1. Hartmann Grasser was a World War II German fighter ace.
13 Facts About Hartmann Grasser
1. 2.
Hartmann Grasser was credited with shooting down 103 Allied aircraft while flying 700 missions on the Western Front, Eastern Front, and in North Africa.
3.
Hartmann Grasser was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
4.
On 1 April 1936, Hartmann Grasser then joined the Luftwaffe with the rank of Fahnenjunker.
5.
In October 1940, Hartmann Grasser was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 51.
6.
Hartmann Grasser was replaced by Leutnant Hans-Joachim Steffens who was killed in action shortly after.
7.
On 24 January 1942, Hartmann Grasser attacked and shot down an Ilyushin DB-3 bomber.
8.
Hartmann Grasser, who was wounded in the encounter, was rescued by the German infantry.
9.
That day, Hartmann Grasser was claimed eight aerial victories, making him an "ace-in-a-day".
10.
Hartmann Grasser was the 288th member of the German armed forces to be so honored.
11.
On 28 April 1944, Hartmann Grasser succeeded Hauptmann Friedrich Eberle as commander of III.
12.
In May 1945, Hartmann Grasser was taken prisoner of war by the United States Army.
13.
Hartmann Grasser died on 2 June 1986 in Cologne and was interred in his hometown Graz.