Curtiss Hawk 75A/Mohawk. Part ten. The Hawk in service with the Luftwaffe.

 

The Germans got some Hawks at the cheapest cost. They captured many of them in France after its surrender. For instance, in Bourges, ten aircraft were found in advanced state of assembly. They were completed by specialists from Arado, but they all were most likely lost during trials. Around 25 more Hawks were captured by the Germans in Chateauroux, and 20 or 21 more aircraft were found in French ports. Those aircraft were sent to Wuppertal plant, where their radio equipment was replaced with FuG-7a radios and their sights with Revi C-12s. A number of aircraft were captured at airfields, and some were later used for familiarization flights for selected German pilots.
In fact, between August and October 1940 one staffel, 7/JG.77 based in Brittany, flew at least twelve H75s. Some were also employed by the Jagdfliegerschule 4, near Nuremberg. 
In November 1942 Germany invaded Vichy France, putting an end to the "Free" French zone, seizing the Hawks still present there too, among many other war material. 
However, most Hawks were in such sorry state that were beyond repair. At least 13 and 19 at most were also captured in Norway, when Germany invaded in 1940.
Most of the Hawks were handed to Finland.


 

Sources:
1st AJ Press - Monografie Lotnicze 61 - Curtiss P-36 Hawk (translated)
2nd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_P-36_Hawk#Nazi_Germany