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Josef JenneweinGerman pilot, athlete, alpine skier, world champion
Date of Birth: 21.11.1919
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Biography of Josef Jennwein
Early Life and Skiing CareerJosef Jennwein, a German aviator, athlete, and skier, was born on November 21, 1919, in St. Anton, Tyrolean Alps, Austria. Even before the outbreak of World War II, Jennwein had made a name for himself in the world of skiing. In 1939, he became the world champion in the alpine skiing combination event in Zakopane, Poland. He also won silver medals in slalom and downhill skiing. In 1940, Jennwein achieved victories in speed skiing, slalom, and combination events during the Winter Sports Week in Garmisch, Germany. He also participated in the German Ski Championships in St. Anton, where he showcased his exceptional skills.
World War II and Aerial Victories
During World War II, Jennwein served in the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, and became a highly skilled pilot. After undergoing training in 1940, he was transferred to the English Channel, where he achieved his first aerial victories by shooting down three Spitfire aircraft. On October 15, Jennwein scored two more victories against Spitfires and was then transferred to the Eastern Front, joining the '2./JG 51' squadron. By July 1942, Jennwein had become a flight instructor and had shot down 12 Soviet planes.
Mysterious Disappearance and Legacy
In late 1942, Jennwein returned to the '2./JG 51' squadron, where he continued to achieve victories against Soviet aircraft. On March 10, 1943, he achieved his 45th aerial victory, for which he was awarded the German Cross in Gold in April 1943. On May 6, Jennwein shot down five Il-2 aircraft. In July 1943, he recorded another 23 victories, including five on July 21.
Unfortunately, Jennwein's fate remains unknown. He disappeared in action on July 26, 1943, after making an emergency landing behind Soviet lines near Orel. Despite extensive searches, he was never found, and he was officially declared missing in action. Despite his disappearance, Jennwein was posthumously promoted to lieutenant and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on December 5, 1943.
By the time of his disappearance, Jennwein had achieved five victories on the Western Front, 81 victories on the Eastern Front, and had shot down 29 Il-2 aircraft. He had completed a total of 271 combat missions. The exact circumstances of Josef Jennwein's death have never been determined, and his date of death is still considered to be the day he went missing during intense combat operations.
