Ju87-G
In the Russian front, a new version of the Stuka was developed, the Ju-87 G was no longer a dive bomber. Instead it was equipped with two 37mm anti-tank guns. Although these guns were no longer effective in ground use against the front thick armor of the modern Russian tanks, they were still very lethal against the much thinner rear and top armor of those tanks. This was basically the German equivalent of the Russian Sturmovik which also used to attack German tanks from the rear. The Stuka excelled in this new dedicated anti-tank role too, although it remained easy prey for fighters. A total number of over 5700 Stuka dive bombers were produced, and until the end of the war there was no new German dive bomber which replaced it.
World War 2 produced quite many German aces, and some of them survived long enough and excelled so much that they had almost unbelievable records. Their ever increasing combat achievements, and repeated acts of bravery, were such that the German military used a score system to award its heroes with medals, and new higher levels of the Knights Cross medal were introduced, representing ever higher scores. Of the top group of German war heroes, which included mostly fighter pilots and submarine captains, the highest decorated one, the only recipient of the highest level of the Knights Cross medal, was a Stuka pilot, Hans Ulrich Rudel.
Rudel personally destroyed 519 Russian tanks, and a huge number of other targets, in over 2500 combat missions over the Russian front. He also committed several acts of great bravery, including landings in enemy territory and in the battlefield to rescue downed comrades by taking them back in the small cockpit of the Stuka. In one of those rescue attempts, Rudel's Stuka was stuck in mud, so he and his gunner and comrades had to escape the chasing Russian soldiers on foot all the way back to German lines.
Hans-Ulrich Rudel was born on July 2nd 1916 in Konradswaldau, Silesia. He was the son of a clergyman. In contrast to his later accomplishments and bravery his childhood was rather peaceful and mundane. He was an average student and fairly timid. His only passion which he developed upon in later years was his love for athletics. This led to his becoming a master of the decathlon. His many accomplishments in school as well as a member of the Hitler youth led many to believe that he had a future at the Olympics. After his final exams, however, he wanted to become a commercial pilot.
His father did not have the financial means to support his ambitions. The desire to fly led him to enlist in the Wehrmacht. He began his basic military training on December 4th 1936. During mid 1937, pilot training followed. He was transferred to Graz-Thalerhof in June of 1938 as an officer cadet with the first Gruppe of Stukageschwader 168. There, he flew the Ju-87 for the first time. Things were not the way he would have liked. He was referred to by his superiors and fellow cadets as a “head case”. He stood by his old principles; early to bed; drink only milk and no ladies please. On can imagine how fellow pilot cadets would react to such an individual. When the war began he could not wait to be sent to the front. He was repeatedly turned down and instead of going through channels he applied directly to the Headquarters of the Luftwaffe (Reichsluftfahrtsministerium). In order to quiet this thorn in the side, he got his wish.
He flew 2530 missions against the enemy. Whilst doing so he destroyed 519 Russian tanks, a battleship, a cruiser, a destroyer, 70 landing craft, over 800 motorized vehicles, over 150artillery, anti-tank and anti-aircraft positions. Furthermore he destroyed important bridges, supply lines and bunkers. (One can increase these numbers since many of his missions were flown without the knowledge of the Reich’s leadership and the tallies were assigned to the Geschwader. Hitler forbade his flying because he did not want him lost to the propaganda machine). Rudel was shot down 30 times, and he was wounded 5 times. He also saved six crews downed behind enemy lines and escaped once from Russian captivity. He was decorated with the highest award for bravery in the German armed forces. He received the golden oak leaves with swords and diamonds to the Knights Cross. His iron will was remarkable.
