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Anton Mader
Born	(1913-01-07)7 January 1913 Kaštel Novi, Kingdom of Dalmatia, Austria-Hungary
Died	19 February 1984(1984-02-19) (aged 71) Vienna, Austria
Allegiance	Nazi Germany Austria
Service / branch	Luftwaffe  Austrian Air Force
Years of service	1933–1945 1955–1973
Rank	Oberstleutnant (Wehrmacht) Brigadier (Bundesheer)
Commands	II./JG 77, JG 11, JG 54
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria

Anton Mader (7 January 1913 – 19 February 1984) was a German pilot during World War II. He claimed 86 victories and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He commanded the fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 54 in 1944.

Early life and career

Mader was born on 7 January 1913 in Castelnuovo, at the time in the Kingdom of Dalmatia of Austria-Hungary, present-day Kaštel Novi in Dalmatia, Croatia. He was the son of an Imperial and Royal Kapellmeister, a leader of a musical ensemble, who later served in the Austrian Armed Forces.

In 1933, Mader was conscripted into the Austrian Armed Forces serving with Alpenjägerregiment 10, the 10th Alpine Mountain Regiment. He then attended the military academy at Enns and the Theresian Military Academy at Wiener Neustadt. Promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant), he was transferred to Fliegerregiment 2, the 2nd Flight Regiment of the Austrian Air Force. Following the Anschluss in March 1938, the forced incorporation of Austria into Nazi Germany, Mader was transferred to the Luftwaffe (the Nazi German Air Force) holding the rank of Oberleutnant (first lieutenant). On 1 April, a newly formed I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 138 (JG 138—138th Fighter Wing) stationed in Wien-Aspern also referred to as the "Wiener-Jagdgruppe" ("Vienna fighter group") was created, largely staffed with former Austrian Air Force personnel. There, Mader was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of JG 138. On 1 May 1939, his unit I. Gruppe of JG 138 was re-designated and became I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 76 (JG 76—76th Fighter Wing). Initially equipped with the Fiat CR.32, 3. Staffel received the Messerschmitt Bf 109 B. The Gruppe was reequipped with the Bf 109 E-1 and E-3 in 1939. That year, command of 3. Staffel transferred to Oberleutnant Franz Eckerle.

World War II

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. In preparation of the invasion, I. Gruppe of JG 76 had been moved to an airfield at Stubendorf, present-day Izbicko in Poland, on 17 August 1939 and supported the German advance on the central and southern sectors of the front.

On 24 September 1940, Mader was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing). He succeeded Oberleutnant Otto Bertram who was transferred.

The Gruppenkommandeur of II. Gruppe of JG 77, Hauptmann Helmut Henz, was killed in action on 25 May 1941. In consequence, Mader was given command of the Gruppe. Command of 1. Staffel of JG 2 was given to Leutnant Ulrich Adrian. In July 1941, SS-Gruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich briefly served in II. Gruppe under the command of Mader.

Eastern Front

In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, II. Gruppe was moved to Bucharest and was located in the sector of Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South). II. Gruppe arrived in Bucharest on 15 June. Five days later, III. Gruppe moved to Roman. That evening, the pilots and ground crews were briefed of the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union, which opened the Eastern Front.

Wing commander

On 1 April 1943, Mader was tasked with the formation of the newly created Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing) and became its first Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander). Command of II. Gruppe of JG 77 was given to Hauptmann Siegfried Freytag who had already severed as acting commander since 7 March.

On 28 January 1944, Mader succeeded Oberstleutnant Hubertus von Bonin, who had been killed in action on 15 December 1943, as Geschwaderkommodore of JG 54. In the fall Mader fell ill and had to transfer command of JG 54 to Oberst Dietrich Hrabak on 1 October. After hospitalization, Mader attended staff training at the Luftkriegsschule Berlin-Gatow, the air war school in Gatow. Mader was then posted to the staff of the General der Jagdflieger (General of Fighters), an office held by Oberst Gordon Gollob. In late April 1945, Mader, along with Gollob's staff, was taken prisoner of war by US forces in Austria.

Later life and service

Mader was released from captivity in June 1945. He then worked as a courier for the Embassy of the United States in Vienna. In 1955, the Austrian State Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state. Mader joined the Austrian Air Force, referred to as the Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte, holding the rank of Oberstleutnant. He served with the Fliegerführungskommando (Air Command) and was promoted to Oberst in the general staff in 1961 and to Brigadier in 1966. Mader died on 19 February 1984 at the age of 71 in Vienna, Austria.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Mader was credited with 86 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 78 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 73 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and five over the Western Allies, including three four-engined heavy bombers.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 72263". 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 km). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 15 September 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur
• German Cross in Gold on 2 January 1942 as Hauptmann in the II./Jagdgeschwader 77
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 July 1942 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 77
• Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
  • Decoration of Honour in Gold (1964)
  • Grand Decoration of Honour (1970)

Notes

1. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Petlyakov Pe-2.
2. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 08:50.
3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:49.
4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:08.
5. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 17:16.
6. This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.
7. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:34.
8. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:37.
9. According to Scherzer on 15 July 1942.

References

Citations

1. Obermaier 1989, p. 163.
2. ^ Berger & Habisohn 2003, p. 91.
3. Prien et al. 2000a, pp. 263–264.
4. Prien et al. 2000a, p. 445.
5. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 98.
6. Prien et al. 2003a, p. 273.
7. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 322.
8. Page 2020, p. 72.
9. Prien 1993, p. 628.
10. Prien 1993, p. 630.
11. Prien 1993, p. 632.
12. Prien & Rodeike 1994, p. 273.
13. Prien et al. 2011, p. 452.
14. Weal 2001, p. 118.
15. Prien et al. 2022, p. 306.
16. ^ Berger & Habisohn 2003, p. 93.
17. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 214.
18. Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
19. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 796–798.
20. Planquadrat.
21. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 796.
22. Prien et al. 2002, p. 102.
23. Prien et al. 2002, p. 104.
24. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 796–797.
25. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 325.
26. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 327.
27. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 328.
28. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 326.
29. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 329.
30. Prien et al. 2003b, p. 332.
31. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 330.
32. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 331.
33. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 797.
34. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 300.
35. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 300.
36. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 311.
37. Prien et al. 2006, p. 312.
38. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 301.
39. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 313.
40. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 309.
41. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 310.
42. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 314.
43. Prien et al. 2006, p. 315.
44. ^ Prien et al. 2008, p. 359.
45. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 797–798.
46. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 309.
47. Patzwall 2008, p. 140.
48. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 290.
49. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 300.
50. Scherzer 2007, p. 522.

Bibliography

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• Bergström, Christer . "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
• Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) . Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
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• Prien, Jochen (1993). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 2—1941–1942 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 2—1941–1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-22-9.
• Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter (1994). Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11: Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945: Teil 1, 1939–1943 [Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11: Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945] (in German). Vol. I 1939–1943. Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-21-2.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-54-0.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/I—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/I—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-63-2.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
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• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2008). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/II—Reichsverteidigung—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/II—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-85-4.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2011). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/II—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1 bis 31 December 1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/II—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-00-0.
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v t e Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of Jagdgeschwader 77
Johann Badum Heinz-Edgar Berres Walter Brandt Jürgen Brocke Lutz-Wilhelm Burckhardt Erwin Clausen (Oak Leaves) Siegfried Freytag Friedrich Geisshardt (Oak Leaves) Gordon Gollob (Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds) Anton Hackl (Oak Leaves & Swords) Heinz Hackler Günther Hannak Jürgen Harang Franz Hrdlicka Wolf-Dietrich Huy (Oak Leaves) Herbert Ihlefeld (Oak Leaves & Swords) Herbert Kaiser Armin Köhler Kurt Lasse Anton Mader Emil Omert Johann Pichler Alexander Preinfalk Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert (Oak Leaves & Swords) Rudolf Schmidt Franz Schulte Heinrich Setz (Oak Leaves) Johannes Steinhoff (Oak Leaves & Swords) Kurt Ubben (Oak Leaves) Alexander von Winterfeldt Bernhard Woldenga
Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves with JG 3. Swords with JG 11. Swords with JG 27. Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves with JG 52

• Aviation
• Biography

• 1913 births
• 1984 deaths
• People from Kaštela
• Luftwaffe pilots
• German World War II flying aces
• Recipients of the Gold German Cross
• Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
• Austrian generals
• Theresian Military Academy alumni
• World War II prisoners of war held by the United States
• Recipients of the Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria