{{short description|German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient (1918–1941)}} {{Infobox military person |name=Kurt Lasse |birth_date=17 February 1918 |death_date={{death date and age|1941|10|8|1918|2|17|df=y}} |image= |caption= |birth_place= Rawitsch |death_place= over the Isthmus of Perekop |nickname= |allegiance={{flag|Nazi Germany}} |branch={{air force|Nazi Germany}} |service_years=?–1941 |rank=''Oberleutnant'' (first lieutenant) |unit=JG 77 |commands= |battles=World War II *Invasion of Norway *Battle of France *Balkans Campaign *Operation Barbarossa *Crimean Campaign |awards=Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |other_work= }}

'''Kurt Lasse''' (17 February 1918 – 8 October 1941) was a German Luftwaffe ace and a posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. On 8 October 1941, Lasse was killed in action in a mid-air collision with his wingman over Isthmus of Perekop. During his career he was credited with 39 aerial victories, 1 on the Western Front and 38 on the Eastern Front.

==Career== Lasse was born on 17 February 1918 in Rawitsch in the Province of Posen within the German Empire, present-day Rawicz, Poland.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=154}}

On 25 March 1940, Lasse was posted to II. ''Gruppe'' (2nd group) of ''Jagdggruppe'' 186 (II./186—186th Fighter Group).{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=157}} This group, also known as the ''Trägerjagdgruppe'' (Carrier Fighter Group), was destined to be stationed on the aircraft carrier ''{{ship|German aircraft carrier|Graf Zeppelin||2}}'' which was never completed. II./186 (T) initially consisted of two squadrons, 4./186 (T) equipped with the Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber,{{refn|The suffix 'T' denotes ''Träger'' (carrier) in German use.|group="Note"}} and 6./186 (T).{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=48}}

==World War II== World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Following the decision by Adolf Hitler to halt work on the aircraft carrier ''Graf Zeppelin'',{{sfn|Whitley|1985|p=30}} II./186 (T) was redesignated and became the III. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing).{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=242}} In consequence, Lasse's ''Staffel'' 6./186 (T) became the 9. ''Staffel'' of JG 77 which was headed by ''Oberleutnant'' Lorenz Weber.{{sfn|Prien|1995|p=2376}} A week later, III. ''Gruppe'' was withdrawn from this theater of operations and relocated to Döberitz where it was tasked with fighter protection of Berlin.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=246}} In November, JG 77 was ordered to the English Channel to continue fighting the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the aftermath of the Battle of Britain.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=437}} 8. ''Staffel'' moved to an airfield at Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on 30 November.{{sfn|Prien|1992|p=446}}

In preparation for Operation Marita, the German invasion of Greece, III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 77 was moved to Deta in western Romania on 4 April 1941.{{sfn|Prien|1992|pp=482–483, 487}} On 16 April, III. ''Gruppe'' had relocated to an airfield at Korinos. Two days later, Lasser claimed his first aerial victory when elements of 9. ''Staffel'' intercepted a formation of Bristol Blenheim bombers from the Royal Air Force No. 11 Squadron. Two Blenheim bombers were claimed shot down, including one by Lasse.{{sfn|Prien|1992|pp=522, 524}} On 19 April, the ''Gruppe'' reached Larissa. That day, Lasse was appointed ''Staffelkapitän'' (squadron leader) of 9. ''Staffel'' of JG 77. He replace ''Oberleutnant'' Armin Schmidt was killed in action.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003a|p=288}}{{sfn|Prien|1992|pp=526–527}}

===Eastern Front=== In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, III. ''Gruppe'' was moved to Bucharest and was located in the sector of ''Heeresgruppe Süd'' (Army Group South). III. ''Gruppe'' arrived in Bucharest on 16 June.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=628}} Four days later, III. ''Gruppe'' moved to Roman.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=630}} That evening, the pilots and ground crews were briefed of the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union, which opened the Eastern Front.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=632}} On 2 July in support of the German and Romanian Operation München, III. ''Gruppe'' moved to an airfield at Iași.{{sfn|Prien|1993|p=660}}

Engaged in aerial combat with Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighters, Lasse was killed in a mid-air collision with his wingman, ''Feldwebel'' Robert Helmer, on 8 October 1941. While Helmer nursed his damaged aircraft back, Lasse's Bf 109 F-4 (''Werknummer'' 8475—factory number) crashed near Armiansk.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|pp=351, 377}} Command of 9. ''Staffel'' was then passed on to ''Hauptmann'' Arthur Brutzer.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=358}} Posthumously, Lasse was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ({{Lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}) on 3 May 1942.{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=183}}

==Summary of career==

===Aerial victory claims=== Mathews and Foreman, authors of ''Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims'', researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 39 aerial victory claims, claimed in over 300 combat missions. This figure includes one aerial victory over the Western Allies and 38 on the Eastern Front.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=722–723}}

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = ''Planquadrat''), for example "PQ 3742". 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''}}

{| 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|#faecc8|This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} |- !scope="col"| Claim !scope="col"| Date !scope="col"| Time !scope="col" width="100px"| Type !scope="col"| Location !scope="col" style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | Claim !scope="col"| Date !scope="col"| Time !scope="col" width="100px"| Type !scope="col"| Location |- ! colspan="10" | – 9. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=722}}<br /><small>Balkans and Crete — 1 April – 1 June 1941</small> |- | 1 | 18 April 1941 | 12:33 | Blenheim{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003a|p=293}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="10" | – 9. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 77 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=722–723}}<br /><small>Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 8 October 1941</small> |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?{{Refn|This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=362}}|group="Note"}} | 22 June 1941 | 19:46 | I-153 | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 21 | 6 September 1941 | 09:12 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=370}} | |- | 2 | 23 June 1941 | 15:33 | I-153{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=362}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 22 | 6 September 1941 | 13:25 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=370}} | |- | 3 | 23 June 1941 | 15:48 | style="background:#faecc8" | ZKB-19{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=362}}?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as an Ilyushin DB-3.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=723}}|group="Note"|name="DB-3"}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 23 | 7 September 1941 | 13:50 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=370}} | |- | 4 | 23 June 1941 | style="background:#faecc8" | 15:57?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18:57 as an Ilyushin DB-3.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=723}}|group="Note"|name="15:57"}} | style="background:#faecc8" | ZKB-19{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=362}}?<ref group="Note" name="15:57"/> | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 24 | 7 September 1941 | 13:53 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=370}} | |- | style="background:#faecc8" | 5?{{Refn|This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=723}}|group="Note"}} | 23 June 1941 | 18:45 | SB-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=362}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 25 | 7 September 1941 | 13:55 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=370}} | |- | 6 | 2 July 1941 | 17:38 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=363}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 26 | 16 September 1941 | 07:42 | MiG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=370}} | |- | 7 | 5 July 1941 | 16:48 | style="background:#faecc8" | ZKB-19{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=363}}?<ref group="Note" name="DB-3"/> | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 27 | 16 September 1941 | 10:35 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=370}} | |- | 8 | 8 July 1941 | 18:22 | MiG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=364}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 28 | 16 September 1941 | 10:39 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=370}} | |- | 9 | 8 July 1941 | style="background:#faecc8" | 18:27?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18:24.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=723}}|group="Note"}} | MiG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=364}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 29 | 18 September 1941 | 17:15 | DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=370}} | |- | 10 | 10 July 1941 | 17:46 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=364}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 30 | 19 September 1941 | 13:17 | unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=370}} | |- | 11 | 11 July 1941 | 16:36 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=364}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 31 | 20 September 1941 | 07:30 | MiG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=370}} | |- | 12 | 4 August 1941 | 16:37 | R-10 (Seversky){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=367}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 32 | 21 September 1941 | 10:46 | I-153{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=371}} | |- | 13 | 17 August 1941 | 18:56 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=367}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 33 | 21 September 1941 | 10:52 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=371}} | |- | 14 | 22 August 1941 | 11:05 | I-15{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=368}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 34 | 25 September 1941 | 13:05 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=371}} | |- | 15 | 22 August 1941 | 14:18 | I-15{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=368}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 35 | 28 September 1941 | 12:25 | Il-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=371}} | |- | 16 | 27 August 1941 | 10:45 | MiG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=368}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 36 | 29 September 1941 | 14:45 | Il-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=371}} | |- | 17 | 27 August 1941 | 10:47 | MiG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=368}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 37 | 30 September 1941 | 14:47 | MiG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=371}} | |- | 18 | 27 August 1941 | 10:52 | MiG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=368}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 38 | 1 October 1941 | 16:46 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=371}} | |- | 19 | 31 August 1941 | 16:32 | SB-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=368}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 39 | 2 October 1941 | 11:56 | I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=371}} | |- | 20 | 31 August 1941 | 17:02 | SB-3 | PQ 3742{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003b|p=368}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |}

===Awards=== * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=183}} * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 May 1942 as ''Oberleutnant'' and ''Staffelkapitän'' of the 9./''Jagdgeschwader'' 77{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=285}}{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=495}}

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

==References==

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

===Bibliography=== {{Refbegin|30em}} * {{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 November 2024 |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 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-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 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 |last=Prien |first=Jochen |year=1992 |title=Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 1—1934–1941 |trans-title=History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 1—1934–1941 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-19-9 }} * {{Cite book |last=Prien |first=Jochen |year=1993 |title=Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 2—1941–1942 |trans-title=History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 2—1941–1942 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-22-9 }} * {{Cite book |last=Prien |first=Jochen |year=1995 |title=Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 4—1944–1945 |trans-title=History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 4—1944–1945 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-29-8 }} * {{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 |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=Whitley |first=M.J. |title=Warship 33: Graf Zeppelin, Part 2 |location=Annapolis |publisher=United States Naval Institute Press |year=1985 |volume=IX |isbn=978-0-87021-984-9 }} {{Refend}}

{{Knight's Cross recipients of JG 77}} {{Subject bar | portal1=Aviation | portal2=Biography }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lasse, Kurt}} Category:1918 births Category:1941 deaths Category:People from Rawicz Category:People from the Province of Posen Category:Luftwaffe pilots Category:German World War II flying aces Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1941 Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the Soviet Union Category:Victims of mid-air collisions Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Category:German military personnel killed in World War II