Kurt Plenzat

Infobox Military Person
name=Kurt Plenzat
lived=birth date|1914|1|17|df=y — death date and age|1998|11|17|1914|1|17|df=y
placeofbirth=Insterburg
placeofdeath=Cologne


caption=Kurt Plenzat
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Germany (to 1945)
flagicon|West Germany West Germany
branch=)
serviceyears=1933-1945
1957-1971
rank=Hauptmann
commands=2./ StG 2
unit=StG 2
battles=World War II
*Balkans Campaign
*Battle of Crete
*Operation Barbarossa
awards="Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves"
laterwork=

Kurt Plenzat (17 January 1914 – 17 November 1998) was a German Hauptmann and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II.

Early life

Plenzat was born in Insterburg, East Prussia. On 1 April 1933, he joined the 10th company of the 2nd Infantry-Regiment. In 1935 he transferred to the 11th company of the 44th Infantry-Regiment only to join the Luftwaffe in July 1938. He was trained as a Stuka pilot and was transferred via the "Ergänzungsgruppe" of the 2nd Stuka-Geschwader StG 2 [For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization] to the 2nd Staffel of the Geschwader.

World War II

Feldwebel Plenzat flew his first combat sortie in 1940 over the English Channel. In the spring of 1941 he participated in the Balkans Campaign and the Battle of Crete.

From June 1941 on Plenzat fought on the Eastern front over Russia. On 14 October 1941 he was awarded the Ehrenpokal of the Luftwaffe. On 20 April 1942, after 652 combat sorties, he received the German Cross in Gold. After 652 combat sorties on 19 September 1943 as Oberfeldwebel, Plenzat received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Since the end of 1943, after being promoted to Leutnant, he led the 2nd Staffel of the now renamed Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann". On 18 October 1944 Plenzat flew his 1.000th mission over Hungary. After his 1.100th mission he was decorated with the 712th Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves on 24 January 1945.

By the end of the war Plenzat had flown 1,234 combat sorties and is listed fourth on the list of Stuka-Aces. [For a list of Luftwaffe ground attack aces see "List of German World War II Ground Attack aces"] He was shot down seven times, claimed four aerial victories, and destroyed approximately 80 tanks, which ranks him twelfth of all German ground attack pilots.

After the war

In 1957 Plenzart joined the Bundeswehr and retired in 1971 holding the rank of Hauptmann. He died in Cologne.

Awards

* Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (14 October 1941)
* German Cross in Gold (20 April 1942)
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
** Knight's Cross (19 September 1943)
** 712. Oak Leaves (24 January 1945)

Notes

References

* Brütting, Georg. "Das waren die deutschen Stuka-Asse 1939 - 1945". Motorbuch, Stuttgart, 1995. ISBN 3-87943-433-6.