Leutnant Heinrich Busse - 9. Flak Division
9. Flak-Division was initially designated Luftverteidigungskommando 9 when it was formed in June 1940 in Caen, France and received its official title as a flak division in September of the following year. The division was formed to defend northern France and Belgium from aerial attack and initially consisted of four flak regiments. In 1942, however, it was transferred to the Eastern Front where it was deployed to support Army Group South. In May, likely in anticipation of the German summer offensive (Fall Blau), 9. Flak-Division was specifically attached to 6. Armee with at least three regiments. Among these was Flak-Regiment 37 (mot.) which eventually included, among its subordinate units, leichte Flak-Abteilung 851 (mot.). Serving in the battalion at the time was a 22 year old Leutnant Heinrich Busse, originally from the Westphalian village of Quetzen. Busse was the son of a pilot and may have ultimately joined the Luftwaffe as a way of following in his father’s footsteps. He served in 3. Batterie, leichte Flak-Abteilung 851 (mot.) during the winter campaign of 1941/42 where he earned the Ostmedaille and qualified for the Krim shield. His unit was ultimately subordinated to 9. Flak-Division and supported the efforts of 6. Armee during the fighting in and around Stalingrad. During the fighting for the city and surrounding areas, the flak units of 9. Flak-Division were deployed in piecemeal, both in anti-aircraft, as well as ground attack roles. leichte Flak-Abteilung 851 (mot.) was likely used for anti-aircraft duties as it was generally not positioned in the city itself.
As 6. Armee was surrounded in November 1942, leichte Flak-Abteilung 851 (mot.) was among the entrapped troops. Apart from elements of its staff, 9. Flak-Division was completely destroyed. Busse ultimately suffered the fate of his parent unit as well as all of 6. Armee; he was among the troops to never return home after the German surrender. According to German authorities, his last known communication was January 20, 1943. He is listed as vermisst but it is unclear if he was killed between January and the official surrender of February 3, or that he survived but lost his life in captivity shortly after. As German authorities attempted to sort out the great loss at Stalingrad they formed a special office to handle communications with soldiers’ families. On July 20, 1943 the Munich component of Arbeitsstab Stalingrad sent a small letter (shown above) informing the Busse family that he was, indeed, missing. Their letter asks that they be contacted in the event the family learns any news of his fate.
Among the tasks of Arbeitsstab Stalingrad and related departments, in addition to managing communication with families, was the disbursement of awards. Great lengths were made to ensure that deserving soldiers received their combat awards and awards for bravery for the fighting at Stalingrad. From clerical files saved from the encirclement, along with statements and affidavits by officers and the enlisted, awards were processed in the months following the collapse. Despite the fact that soldiers were killed or missing in action, many 6. Armee veterans received their due awards. In the case of Busse, he earned both classes of the Iron Cross at Stalingrad. For some reason, perhaps that the process was disrupted or never initiated, Busse was recognized for his bravery long after he was gone. He received the Iron Cross Second Class for actions on or before December 15, 1942; presented via a very unusual award document on August 10, 1943 by a Major with the special Arbeitsstab. Months later, on December 26, 1943, Busse was awarded the Iron Cross First Class. This award was processed by the Luftwaffe High Command and approved by Hermann Göring as Der Reichsminister der Luftfahrt und Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe. The document includes the stamped signature of Göring and the actual signature of Generaloberst Bruno Loerzer as Chef des Luftwaffenpersonalamtes (Luftwaffe Personnel Office). Busse’s actual fate remains a mystery to this day. However, he is remembered not only by his family but also his posthumous awards of both classes of the Iron Cross earned at Stalingrad.
As 6. Armee was surrounded in November 1942, leichte Flak-Abteilung 851 (mot.) was among the entrapped troops. Apart from elements of its staff, 9. Flak-Division was completely destroyed. Busse ultimately suffered the fate of his parent unit as well as all of 6. Armee; he was among the troops to never return home after the German surrender. According to German authorities, his last known communication was January 20, 1943. He is listed as vermisst but it is unclear if he was killed between January and the official surrender of February 3, or that he survived but lost his life in captivity shortly after. As German authorities attempted to sort out the great loss at Stalingrad they formed a special office to handle communications with soldiers’ families. On July 20, 1943 the Munich component of Arbeitsstab Stalingrad sent a small letter (shown above) informing the Busse family that he was, indeed, missing. Their letter asks that they be contacted in the event the family learns any news of his fate.
Among the tasks of Arbeitsstab Stalingrad and related departments, in addition to managing communication with families, was the disbursement of awards. Great lengths were made to ensure that deserving soldiers received their combat awards and awards for bravery for the fighting at Stalingrad. From clerical files saved from the encirclement, along with statements and affidavits by officers and the enlisted, awards were processed in the months following the collapse. Despite the fact that soldiers were killed or missing in action, many 6. Armee veterans received their due awards. In the case of Busse, he earned both classes of the Iron Cross at Stalingrad. For some reason, perhaps that the process was disrupted or never initiated, Busse was recognized for his bravery long after he was gone. He received the Iron Cross Second Class for actions on or before December 15, 1942; presented via a very unusual award document on August 10, 1943 by a Major with the special Arbeitsstab. Months later, on December 26, 1943, Busse was awarded the Iron Cross First Class. This award was processed by the Luftwaffe High Command and approved by Hermann Göring as Der Reichsminister der Luftfahrt und Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe. The document includes the stamped signature of Göring and the actual signature of Generaloberst Bruno Loerzer as Chef des Luftwaffenpersonalamtes (Luftwaffe Personnel Office). Busse’s actual fate remains a mystery to this day. However, he is remembered not only by his family but also his posthumous awards of both classes of the Iron Cross earned at Stalingrad.
Note the awarding authority of the Iron Cross Second Class, rendered by Arbeitstabb Stalingrad-Tunis. By the summer of 1943, the office's role had expanded to also manage the loss of the Afrika Korps at Tunis.
Sources:
MacLean, French L. Stalingrad, The Death of the German Sixth Army on the Volga, 1942-1943 Atglen: Schiffer Publishing Ltd 2013
Mitcham Jr., Samuel W. German Order of Battle, Volume One, Volume Two, 291st-999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in World War II, Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books 2007
The Luftwaffe 1933-1945 http://www.ww2.dk/
Lexicon der Wehrmacht http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/inhaltsverzeichnis1.htm
MacLean, French L. Stalingrad, The Death of the German Sixth Army on the Volga, 1942-1943 Atglen: Schiffer Publishing Ltd 2013
Mitcham Jr., Samuel W. German Order of Battle, Volume One, Volume Two, 291st-999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in World War II, Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books 2007
The Luftwaffe 1933-1945 http://www.ww2.dk/
Lexicon der Wehrmacht http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/inhaltsverzeichnis1.htm