Obergefreiter Fritz Feichter - Kampfgeschwader 26 "Löwen"
Similar to the German drive into Poland in 1939 and the West in 1940, the Luftwaffe was to play a critical role during the push into the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941, according to planners within the German High Command. All three Army Groups were supported by tactical air units as the Red Army was to be neutralized in the air (and on the ground), and German advances were to be supported by Luftwaffe attacks on Soviet ground targets. Army Group Center was the strongest concentration of troops to face the Red Army for Operation Barbarossa and it was supported by Luftflotte 2, the largest of the German air fleets deployed in the East. Commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring, Luftflotte 2 consisted primarily of two Fliegerkorps, with multiple fighter, bomber and ground attack units, along with reconnaissance, flak, signals and support troops.
Among the bomber units flying in support of the German armies of Army Group Center was Kampfgeschwader 26 "Löwen". The unit began its formation in May 1939 with a Stab and two Gruppen, before adding a third Gruppe in September. It saw action through the war’s earliest campaigns before being deployed in the East. Specifically, III. Gruppe (or III./K.G.26) was formed in September 1939 but was renamed and transferred, before a second unit was formed in February 1940. Equipped with the Heinkel He 111, III./K.G.26 saw action during the invasion of Denmark and Norway from April through June, followed by attacks on Great Britain throughout the next year, from June 1940 through July 1941 while stationed in Norway and then in France. In July it moved to Brest-Litovsk to support the German drive toward Moscow. It participated in multiple operations before being moved farther east as part of the German advance with headquarters at Bobruisk.
Among the bomber units flying in support of the German armies of Army Group Center was Kampfgeschwader 26 "Löwen". The unit began its formation in May 1939 with a Stab and two Gruppen, before adding a third Gruppe in September. It saw action through the war’s earliest campaigns before being deployed in the East. Specifically, III. Gruppe (or III./K.G.26) was formed in September 1939 but was renamed and transferred, before a second unit was formed in February 1940. Equipped with the Heinkel He 111, III./K.G.26 saw action during the invasion of Denmark and Norway from April through June, followed by attacks on Great Britain throughout the next year, from June 1940 through July 1941 while stationed in Norway and then in France. In July it moved to Brest-Litovsk to support the German drive toward Moscow. It participated in multiple operations before being moved farther east as part of the German advance with headquarters at Bobruisk.
The Heinkel He 111
Among the aircrew with III./K.G.26, was Bordfunker (radio operator) Obergefreiter Fritz Feichter with 9. Staffel. It is unknown when his service with 9. Staffel, III./KG. 26 began, but he was flying multiple missions with his unit in September, still equipped with the He 111. As Bordfunker, Feichter was …. On September 6, 1941, he was decorated with the Iron Cross Second Class, likely in recognition of multiple sorties against the enemy. Four days later, on September 10, he was awarded the Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Bronze, or Operational Flight Clasp in Bronze for Bombers, in recognition of twenty operational flights against the enemy. Feichter and his crew continued to fly throughout the month in support of German army formations on the ground. Only 16 days after his first Iron Cross, Feichter was recognized with the Iron Cross First Class, on September 22, 1941.
The German push into the Soviet Union was reorganized in late September to concentrate on the capture of Moscow in response to massive encirclements of Red Army forces during the previous weeks, and a temporary concentration of German troops to Ukraine, to the south. Operation Typhoon which was essentially the second phase of Barbarossa was launched in late September, early October 1941. Three infantry armies and three tank groups, supported by Luftflotte 2, were concentrated to capture and Vyazma and Bryansk and race to Moscow before the fall rains. Only three days in and as the offensive was in full swing, Feichter was killed was killed. Among the documentation commemorating his career and loss was a Heldentod document prepared and sent by his unit, on April 16, 1943, at the authority of Reichsminister der Luftfahrt und Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe.
The German push into the Soviet Union was reorganized in late September to concentrate on the capture of Moscow in response to massive encirclements of Red Army forces during the previous weeks, and a temporary concentration of German troops to Ukraine, to the south. Operation Typhoon which was essentially the second phase of Barbarossa was launched in late September, early October 1941. Three infantry armies and three tank groups, supported by Luftflotte 2, were concentrated to capture and Vyazma and Bryansk and race to Moscow before the fall rains. Only three days in and as the offensive was in full swing, Feichter was killed was killed. Among the documentation commemorating his career and loss was a Heldentod document prepared and sent by his unit, on April 16, 1943, at the authority of Reichsminister der Luftfahrt und Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe.
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Award documents for the Iron Cross Second Class and Bomber Flight Clasp in Bronze. The Iron Cross document is signed by General der Flieger Generaloberst Bruno Loerzer. He is shown here (on the left) with Hermann Goering and Adolf Galland. Wehrkundearchiv
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Shown is Feichter's award document for the Iron Cross first Class, signed by Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring, and his Heldentod document, honoring his death.
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Albert Kesselring is shown here at two different stages of the war. Note, in the second photo, he is wearing the Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds with his Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. He was the 14th recipient of the Diamonds (on July 19, 1944). Wehrkundearchiv