Iron Cross Magazine

17 December, 2025

FEATURES SEENOTDIENST Maximilian Meindl provides a detailed theatre-by-theatre history of the Luftwaffe’s often overlooked air-sea rescue force, the Seenotrettungsdienst. In action throughout the Second World War, it was primarily equipped with a varied fleet of flying boats. GUNTHER PLÜSCHOW AND THE SIEGE OF TSINGTAO During the 1914 Siege of Tsingtao, Gunther Plüschow became the first pilot to engage in aerial combat with another aeroplane. Later, he was the only member of the German military to escape from Britain in either World War. Graham Rumney chronicles his extraordinary career. BATTLE OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS Following the unexpected defeat at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November 1914, the Royal Navy sought swift revenge against the Imperial German Navy’s cruiser squadron that had sunk two of its armoured cruisers, with heavy loss of life. Just five weeks later, success at the Battle of the Falkland Islands emphatically restored the pride of the Senior Service. Chris Sams details the one-sided clash in the South Atlantic. JAGDFLIEGER OF JASTA 17 Among aviation historians who have studied the aerial engagements of the First World War, the name of Leutnant der Reserve Alfred Fleischer is comparatively unknown. He achieved ‘only’ six confirmed victories and never commanded a famous unit. Nonetheless, as Greg VanWyngarden relates here, his story deserves to be told, in no small measure due to the remarkable friendship he would form with one of his defeated foes. ‘ROMMEL’S FUNNIES’ During the Second World War, Germany used two open top self-propelled artillery howitzers that were armed with a 15 cm schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (sIG 33) weapon. One used the hull of a Panzer II tank and another the hull of a Panzer III. As Craig Moore explains, they built exclusively for service with the Africa Korps. A LUCKY CHARM In our occasional series covering conflict archaeology, Consultant Editor Andy Saunders examines the case of Unteroffizier Fritz Buchner, a Bf 109E pilot with Jagdgeschwader 3 who was been shot down over England on 26 August 1940 and remained missing in action until 1984. A lucky charm helped unravel the mystery of the German airman’s identity. STURMABTEILUNG KOCH In the first instalment of a two-part feature detailing the daring seizure of Fort Ében-Émael in Belgium on 10–11 May 1940, Dr Niklas Napp examines the paratroopers’ target and the planning and training undertaken by the Fallschirmjäger’s Sturmabteilung Koch in preparation for the raid. THE TOULON HEINKEL Although discovered more than 30 years ago, the wreck of a Heinkel He 111 in the sea off Toulon has defied identification. Chris Goss delves into the history of the aircraft, detailing how the bomber ended up in a watery grave. REGULARS REVIEWS Our regular look at military history publications covers books from William Collins, Stackpole Books, Aeronaut Books, Osprey Publishing and Pen & Sword. KNIGHTS OF THE AIR This photograph, expertly colourised by regular Iron Cross contributor Richard J Molloy, features ranking Arctic front ace Leutnant Heinrich Ehrler and a Bf 109F from 4./JG 5 at Petsamo, in Finland, in mid-summer 1942. NOTES FROM THE ARMOURY By the sixth year of the Second World War, the resources of the German Reich had become scarce. How practical it would be to fire two bullets with one cartridge. This idea proved to be of great interest to the Waffen-SS, as Michael Heidler explains. PHOTOS FROM THE FRONT Richard J Molloy has used his magic to colourise a PzKpfw VI Tiger ‘223’ of Schwere Panzerabteilung (s.Pz. Abt.) 502 stopped alongside a knocked out Soviet Red Army KV-1S during the Third Battle of Lake Ladoga. NEXT ISSUE We reveal some of the unique and exciting content which we have got lined up for our readers in the next issue of Iron Cross magazine. WAR POSTERS With an article covering the defining action of the Fallschirmjäger appearing earlier in this issue, it seemed appropriate to feature Germany’s parachute troops as the subject of this issue’s War Posters page.