Krahl, Karl Heinz.

Krahl, Karl-Heinz, born on 25-09-1914 at Breslau, joined the German army pre-World War 2 but later transferred to the Luftwaffe and underwent flying training. Krahl served in the Spanish Civil War with the Condor Legion under command of Generalmajor Hugo Sperrle,

as a bomber pilot. He was awarded the Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwerten for his service there. On his return to Germany, Krahl re-trained as a fighter pilot.

The Condor Legion was a unit of military personnel from the air force and army of Nazi Germany, which served with the Nationalist faction during the Spanish Civil War.

of General Francisco Franco. The Condor Legion developed methods of strategic bombing that were used widely during World War II. The bombing of Guernica was the most infamous operation by the Condor Legion. Hugo Sperrle commanded the unit’s aircraft formations and General der Panzertruppe Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma commanded the ground element.

At the outbreak of World War 2, Krahl was serving with Jagdgeschwader 2. under command of Oberst Gerd von Massow,    Von Massow survived the war and died 29-06-1967, age 70, in Schechen, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria. Oberleutnant Krahl was assigned to the Stabsstaffel of I./JG 2. He later became Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 2. He recorded his first victory on 21-04-1940, when he shot down a French Morane fighter near Saarbrücken. Krahl was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 2, based at Mardyck in Belgium, on 05-09-1940. He led the unit during the Battle of Britain gaining 10 further victories.

Battle of Britain, during World War II, the successful defense of Great Britain against unremitting and destructive air raids conducted by the German air force (Luftwaffe) from July through September 1940, after the fall of France. Victory for the Luftwaffe in the air battle would have exposed Great Britain to invasion by the German army, which was then in control of the ports of France only a few miles away across the English Channel. In the event, the battle was won by the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command, whose victory not only blocked the possibility of invasion but also created the conditions for Great Britain’s survival, for the extension of the war, and for the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.

Krahl recorded his 10th victory on 28 September, when he shot down a RAF Hurricane fighter. On 20-10-1940, Krahl was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann and appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 2. On 13-11-1940, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz for 15 victories. During 1941, he was to claim four victories over the Channel front, including three victories on 24 July to record his 16th through 18th victories. On 21-11-1941, Krahl was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 3 , JG3 under command of Oberst Günther Lützow and led it to the Mediterranean theatre on 18-01-1942. Based at Comiso on Sicily, operations over Malta were undertaken. He recorded his 19th, and last, victory on 10 March, a RAF Hurricane fighter shot down over the island.

Death and burial ground of Karl Heinz Krahl.

On 14-04-1942, Krahl was making a low level attack on Luqa airfield on the island of Malta, flying Bf 109 F-4 (W.Nr. 8784)  , when he was shot down and killed by the  RAF Luqa during the Siege of Malta Karl-Heinz Krahl claimed 19 enemy aircraft shot down. All his victories were recorded over the Western front. Karl Heinz Krahl is buried at Cagliari Communal Cemetery (St. Michele) Cagliari, Città Metropolitana di Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy. Block 1 Grab 60.

Message(s), tips or interesting graves for the webmaster:    robhopmans@outlook.com