was not going as planned. A frustrated [[Hermann Göring|Göring]] relieved several ''[[Geschwaderkommodore]]'' (wing commander) of their commands, and appointed younger, more aggressive men in their place.{{sfn|Deighton|1977|p=182}} On 21 August the Luftwaffe communicated and continued with the changes which had started in June when Falck had been tasked with the creation of [[Nachtjagdgeschwader 1|''Nachtjagdgeschwader'' 1]] (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing). Lützow took command of [[Jagdgeschwader 3|''Jagdgeschwader'' 3]] (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing), [[Adolf Galland]] was given command of [[Jagdgeschwader 26|''Jagdgeschwader'' 26]] "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing), [[Werner Mölders]] was given command of JG 51, and Trautloft took over [[Jagdgeschwader 54|''Jagdgeschwader'' 54]] (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) from Martin Mettig.{{sfn|Braatz|2005|p=218}}{{sfn|Weal|2001|p=28}}

Command was transferred on 25 August and Trautloft was promoted to ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]'' (major). At the time, JG 54 was based at [[Campagne-lès-Guines]] and also fighting against the RAF, either escorting bombers to England or flying combat air patrols.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|pp=288, 290}} Trautloft claimed his first aerial victory with JG 54 that very same day. At 20:20, he claimed a Spitfire over the [[English Channel]]. Trautloft claimed two further aerial victories against the RAF, bringing his total to eight victories claimed during World War II. This includes a [[Hawker Hurricane]] shot down over [[Maidstone]] on 7 September, and a Spritfire claimed on 27 October over [[Ashford, Kent|Ashford]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=292}} On 15 September, the Luftwaffe embarked on an all-out attack against [[London]] which later dubbed the [[Battle of Britain Day]]. The next day, Trautloft met with his three group commanders at Campagne-lès-Guines, these were ''Hauptmann'' [[Hubertus von Bonin]] of I. ''Gruppe'', ''Hauptmann'' [[Dietrich Hrabak]] of II. ''Gruppe'', and the acting ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of III. ''Gruppe'', ''Oberleutnant'' [[Günther Scholz]].{{sfn|Bergström|2015|p=222}}{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|pp=298, 310, 332}} The topics of discussion where the poor radio discipline and the concern regarding [[Confirmation and overclaiming of aerial victories during World War II|overclaiming of aerial victories]].{{sfn|Bergström|2015|p=222}} On 2 November, Trautloft's Bf 109s E-3 (''Werknummer'' 724—factory number) was damaged by a [[squib load]] but he managed to land the aircraft safely.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=292}} On 20 November, the ''Geschwaderstab'' began transferring to Germany for a period of rest and maintenance, arriving at [[Dortmund Airport|Dortmund Airfield]] on 3 December. The unit stayed in Dortmund until 15 January 1941, when it was ordered to [[Le Mans Airfield]] in France. On 29 March, JG 53 was withdrawn from France and ordered to [[Graz Airport|Graz-Thalerhof]] in preparation for the [[Balkans campaign (World War II)|Balkans campaign]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|pp=288, 290}}

The ''Geschwaderstab'' remained in Graz-Thalerhof until 14 April and relocated to [[Deta, Romania|Deta]]. The next day, the ''Geschwaderstab'' moved again, this time to [[Pančevo Airport|Pančevo Airfield]] where it remained until 19 April. Following the [[Invasion of Yugoslavia#Armistice and surrender|capitulation of Yugoslavia]] JG 54 was ordered to [[Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport|Belgrade]]. Trautloft's Bf 109s E-3 (''Werknummer'' 724) was again damaged on 22 April in a [[forced landing]] at [[Pécs]], following engine failure. On 25 April, JG 54 was ordered to return to Germany, arriving at [[Słupsk-Redzikowo Airport|Airfield Stolp-Reitz]] in [[Pomerania]], present-day Słupsk, on 3 May. The ''Geschwaderstab'' did not claim any aerial victories during the Balkans campaign.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003a|pp=238–240}}

===Operation Barbarossa=== [[File:Operation Barbarossa corrected border.png|thumb|right|Map indicating Operation Barbarossa's attack plan|alt=A map of Eastern Europe depicting the movement of military units and formations.]] At Stolp-Reitz, JG 54 upgraded their aircraft to the Bf 109 F-2. For the next four weeks, the pilots familiarized themselves with the new aircraft before on 15 June, the ''Geschwaderstab'' was ordered to [[Yasnaya Polyana, Kaliningrad Oblast|Trakehnen]] in preparation for [[Operation Barbarossa]], the invasion of the Soviet Union. During the upcoming invasion, JG 54 would be deployed in the area of [[Army Group North]], was subordinated to [[1st Air Corps (Germany)|I. ''Fliegerkorps'']] (1st Air Corps) and supported the [[16th Army (Wehrmacht)|16th]] and [[18th Army (Wehrmacht)|18th Army]] as well as the [[4th Panzer Army|Panzer Group 4]] in their strategic objective to reach [[Leningrad]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=174}}

On 22 June, the day of the invasion, JG 54 was tasked with escorting German bombers from [[Kampfgeschwader 1|''Kampfgeschwader'' 1]], [[Kampfgeschwader 76|76]] and [[Kampfgeschwader 77|77]] (KG 1, KG 76 and KG 77—1st, 76th and 77th Bomber Wing) on their mission to bomb Soviet airfields near the Lithuanian border. On one of these missions, Trautloft claimed an [[Ilyushin DB-3]] bomber shot down northwest of [[Marijampolė]]. The next day, he claimed a [[Tupolev SB]] bomber in the vicinity of Kussen in the [[Krasnoznamensky District]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|pp=174, 181}} On 24 June, elements of JG 54 moved to [[Kaunas]] with the objective to achieve [[air supremacy]] over the combat area of Army Group North. Flying from Kaunas, Trautloft claimed two DB-3's, one on 24 June and another the next day. On 28 June, the ''Geschwaderstab'' was moved to [[Daugavpils]], protecting the bridgehead on the eastern bank of the [[Daugava]]. On 30 June, the bridgehead came under heavy attack by Soviet bombers attacking German forces near the captured bridges over the Daugava. In defense of the bridgehead, Trautloft claimed two further DB-3's.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|pp=174–175, 181}} That day, 1 ''Minno-torpednyy Aviatsionnyy'' (1 MTAP—1st minelaying and torpedo-bomber regiment) had dispatched 32 DB-3s which lost 15 aircraft in this engagement plus 10 further aircraft sustained combat damage.{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=31}}

On 27 July, Trautloft was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}) for 20 aerial victories claimed in World War II.{{sfn|Weal|2001|p=46}} The ''Geschwaderstab'' moved to [[Siversky]] on 7 September followed by I. and III. ''Gruppe'' a few days later. The airfield was located southwest of Leningrad and was equipped with hangars and buildings and JG 54 would be based there during the [[Siege of Leningrad]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=175}} On 22 September, Trautloft visited the German front lines of the infantry and came under attack by [[strafing]] aircraft.{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=86}}

===Eastern Front=== On 5 December 1941, the [[Stavka]] (high command of the Soviet armed forces) launched a series of counter offensives named the [[winter campaign of 1941–42]]. Based at Siversky, JG 54 was the only fighter wing in the combat area of Army Group North, responsible for patrolling an area from Leningrad in the north to the [[Valdai Hills]] in the south, spanning a front line of approximately {{convert|400|km|mi|abbr=on|sp=us}}.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=165}} On 7 January 1942, the Stavka launched the [[Lyuban Offensive Operation]] which was fought on the southern shore of [[Lake Ladoga]], near [[Lyuban (town), Leningrad Oblast|Lyuban]]. The attack began north of [[Veliky Novgorod|Novgorod]] and aimed at encircling elements of the German [[18th Army (Wehrmacht)|18th Army]] with the objective to break the German siege of Leningrad. This attack forced Trautloft to largely commit JG 54 to the defense of this attack. Subsequently, most of the missions flown in January and February where over the [[Volkhov River]], connecting [[Lake Ilmen]] and Lake Ladoga, although some missions where still flown over Leningrad.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=166}} By early March, JG 54 had replaced its Bf 109 F-2 aircraft with the newer Bf 109 F-4 variant. On 6 March, Trautloft claimed a [[Polikarpov R-5]] reconnaissance bomber aircraft near [[Chudovo, Chudovsky District, Novgorod Oblast|Chudovo]].{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|pp=168, 172}} He was credited with an aerial victory over a I-16 on 9 March and a [[Yakovlev Yak-1]] five days later.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} On 15 March, German forces launched a counterattack leading the encirclement of the Soviet [[2nd Shock Army]] on 19 March. During this counter offensive, Trautloft claimed two further victories.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|pp=168–169, 172}}

On 9 May, Trautloft claimed a Yak-1 fighter and a [[Petlyakov Pe-2]] bomber in the combat area south-southwest of [[Valday, Novgorod Oblast|Valday]] and east of [[Demyansk]], following the relief of the [[Kholm Pocket]]. The ''Geschwaderstab'' returned to Siversky on 15 May.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|pp=45, 56}}

===Luftwaffe commander=== On 6 July 1943 Trautloft was appointed as ''Jagdflieger Inspizient Ost'', serving with the ''[[General der Jagdflieger]]'' office. This position put him in overall charge as Inspector of all the Fighter aircraft units fighting on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]]. On 20 November, Trautloft succeeded [[Günther Lützow]] as ''Inspekteur der Tagjäger'', giving him overall responsibilities for all day-fighters.{{sfn|Braatz|2005|p=307}} On 11 November, Göring, in his role as commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe, organized a meeting of high-ranking Luftwaffe officers, including Trautloft. The meeting, also referred to as the "Areopag" was held at the ''Luftkriegsakademie'' (air war academy) at [[RAF Gatow|Berlin-Gatow]]. This Luftwaffe version of the Greek [[Areopagus]]—a court of justice—aimed at finding solutions to the deteriorating air war situation over Germany.{{sfn|von Below|2010|p=220}}

In late 1944, a rumor crossed Trautloft's desk that a large number of [[KLB Club|Allied airmen]] were being held at [[Buchenwald Concentration Camp]].{{sfn|Makos|Alexander|2013|pp=316–318}} Trautloft decided to visit the camp and see for himself under the pretence of inspecting [[Bomb damage assessment|aerial bomb damage]] near the camp. Trautloft was about to leave the camp when captured US airman Bernard Scharf called out to him in fluent German from behind a fence. The [[Schutzstaffel|SS guards]] tried to intervene but Trautloft pointed out that he out-ranked them and made them stand back. Scharf explained that he was one of more than 160 allied airmen imprisoned at the camp and begged Trautloft to rescue him and the other airmen.{{sfn|Makos|Alexander|2013|pp=316–318}} Trautloft's [[adjutant]] also spoke to the group's commanding officer, a [[NZ]] airman [[Phil Lamason]].{{sfn|Moser|Baron|2009|p=122}} Disturbed by the event, Trautloft returned to Berlin and began the process to have the airmen transferred out of Buchenwald.{{sfn|Burgess|1995|p=133}} Seven days before their scheduled execution, the airmen were taken by train by the Luftwaffe to [[Stalag Luft III]].{{sfn|Kinnis|Booker|1999|p=176}}

In early 1945, Trautloft joined other high-ranking pilots in the "[[Fighter Pilots' Revolt incident]]" which escalated in a meeting with Göring on 22 January 1945. This was an attempt to reinstate Galland who had been dismissed for outspokenness regarding the ''[[Oberkommando der Luftwaffe]]'' (Luftwaffe high command), and had been replaced by ''Oberst'' [[Gordon Gollob]] as ''General der Jagdflieger''. The meeting was held at the [[Prussian House of Lords|''Haus der Flieger'']] in Berlin and was attended by a number of high-ranking fighter pilot leaders which included Trautloft, Lützow, [[Hermann Graf]], [[Gerhard Michalski]], [[Helmut Bennemann]], [[Kurt Bühligen]], [[Erich Leie]] and [[Herbert Ihlefeld]], and their antagonist Göring supported by his staff Brauchitsch and [[Karl Koller (general)|Karl Koller]]. The fighter pilots, with Lützow taking the lead as spokesman, criticized Göring and made him personally responsible for the decisions taken which contributed to the lost air war over Europe.{{sfn|Braatz|2005|p=348–351}}

Following this incident, Trautloft was relieved of his position and sent to command the ''4. Flieger-Schule Division'' (4th Pilot School Division) in [[Strassburg]]. He spent the remainder of the war there.{{sfn|Spick|2013|p=203}} Trautloft ended the war as an ''[[Oberst]]'' (colonel).{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1333}}

In the last days of the war he stole a small aircraft and flew it to land in a field between Blaichach and Sonthofen which was close to where his fiancé was living in the village of [[Oberstdorf]]. Joining up with her they hid in mountain huts, to avoid him being arrested by the occupying Allied troops and being sent to a detention camp.{{sfn|Boyd|Patel|2022|p=326}} Once things had settled down they came down to the village and after registering with the authorities were able to live undisturbed in Oberstdorf.

==Later life== To support himself and his wife following the end of the war Trautloft, who had produced many caricatures on the subject of aviation in his youth created the two costumed children "Toni and Vroni" which became popular, appearing on postcards, maps and as dolls marketed by the Schildkröt company.<ref name= Oberstdorf-Lexikon>{{cite web |last= |first= |date= |title= Jagdflieger Und Zeichner Hannes Otto Trautloft (1912-1995) |url= https://www.oberstdorf-lexikon.de/trautloft-hannes-otto.html |website= Oberstdorf-Lexikon |language = de|accessdate= 7 July 2023}}</ref> His wife brought in additional income by providing tailoring services. Trautloft also designed an original scarf that served as admission to the German Alpine Ski Championships when they were held in Oberstdorf in 1949.<ref name= Oberstdorf-Lexikon/> In 1951 Trautloft and his family moved to Munich.<ref name= Oberstdorf-Lexikon/>

On 1 October 1957, Trautloft joined the new [[German Air Force]], at the time referred to as the ''Bundesluftwaffe'', of [[West Germany]] with the rank of ''[[Brigadegeneral]]''. In 1961, he served as deputy [[Inspector of the Air Force (Germany)|Inspector of the Air Force]]. On 1 January 1962, Trautloft succeeded ''[[Generalmajor]]'' [[Hermann Plocher]] as commander of {{lang|de|Luftwaffengruppe Süd}} (Air Force Group South) in [[Karlsruhe]]. Trautloft was retired on 26 June 1970 with a {{lang|de|[[Großer Zapfenstreich]]}} (Grand Tattoo), holding the rank of ''[[Generalleutnant]]''.{{sfn|Grand Tattoo in the Wildparkstadion}} That day, he was awarded the Great Cross of Merit with Star of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] ({{lang|de|Großes Verdienstkreuz mit Stern des Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland}}) for his service in ''Bundesluftwaffe''.{{sfn|Great Cross of Merit with Star}} He was an active member of many veteran organizations including the ''Gemeinschaft der Jagdflieger'' until his death on 12 January 1995 at [[Bad Wiessee]] in Bavaria.

==Personal life== While he was in his early twenties he became romantically involved with Marga Mayser. Marga's mother Helene was Jewish which according to the Nazi government's [[Nuremberg Laws]] meant that Marga was classified as a first-degree [[Mischling]] and thus prohibited from marrying Trautloft.{{sfn|Boyd|Patel|2022|p=275}} In 1800, Marga's family had founded Mayser Hats, one of Germany's largest hat manufacturers, in Ulm. To keep a low profile Marga and her parents moved to Oberstdorf in 1943.{{sfn|Boyd|Patel|2022|p=275}}<ref name= Oberstdorf-Lexikon/> Upon registering with the mayor of Oberstdorf, he helped them by not adding the legally-required name "Sara" in Helene Mayser's registration. This name had been added to Jewish women's surnames since 1938, and its omission was illegal.{{sfn|Boyd|Patel|2022|p=274}}

After the end of the war Trautloft and Marga married and had a daughter.{{sfn|Boyd|Patel|2022|p=326}} <ref name= Oberstdorf-Lexikon/>

==Summary of military career==

===Aerial victory claims=== According to US historian [[David T. Zabecki]], Trautloft was credited with 58 aerial victories, five during the Spanish Civil War.{{sfn|Zabecki|2014|p=1610}} Mathews and Foreman, authors of ''Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims'', researched the [[German Federal Archives]] and found records for 58 aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This number includes five claims during the Spanish Civil War, eight on the Western Front and 45 on the Eastern Front of World War II.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=1334–1335}}

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = ''Planquadrat''), for example "PQ 36 Ost 10523". The Luftwaffe grid map ({{lang|de|Jägermeldenetz}}) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 [[Minute of arc|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''}}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders collapsible" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; text-align:right; width: 100%;" |- ! colspan="10" | Chronicle of aerial victories |- | colspan="10" style="text-align: left;" | {{legend|#e3d9ff|This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Trautloft did not receive credit.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} |- ! colspan="10" | Spanish Civil War |- ! colspan="10" | – ''Jagdgruppe'' 88 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1334}} Spanish Civil War — August – December 1936 |- | 1 | 25 August 1936 | {{Center|—}} | [[Bréguet 19]]{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=106}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 4 | 30 September 1936 | {{Center|—}} | Potez 540{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=106}} | |- | 2 | 30 August 1936 | {{Center|—}} | [[Potez 540]]{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=106}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 5 | 8 December 1936 | {{Center|—}} | [[Polikarpov I-16|I-16]]{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=106}} | |- | 3 | 1 September 1936 | {{Center|—}} | [[Nieuport-Delage NiD 52|NiD 52]]{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=106}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="10" | World War II |- ! colspan="10" | – 2. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1334}} Invasion of Poland — 1 – 23 September 1939 |- | 1 | 5 September 1939 | 08:20 | [[PZL.23 Karaś|PZL P.23]] | [[Warta, Poland|Warta]], {{Convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of [[Sieradz]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000a|p=461}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="10" | – ''Stab'' I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 20 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1334}} Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940 |- | 2 | 29 May 1940 | 18:40 | [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire]] | southeast of [[Dunkirk]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000b|p=187}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 3 | 31 May 1940 | 18:06 | Spitfire | north of Dunkirk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000b|p=187}} |- ! colspan="10" | – ''Stab'' III. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 51 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1334}} At the Channel and over England — 26 June – 24 August 1940 |- | 4 | 19 July 1940 | 13:42 | [[Boulton Paul Defiant|Defiant]] | south of [[Folkestone]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=83}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 5 | 8 August 1940 | 12:48 | Spitfire | [[Dungeness (headland)|Dungeness]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=83}} |- ! colspan="10" | – ''Stab'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1334}} At the Channel and over England — 25 August 1940 – 29 March 1941 |- | 6 | 25 August 1940 | 20:20 | Spitfire | [[English Channel]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=292}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 8 | 27 October 1940 | 15:05 | Spitfire | [[Ashford, Kent|Ashford]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=292}} |- | 7 | 7 September 1940 | 19:00 | [[Hawker Hurricane|Hurricane]] | [[Maidstone]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=292}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="10" | – ''Stab'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1334}} Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941 |- | 9 | 22 June 1941 | 16:48 | [[Ilyushin DB-3|DB-3]] | northwest of [[Marijampolė]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#e3d9ff;" | {{Center|—}} | 24 July 1941 | {{Center|—}} | [[Tupolev SB|SB-3]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | |- | 10 | 23 June 1941 | 10:15 | SB-3 | Kussen{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 20 | 24 July 1941 | 20:00 | SB-3 | east of [[Dno]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} |- | 11 | 24 June 1941 | 19:30 | DB-3 | north of [[Tauragė]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#e3d9ff;" | {{Center|—}} | 17 September 1941 | {{Center|—}} | I-18 ([[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1|MiG-1]]){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | |- | 12 | 25 June 1941 | 09:30 | DB-3 | south of [[Šiauliai]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 21 | 4 October 1941 | 10:40 | I-26 ([[Yakovlev Yak-1|Yak-1]]) | [[Saint Petersburg|Leningrad]]/[[Lyuban (town), Leningrad Oblast|Lyuban]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} |- | 13 | 30 June 1941 | 15:10 | DB-3 | north of [[Daugavpils]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 22 | 7 October 1941 | 15:10 | I-16 | Smolino{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} |- | 14 | 30 June 1941 | 15:30 | DB-3 | north of Daugavpils{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 23 | 7 October 1941 | 15:15 | I-18 (MiG-1) | Smolino{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} |- | 15 | 6 July 1941 | 19:10 | [[Tupolev SB|SB-2]] | southeast of [[Ostrov, Ostrovsky District, Pskov Oblast|Ostrov]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 24 | 25 October 1941 | 09:38 | [[Petlyakov Pe-2|Pe-2]] | [[Budogoshch]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} |- | 16 | 13 July 1941 | 17:34 | I-18 (MiG-1) | northeast of [[Soltsy]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 25 | 25 October 1941 | 14:26 | SB-2 | northeast of the [[Oskuya River]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} |- | 17 | 14 July 1941 | 18:12 | I-18 (MiG-1) | southeast of [[Kingisepp]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 26 | 29 October 1941 | 11:07 | I-26 (Yak-1) | off [[Tikhvin]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} |- | 18 | 21 July 1941 | 21:00 | SB-2 | Waluj{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#e3d9ff;" | {{Center|—}} | 8 November 1941 | {{Center|—}} | I-26 (Yak-1){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | |- | 19 | 24 July 1941 | 19:52 | SB-3 | east of [[Porkhov]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=181}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="10" | – ''Stab'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=1334–1335}} Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942 |- | 27 | 6 March 1942 | 10:00 | [[Polikarpov R-5|R-5]] | [[Chudovo, Chudovsky District, Novgorod Oblast|Chudovo]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 33 | 29 March 1942 | 15:38 | I-18 (MiG-1) | [[Staraya Russa]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} |- | 28 | 9 March 1942 | 10:20 | I-16 | Lyuban{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 34 | 1 April 1942 | 15:42 | [[Ilyushin Il-2|Il-2]] | Staraya Russa{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} |- | 29 | 14 March 1942 | 09:14 | I-26 (Yak-1) | [[Veliky Novgorod|Novgorod]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 35 | 1 April 1942 | 15:50 | Il-2 | Staraya Russa{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} |- | 30 | 16 March 1942 | 14:58 | I-26 (Yak-1) | [[Malaya Vishera]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 36 | 4 April 1942 | 14:30 | I-301 ([[Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3|LaGG-3]]) | Metino{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} |- | 31 | 18 March 1942 | 10:42 | I-18 (MiG-1) | Novgorod{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 37 | 4 April 1942 | 14:33 | I-301 (LaGG-3) | east of Chudovo{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} |- | 32 | 20 March 1942 | 16:10 | I-18 (MiG-1) | Malaya Vishera{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 38 | 5 April 1942 | 11:30 | I-61 (MiG-3) | Fedosina{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=172}} |- ! colspan="10" | – ''Stab'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1335}} Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943 |- | 39 | 9 May 1942 | 15:50 | Yak-1 | Mury{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=56}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 43 | 9 August 1942 | 10:00 | Pe-2 | {{Convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of [[Rzhev]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=56}} |- | 40 | 9 May 1942 | 16:10 | Pe-2 | {{Convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} south-southwest of [[Valday, Novgorod Oblast|Valday]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=56}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 44 | 22 August 1942 | 10:15 | LaGG-3 | {{Convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Ulyanovo{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=56}} |- | 41 | 30 May 1942 | 09:24 | MiG-3 | Malaya Vishera{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=56}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 45 | 28 August 1942 | 05:12 | LaGG-3 | north of Rzhev{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=56}} |- | 42 | 5 August 1942 | 18:35 | Pe-2 | {{Convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Shimsk]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=56}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 46 | 17 January 1943 | 10:01 | Il-2 | {{Convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of [[Mga]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=56}} |- ! colspan="10" | – ''Stab'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1335}} Eastern Front — 4 February – 5 July 1943 |- | 47 | 14 February 1943 | 14:10 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 10523, {{Convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Lyuban{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=78}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 51 | 17 February 1943 | 15:02 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 10522, {{Convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Lyuban{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=78}} |- | 48 | 14 February 1943 | 14:15 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 10562, {{Convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of Lyuban{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=78}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 52 | 18 February 1943 | 09:50 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 10382, {{Convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Lyuban{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=78}} |- | 49 | 14 February 1943 | 14:30 | Il-2 m.H.{{refn|The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner ({{lang|de|mit Heckschütze}}).|group="Note"}} | PQ 36 Ost 10524, {{Convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Lyuban{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=78}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 53 | 7 March 1943 | 14:10 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 18324{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=78}} {{Convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Staraya Russa |- | 50 | 15 February 1943 | 09:28 | [[North American P-51 Mustang|P-51]] | PQ 36 Ost 00444, {{Convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of [[Ulyanovka, Leningrad Oblast|Ulyanovka]]{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=78}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |}

===Awards=== * [[Spanish Cross]] in Gold with Swords (14 April 1939){{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=1333}} * [[Iron Cross]] (1939) 2nd and 1st Class{{sfn|Dixon|2023|pp=85–86}} * [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] on 27 July 1941 as ''[[Major (Germany)|Major]]'' and ''Geschwaderkommodore'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=425}}{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=749}} * [[German Cross]] in Gold on 27 July 1942 as ''Major'' in ''Jagdgeschwader'' 54{{sfn|Patzwall|Scherzer|2001|p=479}} * [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|Great Cross of Merit with Star]] (26 June 1970){{sfn|Great Cross of Merit with Star}}

==Works== * Trautloft, Hannes (1940). ''Als Jagdflieger in Spanien: Aus dem Tagebuch eines deutschen Legionärs'' [As a Fighter Pilot in Spain: From the Diary of a German Legionnaire]. Berlin: A. Nauck & Co. {{OCLC|258407474}}

==Notes== {{Reflist|group="Note"}}

==References==

===Citations=== {{Reflist|25em}}

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* {{cite book |last=Brütting |first=Peter |year=1979 |title=Das Buch der deutschen Fluggeschichte |trans-title=The Book of German Aviation History |language=de |volume=2 |location=Stuttgart, Germany |publisher=Drei-Brunnen-Verlag |isbn=978-3-87174-001-5 }} * {{Cite book |last=Burgess |first=Colin |year=1995 |title=Destination Buchenwald |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqKyAAAACAAJ |location=Kenthurst NSW |publisher=Kangaroo Press |oclc=35019954 |isbn=978-0-86417-733-9 }} * {{Cite book |last=Deighton |first=Len |author-link=Len Deighton |year=1977 |title=[[Fighter: The True Story of the Battle of Britain]] |location=London, UK |publisher=Jonathan Cape |isbn=978-0-7126-7423-2 }} * {{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 |last=Forsyth |first=Robert |year=2011 |title=Aces of the Legion Condor |series=Aircraft of the Aces |volume=99 |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-84908-347-8 }} * {{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=Robert |year=2015 |title=Messerschmitt Bf 109 A–D Series |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-4728-0486-0 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Kinnis |first1=Arthur |last2=Booker |first2=Stanley |year=1999 |title=168 Jump Into Hell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mIh9tgAACAAJ |location=Victoria B.C. |publisher=A.G. Kinnis |oclc=43390724 |isbn=978-0-9684198-0-9 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Makos |first1=Adam |last2=Alexander |first2=Larry |year=2013 |title=A Higher Call |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kXpFLgEACAAJ |location=New York |publisher=Berkley Books |oclc=791682283 |isbn=978-0-425-25286-4 }} * {{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=Moser |first1=Joseph |last2=Baron |first2=Gerald |year=2009 |title=A Fighter Pilot in Buchenwald |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kMk6PgAACAAJ |location=Bellingham, WA |publisher=Edens Veil Media |oclc=311551716 |isbn=978-0-615-22111-3 }} * {{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=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2000a |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-54-0 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2000b |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9 April bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25 June 1940 |trans-title=Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940 |language=de |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-61-8 }} * {{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 June 1940 bis 21 June 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=2003a |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-68-7 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2003b |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 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/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 |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 Miltaer-Verlag |isbn=978-3-938845-17-2 }} * {{Cite book |last=Spick |first=Mike |year=2013 |title=Aces of the Reich: The Making of a Luftwaffe Pilot |location=London, UK |publisher=[[Frontline Books]] |isbn=978-1-4738-7753-5 }} * {{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 |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 }} * {{cite web |website=[[Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek]] |title=Großer Zapfenstreich im Wildparkstadion für den scheidenden Kommandierenden General der Luftwaffengruppe Süd Hannes Trautloft |trans-title=Grand Tattoo in the Wildparkstadion for the Departing Commander of the Air Force Group South Hannes Trautloft |language=de |url=https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/WB663XY7OBPQXCJNL54UFD4GWT6SQBIP |access-date=13 August 2019 |ref={{sfnRef|Grand Tattoo in the Wildparkstadion}} }} * {{Cite web |website=[[Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek]] |title=Verleihung des Großen Bundesverdienstkreuzes mit Stern an den scheidenden Kommandierenden General der Luftwaffengruppe Süd Hannes Trautloft |trans-title=Awarding of the Great Cross of Merit with Star to the departing Commanding General of the Air Force Group South Hannes Trautloft |language=de |url=https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/LELA2DRYKNPXXGORFFDAXWTXS7WX2XKE |access-date=13 March 2023 |ref={{sfnRef|Great Cross of Merit with Star}} }} {{Refend}}

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{succession box |before=''Major'' Martin Mettig |after=''Major'' [[Hubertus von Bonin]] |title=Commander of [[Jagdgeschwader 54]] ''Grünherz'' |years=15 August 1940 – 5 July 1943 }} {{s-bef | before =''Brigadegeneral'' Lothar von Heinemann}} {{s-ttl | title = Deputy [[Inspector of the Air Force (Germany)|Inspector of the Air Force]] | years =1 November 1960 – 31 August 1961}} {{s-aft | after=''Brigadegeneral'' [[Kurt Kuhlmey]] }} {{s-end}}

{{Aces of the Condor Legion}} {{Knight's Cross recipients of JG 54}} {{Subject bar | portal1=Aviation | portal2=Biography }} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trautloft, Hannes}} [[Category:1912 births]] [[Category:1995 deaths]] [[Category:People from Weimarer Land]] [[Category:People from Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach]] [[Category:Spanish Civil War flying aces]] [[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:Bundeswehr generals]] [[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] [[Category:Condor Legion personnel]] [[Category:German Air Force personnel]] [[Category:Military personnel from Thuringia]]