Generaloberst Wolfgang Reinhold – 5 WWII aerial victories

[USAF1986]

Hello! NVA Generaloberst Dipl.-Mil. Wolfgang Reinhold (born 16 April 1923 in Berlin-Friedrichshagen) served as Deputy Minister for National Defense and Chief of the Air Force/Air Defense from 15 March 1972-30 November 1989. He served as an enlisted man in the Luftwaffe from 1941-1945. In early 1944, as an Unteroffizier, he was assigned to the I. Gruppe of Schlachtgeschwader (SG) 4 in Italy. Reinhold scored the first of his five aerial victories in this theater.

Transferred to the northern sector of the Russian front in July 1944, Reinhold served there until late 1944 when his group returned to Germany to support the Ardennes offensive and Operation “Bodenplatte.” By mid-January 1945, Reinhold had scored another four aerial victories over France and western Germany. By war's end, Reinhold had been promoted to Feldwebel, flown 223 operational sorties and received both classes of the Iron Cross and the Operational Flying Clasp in Gold (presumably the version for Schlachtflieger or Air-to-Ground Support Flyers).

The I. Gruppe of SG 4, having since returned to the Eastern Front in early 1945, surrendered to the Americans in Czechoslovakia. However, its members, Reinhold included, were handed over to the Russians.

Do any of our Luftwaffe experts have details of Reinhold’s five aerial victories? Thanks!

Best regards,
Shawn

SOURCE: Ehlert, Hans & Wagner, Armin (editors). Genosse General! Die Militärelite der DDR in biografischen Skizzen. Ch. Links Verlag, Berlin, Germany, 2003.

[PF]

Try the Website LEMB (Luftwaffe Expert Message Board (Eastern Front)
URL http://pub157.ezboard.com/bluftwaffeexperten71774

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

Nothing was known about Wolfgang Reinhold's atittude or behavior towards western countries or his own people in general. His son was a Oberstlt. of the Bundesluftwaffe that was killed aboard a TU-154 plane that collided with another plane. I wonder what he thought about the character traits of his father Wolfgang? I know this is an old post but it send me wondering about this particular military man.


Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[PF]

LEMB link

http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/forum ... topic=1431

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

I have difficulties in trying to get information through the LEMB link. I did find some information about General Wolfgang Reinhold though the NVA form but could not read much German. I knew that Reinhold held the post of commander of the East German Air Force longer than any other East German generals. I think he was the last East German general,who was a WWII Luftwaffe veteran,to retire in 1989.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

I found some uncomfirmed information that Wolfgang Reinhold had scored 13 aerial victories during WWII. I must say that he had an interesting long military career first in the Luftwaffe and the NVA which he served for over 35 years.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Any forum member ever had a one to one talk with Wolfgang Reinhold (Gen. Ret.)?

Edward L. Hsiao

[Ken S.]

The figure of thirteen victories comes from the source cited in post #1 ("Genosse General!"). First five kills in Italy, the next four in the East, and the last four in the West.