Kurt-Bertram von Döring
Encyclopedia
Generalleutnant Kurt-Bertram von Döring (born 18 February 1889 in Ribbekardt – died 9 July 1960 in Medingen
) was a German
World War II Luftwaffe
Generalleutnant. He began his career as a flying ace
in World War I, became a flying soldier of fortune during the 1920s and early 1930s, and then joined the resurgent German air service and served through World War II.
.
Döring also gained the trust of Jagdgeschwader 1 commander Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen
, who assigned command of JG 1 to Döring when Richthofen was away from the front.
Promoted to Rittmeister on 28 November 1917, Döring remained CO of Jasta 4 until 19 January 1918, after which he took over Jagdgruppe Nr. 4. In August he took over Jasta 66, and then a few days later Jasta 1.
until 1929. From 1930 - 1932, he was a member of the German aviation mission to China.
Döring rejoined the Luftwaffe on 1 July 1934, as a Major. He commanded the flying School at Celle
in 1936, and became a Gruppenkommandeur
of JG 2. He commanded the Horst Wessel Squadron in April 1936.
. From August 1941 through January 1942, he was a Jagd Division commander with the rank of Leutnant-General, his seniority dating from 1 November 1941.
Döring died on 9 July 1960 at Medingen
.
Medingen
Medingen is a village in the commune of Contern, in southern Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 102....
) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
World War II Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
Generalleutnant. He began his career as a flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
in World War I, became a flying soldier of fortune during the 1920s and early 1930s, and then joined the resurgent German air service and served through World War II.
Early life
Born 18 February 1889 at Ribbekardt, Döring joined the Dragoon Regiment Nr. 17 on 14 March 1907. In mid 1913 he transferred to the Air Service, and in May 1914 joined Festung FA in CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
.
World War I
In late 1914 he was assigned to FA 38, and was commissioned on 1 February 1915. Döring then served with Sonderstaffel Nr. 2 in 1916. An able administratve Officer and leader, as well as being considered a steady and reliable pilot, meant after service with FAA 227 Döring took command of Jasta 4 on 8 April 1917, before he had claimed an air victory. However, he scored his first victory a few days later, on 14 April 1917; he continued to collect wins through 4 October, when he scored his eleventh and last. On 14 December 1917, he was awarded the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern to accompany his Iron Cross First Class.Döring also gained the trust of Jagdgeschwader 1 commander Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
, who assigned command of JG 1 to Döring when Richthofen was away from the front.
Promoted to Rittmeister on 28 November 1917, Döring remained CO of Jasta 4 until 19 January 1918, after which he took over Jagdgruppe Nr. 4. In August he took over Jasta 66, and then a few days later Jasta 1.
Between the World Wars
He rejoined the Dragoons on 1 December 1918, and became an advisor with the Argentinian Air Force from 1923–1927 and the Peruvian Air ForcePeruvian Air Force
The Peruvian Air Force is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of air power...
until 1929. From 1930 - 1932, he was a member of the German aviation mission to China.
Döring rejoined the Luftwaffe on 1 July 1934, as a Major. He commanded the flying School at Celle
Celle
Celle is a town and capital of the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the banks of the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser and has a population of about 71,000...
in 1936, and became a Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of JG 2. He commanded the Horst Wessel Squadron in April 1936.
World War II and beyond
From 15 December 1939 to 1 December 1940 he was a Major General commanding Jagdfliegerführer 2Jagdfliegerführer 2
Jagdfliegerführer 2 was part of Luftflotte 2 , one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed December 21, 1939 in Dortmund. On September 6, 1943 the unit redesignated Jagdfliegerführer 4 and reformed again in September 1943 from Stab/Jagdfliegerführer Deutsche...
. From August 1941 through January 1942, he was a Jagd Division commander with the rank of Leutnant-General, his seniority dating from 1 November 1941.
Döring died on 9 July 1960 at Medingen
Medingen
Medingen is a village in the commune of Contern, in southern Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 102....
.
Awards
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1914) 2nd and 1st Class - House Order of HohenzollernHouse Order of HohenzollernThe House Order of Hohenzollern was an order of chivalry of the House of Hohenzollern. It was both a military and a civil award...
(26 November 1917) - Clasp to the Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939) 2nd and 1st Class - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 30 December 1942 as Generalleutnant in the 1. Jagd-Division