On 10 January 2025, koubratists from Bulgarian National Union and
KUBRAT YOUTH bowed down to the exploit of the German airman Captain Gerhardt Wengel.
That same date was the anniversary of his heroic death of 81 years before.
This year, the first nationalistic mystery in Bulgaria occurred. The burning rune of life illumined the space around the memorial slab to the perished hero, and the attending koubratists were the living proof of that HEROES DO NOT DIE!
The fire and the siren signal for air-raid warning reminded of the horror from the bombardments on Sofia and revived the moment when Captain Wengel perished in defense of the Bulgarian sky. In his speech, Martin Vutev, leader of the Academy for Political Activists, reminded also the names of the Bulgarian ‘eagles’ Toma Boev and Simeon Mihaylov who perished with the death of the brave.
Gerhardt Wengel was born on 14 January 1915 in the city of Konigsberg (the present-day Kaliningrad). In the Second World War, he was on service in the German Air Forces (Luftwaffe). In February 1943, he was appointed commander of the first group of 5-a Fighter Squadron ‘Ice See’. On 9 January 1944, his group was re-stationed to Vrazhdebna Airfield, near Sofia.
On the following day, 10 January 1944, was the first combined (diurnal-and-nocturnal) bombardment on Sofia by the Anglo-American air forces. The Bulgarian airmen were raised to alarm, and together with them Captain Wengel's troop unit composed of about 30 Messerschmitt Bf-109 flew out of the airfield. In the thick of the raging battle, Captain Gerhardt Wengel and other four German airmen were brought down.
His aircraft fell down 2 km. in the east of the town of Radomir. Thus, in defense of the capital of Bulgaria, Gerhardt Wengel laid down his life for the rescue of the peaceful population...
Bow to the heroes who laid down their lives in defense of the Bulgarian sky!
On 10 January 2025, koubratists from Bulgarian National Union and KUBRAT YOUTH bowed down to the exploit of the German airman Captain Gerhardt Wengel.
