Max Ibel

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Max Ibel
Brigadegeneral Max Josef Ibel.png
Brigadier General (Bundeswehr) Ibel
Nickname Maxe
Birth date 2 January 1896(1896-01-02)
Place of birth Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Death date 19 March 1981 (aged 85)
Place of death Munich, Bavaria, West Germany
Resting place Munich Waldfriedhof (old part)
Allegiance  German Empire
 Weimar Republic
 National Socialist Germany
 West Germany
Service/branch Iron Cross of the Luftstreitkräfte.png Imperial German Army
War Ensign of the Reichswehr, 1919 - 1935.png Reichswehr
Luftwaffe eagle.jpg Luftwaffe
Bundeswehr cross.png Bundeswehr (Luftwaffe)
Years of service 1915–1918
1919–1935
1935–1945
1957–1961
Rank 2nd Lieutenant (Imperial Army)
Captain (Reichswehr)
Major General (Wehrmacht)
Brigadier General (Bundeswehr)
Commands held JG 3 (de)
JG 27 (de)
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations ∞ Eleonore von Unold

Max Josef Ibel (often wrongly Max-Josef; 2 January 1896 – 19 March 1981) was a German officer of the Imperial German Army, the Reichswehr, the Wehrmacht and the Bundeswehr as well as recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in World War II.

Military career (chronology)

Colonels Adolf Galland (left) and Max Ibel
Jagdfliegerführer 3 Max Ibel in July 1941 on the French coast where he was stationed.
Oberst Max Ibel, Leutnant Gustav Sprick, Oberleutnant Helmut Beck-Broichsitter, Feldwebel Karl Jürgens.jpg
Major Ibel.jpg
Oberst Max Ibel (2nd from right).jpg
Max Ibel V.jpg
Max Ibel IV.jpg
Max Ibel VI.jpg
Max Ibel III.jpg
Prof. Dr. Konrad Ibel.jpg
  • 5 July 1915 After graduation with Abitur, joined the Pioniere of the Royal Bavarian Army as a war volunteer
    • He was assigned to Recruit Depot III of the Royal Bavarian 1st Pioneer Replacement Battalion.
  • 10 September 1915 Transferred to the 1st Replacement Company
  • 4 October 1915 Commanded to the 2nd Officer Aspirant Course with effect from 21 November 1915
  • 11 March 1916 Transferred to the 3rd Field Pioneer Company of the 1st Bavarian Army Corps at the front
  • 2 to 15 July 1916 Granted leave to visit his parents in München
  • 18 October 1916 After his promotion to 2nd Lieutenant deployed as a company officer and platoon leader in his company
  • 30 November to 15 December 1916 Granted leave
  • 16 December 1916 Return to the front
  • 16 to 31 March 1916 Granted leave
  • 1 April 1916 Return to the front
  • 14 to 29 June 1916 Granted leave
  • 30 June 1916 Return to the front
  • 28 May to 1 July 1917 Deployed in the trench warfare on the Chemins des Dames
  • 27 July to 28 December 1917 Deployed in trench warfare in Champagne
  • 20 to 25 August 1917 Commanded to the 40th course of the Army Gas School
  • 28 August to 12 September 1917 Granted leave
  • 13 September 1917 Return to his unit
  • 4 November to 15 December 1917 Commanded to the 4th course at the Pioneer School I
  • 16 December 1917 Return to his unit
  • 24 January to 24 February 1918 Deployed in the trench warfare in the Argonne
  • 24 February to 20 March 1918 On rest in the area (Etappe) behind the 18th Army
  • 21 March to 31 March 1918 Took part in the Great Battle of France
    • This included the breakthrough battle at St. Quentin – La Fere on 21 and 22 March 1918. This was followed on 23 and 24 March 1918 by the battles at the crossing of the Somme and the Crozat Canal between St. Christ and Tergnier. From 25 March 1918 to 31 March 1918, the pursuit battles continued as far as Montdidier-Noyon.
  • Spring 1918 Return to the 1st Bavarian Pioneer Replacement Battalion
  • 19 April 1918 Commanded to the Guard Reserve Pioneer Regiment (G.R.P.R.), which became known for the use of flamethrowers
    • From 22 April 1918 to 30 April 1918, before the transfer, he was deployed in trench warfare in Champagne. On 30 April 1918, he was deployed to Nouzon-Charleville to join the G.R.P.R.
  • 30 April to 17 July 1918 On rest and training with the 4th Company of the G.R.P.R.
  • 17 July 1918 Battle of the Marne
  • 9 December 1918 Transferred to the Replacement Pioneer Battalion
    • On 14 December 1918, he reported to the battalion, where he was assigned to the 3rd Company.
  • 26 February 1919 Granted leave until further notice due to the political situation
  • 6 May 1919 Royal Bavarian 1st Pioneer Battalion (for the purpose of processing)
  • 14 July 1919 Adjutant of the Battalion's Processing (demobilization) Office
  • 24 October 1919 Joined the Reichswehr Pioneer Battalion 21/Reichswehr-Brigade 21[1] of the Preliminary Reichswehr
  • 1 October 1920 7th (Bavarian) Pioneer Battalion in München (from the spring of 1923 at the latest he was a company officer in the 1st company)
    • 6 to 24 November 1922 Detached to the 19th Infantry Regiment
  • Spring of 1926 Commended to the 4th (Badisches) Squadron of the 18th Cavalry Regiment in Ludwigsburg
  • Spring 1927 Return (at the latest) to the 1st company of the 7th (Bavarian) Pioneer Battalion
  • 31 July 1928 Received his resignation from active service as a cover
    • He now went to the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school in the Soviet Union to complete his secret flight training. He then stayed in the there for the next three years. On 1 November 1930, he was on the Reichswehr's secret aviator list.
  • 1 October 1931 Return to the Reichswehr as an active officer
    • appointed Commander of the 1st Company/7. (Bayerisches) Pionier-Bataillon
  • 1 April 1934 Appointed instructor at the flying school of the not yet unveiled Luftwaffe in Schleißheim
  • 1 March 1935 Appointed consultant (Referent) for aircraft pilots with the Inspection of Schools in the Reich Aviation Ministry (RLM) in Berlin
    • 15 May 1936 Detached to Fighter-Wing 134 (Jagdgeschwader 134), Dortmund, Formation-Leader-Briefing
    • 8 October to 30 November 1936 Course at the blind flying school in Celle
  • 1 December 1936 Squadron Commander (Staffelkapitän) with the I. Group/Fighter Wing 232 (JG 232) in Bernburg
  • 1 March 1937 Commander of new I. Group/Fighter Wing 135 (JG 135) in Bad Aibling
    • Initially comprising just two Staffeln, I./]G 135, commanded by Major Max Ibel, was brought up to full establishment with the creation of a 3. Staffel under Oberleutnant Hans-Heinrich Brustellin on 1 July 1937. Towards the end of the year, 3./]G 135's colourful Heinkel biplanes – each trimmed, appropriately enough, in the blue-and-white colours of Bavaria – were replaced by Bf 109 Bs wearing a more purposeful dark-green segmented camouflage finish. There were plans for the other two Staffeln to similarly re-equip early in 1938, but these were perforce put on hold by the Führer's decision to incorporate the land of his birth into the new Greater German Reich. I./]G 135 was the only Jagdgruppe to be directly involved in Hitler's annexation of Austria on 12 March 1938 (although other units were to carry out 'demonstration flights' once the territories had been secured). From their base at Bad Aibling, hard by the Austrian border, Major Ibel's three Staffeln were each despatched to a different destination. Not surprisingly perhaps, it was 3./]G 135 – the only one equipped with Bf 109s – that was selected to cover the two groups of Ju 52/3m transports flying the main body of German troops into Wien (Vienna)-Aspern airfield on the northeastern outskirts of the Austrian capital. Shortly afterwards, the He 51s of 1. and 2. Staffeln put down at Horsching, near Linz, and Groß-Enzersdorf, east of Vienna, respectively. The Austrian population, general public and establishment alike, welcomed their German neighbours as brothers in arms, rather than as occupying foreign troops. The small, but highly-trained, Austrian army and air force were quickly assimilated into the Wehrmacht, and the Heinkels of 1. and 2. Squadron/]G 135, their presence no longer required, were soon recalled to Bad Aibling. 3./]G 135's Messerschmitts, however, were to remain in the Ostmark or 'Eastern Marches', as Austria was renamed.
    • During the summer of 1938, all three of Ibel's Staffeln standardised on early Bf 109 Ds. On 31 October, Max Ibel departed to take over as Kommodore of JG 231. He was replaced by Major Ernst Freiherr von Berg, whose arrival on 1 November 1938 coincided with the group's re-numbering as I./JG 233.
  • 1 November 1938 Commodore of new Fighter Wing 231 (JG 231) in Bernburg (by renaming the I. and II. Group of the Jagdgeschwader 137)
    • 1. Mai 1939 JG 231 was renamed Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3)
    • At the beginning of World War II in the late summer of 1939 (Phoney War), his fighter wing was stationed around Berlin to protect the capital.
  • 27 September 1939 Commodore of Fighter Wing 27 (JG 27)[2]
  • JG 27 now consists of four groups, each equipped with an average of 48 Messerschmitt Bf 109 E, a type of aircraft that was considered superior to all fighter aircraft of other air forces at the time. In addition to the operational aircraft, the squadron also has a Fieseler "Storch", a Bf 108 "Taifun" courier aircraft and two Focke-Wulf "Weihe" and Junkers W 34 liaison aircraft.
    • 9 May 1940 On the runway of the air base in Mönchengladbach, the group commanders await the courier plane that is bringing the commodore, Lieutenant Colonel Ibel, back from leave. At dusk, the situation is announced: The code word received from the air fleet is announced: "Destruction, 10 May, 6:05 a.m. border overflight."
    • 10 May 1940 In the early hours of the new day, all German air bases were a hive of activity. The pilots checked the aircraft entrusted to them for the last time, while the pilots of the individual squadrons gathered for a briefing. The same scene everywhere: orders being issued, explanations of combat missions, final instructions. The dawning day saw the fighter planes of JG 27 ready for takeoff. Fully fueled and loaded with ammunition, they stood in their parking bays. As the sun appeared in the east, the engines began to warm up. The crews were strapped into their seats by the mechanics. A few words of encouragement, a final Daumendrücken (press of the thumb, a sort of German fingers crossed) to express hope for a successful flight, before experienced hands closed the cabin roofs. Ten minutes to 6 a.m. At the head of the wing, Commodore Max Ibel rolls to take off, followed closely by 34 aircraft from the staff and the I. Group. Together with the fighter units, the Luftwaffe's bomber wings move in broad formation towards the west in the cloudless sky. At 6:05 a.m., the aircraft of JG 27 fly over the border in closed formation and penetrate Dutch and Belgian territory north of Maastricht at the ordered altitude of 5,000 meters. Visibility is excellent.
    • 12 May 1940 When Commodore Ibel starts his planes, he can only guess that the wing is in for a difficult day of fighting. So far, the enemy has not made any great efforts to effectively oppose the attacking Germans. But on this day, French and British air forces attempt to carry out daring missions to hinder the advance of the 6th Army in the Maastricht-Liège area and to cut off supplies.The mission of JG 27 begins early in the morning with the take-off of two squadrons of I./JG 1. Captain Schlichting leads them in the direction of the Albert Canal to take over bridge protection there. There is still no sign of an enemy in the sky, but as on the two previous days, that can change quickly. How tough the fighting has been so far is shown by the fact that the squadron is only using 85 of the 101 aircraft involved in the battle today.
    • Battle of Britain: The next enemy since the armistice on the continent is England. No sooner have the guns ceased in France than preparations begin for the energetic continuation of the fight against the British Isles. Air Fleet Chief General Hugo Sperrle arrives at the JG 27 command post in Romilly on 25 June 1940 to hold preparatory meetings with General Wolfram von Richthofen and Lieutenant Colonel Ibel. The wing staff then explores the new operational area near Caen in Normandy. JG 27 initially only has I./JG 1 at its disposal. The ground personnel left behind by the other two groups in France are meanwhile preparing the new operational airfields in Crépon, Plumetot, Carquebut and Théville.
    • 22 August 1940 Received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 6+ air victories (Luftsiege) but especially for his successful leadership of JG 27
    • 16 October 1940 On this day, Commodore Colonel Max Ibel bids farewell to the groups of JG 27 and at the same time introduces his successor to the men who have reported to the airfields. Major Bernhard Woldenga is the new Deputy Commodore of the wing.[3]
  • 12 December 1940 Commander of the Fighter Pilot School 4 in Fürth
  • 6 June 1941 Jagdfliegerführer 3 (Fighter Pilot Leader 3) as successor to Werner Junck
  • 1 December 1942 Appointed Höherer Jagdfliegerführer West (Higher Fighter Pilot Leader West)
  • 15 September 1943 Führer-Reserve (Leader's Reserve)
  • 1 October 1943 Commander of the 2nd Fighter Division
    • 12 October 1944 Helmut Lent was buried at Stade, Major General Ibel spoke these words:
"There was no more lovable and reliable comrade and no better educator and superior of his men. His belief in victory and our just cause was rock solid and has only become stronger in the last difficult months. This belief was based on his passionate love for his homeland and his unsurpassable loyalty to the Führer and his cause."
  • 1 January 1945 Führer-Reserve (Leader's Reserve)
  • 16 February 1945 Inspekteur für den Strahleinsatz beim Bevollmächtigten für den Strahleinsatz (Inspector for Jet-Deployment with the Plenipotentiary for Jet-Deployment)
  • 4 May 1945 At Tegernsee in Western Allied (US, later British) captivity
  • 4 March 1948 Released and returned home

Post-war

  • In April 1948, Ibel testified on behalf of former Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle in the High Command Trial at the Subsequent Nuremberg Trials.
  • In November 1952, the Gemeinschaft ehemaliger Jagdflieger e. V. (Association of Former Fighter Pilots) first representative meeting took place in the "Heidekrug" in Geisenheim. The following were elected as board members: Hannes Trautloft as first chairman, Johannes Steinhoff as deputy chairman, and Max Ibel as managing director.[4]
  • 1 October 1957 Joined the Luftwaffe of the Bundeswehr as commander of the 1st Air Defense Division
  • 30 September 1961 retired

Family

Max was the son of the tax assessor (royal cadastral office), later Royal Bavarian Government and Tax Councillor, final Government Director (Regierungsdirektor) Adolf Ibel and his wife Mathile, née Weinreich.[5]

Marriage

Ibel married his fiancée Eleonore "Lore" von Unold (1907−1980) with whom he would have four children, among them:

  • Hugbert (b. 31 August 1935 in München), Brigadier General of the Luftwaffe of the Bundeswehr
  • Konrad (b. 10 August 1938 in Bad Aibling; d. 3 November 2017 in München), physicist, Prof. Dr. and pioneer of neutron small-angle scattering
  • Barbara, married Meyer

Promotions

  • 5 July 1915 Kriegsfreiwilliger (War Volunteer)
  • 2 September 1915 Fahnenjunker (Officer Candidate)
  • 27 November 1915 Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier (Officer Candidate with Corporal/NCO/Junior Sergeant rank)
  • 20 May 1916 Fähnrich (Officer Cadet)
    • 6 July 1916 appointed Offiziers-Stellvertreter (Deputy Officer)
  • 18 October 1916 Leutnant ohne Patent (2nd Lieutenant) without Patent
    • 9 October 1917 Patent as Leutnant with effect from 18 June 1915
    • 1922 received Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 August 1916
  • 31 July 1925 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) with Rank Seniority (RDA) from 1 April 1925
  • 1 December 1932 Hauptmann (Captain)
  • 1 November 1935 Major
  • 1 June 1938 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)
  • 21 July 1940 Oberst (Colonel)
  • 1 January 1944 Generalmajor (Major General)
  • 1 October 1957 Bundeswehr-Brigadegeneral (Brigadier General; one-star General)

Awards and decorations

Max Ibel with wife Lore, born von Unold, grave.jpg

References

  1. ↑ The Reichswehr Brigade 21 was formed on 1 June 1919 in Munich. The brigade's troops were mainly drawn from the Bavarian Rifle Corps, which was also known as the Freikorps Epp, at the General Command of the 1st Bavarian Army Corps. It was a large brigade. After formation, the brigade was placed under the command of the Reichswehr Group Command 4 in Munich. In addition to the two rifle regiments 41 and 42, the Reichswehr Cavalry Regiment 21 and the Reichswehr Artillery Regiment 21, the 1st Bavarian Heavy Artillery Division 21 also belonged to the brigade. This was formed from the volunteer battery of the 3rd Royal Bavarian Foot Artillery Regiment in Ingolstadt. There was also the Bavarian Reichswehr Jäger Battalion 21, which was formed in Freising from the Jäger Battalion of the Epp Free Corps. By order of 17 August 1919, the brigade was merged with the Reichswehr Brigade 22 with effect from 1 October 1919. The new Reichswehr Brigade 21 also remained under the command of the Reichswehr Group Command 4. From April 1920, the brigade was under the command of the Military District Command VII. In May 1920, the Reichswehr Cavalry Regiment 21 transferred to the Cavalry Regiment 17 and thus left the brigade. When the 100,000-man Reichswehr army was formed, the brigade was disbanded on 1 October 1920 and used to form the units of the 7th Reichswehr Division.
  2. ↑ The Geschwaderstab of JG 27 (command unit) was formed on 1 October 1939 by dividing the Geschwaderstab of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). Oberstleutnant Max Ibel was appointed Geschwaderkommodore. Initially, Ibel was supported by his adjutant Hauptmann Joachim Schlichting until he was replaced by Hauptmann Adolf Galland on 15 February 1940. Hauptmann Helmut Riegel was appointed Gruppenkommandeur to command I. Gruppe at Münster-Handorf Airfield. The command Staffel and I. Gruppe remained the only combat units in existence prior to World War II. JG 27s situation was typical of the Luftwaffe's unpreparedness for war in that few of the combat wings had three groups operating in September 1939. Other Jagdgeschwader had no command Staffel at all, and were subordinated to those that did. JG 27 was an example, and was infused with other Gruppen from differing fighter wings. I./JG 1 was merged with JG 27, and formally became III./JG 27 in 1940.
  3. ↑ Hans Ring / Werner Girbig: Jagdgeschwader 27, 7th Edition, 1991 (Archive)
  4. ↑ Gemeinschaft deutscher Militärflieger e. V.
  5. ↑ Ibel, Max Josef
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