On 6 January 1943, Hugo Broch was posted to II./JG 54 on the Eastern Front. Gefreiter Broch was assigned to the unit's 6. Staffel. His first combat experiences were as a wingman to prominent Experten Horst Ademeit and Heinrich "Bazi" Sterr.

On 13 March he shot down his first confirmed enemy aircraft having previously claimed a victory six days earlier for which he did not receive confirmation.

By the end of July he had raised his total to seven, and claimed his 20th victory on 28 August. On 27 October 1943, Broch was awarded the Ehrenpokal (Honor Goblet) and soon recorded his 44th victory on 6 November.

On 26 November Uffz. Broch received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, and over the winter became a fighter instructor with Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost.

He returned to combat duty at the beginning of August 1944 posted once again to 6./JG 54. During October he scored five confirmed victories; one Pe-2 bomber on the 10th, a Yak-9 on the 22nd, and three Il-2s on the 28th.

When the year ended he had amassed 71 victories. From November 1944 until the end of the war he flew with 8./JG 54 based mainly in the Kurland area.

On 12 March 1945, after recording 79 victories, Feldwebel Broch was awarded the Ritterkreuz. Lt. Hugo Broch flew 324 combat missions and shot down 81 enemy aircraft on the Eastern Front. His score included twelve double victories and three triple victories.

My personal comment:

I will never forget my visit to his home in the late 1990-ties, what a treat, remembering his warmth, vitality and very good memory.

Never to forget the minced meat sandwiches and the beer that was generously served. I still have his green JG 54 "Green hart" stamp that he happily stamped everything in his path, including in my profile books, the two I had produced so far.

I have of course followed his very active life where he generously shared his experiences from the war years with other Luftwaffe and aviation history enthusiasts around the world.

Claes Sundin