Hans Jeschonnek
| Hans Jeschonnek | |
|---|---|
| Born |
9 April 1899 Hohensalza, Posen |
| Died | 18 August 1943 (aged 44) Rastenburg, East Prussia |
| Allegiance |
 German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe
|
| Years of service | 1914–43 |
| Rank | Generaloberst |
| Commands held | Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
| Relations | Gert Jeschonnek (brother) |
Hans Jeschonnek (9 April 1899 – 18 August 1943) was a German Generaloberst and a Chief of the General Staff of Nazi Germany′s Luftwaffe during World War II. He committed suicide in August 1943.
Jeschonnek was born in the Prussian Province of Posen, the son of a teacher. He studied at the cadet institute of Lichterfelde and was commissioned as a Leutnant in 1914. He began his flying career in 1917. By the time World War I ended, Jeschonnek had shot down two enemy aircraft and received the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Iron Cross 2nd Class. With the creation of the Reichswehr, Jeschonnek participated in the Silesian Uprisings as a member of the Reichswehr's cavalry forces. He then worked under Kurt Student in the Army Ordnance Department and studied at the General Staff training, graduating in 1928.
Upon graduation, Jeschonnek worked for a department of the Reichswehr Ministry which was responsible for the building of airplanes prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles. He became the adjutant of Erhard Milch in 1933 and was a protégé of Walther Wever. He was promoted to captain in Bomber Wing 152 in March 1934 and to major on 1 April 1935. Jeschonnek served as the commodore of Training Group III of Air Administrative Area I in Greifswald, which tested aircraft, from 1 October 1936 – 1 October 1937. In the latter year he returned to the Luftwaffe ministry and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Jeschonnek became the chief of the Luftwaffe Operations Staff on 1 February 1938 and was promoted to Oberst in November of the same year. On 1 February 1939, Jeschonnek replaced Hans-Jürgen Stumpff as the Chief of the General Staff of the Luftwaffe, a position he held until his death. On 14 August 1939, he was promoted to Generalmajor.
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