Schlachtgeschwader 1
Encyclopedia
Schlachtgeschwader 1 was a Luftwaffe
ground- attack wing
of World War II
. The early two Schlachtgeschwader 1 and 2 were abbreviated SchlG, the reformed Stukageschwader in 1943 were abbreviated SG.
, near Dortmund
from the II.(Schl)/LG 2, initially with two Gruppen with 4 Staffeln each. The Geschwader was disbanded on 18 October 1943. The I. Gruppe became II./Schlachtgeschwader 77
and the II. Gruppe II. /Schlachtgeschwader 2
. Schlachtgeschwader 1 was reformed again the same day on 18 October 1943 from Sturzkampfgeschwader 1
.
I./ SchlG 1 were outfitted with Bf 109E-7s, while 5. and 6. Staffeln were equipped with Hs 129B-1s and 7. Staffel with Hs 123As, the latter unit taking over the aircraft of 8. Staffel in April. After training was completed in April 1942 the Geschwader was ordered to the Crimea for duty with IV. Fliegerkorps, Luftflotte 4.
. Attacks were carried out against Soviet positions along the front, on troop and supply columns immediately behind the front. Such was the effect that that German infantry assault units were able to break through the forward defenses on 8 May, the first day of the attack, and took the town of Kerch on 15 May. Losses to the Gruppe were two Bf 109E-7s on 11 May, both shot down by AA fire. 3 Hs 129B-1s were shot down by AA fire on 23 May.
Altogether SchlG 1 flew nearly 1,500 sorties during the month with a 1,000 plus missions with the Bf 109E, 259 with the Henschel Hs 123
and some 180 with the new Henschel Hs 129
A, then under evaluation as the Luftwaffe's first custom-built ground assault aircraft . The unit later moved to Tatsinskaya in July and Tusov in August to support the 6th Army during the drive to the Don, and later Stalingrad, which began on June 25.
Few losses were recorded during intense action, but I./SchlG 1 did lose 2 Bf 109E-7s, one shot down over Voronezh and the other on the Don on 4 July. II Gruppe was temporarily split up during this period with the Staffeln operating independently on the central sector of the front. 6. Staffel lost two Hs 129B-1s to AA on 28 June and three Hs 123As from 7. Staffel were lost northeast of Kursk on 29 June.
The rapid advance of the German forces resulted in the Geschwader gruppen being transferred rapidly though the summer. Losses that autumn in the Stalingrad area were very light. Around mid-August, a further move was made to Tusov which was to be the home base for the I. Gruppe until late November.
in January 1943 and a new 5th (5.) Staffel for SchlG 1 was formed a few weeks later in Germany, equipped with the Fw 190.
Four Bf 109E-7s of I gruppe were lost in December, two to Soviet fighters, as I./SchlG 1 was forced back to Millerovo
. On 31 December the 3. Staffel lost Staffelkapitän Oblt. Josef Graf von und zu Hönsbröck, killed by ground fire. By 22 December what was left of II./SG 1 had also been pulled back, to Voroshilovgrad.
In 1942 II. Gruppe had flown 3,128 Hs 129 sorties, 1,532 Hs 123 sorties, and 1,938 Bf 109 sorties, claimed 107 aircraft shot down or destroyed, and losing 20 Hs 129s, 16 Bf 109s, and 5 Hs 123s to enemy action.
During early 1943 the Stab operated in the Donets Basin
area, two Bf 109E-7s from 2. Staffel being lost to enemy fire on 10 February. On 16 February, the Soviets recaptured Kharkov and the Germans counter-attacked to retake the city two weeks later. SG 1 supported, and as soon as the city was under German control moved to Kharkov-North on 14 March.
SG 1's two Gruppen continued operations during the spring and summer while converting to the Focke Wulf Fw 190. I. gruppe's conversion was completed by the end of April, though several Bf 109s remained on strength. II. gruppe converted to the Fw 190A-5 which was completed by early March, transferring to central Ukraine for a month of training before moving back to the front in April.
The ground attack missions in support of the cut-off 17th Army in the Kuban bridgehead were intense and costly, as the Soviet Air Force out-numbered the Luftwaffe four to one and had large numbers of AA guns in the area. 7 Fw 190A-5s of II gruppe were shot down in May, most falling to AA fire. June also saw the arrival of the first of the new heavily armoured Fw 190F-3s.
to pin down the Soviet counter-offensive. Intensive non-stop operations between 8 July and 2 August saw I gruppe lose eight Fw 190s to AA fire, including one piloted by Obstlt. Horst-Wilhelm Hossfeld, a general staff officer on 17 July. II./SchlG 1 did not get involved in heavy fighting until the Russian spearheads began to close around in early August.
As the Soviets advanced, Orel fell on 4 August and I. Gruppe was forced back, to Bryansk. By September the Gruppe was shifted to the northern Ukraine to fly missions against the Soviets moving towards Kiev.
Hptm. Johannes Meinecke, Staffelkapitän 1. Staffel was killed by AA fire near Mutino on 4 September. Three Fw 190F-3s were lost on 27 September and another F-3 and on 6 October a Fw 190A-6 was shot down flown by the new Staffelkapitän of 1. Staffel Hptm. Josef Menapace
, who was killed. On 13 October, two more Fw 190F-3s were shot down by Soviet fighters.
II./SchlG 1 was forced to withdraw to the west to Kiev-South. Losses September-October were relatively light, averaging one aircraft per week.
B-1.
Commencing operations on 7 May the staffel attacked various ground targets, shot down an I-16 fighter and destroyed some 40 other aircraft during low-level strafing attacks on enemy airfields in Eastern Crimea. In mid-May the staffel moved with the rest of II. Gruppe and took part in the heavy fighting to the south and south-east of Kharkov. In early June the aircraft were fitted with the new MK-101 30mm cannon 'underbelly' pack, and first went into action against Soviet tanks retreating along the Don River. Their first loss was a Hs 129 on 6 July.
Following the Soviet counter-offensive at Stalingrad the Staffel was deployed west of Stalingrad. After withdrawing to Stalino it was re-equipped with the new Hs 129B-2 and transferred to Stalino-North during April. The Staffel supported the German ground forces on the Taman Peninsula
, south west of Rostov.
In June the staffel was sent back to Germany, to be fitted with the new 30mm MK-103 armour-piercing cannon, ready for the upcoming Operation Zitadelle.
Losses were heavy in July with 7 Hs 129B-2s falling to AA fire. The Staffel then assisted in the defence against the Soviet counter-attack towards Orel of 13 July. 4. (Pz) moved to Poltava
at the end of August. 6 aircraft were lost in September as the Staffel retreated through central Ukraine. In October, it was renamed 10.(Pz)/SG 9.
8.(Pz)/SchlG 1 returned to southern Russia in February by April sent to the North Caucasus to support the Kuban bridgehead. Very heavy losses were suffered in the fighting over Kuban , nine aircraft being lost by the end of May.
8.(Pz)/SchlG 1 were withdrawn the southern Ukraine in June to re-equip. In July, 8. (Pz) was transferred for Operation "Zitadelle", the German offensive against the Kursk salient.
Losses were again heavy as the Staffel attacked Soviet armour east of Kursk. The Staffel was ordered to Orel-West on 15 July to counter the powerful Soviet attack toward Orel begun two days earlier. In September the Staffel was committed in the rear-guard fighting between Kharkov and Kiev. After losing five Hs 129s in the month, the next move was to Kiev. While based at Kiev, 8.(Pz) was renamed 11.(Pz)/SG 9 in October 1943.
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....
ground- attack wing
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
of 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...
. The early two Schlachtgeschwader 1 and 2 were abbreviated SchlG, the reformed Stukageschwader in 1943 were abbreviated SG.
History
Schlachtgeschwader 1 was formed on 13 January 1942 at WerlWerl
Werl is a town located in the district of Soest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Werl is easily accessible because it is located between the Sauerland, Münsterland, and the Ruhr Area...
, near Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
from the II.(Schl)/LG 2, initially with two Gruppen with 4 Staffeln each. The Geschwader was disbanded on 18 October 1943. The I. Gruppe became II./Schlachtgeschwader 77
Schlachtgeschwader 77
Schlachtgeschwader 77 was a Luftwaffe close air support-wing of World War II.-History:Schlachtgeschwader 77 was formed on 18 October 1943 in Wassilkow from Stab/Sturzkampfgeschwader 77. With the exception of II. Group which was redesignated as III. Group, Schlachtgeschwader 10, the remaining...
and the II. Gruppe II. /Schlachtgeschwader 2
Schlachtgeschwader 2
Schlachtgeschwader 2 Immelmann was a Luftwaffe Dive bomber-wing of World War II. It was named after Max Immelmann,the first German pilot to earn the Pour le Mérite....
. Schlachtgeschwader 1 was reformed again the same day on 18 October 1943 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...
.
I./ SchlG 1 were outfitted with Bf 109E-7s, while 5. and 6. Staffeln were equipped with Hs 129B-1s and 7. Staffel with Hs 123As, the latter unit taking over the aircraft of 8. Staffel in April. After training was completed in April 1942 the Geschwader was ordered to the Crimea for duty with IV. Fliegerkorps, Luftflotte 4.
Crimea 1942-3
After arrival operations started with ground attack missions in the Eastern Crimea in May, and then over the Izyum Salient southeast of Kharkov to the end of the month. Outfitted with Bf 109E-7s, I./SchlG 1 was based at Itshki-Grammatikovo, the Gruppe was assigned to VIII. Fliegerkorps for support of 11th Army's in the Kerch PeninsulaKerch Peninsula
The Kerch Peninsula is a major and prominent geographic feature located at the eastern portion of Crimea. Stretching towards the Taman peninsula, it is reminiscent of an isthmus between two neighboring seas: Azov Sea and Black Sea...
. Attacks were carried out against Soviet positions along the front, on troop and supply columns immediately behind the front. Such was the effect that that German infantry assault units were able to break through the forward defenses on 8 May, the first day of the attack, and took the town of Kerch on 15 May. Losses to the Gruppe were two Bf 109E-7s on 11 May, both shot down by AA fire. 3 Hs 129B-1s were shot down by AA fire on 23 May.
Altogether SchlG 1 flew nearly 1,500 sorties during the month with a 1,000 plus missions with the Bf 109E, 259 with the Henschel Hs 123
Henschel Hs 123
The Henschel Hs 123 was a single-seat biplane dive bomber and close-support attack aircraft flown by the German Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War and the early to mid-point of World War II...
and some 180 with the new Henschel Hs 129
Henschel Hs 129
The Henschel Hs 129 was a World War II ground-attack aircraft fielded by the German Luftwaffe. Its nickname, the Panzerknacker , is a deliberate pun—in German, it also means "safe cracker"...
A, then under evaluation as the Luftwaffe's first custom-built ground assault aircraft . The unit later moved to Tatsinskaya in July and Tusov in August to support the 6th Army during the drive to the Don, and later Stalingrad, which began on June 25.
Few losses were recorded during intense action, but I./SchlG 1 did lose 2 Bf 109E-7s, one shot down over Voronezh and the other on the Don on 4 July. II Gruppe was temporarily split up during this period with the Staffeln operating independently on the central sector of the front. 6. Staffel lost two Hs 129B-1s to AA on 28 June and three Hs 123As from 7. Staffel were lost northeast of Kursk on 29 June.
The rapid advance of the German forces resulted in the Geschwader gruppen being transferred rapidly though the summer. Losses that autumn in the Stalingrad area were very light. Around mid-August, a further move was made to Tusov which was to be the home base for the I. Gruppe until late November.
North Africa
5. Staffel was transferred to East Prussia in October to rest and refit with the Hs 129B-2.It departed for North Africa on 5 November and arrived in Tunis on 29 November. It flew its first combat mission the next day against British tanks and vehicle columns near Tebourba, followed by numerous missions over the next month. It was renamed 8.(Pz)/SchlG 2Schlachtgeschwader 2
Schlachtgeschwader 2 Immelmann was a Luftwaffe Dive bomber-wing of World War II. It was named after Max Immelmann,the first German pilot to earn the Pour le Mérite....
in January 1943 and a new 5th (5.) Staffel for SchlG 1 was formed a few weeks later in Germany, equipped with the Fw 190.
Russian Retreat
The Soviet counter-offensive at Stalingrad erupted on 19 November causing surprise and mayhem. On 22 November I./SchlG 1 was forced to blow up several its unserviceable Bf 109E-7s, just days after the start of the Soviet counter-offensive that eventually encircled the German 6th Army. The unit was forced to abandon its base at Oblivskaya on 26 November and withdraw to the west. II. Gruppe also began a maximum effort around Stalingrad at the cost of at least 8 Hs 129Bs, Hs 123As and Bf 109Es lost in ground attack missions or blown up to prevent capture by the on-coming Russians.Four Bf 109E-7s of I gruppe were lost in December, two to Soviet fighters, as I./SchlG 1 was forced back to Millerovo
Millerovo
Millerovo is a town and the administrative center of Millerovsky District of Rostov Oblast, Russia. Population: It was founded in 1786 and named after its founder, the army officer Ivan Abramovich Müller...
. On 31 December the 3. Staffel lost Staffelkapitän Oblt. Josef Graf von und zu Hönsbröck, killed by ground fire. By 22 December what was left of II./SG 1 had also been pulled back, to Voroshilovgrad.
In 1942 II. Gruppe had flown 3,128 Hs 129 sorties, 1,532 Hs 123 sorties, and 1,938 Bf 109 sorties, claimed 107 aircraft shot down or destroyed, and losing 20 Hs 129s, 16 Bf 109s, and 5 Hs 123s to enemy action.
During early 1943 the Stab operated in the Donets Basin
Donets Basin
Donbas or Donbass , full rarely-used name Donets Basin , is a historical, economic and cultural region of eastern Ukraine. Originally a coal mining area, it has become a heavily industrialised territory suffering from urban decay and industrial pollution.-Geography:Donbas covers three...
area, two Bf 109E-7s from 2. Staffel being lost to enemy fire on 10 February. On 16 February, the Soviets recaptured Kharkov and the Germans counter-attacked to retake the city two weeks later. SG 1 supported, and as soon as the city was under German control moved to Kharkov-North on 14 March.
SG 1's two Gruppen continued operations during the spring and summer while converting to the Focke Wulf Fw 190. I. gruppe's conversion was completed by the end of April, though several Bf 109s remained on strength. II. gruppe converted to the Fw 190A-5 which was completed by early March, transferring to central Ukraine for a month of training before moving back to the front in April.
The ground attack missions in support of the cut-off 17th Army in the Kuban bridgehead were intense and costly, as the Soviet Air Force out-numbered the Luftwaffe four to one and had large numbers of AA guns in the area. 7 Fw 190A-5s of II gruppe were shot down in May, most falling to AA fire. June also saw the arrival of the first of the new heavily armoured Fw 190F-3s.
Kursk 1943
Participating in the Kursk offensive (Operation Zitadelle) during July 1943, I./SchlG 1 was ordered north to OrelOryol
Oryol or Orel is a city and the administrative center of Oryol Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River, approximately south-southwest of Moscow...
to pin down the Soviet counter-offensive. Intensive non-stop operations between 8 July and 2 August saw I gruppe lose eight Fw 190s to AA fire, including one piloted by Obstlt. Horst-Wilhelm Hossfeld, a general staff officer on 17 July. II./SchlG 1 did not get involved in heavy fighting until the Russian spearheads began to close around in early August.
As the Soviets advanced, Orel fell on 4 August and I. Gruppe was forced back, to Bryansk. By September the Gruppe was shifted to the northern Ukraine to fly missions against the Soviets moving towards Kiev.
Hptm. Johannes Meinecke, Staffelkapitän 1. Staffel was killed by AA fire near Mutino on 4 September. Three Fw 190F-3s were lost on 27 September and another F-3 and on 6 October a Fw 190A-6 was shot down flown by the new Staffelkapitän of 1. Staffel Hptm. Josef Menapace
Josef Menapace
Josef Menapace was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, who was killed. On 13 October, two more Fw 190F-3s were shot down by Soviet fighters.
II./SchlG 1 was forced to withdraw to the west to Kiev-South. Losses September-October were relatively light, averaging one aircraft per week.
Disbanding and Reorganisation
SchlG 1 gradually withdrew to Kiev where it was stationed in October 1943. On 18 October the Stab was disbanded and the personnel used to form the Stäbe (Staffs) of IV./SG 9, NSGr 3 and NSGr 7, while I. Gruppe was renamed II./SG 77, except for the 1. Staffel which was disbanded and personnel incorporated into the other Staffeln. II./SchlG 1 was renamed II./SG 2, with 5. Staffel becoming 8. Staffel and the others retaining their previous numbers.4.(Pz)/SchlG 1
This Staffel was formed in January 1942 as a component of II./SchlG 1 with Bf 109Es provided by the disbanded II (Schl.)/LG 2. It however operated as an independent autonomous unit for much of its existence. It flew under VIII. Fliegerkorps after receiving 16 of the new Henschel Hs 129Henschel Hs 129
The Henschel Hs 129 was a World War II ground-attack aircraft fielded by the German Luftwaffe. Its nickname, the Panzerknacker , is a deliberate pun—in German, it also means "safe cracker"...
B-1.
Commencing operations on 7 May the staffel attacked various ground targets, shot down an I-16 fighter and destroyed some 40 other aircraft during low-level strafing attacks on enemy airfields in Eastern Crimea. In mid-May the staffel moved with the rest of II. Gruppe and took part in the heavy fighting to the south and south-east of Kharkov. In early June the aircraft were fitted with the new MK-101 30mm cannon 'underbelly' pack, and first went into action against Soviet tanks retreating along the Don River. Their first loss was a Hs 129 on 6 July.
Following the Soviet counter-offensive at Stalingrad the Staffel was deployed west of Stalingrad. After withdrawing to Stalino it was re-equipped with the new Hs 129B-2 and transferred to Stalino-North during April. The Staffel supported the German ground forces on the Taman Peninsula
Taman peninsula
The Taman Peninsula is a peninsula in the present-day Krasnodar Krai of Russia. It is bounded on the north by the Sea of Azov, on the west by the Strait of Kerch and on the south by the Black Sea. The peninsula has evolved over the past two millennia from a chain of islands into the peninsula it is...
, south west of Rostov.
In June the staffel was sent back to Germany, to be fitted with the new 30mm MK-103 armour-piercing cannon, ready for the upcoming Operation Zitadelle.
Losses were heavy in July with 7 Hs 129B-2s falling to AA fire. The Staffel then assisted in the defence against the Soviet counter-attack towards Orel of 13 July. 4. (Pz) moved to Poltava
Poltava
Poltava is a city in located on the Vorskla River in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Poltava Oblast , as well as the surrounding Poltava Raion of the oblast. Poltava's estimated population is 298,652 ....
at the end of August. 6 aircraft were lost in September as the Staffel retreated through central Ukraine. In October, it was renamed 10.(Pz)/SG 9.
8.(Pz)/SchlG 1
8./SchlG 1 was returned to Germany in April 1942, and re-equipped with Bf 109E-7s, and their Hs 123 biplanes turned over to 7. Staffel. Although 8. (Pz) was officially a staffel of I. Gruppe SchlG 1 from January 1942 after the Geschwader's reorganization in early 1943, it operated independently after its conversion to the Hs 129 in January 1943 and reclassification as a 'tank-buster' unit.8.(Pz)/SchlG 1 returned to southern Russia in February by April sent to the North Caucasus to support the Kuban bridgehead. Very heavy losses were suffered in the fighting over Kuban , nine aircraft being lost by the end of May.
8.(Pz)/SchlG 1 were withdrawn the southern Ukraine in June to re-equip. In July, 8. (Pz) was transferred for Operation "Zitadelle", the German offensive against the Kursk salient.
Losses were again heavy as the Staffel attacked Soviet armour east of Kursk. The Staffel was ordered to Orel-West on 15 July to counter the powerful Soviet attack toward Orel begun two days earlier. In September the Staffel was committed in the rear-guard fighting between Kharkov and Kiev. After losing five Hs 129s in the month, the next move was to Kiev. While based at Kiev, 8.(Pz) was renamed 11.(Pz)/SG 9 in October 1943.
Kommodore
- Oberleutnant Otto Weiß, January 1942
- Oberleutnant Hubertus HitschholdHubertus HitschholdHubertus Hitschhold was a German World War II Luftwaffe Stuka ace.For a list of Luftwaffe ground attack aces see List of German World War II ground attack aces He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 18 June 1942 - Oberleutnant Alfred DruschelAlfred DruschelOberst Alfred Druschel was a German Luftwaffe combat pilot and Flying ace during World War II. He was the first combat pilot to be honored with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, June 1943 - Oberleutnant Gustav Pressler, 18 October 1943 – 1 May 1944
- Major Peter Gasmann, 1 May 1944 – 8 May 1945
I./SG 1
- Major Alfred DruschelAlfred DruschelOberst Alfred Druschel was a German Luftwaffe combat pilot and Flying ace during World War II. He was the first combat pilot to be honored with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 13 January 1942 - Major Georg DörffelGeorg DörffelGeorg Dörffel was a highly decorated Oberstleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield...
, March 1943 - Hauptmann Siegfried Steinhoff, September 1943
- Major Horst KaubischHorst KaubischHorst Kaubisch was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
, 17 June 1943 – 12 February 1945 - Hauptmann Arthur Pipan, 2 March 1945 – 8 May 1945
II./SG 1
- Hauptmann Paul-Friedrich Darjes, March 1942
- Hauptmann Frank Neubert, September 1942
- Hauptmann Heinz FrankHeinz FrankHeinz Frank was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
, September 1943 – October 1943 - Major Ernst-Christian Reusch, 1 May 1944 – 21 January 1945
- Hauptmann Heinrich Heins, 1 February 1945 – 8 May 1945
III./SG 1
- Hauptmann Friedrich LangFriedrich LangMajor Friedrich Lang was a German World War II Luftwaffe Stuka ace.For a list of Luftwaffe ground attack aces see List of German World War II Ground Attack aces He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 1 April 1943 – 20 May 1944 - Hauptmann Karl SchrepferKarl SchrepferKarl Schrepfer was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
, 1 May 1944 - 8 May 1945