1. Johannes Wiese was a German Luftwaffe pilot during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 133 enemy aircraft shot down in 480 combat missions.
32 Facts About Johannes Wiese
1. 2.
Johannes Wiese claimed all of his victories over the Eastern Front, including over 50 Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik ground attack aircraft.
3.
Johannes Wiese claimed his first aerial victory on 23 September 1941.
4.
On 26 June 1942, Johannes Wiese was appointed Staffelkapitan of the 2.
5.
In October 1944, Johannes Wiese was posted to the Geschwaderstab of Jagdgeschwader 77 in Defense of the Reich and on 7 November 1944, he was appointed its Geschwaderkommodore.
6.
Johannes Wiese retired on 10 November 1970 holding the rank of Oberstleutnant.
7.
Johannes Wiese died on 16 August 1991 in Kirchzarten and was buried in Berlin-Nikolassee.
8.
In 1934, Johannes Wiese volunteered for service in the Heer and joined Infanterie-Regiment 6 under command of Oberst Kuno-Hans von Both.
9.
In 1936, Johannes Wiese transferred to the Luftwaffe as an Oberfahnrich.
10.
Johannes Wiese was promoted to Leutnant on 1 April 1937, and in September 1938 transferred to the Fliegerersatzabteilung 17 in Quedlinburg.
11.
Johannes Wiese then volunteered for the Jagdwaffe and holding the rank of Oberleutnant he began fighter pilot training in October 1938.
12.
Johannes Wiese was posted to a front-line unit in June 1941, almost two years after the start of World War II.
13.
Johannes Wiese's unit was the Geschwaderstab of Jagdgeschwader 52 where he served as an adjutant.
14.
Johannes Wiese claimed his first aerial victory on 23 September 1941 and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 27 September 1941 and the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Silver on 11 October 1941.
15.
Johannes Wiese received the Iron Cross 1st Class on 1 May 1942.
16.
Johannes Wiese received the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold on 13 July 1942.
17.
On 29 September 1942, Johannes Wiese he claimed his 25th aerial victory.
18.
Johannes Wiese was awarded the Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 6 November 1942.
19.
Together with Feldwebel Wilhelm Freuworth, Johannes Wiese was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 January 1943 following their 56th and 51st aerial victories respectively.
20.
On 13 November 1943, he was officially appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I Gruppe and at the end of 1943, Wiese was promoted to Major.
21.
On 17 July 1943, Johannes Wiese was credited with his 100th aerial victory.
22.
Johannes Wiese was the 45th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.
23.
On 19 June 1944, Johannes Wiese participated in comparison test flights at the Luftwaffes main testing ground for new aircraft designs at Rechlin.
24.
In October 1944, Johannes Wiese was posted to the Geschwaderstab of Jagdgeschwader 77 in Defense of the Reich on the Western Front.
25.
Johannes Wiese was taken to a field hospital at Bottrop where he was diagnosed with a concussion and minor skull fracture.
26.
Johannes Wiese spent the rest of the winter in hospital, and was replaced as commander by Major Siegfried Freytag.
27.
Johannes Wiese surrendered to US forces at the end of the war and was handed over by the Americans to the Soviet Red Army on 6 September 1945.
28.
Johannes Wiese spent over four years in Soviet prisoner of war camps and was released on 28 November 1949.
29.
Johannes Wiese was officially credited with 133 victories claimed in 480 combat missions.
30.
Soviet fighter pilots therefore greatly respected Johannes Wiese, and referred to him as the "Lion of Kuban", a name he earned during combat over the Kuban bridgehead.
31.
Johannes Wiese retired on 10 November 1970 holding the rank of Oberstleutnant.
32.
Johannes Wiese died on 16 August 1991 in Kirchzarten and was buried in Berlin-Nikolassee.