Karl-Heinz Greisert

Karl-Heinz Greisert
Nickname(s)	Heino
Born	2 February 1908
Died	22 July 1942 (aged 34) KIA - Russia
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1936-1942
Rank	Major
Unit	Condor Legion, JG 2, JG 3
Commands held	JG 2
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa
Awards	Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords Deutsches Kreuz

Major Karl-Heinz Greisert (2 February 1908 – 22 July 1942) was German World War II Luftwaffe Ace and a Geschwaderkommodore of JG 2 and recipient of the German Cross in Gold on 5 June 1942.

During the Spanish Civil War Leutnant Greisert was assigned to 2. Staffel of J 88. He claimed his first and only victory during this conflict on 30 November 1937 when he shot down a Russian made Republican flown Polikarpov I-16 fighter.

After fighting on the Western Front for two years and accumulating 22 victories over the French and British, Greisert was transferred to JG 3 on the Eastern Front in the spring of 1942. Beginning in May 1942 he continued his aerial success with victories against the Soviet Air Force. In July 1942, while involved in a low level dogfight, Greisert was shot down and killed when he attempted to bail out of his aircraft and his parachute failed to open before he struck the ground.

Greisert was credited with 34 victories. He recorded 11 victories over the Eastern front, including six Il-2 Sturmoviks. Included in his total are eleven Spitfires.

Awards

• German Cross in Gold on 5 June 1942 as Major in the II./Jagdgeschwader 2^[1]

References

Citations

1. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 147.

Bibliography

• 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.
• Ringlstetter, Herbert. Helmut Wick, An Illustrated Biography Of The Luftwaffe Ace And Commander Of Jagdgeschwader 2 During The Battle Of Britain. Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA, 2005. ISBN 0-7643-2217-6.
• Nauroth, Holger. Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen", A Photographic History. Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA, 2005. ISBN 0-7643-2094-7.