Hugo Broch
German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient (1922–2026)
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Hugo Broch (6 January 1922 – 31 May 2026) was one of the last living German Luftwaffe flying aces of the Second World War,[1] along with Norbert Schücking.[2] He was credited with 81 victories in 324 missions, all on the Eastern Front. Broch was the last living recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Hugo Broch | |
|---|---|
Broch during World War II | |
| Born | 6 January 1922 Leichlingen, Prussia, Germany |
| Died | 31 May 2026 (aged 104) |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Branch | Luftwaffe |
Service years | 1940–1945 |
Rank | Leutnant (second lieutenant) |
| Unit | JG 54 |
Conflicts | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
| Other work | Employee with Agfa |
Early life
A childhood interest in planes led Broch to join the Aviation Hitler Youth near Solingen. He assisted in the assembly of the school's SG38 glider, and flew it before graduating to a Piper.[3]
World War II
Broch joined Luftwaffe Construction Company 42/XII of Luftflotte 3 on 15 January 1940, and subsequently received basic training in the Fluganwärter Battalion. From 19 November 1940 to 29 October 1941, he attended the A/B 63 Aircraft Pilot School at Marienbad and Karlsbad in the Sudetengau, and at Vilseck in the Upper Palatinate. From 18 November 1941 to 10 February 1942, he attended the Fighter Pilot Pre-School at Kamenz in Saxony, where he earned an Aircraft Pilot Badge. Broch was trained as a fighter pilot from 27 May to 2 November 1942 at Fighter Pilot School 2 in Zerbst.[4] In January 1943, he arrived on the Eastern Front to serve in World War II as part of Jagdgeschwader 54 (54th Fighter Wing), and he claimed his first victory two months later.[5]
In late November 1944, a newly formed 8. Staffel of JG 54 was formed at Heiligenbeil, now Mamonovo, and placed under command of Leutnant Hermann Schleinhege. Broch, who was assigned to the Staffel, claimed an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft shot down south of Liepāja on 14 December.[6]
Aerial victory claims
According to U.S. historian David T. Zabecki, Broch was credited with 82 aerial victories.[7] Spick lists him with 81 aerial victories claimed in 324 combat missions. All of his victories were recorded over the Eastern Front.[8] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 81 aerial victory claims, all on the Eastern Front.[9]
Victory claims were logged to a map reference, for example "PQ 35 Ost 35371" (PQ = Planquadrat) The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia, and North Africa, and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 by 4 km (1.9 by 2.5 mi) in size.[10]
| Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Broch did not receive credit.
Indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Schumann, Mehwitz, Mathews and Foreman. | |||||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
| 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54[11] Eastern Front: 4 February – 31 December 1943 | |||||||||
— [Note 1] |
7 March 1943 | — |
LaGG-3[14] | 23 | 2 September 1943 | 10:01 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 35371, west of Yelnya[15] 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya | |
| 1 | 13 March 1943 | 15:18 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 20122, north of Volkhov[12] west of Volkhov |
24 | 5 September 1943 | 15:35 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 35372, northwest of Yelnya[16] 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya |
| 2 | 19 March 1943 | 15:37 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 00451, northwest of Ulyanovka[12] 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Slutsk |
25 | 7 September 1943 | 10:55 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 26812, northeast of Dukhovshchina[16] 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Yartsevo |
| 3 | 21 March 1943 | 12:00 | LaGG-3 | PQ 36 Ost 00192, northwest of Kolpino[12] 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Pushkin |
26 | 10 September 1943 | 10:05 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 26813, east of Dukhovshchina[16] 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Yartsevo |
| 4 | 1 June 1943 | 05:10 | LaGG-3 | PQ 36 Ost 20123, northwest of Volkhov[17] west of Volkhov |
27 | 14 September 1943 | 12:05?[Note 2] | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 35372, northwest of Yelnya[16] 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya |
| 5 | 16 July 1943 | 04:35 | LaGG-3 | west of Bolkhov[19] | 28 | 14 September 1943 | 16:37 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 25672, west of Shatalovka[16] 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Shatalovka |
| 6 | 21 July 1943 | 13:34 | Yak-7 | PQ 35 Ost 64794, east of Oryol[19] 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Oryol |
29 | 15 September 1943 | 08:44 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 26813, east of Dukhovshchina[16] |
| 7 | 22 July 1943 | 15:21 | Yak-7 | southwest of Troitskoye[19] Oryol |
30 | 15 September 1943 | 13:13 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 35511, southwest of Yelnya[16] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Yelnya |
| 8 | 2 August 1943 | 08:54 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 10172[20] vicinity of Mga |
31 | 15 September 1943 | 17:35 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 35512, west of Yelnya[16] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Yelnya |
| 9 | 12 August 1943 | 08:00 | Yak-7 | PQ 35 Ost 54763, east-northeast of Kirov[21] 25 km (16 mi) east of Karachev |
32 | 25 October 1943 | 15:34 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 10132[22] east of Shlisselburg |
| 10 | 12 August 1943 | 12:50 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 35621, southeast of Kijuschki[21] 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Spas-Demensk |
33 | 26 October 1943 | 14:50 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 10131[22] east of Shlisselburg |
| 11 | 14 August 1943 | 05:02 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 45752, northwest of Kirov[21] 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Kirov |
34 | 26 October 1943 | 15:02 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 11783[22] over Lake Ladoga |
| 12 | 19 August 1943 | 16:25 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 45744, northwest of Kirov[21] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Kirov |
35 | 28 October 1943 | 12:07 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 01474[22] 65 km (40 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk |
| 13 | 19 August 1943 | 16:38 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 35864[21] 25 km (16 mi) west of Kirov |
36 | 28 October 1943 | 12:15 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 01623[22] 60 km (37 mi) north-northeast of Leningrad |
| 14 | 21 August 1943 | 16:46 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 43813, northwest of Sevsk[21] 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Sevsk |
37 | 29 October 1943 | 09:09 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 01663[22] 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Leningrad |
| 15 | 22 August 1943 | 13:05 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 43223, southwest of Rushnoje[21] 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Tschaikowka |
38 | 2 November 1943 | 13:20 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 10123[22] east of Shlisselburg |
| 16 | 22 August 1943 | 16:23 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 43823, east-northeast of Sevsk[21] 15 km (9.3 mi) east-northeast of Sevsk |
39 | 2 November 1943 | 15:07 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 01441[22] Lake Ladoga |
| 17 | 23 August 1943 | 18:39 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 44664[15] 25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Karachev |
40 | 2 November 1943 | 15:12 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 01413[22] |
| 18 | 24 August 1943 | 07:03 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 44481, east of Kalino[15] 25 km (16 mi) south of Sevsk |
41 | 5 November 1943 | 10:46 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 01561[23] 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk |
| 19 | 24 August 1943 | 14:43 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 54553, east of Krassnaja[15] 30 km (19 mi) north-northeast of Karachev |
42 | 5 November 1943 | 10:50 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 01564[23] 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk |
| 20 | 28 August 1943 | 11:49 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 43683, northeast of Sevsk[15] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Sevsk |
43 | 5 November 1943 | 13:05 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 01533[23] 55 km (34 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk |
| 21 | 31 August 1943 | 15:33 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 35523[15] 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Yelnya |
44 | 6 November 1943 | 15:20 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 01564[24] 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk |
| 22 | 31 August 1943 | 17:43 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 35384, southwest of Yelnya[15] 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Yelnya |
|||||
| 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54[18] Eastern Front: 16 August – 30 September 1944 | |||||||||
| 45 | 17 August 1944 | 13:09 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 79814, southeast of Mehikoorma[25][26] Lake Peipus |
53 | 14 September 1944 | 18:42?[Note 3] | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 68113, west of Priipalu[26][27] 20 km (12 mi) north of Walk |
| 46 | 21 August 1944 | 18:11 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 68274, south of Antsla[25][26] 20 km (12 mi) west-southwest of Võru |
54 | 16 September 1944 | 17:35 | Pe-2 | PQ 25 Ost 57258, west of Engekarti[26][27] 40 km (25 mi) north-northwest of Kreutzburg |
| 47 | 21 August 1944 | 18:15 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 68282, east of Antsla[25][26] south of Võru |
55 | 16 September 1944 | 17:39 | Pe-2 | PQ 25 Ost 57259, west of Engekarti[26][27] 40 km (25 mi) north-northwest of Kreutzburg |
| 48 | 25 August 1944 | 09:33 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 67116, west of Ruli[25][26] | 56 | 16 September 1944 | 18:00 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 57267, south of Lake Kalu[26][27] 40 km (25 mi) north of Kreutzburg |
| 49 | 25 August 1944 | 09:34 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 67119, southwest of Ruli[25][26] | 57 | 20 September 1944 | 11:42 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 69116[26][28] 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Weissenstein |
| 50 | 30 August 1944 | 17:55 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 69568, west of Tartu[25][26] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Tartu |
58 | 23 September 1944 | 12:35 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 58625[26][28] west of Jēkabpils |
| 51 | 6 September 1944 | 12:55 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 69632, northwest of Kaarli[26][27] northeast Tartu |
59 | 30 September 1944 | 12:22 | La-5 | PQ 25 Ost 57115[26][29] 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Mālpils |
| 52 | 14 September 1944 | 18:41?[Note 4] | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 68115, north-northwest of Soe[26][27] 20 km (12 mi) north of Walk |
|||||
| Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54[18] Eastern Front: 1 – 31 October 1944 | |||||||||
| 60 | 10 October 1944 | 10:18 | Pe-2 | PQ 25 Ost 17528, east of Tilti[26][29] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Liepāja |
63 | 28 October 1944 | 11:46?[Note 5] | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 07495, west of Liepāja[26][30] |
| 61 | 22 October 1944 | 14:25 | Yak-9 | PQ 25 Ost 17543, northeast of Alpeni[26][30] 20 km (12 mi) south of Liepāja |
64 | 28 October 1944 | 15:15 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 17642, south of Priekule[26][30] 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Liepāja |
| 62 | 28 October 1944 | 11:46 | Il-2 | PQ 25 Ost 07492, west of Libau[26][30] | |||||
| 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54[31] Eastern Front: November 1944 – 8 May 1945 | |||||||||
| 65 | 14 December 1944 | 12:22 | Il-2 | south of Liepāja[26][32] | 74 | 20 January 1945 | 14:42 | Yak-9 | west of Skrunda[26] |
| 66 | 14 December 1944 | 12:23 | Il-2 | southwest of Liepāja[26][32] | 75 | 26 January 1945 | 09:40 | P-39 | PQ 27397[26] |
| 67 | 15 December 1944 | 10:58 | Pe-2 | east of Tilti[26][32] | 76 | 29 January 1945 | 12:15 | Il-2 | PQ 17569[26] |
| 68 | 15 December 1944 | 11:00 | P-39 | south of Tilti[26][32] | 77 | 21 February 1945 | 12:33 | Pe-2 | PQ 17611[26] |
| 69 | 21 December 1944 | 11:58 | Il-2 | south of Gubas[26] | 78 | 23 March 1945 | 16:14 | Yak-9 | PQ 17478[26] |
| 70 | 22 December 1944 | 11:46 | Yak-3 | west of Bernali[26] | 79 | 23 March 1945 | 16:19 | Il-2 | PQ 17479[26] |
| 71 | 26 December 1944 | 12:29 | Il-2 | southwest of Frauenstadt[26] | 80 | 26 March 1945 | 08:02 | Yak-3 | PQ 07732[26] |
| 72 | 20 January 1945 | 14:26 | Pe-2 | southeast of Skrunda[26] | 81 | 26 March 1945 | 08:03 | Yak-3 | PQ 07733[26] |
| 73 | 20 January 1945 | 14:29 | Yak-9 | west of Skrunda[26] | |||||
Later life and death
Following World War II, Broch worked for Agfa in Leverkusen.[33] He was a prolific autograph signer, and signed many memorabilia items.[34][35] At age 95, he fulfilled a long-held ambition to fly in a Spitfire, the two seat Tr.9 MJ627.[36] Broch died on 31 May 2026, at the age of 104.[37][38]
Awards and decorations
- Aviator badge (28 November 1941)[39]
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 8 November 1943 as Unteroffizier and pilot[44][Note 6]
- German Cross in Gold on 26 November 1943 as Unteroffizier in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54[47]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 March 1945 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 54[48][49]
- Courland Cuff Title (20 April 1945)[50]
