Stefan Litjens

Updated on Oct 10, 2024

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Nickname(s) "Steff" Name Stefan Litjens Unit Jagdgeschwader 53		Years of service 1937-1945 1956-1966 Service/branch Luftwaffe
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany Rank Oberfeldwebel (Wehrmacht) Hauptfeldwebel (Bundeswehr) Battles/wars World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Siege of Malta North African Campaign Defense of the Reich Died February 25, 2002, Kalkar, Germany Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Battle of France, Battle of Britain

Stefan "Steff" Litjens (13 October 1913 – 25 February 2002) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Stefan Litjens joined the postwar Bundeswehr in 1956 and retired in 1966. During his career he was credited with 38 victories in 444 missions, 17 on the Eastern Front and 21 on the Western Front.

Awards

Aviator badge

Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe

Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (21 July 1941)

Iron Cross (1939)

2nd Class

1st Class

German Cross in Gold on 24 April 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 53

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 June 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 53

References

Stefan Litjens Wikipedia

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