Günther Tonne

Günther Tonne
Born 21 May 1916
Frankfurt (Oder)
Died 15 July 1943(1943-07-15) (aged 27)
Reggio
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Kriegsmarine (1935-1937)
Luftwaffe (1937-1943)
Years of service 1935–1943
Rank Major
Unit SKG 210
SKG 10
ZG 1
Commands held II./ Zerstörergeschwader 1
Schnellkampfgeschwader 10
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Günther Tonne (21 May 1916 – 15 July 1943) 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 successful military leadership.

Career

Tonne was born on 21 May 1916 in Frankfurt. He entered service with the Kriegsmarine and transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1937. In September 1939 he joined II./Zerstörergeschwader 1 (ZG 1). In June 1940 II./ZG 1 became III./Zerstörergeschwader 76 (ZG 76) and by July 1940 was an Oberleutnant with 9./ZG 76. He claimed some 7 victories over the English Channel in 1940. In April 1941 Tonne was Staffelkapitän of 6./Schnellkampfgeschwader 210 (SKG 210), and he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in October 1941. He claimed a Royal Air Force (RAF) Blenheim on 18 April 1941.

In January 1942 he was posted to command 6./ZG 1, before becoming Gruppenkommandeur of II./ZG 1. December 1942 saw promotion to Hauptmann and command of II./SKG 10. Tonne became Geschwaderkommodore, of SKG 10 until 15 July 1943 when he was killed in a in crash at Reggio di Calabria, when his engine quit shortly after take-off. He was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 24 October 1944.

Günther Tonne was credited with around 15 victories (approx 5 in the west) in over 300 missions.

Awards and decorations

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 6./Schnellkampfgeschwader 210.[3]

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Thomas 1998, p. 386.
  2. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 344.
  3. 1 2 Scherzer 2007, p. 748.
  4. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 76.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7. 
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9. 
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1. 


Military offices
Preceded by
Hauptmann Rolf Kaldrack		 Commander of II./Zerstörergeschwader 1
4 February 1942 – 1 February 1943 		Succeeded by
Hauptmann Gerhard Weyert
Preceded by
—		 Commander of Schnellkampfgeschwader 10
December 1942 – 15 July 1943 		Succeeded by
Major Helmut Viedebantt
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