Otto Bertram

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Otto Bertram
30 April 1916 – 8 February 1987
Nickname Otsch
Place of birth Wilhelmshaven
Place of death Freiburg im Breisgau
Allegiance Flag of Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (to 1945)
Flag of West Germany West Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service 1935-1945 (Wehrmacht)
1956-
Rank Major
Unit Condor Legion, JG 2, JG 101
Commands held III./JG 2, I./JG 101, I./JG 6
Battles/wars Spanish Civil War
World War II
Awards Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern und Brillanten
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work Bundeswehr

Otto Bertram (30 April 1916 – 8 February 1987) in Freiburg im Breisgau) was a was a German Spanish Civil War and World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until the end of World War II. After World War II he joined the Bundeswehr and served as Military attaché.

"Otsch" Bertram shot down a total of 22 enemy aircraft, nine of which were claimed during the Spanish Civil War.

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[edit] Biography

Otto Bertram was born on 30 April 1916 in Wilhelmshaven. Just like his two brothers, Hans and Karl, he joined the Luftwaffe in 1935.

Bertram joined the Condor Legion in March 1938, supporting Franco's Nationalists in the civil war. During the course of the Spanish Civil War Leutnant Bertram claimed nine victories flying with 1./J 88, becoming one of the most successful fighter pilots in that conflict. On 4 October 1938, he was shot down by a Republican I-15 fighter. After bailing out he was taken prisoner of war. For his accomplishments in Spain he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Diamonds.

On 26 October 1939, Bertram was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 2. Oberleutnant Bertram claimed his first aerial victory of World War II on 20 April 1940, when he downed a Morane 406 fighter over Saint-Avold, flown by future French ace Sgt. Chef Antoine Casenobe. However, the claim was not confirmed. In total he claimed four victories during the Battle of France, although he was shot down and crash-landed after gaining two victories on 19 May 1940, returning to his unit unhurt.

Bertram led 1./JG 2 during the opening phases of the Battle of Britain. He claimed seven RAF fighters downed in five days between 2 September 1940 and 6 September with the unit. On 26 September 1940, Bertram was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 2. He claimed two further victories with the unit, two RAF Bristol Blenheim twin-engine bombers shot down near Le Havre on 9 October, to record his 21st and 22nd victories.

On 28 October 1940, Hauptmann Bertram was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 13 victories in World War 2 and was banned from further combat flying and ordered to return to Germany.

Both of Bertram's brothers serving in the Luftwaffe had recently been killed in action. Hans Bertram, Gruppenadjutant of I./JG 27, was shot down over England in September 1940, and Karl Bertram, a nightfighter pilot with 9./NJG 1, was killed when he crashed his Bf 110 west of Kiel following an engagement with a RAF bomber on 28 October.

Otto Bertram, as the sole surviving brother, was hence excused from further combat duty. Bertram was to spend the remainder of the war in administrative posts or training units. He served at the Jagdfliegerschule 5 at Wien-Schwechat during 1940/1941 and was Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 101 from 6 January 1943 to 30 April 1944. From February 1945, Major Bertram was Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 6, a position he held until the end of the war.

Otto Bertram joined the Bundeswehr after the re militarisation of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1956. Major Bertram held various positions in the Bundeswehr including Press-Officer. Promoted to Oberstleutnant he served as Military attaché in Belgien and Luxemburg.

Bertram died on 8 February 1987 in Freiburg.

[edit] Awards

[edit] Works

  • Bertram, Otto. Hitler marschiert in der Sowjetzone, Bonn: Berto-Verlag Bonn, 1961
  • Bertram, Otto 100 Jahre Nacht und Tag. Geschichte des deutschen Katholizismus zwischen 1868 und 1968. Bonn, 1968.

[edit] References

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