Hans Strelow

Who was Hans Strelow?

Hans Strelow was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He received the award two days before his 20th birthday making him the youngest recipient of the Oak Leaves.

To avoid capture by the Red Army Strelow committed suicide after he was shot down by a Petlyakov Pe-2 twin-engine bomber in Bf 109 F-2 "Black 10". He had made a forced landing 9 kilometres behind Soviet lines.