# Hugo Broch

Hugo Broch (born 6 January 1922) is the last living German Luftwaffe flying ace of the Second World War. He is credited with 81 victories in 324 missions, all on the Eastern Front. He is a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and is one of two living recipients of the award. The other recipient is a former Heer officer, Heinz Rafoth [de].

## World War II

Broch is a former World War II Luftwaffe pilot. In January 1943, he arrived on the Eastern Front to serve in World War II as part of Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) Grünherz (Green Heart), and he claimed his first victory two months later.

## Later life

Following World War II, Broch became an employee with Agfa in Leverkusen. He was a prolific autograph signer, and signed many memorabilia items. At age 95, he fulfilled a long-held ambition to fly in a Spitfire, the two seat Tr.9 MJ627. On 6 January 2022, he turned 100.

## Summary of career
### Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Broch was credited with 82 aerial victories. Spick also lists him with 81 aerial victories claimed in 324 combat missions. All of his victories were recorded over the Eastern Front. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 81 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 35371". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km$^2$). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.
Chronicle of aerial victories :
| This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Broch did not receive credit.  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Schumann, Mehwitz, Mathews and Foreman. ||||||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
| – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 ||||||||||
| — | 7 March 1943 | — | LaGG-3 | | 23 | 2 September 1943 | 10:01 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 35371, west of Yelnya 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya |
| 1 | 13 March 1943 | 15:18 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 20122, north of Volkhov west of Volkhov | 24 | 5 September 1943 | 15:35 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 35372, northwest of Yelnya 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya |
| 2 | 19 March 1943 | 15:37 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 00451, northwest of Ulyanovka 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Slutsk | 25 | 7 September 1943 | 10:55 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 26812, northeast of Dukhovshchina 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Yartsevo |
| 3 | 21 March 1943 | 12:00 | LaGG-3 | PQ 36 Ost 00192, northwest of Kolpino 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Pushkin | 26 | 10 September 1943 | 10:05 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 26813, east of Dukhovshchina 20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Yartsevo |
| 4 | 1 June 1943 | 05:10 | LaGG-3 | PQ 36 Ost 20123, northwest of Volkhov west of Volkhov | 27 | 14 September 1943 | 12:05? | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 35372, northwest of Yelnya 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Yelnya |
| 5 | 16 July 1943 | 04:35 | LaGG-3 | west of Bolkhov | 28 | 14 September 1943 | 16:37 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 25672, west of Shatalovka 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Shatalovka |
| 6 | 21 July 1943 | 13:34 | Yak-7 | PQ 35 Ost 64794, east of Oryol 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Oryol | 29 | 15 September 1943 | 08:44 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 26813, east of Dukhovshchina |
| 7 | 22 July 1943 | 15:21 | Yak-7 | southwest of Troitskoye Oryol | 30 | 15 September 1943 | 13:13 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 35511, southwest of Yelnya 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Yelnya |
| 8 | 2 August 1943 | 08:54 | Il-2 | PQ 36 Ost 10172 vicinity of Mga | 31 | 15 September 1943 | 17:35 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 35512, west of Yelnya 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Yelnya |
| 9 | 12 August 1943 | 08:00 | Yak-7 | PQ 35 Ost 54763, east-northeast of Kirov 25 km (16 mi) east of Karachev | 32 | 25 October 1943 | 15:34 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 10132 east of Shlisselburg |
| 10 | 12 August 1943 | 12:50 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 35621, southeast of Kijuschki 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Spas-Demensk | 33 | 26 October 1943 | 14:50 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 10131 east of Shlisselburg |
| 11 | 14 August 1943 | 05:02 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 45752, northwest of Kirov 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Kirov | 34 | 26 October 1943 | 15:02 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 11783 over Lake Lagoda |
| 12 | 19 August 1943 | 16:25 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 45744, northwest of Kirov 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Kirov | 35 | 28 October 1943 | 12:07 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 01474 65 km (40 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk |
| 13 | 19 August 1943 | 16:38 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 35864 25 km (16 mi) west of Kirov | 36 | 28 October 1943 | 12:15 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 01623 60 km (37 mi) north-northeast of Leningrad |
| 14 | 21 August 1943 | 16:46 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 43813, northwest of Sevsk 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Sevsk | 37 | 29 October 1943 | 09:09 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 01663 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Leningrad |
| 15 | 22 August 1943 | 13:05 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 43223, southwest of Rushnoje 15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Tschaikowka | 38 | 2 November 1943 | 13:20 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 10123 east of Shlisselburg |
| 16 | 22 August 1943 | 16:23 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 43823, east-northeast of Sevsk 15 km (9.3 mi) east-northeast of Sevsk | 39 | 2 November 1943 | 15:07 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 01441 Lake Lagoda |
| 17 | 23 August 1943 | 18:39 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 44664 25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Karachev | 40 | 2 November 1943 | 15:12 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 01413 |
| 18 | 24 August 1943 | 07:03 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 44481, east of Kalino 25 km (16 mi) south of Sevsk | 41 | 5 November 1943 | 10:46 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 01561 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk |
| 19 | 24 August 1943 | 14:43 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 54553, east of Krassnaja 30 km (19 mi) north-northeast of Karachev | 42 | 5 November 1943 | 10:50 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 01564 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk |
| 20 | 28 August 1943 | 11:49 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 43683, northeast of Sevsk 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Sevsk | 43 | 5 November 1943 | 13:05 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 01533 55 km (34 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk |
| 21 | 31 August 1943 | 15:33 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 35523 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Yelnya | 44 | 6 November 1943 | 15:20 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 01564 45 km (28 mi) northeast of Zelenogorsk |
| 22 | 31 August 1943 | 17:43 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 35384, southwest of Yelnya 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Yelnya | | | | | |
| – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – Eastern Front — 16 August – 30 September 1944 ||||||||||
| 45 | 17 August 1944 | 13:09 | La-5 | southeast of Melikorna Lake Peipus | 53 | 14 September 1944 | 18:42? | Yak-9 | west of Priipalu 20 km (12 mi) north of Walk |
| 46 | 21 August 1944 | 18:11 | La-5 | south of Antsla 20 km (12 mi) west-southwest of Võru | 54 | 16 September 1944 | 17:35 | Pe-2 | west of Engekarti 40 km (25 mi) north-northwest of Kreutzburg |
| 47 | 21 August 1944 | 18:15 | La-5 | east of Antsla south of Võru | 55 | 16 September 1944 | 17:39 | Pe-2 | west of Engekarti 40 km (25 mi) north-northwest of Kreutzburg |
| 48 | 25 August 1944 | 09:33 | Yak-9 | west of Ruli | 56 | 16 September 1944 | 18:00 | La-5 | south of Lake Kalu 40 km (25 mi) north of Kreutzburg |
| 49 | 25 August 1944 | 09:34 | Il-2 | southwest of Ruli | 57 | 20 September 1944 | 11:42 | Il-2 | PQ 69116 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Weissenstein |
| 50 | 30 August 1944 | 17:55 | La-5 | west of Tartu 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Tartu | 58 | 23 September 1944 | 12:35 | La-5 | PQ 58625 west of Jēkabpils |
| 51 | 6 September 1944 | 12:55 | Yak-9 | northwest of Kaarli northeast Tartu | 59 | 30 September 1944 | 12:22 | La-5 | PQ 57115 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Mālpils |
| 52 | 14 September 1944 | 18:41? | Yak-9 | north-northwest of Soe 20 km (12 mi) north of Walk | | | | | |
| – Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 – Eastern Front — 1 – 31 October 1944 ||||||||||
| 60 | 10 October 1944 | 10:18 | Pe-2 | east of Tilti 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Liepāja | 63 | 28 October 1944 | 11:46? | Il-2 | west of Liepāja |
| 61 | 22 October 1944 | 14:25 | Yak-9 | northeast of Alpeni 20 km (12 mi) south of Liepāja | 64 | 28 October 1944 | 15:15 | Il-2 | south of Priekule 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Liepāja |
| 62 | 28 October 1944 | 11:46 | Il-2 | west of Libau | | | | | |
| – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 – Eastern Front — November 1944 – 8 May 1945 ||||||||||
| 65 | 14 December 1944 | 12:22 | Il-2 | south of Liepāja | 74 | 20 January 1945 | 14:42 | Yak-9 | west of Skrunda |
| 66 | 14 December 1944 | 12:23 | Il-2 | southwest of Liepāja | 75 | 26 January 1945 | 09:40 | P-39 | PQ 27397 |
| 67 | 15 December 1944 | 10:58 | Pe-2 | east of Tilti | 76 | 29 January 1945 | 12:15 | Il-2 | PQ 17569 |
| 68 | 15 December 1944 | 11:00 | P-39 | south of Tilti | 77 | 21 February 1945 | 12:33 | Pe-2 | PQ 17611 |
| 69 | 21 December 1944 | 11:58 | Il-2 | south of Gubas | 78 | 23 March 1945 | 16:14 | Yak-9 | PQ 17478 |
| 70 | 22 December 1944 | 11:46 | Yak-3 | west of Bernali | 79 | 23 March 1945 | 16:19 | Il-2 | PQ 17479 |
| 71 | 26 December 1944 | 12:29 | Il-2 | southwest of Frauenstadt | 80 | 26 March 1945 | 08:02 | Yak-3 | PQ 07732 |
| 72 | 20 January 1945 | 14:26 | Pe-2 | southeast of Skrunda | 81 | 26 March 1945 | 08:03 | Yak-3 | PQ 07733 |
| 73 | 20 January 1945 | 14:29 | Yak-9 | west of Skrunda | | | | | |

### Awards and decorations

* Aviator badge (28 November 1941)
* Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
** in Bronze (26 March 1943)
** in Silver (10 June 1943)
** in Gold (23 August 1943)
* Iron Cross (1939)
** 2nd Class (7 April 1943)
** 1st Class (11 August 1943)
* Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 8 November 1943 as Unteroffizier and pilot
* German Cross in Gold on 26 November 1943 as Unteroffizier in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 March 1945 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 54
* Courland Cuff Title (20 April 1945)