Joachim Helbig
Encyclopedia
Oberst
Joachim Helbig (10 September 1915 – 5 October 1985) was an officer and pilot in the German Luftwaffe
bomber arm during World War II
. He was credited with the destruction of of Allied
shipping accomplished in 480 missions during World War II.
Joachim Helbig was born in 1915 and joined the Luftwaffe in 1936. At the outbreak of World War II he served as an observer in Lehrgeschwader 1
(LG 1) and participated in the invasion of Poland
.For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
He saw further action in the Norwegian Campaign
and the Battles of the Netherlands
, Belgium
and France
. For his contribution and military success in these campaigns Helbig received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 9 November 1940. He was then transferred to the Mediterranean theater
of operations where he operated against Malta, the British Mediterranean Fleet and in support of the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK). Helbig became the 20th recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) on 28 September 1942 for the support of Generalfeldmarschall
Erwin Rommel
's 1942 summer offensive and the sinking of of enemy shipping.
Initially Helbig was banned from further combat flying and became an inspector on the staff of the General der Kampfflieger, the senior officer responsible for the Luftwaffe's bomber force. In August 1943 he was made Geschwaderkommodore
of Lehrgeschwader 1 operating against the Allied invasion forces in Italy
. In the last weeks of the war in Europe
, Helbig commanded a combat unit on the Eastern Front
consisting of elements of Lehrgeschwader 1 and Kampfgeschwader 200 (KG 200). After the war he worked as a manager for a brewery in Berlin
. Joachim Helbing died in Malente
on 5 October 1985 following a car accident on vacation in Spain
.
called Börln, which is located in Dahlen
, Saxony
. He grew up in the countryside and was very fond of horse back riding. He volunteered for military service in 1935 and initially served one year with the Artillerieregiment 4 (4th Artillery Regiment) in Dresden
. In the fall of 1936, he transferred to the Kampffliegerschule (Combat or Bomber Flying School) in Lechfeld. After completing his training as an observer and aerial gunner in April 1937, he was posted with III. Gruppe (3rd Group) Kampfgeschwader (Bomber Wing) 152 "Hindenburg" in Schwerin
. III./KG 152 "Hindenburg" became II. Group of Lehrgeschwader 1
(1st Demonstration Wing) on 1 November 1938, where he started his informal pilot training.
His two friends, Oberleutnant Fritz Sohler and Oberleutnant Gerhard Schröder, taught "Observer" Helbig to fly and he earned his Luftwaffe Advanced Pilot's Certificate (Erweiterter Luftwaffen-Flugzeugführerschein), also known as 'C'-Certificate, confirming proficiency on multi-engine aircraft. Helbig's informal training was unique in the entire Luftwaffe bomber force.
, while on a recon mission over Poland, Helbig shot down a Polish reconnaissance aircraft. Although the next day he was injured in a motorcycle accident, which prevented him from seeing further combat in this campaign, he was awarded the Iron Cross
2nd class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse). In October 1939, he participated in a number of uneventful missions against the British Home Fleet
in the North Sea
.
By 9 April 1940, when Operation Weserübung
began in Norway, Helbig had completed his pilot training. He flew missions supporting the German ground forces, particularly in the Narvik
area. For these missions, the He 111s took off from Aalborg
for low-altitude strikes against British positions. In one such sortie, Helbig's flight engineer
was severely wounded, and the left engine of his aircraft was shot out by flak. Helbig received the Narvik Shield
for his participation in the battle for Norway.
When the campaign against Holland
, Belgium, and France
began in May 1940, Helbig was appointed Staffelkapitän
(Squadron Leader) of 4./LG 1, a position he held until 5 November 1941. 4./LG 1 was equipped with the Ju 88
. On one mission over Dunkirk
, Helbig's aircraft was intercepted by enemy fighters. One engine was shot out and three crew members, including Helbig, suffered various degrees of injuries. For his actions in the French campaign, he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse). Following the defeat of France, he received an early promotion to Hauptmann
(Captain) on 19 July 1940.
at 4:45 pm, with the primary target RAF Worthy Down
. Over the English coast the German formation consisting of Ju 88s from LG 1, Ju 87s from Sturzkampfgeschwader 1
(StG 1; 1st Dive Bomber Wing
) escorted by elements of Zerstörergeschwader 2 (ZG 2; 2nd Heavy Fighter Wing
), Jagdgeschwader 27
(JG 27; 27th Fighter Wing) and Jagdgeschwader 53
(JG 53; 53rd Fighter Wing), were intercepted by British fighters from No. 10 Group RAF
and No. 11 Group RAF
. The combined attacking force of more than 200 German aircraft were intercepted by 14 British fighter squadrons totaling 170 fighter aircraft. This mission turned out to be disastrous for 4th Staffel. Only Helbig and his crew returned their heavily damaged aircraft back to friendly territory. The majority of his men, 32 members of the 4th Staffel, were taken prisoner by the British.
As the Battle of Britain
progressed, Helbig developed into an industrial target specialist. As a result of his success during more than 100 combat missions, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. By the time Helbig received the coveted decoration, he had flown 122 combat missions.
Helbig's success in surviving seemingly hopeless situations was due to his excellent crew, which included Oberfeldwebel Franz Schlund who, on 30 August 1941, became the first Luftwaffe radio operator to be awarded the Knight's Cross. Manning one of the machine guns, Schlund drove off the attacking fighter force on a mission against the Warrington
Propeller Works located north of Liverpool
. He also contributed to the success of other missions, including the attack and destruction of the lock
entrance to the Manchester Ship Canal
at Eastham
and the attack on the pilot training airfield at Penrose. In more than 200 combat missions, Schlund successfully fought off 13 attacks by enemy fighters.
The Fourth Staffel of LG 1 was ordered to attack the British ships in the port of Piraeus
on the night of Good Friday
1941. During this moonlight mission, Helbig dive-bombed and sank a troop transport ship, most likely the Ellenis, which was also used as a hospital ship by Greek forces. On 5 November 1941 Helbig took cammand as Gruppenkommandeur
(Group Commander) of (1st Bomber Group of the 1st Demonstration Wing), succeeding Hauptmann
Kuno Hoffmann. With 220 combat missions flown, he was one of the youngest Gruppenkommandeure in the Luftwaffe. On 16 January 1942 Helbig became the 64th recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) after having completed 300 combat missions. During the German assault on Tobruk
in 1942, Helbig, flying two missions per night, bombed the heavily defended fortress on ten consecutive nights. Taking off from Heraklion
, each mission lasted 4 to 4.5 hours.
Five Ju 88s from took off on an armed reconnaissance patrol in the sea area south of Crete
on 11 May 1942. The crew of Oberfeldwebel Otto Leupert was searching the area of quadrant 5574/23 East—roughly 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) south of Crete—and detected the four British destroyers HMS Jervis
, HMS Kipling
, HMS Jackal
and HMS Lively
before noon. Joachim Helbig was immediately informed by radio communications. The destroyers approached the sea between Crete and Tobruk at around noon and were again spotted by a German reconnaissance aircraft at 12:35 pm. At 2:30 pm 14 Ju 88s from headed for quadrant 6450/23 East. The aircraft were armed with two 500 kilograms (1,102.3 lb) and two 250 kilograms (551.2 lb) bombs. Despite the protection of accompanying Bristol Beaufort
torpedo bombers from No. 272 Squadron RAF
, operating as long-range fighters, the Ju 88s attacked. The HMS Lively was struck by Oberfeldwebel Leupert and sank at about 3:30 pm. After refueling and rearming, a second wave led by Leupert failed to reach the destroyers.
The third wave led by Hauptmann Helbig took off from Heraklion
with seven aircraft of I. Gruppe/LG 1. His flight included the experienced veterans Oberleutnant
Iro Ilk
, Oberleutnant Backhaus, Leutnant Gerhard Brenner
and Oberfeldwebel Otto Leupert. The seven Ju 88s attacked the destroyers with the already setting sun behind them. In the space of ten minutes, they sank two of the three vessels. Helbig had selected the Kipling as his target. His four bombs struck the destroyer amidships, sinking her at 32.39°N 26.19°E. The Jackal was hit several times. The British attempted to tow the crippled vessel to a friendly port; however, the next day, it sank, scuttled by Jervis. This achievement earned Helbig his first of two references in the Wehrmachtbericht
on 13 May 1942. The Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report made by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
(High Command of the Armed Forces) reporting on the military situation on all fronts. He also developed a reputation among his opponents: The British called his squadron "The Helbig Flyers". In June 1942, British commandos targeted his unit at their base in Heraklion, and succeeded in blowing up seven of his Ju 88s.
Helbig flew numerous missions in support of the Siege of Malta. On 28 September 1942 he was awarded the 20th Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). He had sunk of enemy shipping. In defense of the Allied landings in Algeria and Tunisia (Operation Torch
) in November 1942 he sank a munitions transport, USS Leedstown
, off the coast of Algeria.
(Lieutenant Colonel) on 1 September 1943. After numerous difficulties and clashes with his superiors, including Generalfeldmarschall
(Field Marshal) Albert Kesselring
, who lacked his operational expertise, he transferred to an operational unit and was made Geschwaderkommodore
(Wing Commander) of Lehrgeschwader 1
on 14 August 1943 in Wiener Neustadt
.
Helbig led his Geschwader against the Allied beachheads at Anzio
and Nettuno
in Italy with the beginning of Operation Shingle
on 22 January 1944. On 23 January 1944 LG 1 sank the HMS Janus
with a Henschel Hs 293
glider bomb and again damaged the Jervis severely for the loss of 11 aircraft. In Italy on 30 January 1944, his Ju 88 L1+AM was destroyed in an aerial attack by American bombers. This aircraft, which was solely piloted by Helbig himself, was the only Ju 88 to survive more than 1,000 hours of combat operations. After successful operations against Allied airfields on the isle of Corsica
, he was mentioned a second time in the Wehrmachtbericht on 28 May 1944.
and fearing that the intensive Allied fighter operations in the area would render any movement impossible without sustaining high losses. Helbig was accused of disobeying orders by Luftflotte 2
(2nd Air Fleet). Helbig relocated the Geschwader as soon as the low-pressure area dissipated, arriving in Belgium at dusk without losing a single aircraft.
The court martial proceedings against Helbig, which had already begun, were dropped, because he was able to prove that that his actions had been of decisive importance in preserving the Geschwader and its operational readiness. It was at this time that Helbig received the promotion to Oberst
(Colonel) on 1 July 1944 which Generalfeldmarschall
Wolfram von Richthofen
had proposed some time earlier. Helbig then led his Geschwader with some success in the battles against the invasion fleet. However the ever present Allied fighter aircraft over the invasion front inflicted heavy losses on LG 1.
He formed a combined ground support and reconnaissance battle group in defense of the Reich on 10 September 1944. Visiting one of the ground support squadrons at Vogelsang
in the Eifel
, he was severely wounded by strafing enemy aircraft. Due to his injuries Helbig had to surrender command of the Gefechtsverband Helbig, as the battle group was referred to, to the commander and Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 2
(KG 2) Oberstleutnant Rudolf Hallensleben. Shortly before the end of World War II, he led a small battle group made up of LG 1 and Kampfgeschwader 200. He was ordered by Generalmajor Franz Reuß
, commanding general of the 4. Flieger-Division
(4th Air Division), on 30 April 1945 to lead a small formation of Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
. The unit was to fly into Berlin-Wannsee and evacuate at least ten high ranking officials, people from Adolf Hitler
's inner circle, of the Reich. Nine aircraft headed for Berlin, but were forced to abandon the mission due to strong defensive anti-aircraft fire.
The city of Hamburg
was declared an open city
on 3 May 1945 and I./LG 1 abandoned their positions in southern Hamburg and relocated to Barmstedt
near Elmshorn
, roughly 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) north of Hamburg, on 4 May 1945. Helbig received the order to leave his Geschwader to serve as a courier, flying vital documents and secret orders from the Flensburg government
to the senior command staff of Generalfeldmarschall
Ferdinand Schörner
, the new Commander-in-Chief
of the German Army (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres
), in Czechoslovakia. After delivering his reports, he departed early on the evening of 8 May 1945. Flying west, he avoided capture by the Red Army
and escaped from Czechoslovakia. He was taken prisoner of war
(POW) by the Americans and was taken to the Sennelager
POW camp from which he escaped on 9 June.
After the war Helbig built a civilian life and became a manager of the Schultheiss-brewery in Berlin. He died on 5 October 1985 in Malente
, following a road accident on his way to vacation in Spain two days earlier.
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
Joachim Helbig (10 September 1915 – 5 October 1985) was an officer and pilot in the German Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
bomber arm during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was credited with the destruction of of Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
shipping accomplished in 480 missions during World War II.
Joachim Helbig was born in 1915 and joined the Luftwaffe in 1936. At the outbreak of World War II he served as an observer in Lehrgeschwader 1
Lehrgeschwader 1
Lehrgeschwader 1 formerly Lehrgeschwader Greifswald was a Luftwaffe multi-purpose unit during World War II, operating fighter, bomber and dive-bomber Gruppen. The unit was formed in July 1936...
(LG 1) and participated in the invasion of Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
.For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
Luftwaffe Organization
Between 1933 and 1945, the organization of the Luftwaffe underwent several changes. Originally, the German military high command decided to use an organizational structure similar to the army and navy, treating the branch as a strategic weapon of war...
He saw further action in the Norwegian Campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
and the Battles of the Netherlands
Battle of the Netherlands
The Battle of the Netherlands was part of Case Yellow , the German invasion of the Low Countries and France during World War II. The battle lasted from 10 May 1940 until 14 May 1940 when the main Dutch forces surrendered...
, Belgium
Battle of Belgium
The Battle of Belgium or Belgian Campaign formed part of the greater Battle of France, an offensive campaign by Germany during the Second World War...
and France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. For his contribution and military success in these campaigns Helbig received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 9 November 1940. He was then transferred to the Mediterranean theater
Mediterranean Theater
The term Mediterranean Theater can refer to:* Mediterranean Theatre of World War II, 1940–45* Mediterranean Theater of Operations, the official term for American military operations by the Army, the Navy, and the Army Air Forces in the Mediterranean region during 1942–45...
of operations where he operated against Malta, the British Mediterranean Fleet and in support of the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK). Helbig became the 20th recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) on 28 September 1942 for the support of Generalfeldmarschall
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
's 1942 summer offensive and the sinking of of enemy shipping.
Initially Helbig was banned from further combat flying and became an inspector on the staff of the General der Kampfflieger, the senior officer responsible for the Luftwaffe's bomber force. In August 1943 he was made Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position , originating during World War II, that is the equivalent of a RAF Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander. A Geschwaderkommodore is usually of Oberstleutnant or Oberst rank...
of Lehrgeschwader 1 operating against the Allied invasion forces in Italy
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
. In the last weeks of the war in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Helbig commanded a combat unit on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
consisting of elements of Lehrgeschwader 1 and Kampfgeschwader 200 (KG 200). After the war he worked as a manager for a brewery in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Joachim Helbing died in Malente
Malente
This Article is about a German location. For the DJ with the same name, see Malente .Malente is a municipality in the district of Ostholstein, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is about 5 km northwest of Eutin and 35 km north of Lübeck....
on 5 October 1985 following a car accident on vacation in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Military career
Joachim Helbig was born on 10 September 1915 on the estateEstate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
called Börln, which is located in Dahlen
Dahlen, Saxony
Dahlen is a town in the district Nordsachsen, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany.- Geography :The town is the gateway to the Dahlener Forest. The neighbouring towns are Wermsdorf , Oschatz and Torgau. Dahlen is located 22 km south of Torgau and 44 km east of Leipzig.The Bundesstraße 6...
, Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. He grew up in the countryside and was very fond of horse back riding. He volunteered for military service in 1935 and initially served one year with the Artillerieregiment 4 (4th Artillery Regiment) in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
. In the fall of 1936, he transferred to the Kampffliegerschule (Combat or Bomber Flying School) in Lechfeld. After completing his training as an observer and aerial gunner in April 1937, he was posted with III. Gruppe (3rd Group) Kampfgeschwader (Bomber Wing) 152 "Hindenburg" in Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
. III./KG 152 "Hindenburg" became II. Group of Lehrgeschwader 1
Lehrgeschwader 1
Lehrgeschwader 1 formerly Lehrgeschwader Greifswald was a Luftwaffe multi-purpose unit during World War II, operating fighter, bomber and dive-bomber Gruppen. The unit was formed in July 1936...
(1st Demonstration Wing) on 1 November 1938, where he started his informal pilot training.
His two friends, Oberleutnant Fritz Sohler and Oberleutnant Gerhard Schröder, taught "Observer" Helbig to fly and he earned his Luftwaffe Advanced Pilot's Certificate (Erweiterter Luftwaffen-Flugzeugführerschein), also known as 'C'-Certificate, confirming proficiency on multi-engine aircraft. Helbig's informal training was unique in the entire Luftwaffe bomber force.
Invasions of Poland, Norway and France
Leutnant Helbig was still an observer in a He 111 Kampfliegeraufklärung (Bomber Reconnaissance) at the outbreak of World War II. On the third day of the Polish campaignInvasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
, while on a recon mission over Poland, Helbig shot down a Polish reconnaissance aircraft. Although the next day he was injured in a motorcycle accident, which prevented him from seeing further combat in this campaign, he was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse). In October 1939, he participated in a number of uneventful missions against the British Home Fleet
British Home Fleet
The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy which operated in the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967.-Pre–First World War:...
in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
.
By 9 April 1940, when Operation Weserübung
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
began in Norway, Helbig had completed his pilot training. He flew missions supporting the German ground forces, particularly in the Narvik
Narvik
is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
area. For these missions, the He 111s took off from Aalborg
Aalborg
-Transport:On the north side of the Limfjord is Nørresundby, which is connected to Aalborg by a road bridge Limfjordsbroen, an iron railway bridge Jernbanebroen over Limfjorden, as well as a motorway tunnel running under the Limfjord Limfjordstunnelen....
for low-altitude strikes against British positions. In one such sortie, Helbig's flight engineer
Flight engineer
Flight engineers work in three types of aircraft: fixed-wing , rotary wing , and space flight .As airplanes became even larger requiring more engines and complex systems to operate, the workload on the two pilots became excessive during certain critical parts of the flight regime, notably takeoffs...
was severely wounded, and the left engine of his aircraft was shot out by flak. Helbig received the Narvik Shield
Narvik Shield
Narvik Shield is a German military award instituted on August 19, 1940, and authorized for all German forces that took part in the battles of Narvik between April 9 and June 9 of the same year. The shield was worn on the left arm of the uniform as described above...
for his participation in the battle for Norway.
When the campaign against Holland
Battle of the Netherlands
The Battle of the Netherlands was part of Case Yellow , the German invasion of the Low Countries and France during World War II. The battle lasted from 10 May 1940 until 14 May 1940 when the main Dutch forces surrendered...
, Belgium, and France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
began in May 1940, Helbig was appointed Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
(Squadron Leader) of 4./LG 1, a position he held until 5 November 1941. 4./LG 1 was equipped with the Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
. On one mission over Dunkirk
Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk was a battle in the Second World War between the Allies and Germany. A part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and allied forces in Europe from 26 May–4 June 1940.After the Phoney War, the Battle of...
, Helbig's aircraft was intercepted by enemy fighters. One engine was shot out and three crew members, including Helbig, suffered various degrees of injuries. For his actions in the French campaign, he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse). Following the defeat of France, he received an early promotion to Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
(Captain) on 19 July 1940.
Battle of Britain
On 15 August 1940, Helbig and his Staffel (Squadron), consisting of nine Ju 88s, took off from OrléansOrléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
at 4:45 pm, with the primary target RAF Worthy Down
RAF Worthy Down
Worthy Down Barracks is a British Army barracks near Winchester, Hampshire. It is the headquarters and depot of the Adjutant General's Corps and is part of the Winchester Garrison...
. Over the English coast the German formation consisting of Ju 88s from LG 1, Ju 87s from Sturzkampfgeschwader 1
Sturzkampfgeschwader 1
Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 was a Luftwaffe Dive bomber-wing of World War II. It was formed in November 1939-History:StG 1 was formed in November 1939 and remained active until October 1943, when all Sturzkampfgeschwader were renamed Schlachtgeschwader 1 .-Norwegian campaign:Fliegerkorps X was the only...
(StG 1; 1st Dive Bomber Wing
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
) escorted by elements of Zerstörergeschwader 2 (ZG 2; 2nd Heavy Fighter Wing
Heavy fighter
A heavy fighter is a fighter aircraft designed to carry heavier weapons or operate at longer ranges. To achieve acceptable performance, most heavy fighters were twin-engined, and many had multi-place crews....
), Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika was a World War II Luftwaffe Geschwader. It was most famous for service in the North African Campaign, supporting the Deutsches Afrikakorps.- Formation:...
(JG 27; 27th Fighter Wing) and Jagdgeschwader 53
Jagdgeschwader 53
Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik-As was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated in Western Europe and in the Mediterranean.Jagdgeschwader 53 - or as it was better known, the "Pik As" Geschwader - was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to 1937...
(JG 53; 53rd Fighter Wing), were intercepted by British fighters from No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group of the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. On 8 May of the next year it was transferred to South-Western Area. In 1919 it was transferred to Coastal Area where it remained until it was disbanded on 18 January 1932....
and No. 11 Group RAF
No. 11 Group RAF
No. 11 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century, finally disbanding in 1996. Its most famous service was during 1940 when it defended London and the south-east against the attacks of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.-First World War:No. 11 Group was...
. The combined attacking force of more than 200 German aircraft were intercepted by 14 British fighter squadrons totaling 170 fighter aircraft. This mission turned out to be disastrous for 4th Staffel. Only Helbig and his crew returned their heavily damaged aircraft back to friendly territory. The majority of his men, 32 members of the 4th Staffel, were taken prisoner by the British.
As the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
progressed, Helbig developed into an industrial target specialist. As a result of his success during more than 100 combat missions, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. By the time Helbig received the coveted decoration, he had flown 122 combat missions.
Helbig's success in surviving seemingly hopeless situations was due to his excellent crew, which included Oberfeldwebel Franz Schlund who, on 30 August 1941, became the first Luftwaffe radio operator to be awarded the Knight's Cross. Manning one of the machine guns, Schlund drove off the attacking fighter force on a mission against the Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
Propeller Works located north of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. He also contributed to the success of other missions, including the attack and destruction of the lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
entrance to the Manchester Ship Canal
Manchester Ship Canal
The Manchester Ship Canal is a river navigation 36 miles long in the North West of England. Starting at the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool, it generally follows the original routes of the rivers Mersey and Irwell through the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Several sets of locks lift...
at Eastham
Eastham, Merseyside
Eastham is a village and an electoral ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the Wirral Peninsula, to the south of Bromborough...
and the attack on the pilot training airfield at Penrose. In more than 200 combat missions, Schlund successfully fought off 13 attacks by enemy fighters.
North African and Mediterranean campaign
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
on the night of Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
1941. During this moonlight mission, Helbig dive-bombed and sank a troop transport ship, most likely the Ellenis, which was also used as a hospital ship by Greek forces. On 5 November 1941 Helbig took cammand as Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
(Group Commander) of (1st Bomber Group of the 1st Demonstration Wing), succeeding Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
Kuno Hoffmann. With 220 combat missions flown, he was one of the youngest Gruppenkommandeure in the Luftwaffe. On 16 January 1942 Helbig became the 64th recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) after having completed 300 combat missions. During the German assault on Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
in 1942, Helbig, flying two missions per night, bombed the heavily defended fortress on ten consecutive nights. Taking off from Heraklion
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
, each mission lasted 4 to 4.5 hours.
Five Ju 88s from took off on an armed reconnaissance patrol in the sea area south of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
on 11 May 1942. The crew of Oberfeldwebel Otto Leupert was searching the area of quadrant 5574/23 East—roughly 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) south of Crete—and detected the four British destroyers HMS Jervis
HMS Jervis (F00)
HMS Jervis was a J-class destroyer of the Royal Navy named after Admiral John Jervis . Jervis was laid down by R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company, Limited, at Hebburn-on-Tyne on 26 August 1937...
, HMS Kipling
HMS Kipling (F91)
HMS Kipling was a K-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by Yarrow, Scotstoun on 20 October 1937, launched on 19 January 1939, by the daughter of the poet Rudyard Kipling, and commissioned on 12 December 1939. On 28 December 1941 Kipling sank the German submarine U-75...
, HMS Jackal
HMS Jackal (F22)
HMS Jackal was a J-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by John Brown and Company, Limited, at Clydebank in Scotland on 24 September 1937, launched on 25 October 1938 and commissioned on 31 March 1939...
and HMS Lively
HMS Lively (G40)
HMS Lively was an L-class destroyer of the Royal Navy.She served during the Second World War, and was sunk in the Mediterranean in an air attack on 11 May 1942....
before noon. Joachim Helbig was immediately informed by radio communications. The destroyers approached the sea between Crete and Tobruk at around noon and were again spotted by a German reconnaissance aircraft at 12:35 pm. At 2:30 pm 14 Ju 88s from headed for quadrant 6450/23 East. The aircraft were armed with two 500 kilograms (1,102.3 lb) and two 250 kilograms (551.2 lb) bombs. Despite the protection of accompanying Bristol Beaufort
Bristol Beaufort
The Bristol Beaufort was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber....
torpedo bombers from No. 272 Squadron RAF
No. 272 Squadron RAF
No. 272 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an anti–submarine unit in World War I and a coastal fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No...
, operating as long-range fighters, the Ju 88s attacked. The HMS Lively was struck by Oberfeldwebel Leupert and sank at about 3:30 pm. After refueling and rearming, a second wave led by Leupert failed to reach the destroyers.
The third wave led by Hauptmann Helbig took off from Heraklion
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
with seven aircraft of I. Gruppe/LG 1. His flight included the experienced veterans Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Iro Ilk
Iro Ilk
Iro Ilk was a German World War II Luftwaffe bomber pilot, Fighter Ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross . A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat...
, Oberleutnant Backhaus, Leutnant Gerhard Brenner
Gerhard Brenner
Gerhard Brenner was a German World War II Luftwaffe bomber pilot and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ....
and Oberfeldwebel Otto Leupert. The seven Ju 88s attacked the destroyers with the already setting sun behind them. In the space of ten minutes, they sank two of the three vessels. Helbig had selected the Kipling as his target. His four bombs struck the destroyer amidships, sinking her at 32.39°N 26.19°E. The Jackal was hit several times. The British attempted to tow the crippled vessel to a friendly port; however, the next day, it sank, scuttled by Jervis. This achievement earned Helbig his first of two references in the Wehrmachtbericht
Wehrmachtbericht
The Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
on 13 May 1942. The Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report made by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht
The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht was part of the command structure of the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.- Genesis :...
(High Command of the Armed Forces) reporting on the military situation on all fronts. He also developed a reputation among his opponents: The British called his squadron "The Helbig Flyers". In June 1942, British commandos targeted his unit at their base in Heraklion, and succeeded in blowing up seven of his Ju 88s.
Helbig flew numerous missions in support of the Siege of Malta. On 28 September 1942 he was awarded the 20th Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern). He had sunk of enemy shipping. In defense of the Allied landings in Algeria and Tunisia (Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
) in November 1942 he sank a munitions transport, USS Leedstown
USS Leedstown (AP-73)
USS Leedstown , was an 8,600-ton transport of the United States Navy during World War II. She was built in 1933 at Kearny, New Jersey as the commercial passenger liner Santa Lucia, acquired by the Navy in August 1942, renamed and converted for amphibious assault purposes.-Service...
, off the coast of Algeria.
High command
In January 1943, Helbig was transferred to the staff of the General der Kampfflieger (Commander of Bombers), as an inspector. In March 1943 he was often tasked with the duties of the General der Kampfflieger and in this role he received a preferential promotion to OberstleutnantLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
(Lieutenant Colonel) on 1 September 1943. After numerous difficulties and clashes with his superiors, including Generalfeldmarschall
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
(Field Marshal) Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring was a German Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. In a military career that spanned both World Wars, Kesselring became one of Nazi Germany's most skilful commanders, being one of 27 soldiers awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords...
, who lacked his operational expertise, he transferred to an operational unit and was made Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position , originating during World War II, that is the equivalent of a RAF Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander. A Geschwaderkommodore is usually of Oberstleutnant or Oberst rank...
(Wing Commander) of Lehrgeschwader 1
Lehrgeschwader 1
Lehrgeschwader 1 formerly Lehrgeschwader Greifswald was a Luftwaffe multi-purpose unit during World War II, operating fighter, bomber and dive-bomber Gruppen. The unit was formed in July 1936...
on 14 August 1943 in Wiener Neustadt
Wiener Neustadt
-Main sights:* The Late-Romanesque Dom, consecrated in 1279 and cathedral from 1469 to 1785. The choir and transept, in Gothic style, are from the 14th century. In the late 15th century 12 statues of the Apostles were added in the apse, while the bust of Cardinal Melchior Klesl is attributed to...
.
Helbig led his Geschwader against the Allied beachheads at Anzio
Anzio
Anzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene...
and Nettuno
Nettuno
Nettuno is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy, 60 kilometers south of Rome. It is named in honour of the Roman god Neptune...
in Italy with the beginning of Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
on 22 January 1944. On 23 January 1944 LG 1 sank the HMS Janus
HMS Janus (F53)
HMS Janus , named after the Roman god, was a J-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Limited at Wallsend-on-Tyne on 29 September 1937, launched on 10 November 1938 and commissioned on 5 August 1939. Janus participated in the Battle of Calabria in July 1940...
with a Henschel Hs 293
Henschel Hs 293
The Henschel Hs 293 was a World War II German anti-ship guided missile: a radio-controlled glide bomb with a rocket engine slung underneath it. It was designed by Herbert A. Wagner.- History :...
glider bomb and again damaged the Jervis severely for the loss of 11 aircraft. In Italy on 30 January 1944, his Ju 88 L1+AM was destroyed in an aerial attack by American bombers. This aircraft, which was solely piloted by Helbig himself, was the only Ju 88 to survive more than 1,000 hours of combat operations. After successful operations against Allied airfields on the isle of Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, he was mentioned a second time in the Wehrmachtbericht on 28 May 1944.
In defense of the Reich
On 6 June 1944 LG 1 was ordered to transfer to Belgium for air defence during the Allied invasion of France. Helbig ordered the transfer postponed due to unfavourable weather conditions over Southern FranceSouthern France
Southern France , colloquially known as le Midi is defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Gironde, Spain, the Mediterranean, and Italy...
and fearing that the intensive Allied fighter operations in the area would render any movement impossible without sustaining high losses. Helbig was accused of disobeying orders by Luftflotte 2
Luftflotte 2
Luftflotte 2 was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed February 1, 1939 in Braunschweig and transferred to Italy on November 15, 1941...
(2nd Air Fleet). Helbig relocated the Geschwader as soon as the low-pressure area dissipated, arriving in Belgium at dusk without losing a single aircraft.
The court martial proceedings against Helbig, which had already begun, were dropped, because he was able to prove that that his actions had been of decisive importance in preserving the Geschwader and its operational readiness. It was at this time that Helbig received the promotion to Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
(Colonel) on 1 July 1944 which Generalfeldmarschall
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
Wolfram von Richthofen
Wolfram von Richthofen
Dr.-Ing. Wolfram Freiherr von RichthofenIn German a Doctorate in engineering is abbreviated as Dr.-Ing. . was a German Generalfeldmarschall of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War...
had proposed some time earlier. Helbig then led his Geschwader with some success in the battles against the invasion fleet. However the ever present Allied fighter aircraft over the invasion front inflicted heavy losses on LG 1.
He formed a combined ground support and reconnaissance battle group in defense of the Reich on 10 September 1944. Visiting one of the ground support squadrons at Vogelsang
Vogelsang Airfield
Vogelsang Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield located approximately 3 miles northwest of Schleiden ; approximately 330 miles southwest of Berlin....
in the Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
, he was severely wounded by strafing enemy aircraft. Due to his injuries Helbig had to surrender command of the Gefechtsverband Helbig, as the battle group was referred to, to the commander and Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 2
Kampfgeschwader 2
Kampfgeschwader 2 " Holzhammer " was a Luftwaffe bomber unit during the Second World War. The unit was formed in May 1939. The unit operated the Dornier Do 17 light bomber, Dornier Do 217 and Junkers Ju 188 heavy bombers....
(KG 2) Oberstleutnant Rudolf Hallensleben. Shortly before the end of World War II, he led a small battle group made up of LG 1 and Kampfgeschwader 200. He was ordered by Generalmajor Franz Reuß
Franz Reuß
Franz Reuß was a general in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in July 1944.-Awards:* Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class...
, commanding general of the 4. Flieger-Division
4th Air Division (Germany)
4. Flieger Division was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on 1 August 1938 in Munich from the Höheren Fliegerkommandeur 5. The Division was redesignated 21. Flieger-Division on 1 November 1938 and relocated to Braunschweig and again renamed to 4....
(4th Air Division), on 30 April 1945 to lead a small formation of Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
Fieseler Fi 156
The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch was a small German liaison aircraft built by Fieseler before and during World War II, and production continued in other countries into the 1950s for the private market...
. The unit was to fly into Berlin-Wannsee and evacuate at least ten high ranking officials, people from Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's inner circle, of the Reich. Nine aircraft headed for Berlin, but were forced to abandon the mission due to strong defensive anti-aircraft fire.
The city of Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
was declared an open city
Open city
In war, in the event of the imminent capture of a city, the government/military structure of the nation that controls the city will sometimes declare it an open city, thus announcing that they have abandoned all defensive efforts....
on 3 May 1945 and I./LG 1 abandoned their positions in southern Hamburg and relocated to Barmstedt
Barmstedt
Barmstedt is a town in the district of Pinneberg, in the south of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated approx. 8 km northeast of Elmshorn, and 30 km northwest of Hamburg. It has approximately 9,500 inhabitants which makes it the smallest town in the Pinneberg...
near Elmshorn
Elmshorn
Elmshorn is a town in the district of Pinneberg in Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. It is located 32 km north of Hamburg at the small river Krückau, close to the Elbe river, is the sixth-largest city in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany...
, roughly 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) north of Hamburg, on 4 May 1945. Helbig received the order to leave his Geschwader to serve as a courier, flying vital documents and secret orders from the Flensburg government
Flensburg government
The Flensburg Government , also known as the Flensburg Cabinet and the Dönitz Government , was the short-lived administration that attempted to rule the Third Reich during most of May 1945 at the end of World War II in Europe...
to the senior command staff of Generalfeldmarschall
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
Ferdinand Schörner
Ferdinand Schörner
Ferdinand Schörner was a General and later Field Marshal in the German Army during World War II.-Early life:Schörner was born in Munich, Bavaria...
, the new Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the German Army (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres
Oberkommando des Heeres
The Oberkommando des Heeres was Nazi Germany's High Command of the Army from 1936 to 1945. The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht commanded OKH only in theory...
), in Czechoslovakia. After delivering his reports, he departed early on the evening of 8 May 1945. Flying west, he avoided capture by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
and escaped from Czechoslovakia. He was taken prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
(POW) by the Americans and was taken to the Sennelager
Sennelager
Sennelager is a village in Germany that forms part of the City of Paderborn. It is notable by the presence of a British army barracks, where the 20th Armoured Brigade are currently situated...
POW camp from which he escaped on 9 June.
After the war Helbig built a civilian life and became a manager of the Schultheiss-brewery in Berlin. He died on 5 October 1985 in Malente
Malente
This Article is about a German location. For the DJ with the same name, see Malente .Malente is a municipality in the district of Ostholstein, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is about 5 km northwest of Eutin and 35 km north of Lübeck....
, following a road accident on his way to vacation in Spain two days earlier.
Awards
- Narvik ShieldNarvik ShieldNarvik Shield is a German military award instituted on August 19, 1940, and authorized for all German forces that took part in the battles of Narvik between April 9 and June 9 of the same year. The shield was worn on the left arm of the uniform as described above...
- Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in Silver - Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
in Gold with Pennant "400" - Combined Pilots-Observation BadgeCombined Pilots-Observation BadgeCombined Pilots-Observation Badge was a German military award instituted on 26 March 1936 by the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring to commemorate soldiers or servicemen who had already been awarded the Pilot's badge or Observer badge...
in Gold with Diamonds - Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
- "Afrika" and "Kreta" CuffbandCuff titleA cuff title is a form of insignia placed on the sleeve, near the cuff of German military and paramilitary uniforms, most commonly seen in the Second World War but also seen postwar....
- Medaglia d'Argento al Valor MilitareSilver Medal of Military ValorThe Silver Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.Italian medals for valor were first instituted by Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia on May 21, 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, a silver medal...
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd class (16 September 1939)
- 1st class (20 June 1940)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and SwordsKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 24 November 1940 as HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
and StaffelkapitänStaffelkapitänStaffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
of the 4.(K)/Lehrgeschwader 1 - 64th Oak Leaves on 16 January 1942 as Hauptmann and GruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of the I.(K)/Lehrgeschwader 1 - 20th Swords on 28 September 1942 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I.(K)/Lehrgeschwader 1
- Knight's Cross on 24 November 1940 as Hauptmann
- Mentioned twice in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....