This great and daring pilot, whom the Allies so feared, was born on December 13, 1919, in Berlin-Charlottenburg. His father, Siegfried Marseille, was a World War 1 pilot, and later he was a Major-General in Hitler's army. He was killed in action near Novoselki on the Russian Front on January 29, 1944.
His parents separated when Marseille was a small child. His mom, Charlotte, almost lost her beloved son from influenza. After his illness, he became so weak on his legs that, at the age of three, he had to re-learn to stand up and walk. According to his mother, in spite of everything, he was always a happy boy. After his graduation, he told his mother, "Now I can finally fulfill my greatest desire. I'm going to become a flying officer." (Knights Of The Reich, page 60)
In October 1938, Marseille reported for infantry training. After completing his flight training, he flew patrols over the Leuna works getting good experience in his Bf 109. On his first combat mission, he shot down an enemy aircraft. On his second mission he shot down another British aircraft. Marseille got his Iron Cross, Second Class on his second day in action, and Iron Cross, First Class, when he shot down a fourth enemy aircraft.
Officer Troubles
Marseille usually had a difficult time with his officers. There were two incidents which tell this. One happened during a supposed attack on the British. Marseille's superior had ordered him to fly as his wingman. That meant that he would have to fly as an observer to warn his fellow Germans of surprise attacks. The two formations met each other, with the British formations consisting of forty aircraft versus eighteen German aircraft. As soon as the dogfight started, the German formation leader gave an order saying: "Reverse course and get out!". Marseille could not understand as to why the formation leader was saying to reverse course and head back when there was plenty of fuel and ammunition left and above all the enemy was not defeated.
Then suddenly a Hurricane dived on the German formation leader's aircraft, who was unaware of the danger, and instantly Marseille acted and destroyed the attacking Hurricane. As soon as he landed at his base, the Squadron Leader shouted at him saying that I'm punishing you for not obeying orders. You were not supposed to fire but you did, and so you have to be punished. And so Marseille was put for five days detention.
A few days later, it was announced that several generals were going to visit the unit. Marseille was ordered by the Squadron leader to perform his aerobatics for the generals. Marseille was known for his aerobatics and trick flying.
In front of the Generals, Marseille performed his favourite trick. A handkerchief was tied to a bamboo stick about a meter above the ground. Marseille dived his plane towards the ground and picked up the handkerchief with his plane's wingtip and then pulled up at high speed. When he landed his Squadron leader again said to him that you are being arrested for further five days since you flew under the five meter limit and thus you endangered your life as well as that of an aircraft. Marseille became angry and said in his defence that he was only carrying out an order and plus it was only a aerobatics display. But the Squadron leader would not listen.
More Captain Hans-Joachim Marseille
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© Copyright 2002 by Shahram Khan.
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