Hugo Broch was born on 6 January 1922 at Leichlingen
in the Bergisch-Gladbach region of Rheinprovinz. On 6 January 1943, Broche
was posted to II./JG 54 on the Eastern Front. Gefreiter Broch was
assigned to 6./JG 54. His first combat experiences were as Kaczmarek (wingman)
to Horst Ademeit (166 victories, RK-EL) and Heinrich "Bazi" Sterr (130
victories, RK). On 13 March 1943 he shot down his first confirmed enemy
aircraft having previously claimed a victory on 7 March for which he did
not receive confirmation. By the end of July, he had raised his total to
seven. He claimed his 20th victory on 28 August. On 27 October 1943, Broch
was awarded the Ehrenpokal. He recorded his 44th victory on 6 November.
On 26 November Unteroffizier Broch received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold.
From winter until June 1944, Broch became a fighter instructor with Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe
Ost. He returned to combat duty at the beginning of August 1944. Re-assigned
to 6./JG 54, he raised his victory total to 71 by the end of 1944. 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.
Hugo Broch flew 324 combat missions and shot down
81 enemy aircraft on the Eastern Front, including 18 Sturmoviks.
His score included twelve double victories and three triple victories.
Victories : 81
Awards : Knight`s Cross
Units : JG 54