Allegiance Nazi Germany Service/branch Luftwaffe Name Wolfgang Falck | Commands held NJG 1 Years of service 1932–45 Rank Oberst | |
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Born 19 August 1910Berlin ( 1910-08-19 ) Battles/wars World War IIPolish CampaignBattle of the Heligoland BightOperation WeserubungBattle of DenmarkDefense of the Reich Died March 13, 2007, Sankt Ulrich am Pillersee, Austria Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars World War II, Invasion of Poland Unit Zerstorergeschwader 76, Zerstorergeschwader 1, Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 | ||
What is Wolfgang Falck? Explain Wolfgang Falck, Define Wolfgang Falck, Meaning of Wolfgang Falck
Wolfgang Falck (19 August 1910 in Berlin – 13 March 2007) was a German officer during World War II. He was one of the key organisers of the German night fighter defences of the Luftwaffe.
Falck was commander of the first dedicated night fighter unit Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 in June 1940. He commanded the NJG 1 for three years and in partnership with General Josef Kammhuber developed a highly effective night fighter force.
In July 1943, Falck was promoted to Oberst and transferred to the Generalstab as Kammhuber's representative at the Luftwaffenführungsstab. Falck was then sent to Berlin and appointed within the Luftwaffenbefehlshaber Mitte, as overall responsible for the day and night fighter defence of the Reich.
He was then appointed Jagdfliegerführer Balkan based at Pančevo from June 1944. Falck then became General Flieger-Ausbildung, responsible for all Luftwaffe training schools, shortly after. In March 1945 he was given command of fighters based in the Rhineland, but did not take up the role, becoming a prisoner of the American Forces on 3 May 1945 in Bavaria.
In 1997, Falck appeared in the last episode of the documentary The Nazis: A Warning from History, named Fighting to the end. Falck was amongst several German war veterans who explained what motivated them to continue fighting late in the war. Falck served as president of the German veterans organization Gemeinschaft der Jagdflieger from 18 October 1975 to 8 October 1977.