Oskar Romm

Oskar "Ossi" Romm (18 December 1919 – 1 May 1993) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career he was credited with 92 aerial victories, 82 on the Eastern Front and 10 on the Western Front.

Oskar Romm
Romm (center)
Nickname(s)"Ossi"
Born18 December 1919
Hejnice, Czechoslovakia
Died1 May 1993(1993-05-01) (aged 73)
Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945)
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–45
RankOberleutnant (first lieutenant)
UnitJG 51
JG 3
Commands heldIV./JG 3
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Despite being half Jewish, or Mischling under the Nuremberg Laws, Romm enlisted in the Luftwaffe and served with distinction.[1]

Romm was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 12.(Sturnm) Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) on 7 July 1944. He replaced Oberleutnant Hans Rachner who had been killed in action that day. The Staffel was renamed to 15.(Sturnm) Staffel on 10 August.[2] On 17 February 1945, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of IV. Gruppe of JG 3. He succeeded Major Erwin Bacsila who had been wounded in combat.[3]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Romm was credited with 92 aerial victories.[4] Spick also lists Romm with 92 aerial victories, of which 82 were claimed over the Eastern Front and further 10 over the Western Front, claimed in 229 combat missions.[5] Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 88 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 78 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 10 over the Western Allies, including eight four-engined heavy bombers.[6]

Awards

Notes
  1. Accoding to Obermaier on 2 October 1943.[8]
  2. According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders".[11]

References

Citations
  1. Rigg 2002, p. 39.
  2. Prien 1996, p. 331.
  3. Prien 1996, p. 330.
  4. Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
  5. Spick 1996, p. 234.
  6. Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1056–1058.
  7. Patzwall 2008, p. 173.
  8. Obermaier 1989, p. 188.
  9. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 384.
  10. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 363.
  11. Scherzer 2007, p. 638.

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.
  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton-on-Thames, UK: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
  • 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.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen (1996). IV./Jagdgeschwader 3—Chronik einer Jagdgruppe—1943 – 1945 [IV./Jagdgeschwader 3—Chronic of a Fighter Group—1943 – 1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-36-6.
  • Rigg, Bryan Mark (2002). Hitler's Jewish Soldiers: The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-1178-2.
  • 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.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
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