Hello, I'm armature hobby historian based in the UK and I am currently researching a German pilot who was shot down and captured in ww2. I strongly believe that he was sent to Canada but as of yet I have no evidence of my theory! Pilot Details: Uffz Ernst Nittmann Aircraft: Me Bf109e4.JG27 white 8 wnr 6318L Date of capture 06/09/1940 Location of capture: Canterbury, Kent UK Any information however small would be most useful Thank you Bob
Welcome to the Forum Bob. I will try my German friends researching similar shutdowns both British and German Stefan.
Bob, I see your quest started in 2021, so welcome to the expertise here. There is this thread: https://www.luftwaffe-research-group.com/threads/p-o-w-german-prisoners-of-war.30805/post-120677 however it is not currently available. Now, ten minutes later I can see: 7 Staffel - Bf109E-1, WNr.6318, White 8+, Uffz. Ernst Nittmann, Blean, near Canterbury 06.09.1940 This is not a website I frequent. This thread provides some context and this passage suggest tracking others who became POW that day is an option (Yes, I know from other posts two of them died): From and it is the only reference to him on this website: This Day in the Battle of Britain Elsewhere, invariably regarding UK & Commonwealth POW, advice has been given to apply to the ICRC (Red Cross) for information; the portal only opens infrequently. See for details: Requests for information about people held during Spanish Civil War or Second World War: Quarterly limit reached (Taken from a Post October 2022 by Steve).
My quest has be ongoing for quite a few years when one has time. I am indeed on the Luftwaffe-research-group and other forums I spread my self about a bit. If you guys are interested I think I have the battle report of Nittmann.
Presumably there was a UK POW record card for him (following the German & Italian practice seen here) and a list of those POW shipped onto a particular ship heading that way (or elsewhere). Would the UK authorities provide an update on such POW movement(s) to the ICRC? Did he survive the war? Have you located an obituary for him? Sometimes you have to work backwards. Scrolling around there was a reference to 10% of German & Italian POWs held in the UK did not return to Germany (East or West). Would it be worth checking naturalisation papers? Even marriages in Canada and the UK?
Timing is everything….. You could try an enquiry with Swiss Red Cross on Monday morning. You may have to leave a few blanks on the online application form that will pop up but you should get a reply via email within 6/8 weeks. You need to be quick off the mark as the enquiry window can close within 2 hours due to oversubscription as it’s a worldwide service. Requests for information about people held during Spanish Civil War or Second World War: Quarterly limit reached Good Luck Steve
I know nothing else about Nittmann after he landed? I only presumed he went to Canada after researching what they did to the officers? I can follow the plane to Cornwall where it was used for propaganda purposes. The plane was being shipped to Australia for the same purposes however.... the boat was lost at sea either by storm/Military intervention! I did try the Red Cross last year but I was too late!
The only problem with Red Cross is that want to know what connection you have with the person and proof of connection!
Hi, Having made more than a handful of enquiries over a number of years - including one for a German POW - I agree there is a “connection” question but - unless they have changed the process in the last 6 months - I have never been asked for proof of the claimed “connection”. Depends how desperate you are to get the information and how comfortable you are completing the application form with less than 100% accurate answers…….. Steve
I have received an interesting story, in German though. Do you read German? Also, for the benefit of most other members, I will do a rough translation tomorrow. Stefan.
"I know nothing else about Nittmann after he landed?" For a few days after landing he was processed by AI.1(k) This is the copy of the Intelligence Summary signed off by Sqdn/Ldr Felkin on 7th Sept. Ross
At the beginning of the war, all fighter groups like JG 27were restarted At that time leading aircraft man Ernst Nittmann was part of I/JG 1 of JG27. That was also why it is so difficult to track down Uffz. ErnstNittmann. The chronic of JG27 reports of fierce fighting in the Channel Region. The plane of Lieutenant Birkenbach was shot down and killed him. Nittmann was only wounded and returned to the airport. On 6th September he was back in the air with 4 others, shot down and kept as POW until 1945. i hope that helps. Stefan.
Out of curiosity did the pilots get taken too the nearest military base for integration or just the nearest police station?
I do not know about UK, in Nazi Germany it was a POW camp, only briefly the crew would spend a night or two in a local prison. Stefan.
There`s an image of Ernst Nittmann`s Bf 109 here:- https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109E...n-WNr-6318-FL-Canterbury-Kent-06-09-40-01.jpg However as it is being guarded by German`s the caption regarding Canterbury (Blean) is mis-leading and it is possibly related to the earlier `wounding` (Stefans post #15) although the 109 appears to be on the beach rather than the airfield? Kyle