This years birthday present to yours truly and another interesting "Luftwaffe Soldbuch" research project.
The 1st issue LW Soldbuch belonged to "Flieger" Oberleutnant Wolfgang Krumei (born in Olmütz in the Czeh republic on December 8th 1922). He carried this Soldbuch from 1940 until the first quarter of 1944.
Wolfgang Krumei joined the Luftwaffe in 1939 and underwent observer training. He trained in both JU88 and ME109′s. Krumei joined Aufklarungsgruppe 122 based in Russia and as the retreat from Russia continued throughout the war the unit moved to Northern Italy and left for Germany on 24th April 1945.
On May 5th 1945, days after the suicide of Adolf Hitler a Group of 20 Junkers 88 left northern Germany on a strange (possible escape) mission to Norway. For some reason the aircraft Krumei was on tried to conduct a forced landing near the town of Messel in Norway but the attempt failed and killed 3 of the crew on board including Wolfgang Krumei. He is buried in Oslo Alfaset cemetery in Norway.
Krumei was awarded a number of awards including Observers Badge, both Iron Crosses, the so called "Frontflugspange fur Aufklarer" in Bronze, Silver and Gold, the Honour Goblet (Ehrenpokal) and German Cross in Gold.
Best,
Jan
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