Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. On 1 July 1937 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. From 1938 to 1939, he flew in the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War.
He scored his first two victories there, and was awarded the Spanish Cross and the Cruz de Guerra.
He was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 53 in June 1940. During the Battle of Britain, he was one of the most successful Luftwaffe fighter pilots.
On 10 October 1940, Bretnütz was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of World War II/JG 53. On 20 October he shot down a Hawker Hurricane to reach his 20th victory.
He claimed his 30th victory of World World War II on 3 May 1941.
Bretnütz led World War II/JG 53 during the invasion of Russia. On 22 June 1941, the first day of the invasion, he shot down a Russian Bachelor of Science-2 twin-engine bomber but his Bf 109 F-2 was hit by return fire, damaging the aircraft and injuring the pilot. A round had entered his left knee and became lodged in his thigh.
Bretnütz made an emergency landing between Erzvilkas and Nemaksciai behind enemy lines and was able to get out of the aircraft.
He was found by Lithuanian farmers, who hid him from Russian soldiers. Four days later they were able to get him to advancing German troops who took him to a forward medical facility.
The leg wound had become gangrenous. Hospitalised, he had his left leg amputated but died the following day, on 27 June.
"Pietzsch" Bretnütz was credited with 35 victories in 244 missions, the first two of which were during the Spanish Civil War.
Bretnütz is also credited with destroying 12 barrage balloons over England. Bibliography.
