Hans-Karl Stepp

Hans-Karl Stepp
Hans-Karl Stepp
Born	(1914-09-14)14 September 1914 Gießen
Died	Leipzig
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1936–45
Rank	Oberstleutnant
Unit	StG 2
Commands held	StG 2
Battles/wars	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Relations	Dietrich Peltz (brother in law)
Other work	Lawyer

Hans-Karl Stepp (2 September 1914 – 12 December 2006) was a German World War II Luftwaffe Stuka ace. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Biography

Hans-Karl Stepp was born on 2 September 1914 in Gießen as son to a University professor. Stepp studied eight semesters of law in Tübingen, Breslau and Munich before joining the Luftwaffe as Fahnenjunker in 1936. He fought in the Invasion of Poland and Battle of France with Sturzkampfgeschwader 76. He also served in the Reichsluftwaffenministerium in Berlin.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (1 November 1939)
  • 1st Class (15 June 1940)
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 9 September 1941 as Oberleutnant
• German Cross in Gold on 15 October 1941 as Oberleutnant in the 7./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 4 February 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 7./StG 2 "Immelmann"
  • 462nd Oak Leaves on 25 April 1944 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore of SG 2 "Immelmann"
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 25 April 1944

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
25 April 1944	Das Schlachtgeschwader Immelmann hat sich unter Führung seines Kommodore, Ritterkreuzträgers Oberstleutnant Step (sic), an der Ostfront besonders bewährt.	The Immelmann ground attack wing has especially proven itself under the leadership of its Commodore, Knight's Cross recipient Lieutenant Colonel Step, on the Eastern Front.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by Major Dr. Ernst Kupfer	Commander of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 Immelmann 1 October 1943 – 18 October 1943	Succeeded by Schlachtgeschwader 2 Immelmann
Preceded by Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 Immelmann	Commander of Schlachtgeschwader 2 Immelmann 18 October 1943 – 30 September 1944	Succeeded by Oberstleutnant Hans-Ulrich Rudel