Leopold Münster

Leopold Münster (13 December 1920 – 8 May 1944) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. Leopold Münster claimed 95 victories, 25 on the Western Front. He was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 12 May 1944.

Leopold Münster
Born	13 December 1920 Hochheim
Died	8 May 1944 (aged 23) Hildesheim
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1939–44
Rank	Leutnant
Unit	JG 3
Commands held	II./JG 3
Battles/wars	World War II Operation Barbarossa Siege of Malta Battle of Stalingrad Defense of the Reich †
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Awards

• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (24 July 1941)[1]
  • 1st Class (7 September 1941)[1]
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 13 September 1942 as Feldwebel and pilot[2]
• German Cross in Gold on 3 October 1942 as Feldwebel in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3[3]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 21 December 1942 as Feldwebel and pilot in the II./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[4][5]
  • 471st Oak Leaves on 12 May 1944 as Leutnant (war officer) and Staffelkapitän of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[6][Notes 1]

Notes

1. According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet".[5]

References

Citations

1. Thomas 1998, p. 108.
2. Patzwall 2008, p. 151.
3. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 323.
4. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 261.
5. Scherzer 2007, p. 559.
6. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 70.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. 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.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
• 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.
• Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
• Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.