Fascinating German WW2 Public Notice Poster Regarding Two Luftwaffe Flyers. Public Crucifixion of Former Luftwaffe Fighting Aces. Blamed For The Loss of The Battleship Tirpitz

Der flieger [flyer] Stefan Egidy hat sich vorsatzlich auf wache einen schuss in den oberschenkel beigebracht, um seine zeitweise versetzung in das helmatgeblet zu erreichen .er hat dabel einen ueberfall seitens franzosen vorgetauscht durch urtell des feldkriegsgerichts ist er wegen zerstzung der wehrkraft durch selbstverstummelung und wegen wachvergehen zu 5 jahren zucthaus und verlust der wehrwurdigkeit verurteilt worden. Roughly it translates that Flyer Stefan Egidy was court martialled for a self inflicted wounding and sentence to 5 years and loss of privileges. Also Flieger [flyer] Niklaus Nels was similar court-martialled and sentenced to 3 years 6 months. German pilots were occasionally court-martialled for all manner of reasons, another one at the time was Born in Oberbalbach, Heinrich Ehrler, he grew up in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich as one of 12 children. He joined the military service in the Wehrmacht in 1935, initially service with the artillery and anti-aircraft artillery. He participated in the Spanish Civil War and following the outbreak of World War II transferred to the Jagdwaffe (fighter force). Following flight training, he was posted to the 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77?77th Fighter Wing), which was later redesignated to 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5?5th Fighter Wing).

Scapegoated for the loss of the German battleship Tirpitz, Ehrler - who had been nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords prior to the disaster - was court-martialled, stripped of his command and sentenced to three years and two months Festungshaft (honorable imprisonment). Ehrler's sentence was later commuted and his loss of rank rescinded, and in February 1945 he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 7. According to his fellow pilots, Ehrler thereafter flew in the increasingly desperate air battles without the purpose and dedication that had made him one of the Luftwaffe's most successful aces. On 4 April 1945, he shot down two Allied bombers for his final two victories, before destroying a third by ramming with his damaged aircraft after having run out of ammunition. His last recorded statement was "Theo, I have run out of ammunition. I'm going to ram this one. Good bye. We'll see each other in Valhalla." - Heinrich Ehrler's last transmission over the Squadron Radio Network before he rammed the B-24 bomber "Trouble in Mind," piloted by Captain John Ray, destroying both aircraft and killing himself. Central tear through middle can't be seen in photo

Intriguing ephemera from the 3rd Reich would look very fine if framed, obviously not in good condition but as direct examples of WW2 aeronautical history absolutely fascinating. Remarkable to survive and probably unique examples.

Code: 19675