Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Hans-Joachim Brand was shot down by Soviet flak on 18 April 1945 near Cottbus while flying a ground-attack mission. His Focke Wulf Fw 190F was hit by anti-aircraft fire at a height of 1,600 feet (490 m) and he fatally crashed near Alteno/Luckau in the Spreewald.
His body was never recovered.
Flugzeugführerabzeichen Bibliography.