for a period of recuperation and replenishment, arriving on 24 January 1942. In Jesau, the Gruppe received many factory new Bf 109 F-4 aircraft. On 14 April, II. Gruppe received orders to move to Pilsen, present-day Plzeň in the Czech Republic, for relocation to the Eastern Front. The Gruppe had also received a new commander, Woitke had been transferred and was replaced by Hauptmann Johannes Steinhoff. The Gruppe then moved to Wien-Schwechat on 24 April before flying to Zürichtal, present-day Solote Pole, a village near the urban settlement Kirovske in the Crimea. There, II. Gruppe participated in Operation Trappenjagd, a German counterattack during the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula, launched on 8 May. On 11 May, Nemitz claimed his first aerial victory of 1942 when he shot down a Polikarpov R-5 reconnaissance bomber aircraft. On 16 May, II. Gruppe relocated to Artyomovsk, present-day Bakhmut where JG 52 supported the German forces fighting in the Second Battle of Kharkov. Operating from Artyomovsk, the Gruppe flew combat missions in the combat area of Izium, flying fighter escort for bombers from Kampfgeschwader 27 (KG 27—27th Bomber Wing) and Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (StG 77—77th Dive Bomber Wing). On 19 May, Nemitz claimed a MiG-1 fighter shot down. Four days later, the Gruppe was ordered to relocate to Barvinkove where they stayed until 1 June. Flying from Barvinkove, Nemitz claimed an Il-2 ground-attack aircraft on 26 May and a MiG-1 fighter the next day. Squadron leader and death On 4 November 1942, Oberleutnant Siegfried Simsch, the Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 52, was severely injured in a flight accident. In consequence, Nemitz then briefly led the Staffel before Oberleutnant Gustav Denk officially took command in January 1943. On 10 February 1943, Hauptmann Rudolf Resch, the commander of 6. Staffel of JG 52, was transferred. In consequence, Denk was also transferred to take command of 6. Staffel. When Denk was killed in action on 13 February, Nemitz led 6. Staffel as well as 5. Staffel until Leutnant Helmut Haberda was given command. Nemitz was killed in action on 11 April in the area of Anapa. His Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-4 (Werknummer 14898—factory number) crashed near the village Nishne Bakanskaja located approximately east-northeast of Anapa. Command of 6. Staffel then transferred to Oberleutnant Karl Ritzenberger. Posthumously, Nemitz was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant). Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to Spick, Nemitz was credited