Hans "Assi" Hahn

Hans Robert Fritz Hahn (14 April 1914 – 18 December 1982) who was nicknamed "Assi" was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 108 enemy aircraft shot down in 560 combat missions.

He claimed 66 victories over the Western Front, of which 53 were Supermarine Spitfires.

Of the 42 victories he recorded over the Eastern Front, at least seven were Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft.

Hahn was born on 14 April 1914 in Gotha, at the time in Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, present-day in Thuringia.

His parents were Arthur, a Finanzrat (Fiscal Council), and his mother Helene.

He also had an older sister named Käte.

Born in Gotha, where he was educated at the Ernestine Gymnasium, in 1934 Hahn volunteered for military service in the Wehrmacht of the Third Reich.

Hahn enlisted in the Reichswehr on 1 April 1934, as a Fahnenjunker (officer candidate) in 14.

On 1 December 1934, he was promoted to Unteroffizier (corporal).

Initially serving in the Heer (Army), he transferred to the Luftwaffe (Air Force) in late 1935.

From January to October 1935 he attended the Kriegsschule (war college) in Munich and was promoted to Oberfähnrich (master sergeant) on 1 October 1935.

In November 1935, Hahn transferred to the Luftwaffe, and underwent flight training at Celle.

Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing) in April 1936.

A talented athlete, he was selected to participate in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin in the Pentathlon, but he had to withdraw due to illness.

His friends initially nicknamed him "Hansi", a diminutive of his first name Hans, which over time was abbreviated and altered to "Assi".

He was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 1 April 1936.

On 15 April 1936, Hahn was posted to 4.

In November 1937, Hahn was posted as a flight instructor to the Jagdfliegerschule (fighter flying school) at Werneuchen.

On 1 February 1939, he was transferred to the Stabstaffel of I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing), based at Merseburg.

Hahn transferred to Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) "Richthofen" on 11 October 1939 and on 15 December, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4.

Staffel of JG 2 "Richthofen".

There he claimed his first victory on 14 May 1940, during the Battle of France, over a Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane fighter.

He claimed five victories during the French campaign and further victories during the Battle of Britain which led to the presentation of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 September 1940.

On 29 October 1940, Hahn took command of III.

Gruppe of JG 2 "Richthofen" as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander).

Following his 41st aerial victory he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 14 August 1941.

Legally, it was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Hahn.

On 16 September 1942, Hahn claimed his 66th and last victory on the Western Front.

Hahn was then appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II.

Over the next three months, he claimed 42 further victories, which included his 100th on 27 January 1943.

On 21 February 1943, Hahn made a forced landing following combat with Soviet fighters and was taken prisoner of war.

He remained in captivity until late 1950.

Following his release, Hahn wrote his memoirs "I Speak the Truth" (Ich spreche die Wahrheit) recounted his detailed life in Soviet captivity.

Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) operating on the Eastern Front.

He then became a successful businessman before retiring in 1977 to the south of France.

He died of cancer on 18 December 1982 in Munich.

Staffel (4th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing), named after the martyr of the Nazi movement Horst Wessel.

The unit was based at Werl near Dortmund.

There he flew the Arado Ar 65, Ar 68 and the then new Messerschmitt Bf 109, first the B later the D-1 variant.

(Badisches) Infanterie-Regiment (14th Infantry Regiment).