Von Blücher brothers facts for kids
The von Blücher brothers (German: Gebrüder von Blücher) were three German brothers who were paratroopers in the Luftwaffe (the German air force). They all died in battle on the same day, May 21, 1941, during the Battle of Crete.
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Who Were the Blücher Brothers?
- Wolfgang Henner Peter Lebrecht Graf von Blücher (born January 31, 1917, in Altengottern – died May 21, 1941, near Heraklion)
- Leberecht Wilhelm Konstantin Wolf Axel Graf von Blücher (born April 13, 1922, in Fincken – died May 21, 1941, near Heraklion)
- Hans-Joachim Gebhard Leberecht Graf von Blücher (born October 23, 1923, in Fincken – died May 21, 1941, near Heraklion)
The Battle of Crete and Their Deaths
On May 21, 1941, during the Battle of Crete, the youngest brother, Hans-Joachim, tried to help his older brother, Wolfgang. Wolfgang and his group of paratroopers were surrounded by British soldiers from the Black Watch. Hans-Joachim, who was on his very first mission, bravely took a horse and tried to gallop through the British lines to bring ammunition to his brother. He almost reached Wolfgang's position but was shot and killed.
It is said that the paratroopers were running low on supplies. They were amazed to see a rider and horse rushing towards them with boxes. The British soldiers were also surprised and only fired at the last moment, hitting both the horse and Hans-Joachim. Wolfgang then learned that the brave rider was his youngest brother. For many years after, some local families even reported seeing a ghostly horse and rider in the area.
Soon after, Wolfgang and his men ran out of ammunition. Their group was then attacked by British armored vehicles and killed around midday.
Wolfgang’s other younger brother, Leberecht, had also arrived with the second group of paratroopers that day. He was reported killed in action on the same day, but his body was never found.
Their Family and the Fourth Brother
Four weeks after the battle, the brothers' mother, Gertrud, received the terrible news. She had already lost her husband in 1924, and now three of her four sons had died on the same day in the Battle of Crete. Her fourth son, Adolf Graf von Blücher, was allowed to leave the German navy (Kriegsmarine) to go home and take care of the family's farm. Sadly, he also died later in 1944 in a hunting accident.
Their Final Resting Place
In 1974, Wolfgang and Hans-Joachim were buried together in a single grave. This was at the German War Cemetery on a hill in Crete. The cemetery was officially opened on October 6, 1974. Their sister, Gertrud, and many guests from Germany were there. Because Leberecht’s body was never found, his name is on a special plaque (German: Ehrentafel) for unknown soldiers near his brothers' grave. Their sister later named her own sons after her brave brothers.
See also
- Borgstrom brothers
- Niland brothers
- Sullivan brothers
