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Heinz -Robert-Wilhelm Bretnütz was born on 24th January 1914 in Mannheim, as the son of Paul Gustav Bretnütz and Elisabeth Böttger. In 1929 he graduated high school and became a member of the Deutsche Luftsportverband (German Aero Association). It was here that he recieved his first pilot's licence. In 1932 he joined the Reichswehr for 12 years. On 1st Dec 1934 he was promoted to Unteroffizier. In 1935 he changed his career to become an Officer. During a dance of Geschwader Richthofen at Döberitz on 2nd Feb 1937, he met his love of hs life Mrs. Martha Urban from Innsbruck. The couple married on 24th June 1939 at Mannheim and moved to a house in Wachenheimerstraße 55, Mannheim / Käfertal-South.
On 1st July 1937 he was promoted to Lieutenant. As during 1937 a new Jagdgruppe was established at Fliegerhorst Sandhofen, he returned to his hometown. During 1938 to 1939 he fought in the Spanish Civil War. During his time there he had two victories and was awarded the Spanienkreuz (Spanish Cross) and the Cruz de Guerra. After his return to the Reich, he joined 6 Staffel of II Jagdgeschwaders 53, Pik As.
His first air victory during WW2 was on 25th September 1939 when he shot down a French Curtiss Hawk in the vicinity of Bienwald. On 24th June 1940 he was promoted to Staffelkapitän. During the Battle for England he became one of the best fighter Aces of the German Luftwaffe. He flew a Bf109 E-1 with Werksnummer 4112. Hauptmann Bretnütz was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 22nd October 1940 for 20 Air Victories and 12 Balloons shot down.
On 10th October 1940 he was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur II/JG 53. During the morning hours of 22nd June 1941 he was hit during a dogfight with Russian aircraft between Erzville and Nemaksciai, and had to make an emergency landing with his Bf 109 F-2, Werksnummer 6674. His engine was hit and he himself was wounded badly above the knee. The bullet of an MG had penetrated through the knee into his thigh. He managed to escape the airplane wreck and crawled away until he became unconscious. A Russian ranger/farmer found him and hid him so the Russian troops would not find him. He also cleaned his wounds and as soon as the Russian troops were gone, took him on a horse cart for a 12 hour journey to the Hauptverbandsplatz at Jubarkas. The doctors there diagnosed Gasbrandphlegmone (Woundinfection) and blood poisoning. But even after a thigh amputation, he died on 27 June 1941 at the hospital.
He was buried with all military honors at the Heldenfriedhof (hero cementery)
at Insterburg.
Fullfilling his last will, his wife and his mother travelled on an
adventurous journey to Insterburg to pick up their "Heinzelmann" and bring
him home to Mannheim. He was then cremated and taken home to be burried at
the cemetery in Mannheim, where he still is today. A propeller of a Me 109
is used as his gravestone, as he wanted it in his last will.
He had a total of 35 victories in 244 missions.
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