Helmuth Wilberg

{{Short description|German air force general (1880–1941)}} {{Infobox military person |honorific_prefix = |name = Helmuth Wilberg |honorific_suffix = |image = Half-Jew General Helmut Wilberg.jpg |image_upright = |alt = |caption = |native_name = |native_name_lang = |birth_name = |other_name = |nickname = |birth_date = {{birth date|1880|06|01|df=y}} |birth_place = Berlin, Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |death_date = {{death date and age|1941|11|20|1880|06|01|df=y}} |death_place = near Dresden, German Reich |burial_place = |burial_label = |burial_coordinates =  |allegiance = {{flag|German Empire}}<br>{{flag|Weimar Republic}}<br>{{flag|Nazi Germany}} |branch = Luftwaffe |branch_label = Branch |service_years = 1899–1941 |service_years_label = |rank = ''General der Flieger'' |rank_label = |service_number = |unit = |commands = |battles = |battles_label = |awards = |memorials = |spouse =  |children = |relations = |other_work = |signature = |signature_size = |signature_alt = |website =  |module = }}

'''Helmuth Wilberg''' (1 June 1880 – 20 November 1941) was a German officer and a ''Luftwaffe'' General of the Air Force during the Second World War. He helped develop the German war strategy of ''blitzkrieg.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rigg |first=Bryan Mark |author-link=Bryan Mark Rigg |date=2014 |title=Hitler’s Jewish Soldiers |url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/hitlers-jewish-soldiers/ |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=Warfare History Network |language=en-US}}</ref> He was of half-Jewish ancestry, and was given the status of Honorary Aryan by Adolf Hitler.

==Military career== {{Refimprove section|date=September 2015}}

Wilberg joined the 80. Fusilier Regiment "von Gersdorff" (''Kurhessisches'') on 18 April 1899. He was promoted to ''Leutnant'' (lieutenant) on 27 January 1900. Starting in 1906, he worked as an instructor at the cadet schools at Naumburg and Lichterfelde. On 18 October 1909 he was promoted to ''Oberleutnant'' (senior lieutenant).

On 15 September 1910, he was the 26th German to receive a civilian pilot's license<ref>[http://frontflieger.de/3-alteadler.html Die Alten Adler]</ref> (''Alter Adler'') issued by the German Airship Association (DLV). In 1911, after having participated in the Kaiser maneuvers in Mecklenburg, he wrote the paper, "Aerial Reconnaissance in ''Kaisermanöver'' 1911: Its value and influence on leadership compared with the cavalry reconnaissance". In 1913, he enlisted in the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' (Imperial German Air Force), and was one of Germany's first military pilots. When war broke out he was a ''Hauptmann'' (captain) and commanding officer of 11. ''Feldfliegerabteilung'' (Field Aviation Battalion). He later served as ''Kommandeur der Flieger'' (commander of aviation, ''Kofl'') of Fourth Army.

After the war, he was transferred to the ''Reichswehr''. He served there until 1927, when he transferred to the Ministry of Defense; he also served with the ''Truppenamt'', and finally as head of ''Luftschutzreferats''.

He later joined the 18th Infantry Regiment as a battalion commander, with the rank of ''Oberstleutnant'' (lieutenant colonel). From 1929 to 1932, he commanded the Breslau vicinity, being appointed ''Generalmajor'' (major general). He headed the ''Reichswehr'' air staff for eight years in the 1920s.<ref>Corum (1997) p.125</ref>

Hermann Göring, in command of the ''Luftwaffe'', considered making Wilberg Chief of staff. However, it was revealed Wilberg had a Jewish mother, which according to the Nazi racial laws he would be considered a "half-Jew" (Halbjude).<ref>{{Cite web |title=General der Flieger Helmuth Wilberg - Lexikon der Wehrmacht |url=https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/W/WilbergHelmuth-R.htm |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de}}</ref> Not wishing his talent to go to waste, Göring had him reclassified as being "Aryan" and Wilberg remained in the air staff, helping draw up its principal doctrine, "The Conduct of the Aerial War", and its "Regulation 16" under Walther Wever.<ref>Corum (1997) p.127</ref><ref>Hooton (2010), pp.20–21</ref>

In subsequent years, he worked secretly on rebuilding the ''Luftwaffe'', which he joined in 1934. Wilberg was initially a department head in the ''Reichsluftfahrtministerium'' (Ministry of Aviation, ''RLM''). In 1935, he took over the construction of the air war school in Werder an der Havel, and later the Higher Air Force School in Berlin.

Wilberg significantly influenced German air war doctrine. In 1937, he created "Special Staff W", responsible for collecting and analyzing the tactical lessons learned by the ''Legion Condor'' during the Spanish Civil War. In March 1938, he was promoted ''General der Flieger''. In the mobilization prior of the 1939 Invasion of Poland, Wilberg was reactivated and used as head of aviation training command.

On 20 November 1941, he was killed in a plane crash near Dresden, on his way to the funeral of Ernst Udet.

==Awards== *Royal Order of the Crown IV. Class<ref name="Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres">''Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres'', Mittler & Sohn Verlag, Berlin, S.111</ref> *Iron Cross (1914) II. and I. Class<ref name="Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres"/> *Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords<ref name="Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres"/> *Bavarian Military Merit medal IV. Class with Swords<ref name="Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres"/> *Mecklenburg Military Merit Cross II. Class<ref name="Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres"/> *Mecklenburg Cross for distinction in war II. Class<ref name="Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres"/> *Prussian pilot's reminder badge<ref name="Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres"/> *Austrian Military Merit Cross III. Class with war decoration<ref name="Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres"/> *Gallipoli Star Ottoman War Medal<ref name="Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres"/> *Knight's Cross IV. Class II. Stage of the Bulgarian Military Order for bravery<ref name="Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres"/> *Wehrmacht Long Service Award IV. to I. Class

==References== '''Notes''' {{Reflist}}

'''Bibliography''' * Corum, James (1997) ''The Luftwaffe: Creating the Operational Air War, 1918–1940.'' Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas {{ISBN|978-0-70-060836-2}} * Hooton, E. R. (2010) ''The Luftwaffe: A Study in Air Power, 1933–1945''. London: Classic Publications {{ISBN|978-1-90-653718-0}} * Rigg, Bryan Mark (2002) ''Hitler's Jewish Soldiers'' (Modern War Studies series) Lawrence, Kansas: University of Kansas Press {{ISBN|0-7006-1178-9}}

== External links == * [http://www.fliegergraeber.de/Helmut_Wilberg.htm Helmut Wilberg] at ''Fliegergrab.de''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilberg, Helmuth}} Category:1880 births Category:1941 deaths Category:Military personnel from Berlin Category:German Jewish military personnel of World War II Category:German people of Jewish descent Category:Generals of the aviators Category:Luftstreitkräfte personnel Category:Luftwaffe World War II generals Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1941 Category:Prussian Army personnel Category:Luftwaffe pilots Category:Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Germany