SS
The basics
Quick facts
Intro
German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient
Gender:
Male
Places:
Birth:
6 September 1913(Poznań, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland)
Death:
8 June 1944(Rennes, canton of Rennes-Centre, arrondissement of Rennes, France)
Star sign:
The details
Biography
Introduction
Siegfried Simsch (6 September 1913 – 8 June 1944) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.
Despite being half Jewish, or Mischling under the Nuremberg Laws, Simsch enlisted in the Luftwaffe and served with distinction.
On the 1st of June 1944, he was appointed to Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 11 to replace Hans-Heinrich Koenig who was killed in action on the 24th of May. One week later, and two days after the Normandy landings Siegfried Simsch was shot down by a P-51 and killed on 8 June 1944 over Rennes, France. During his career he was credited with 54 or 95 aerial victories.
Awards
- Flugzeugführerabzeichen
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (20 December 1941)
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 July 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52