Martin Harlinghausen

Son of industrialist Wilhelm Harlinghausen (1866–1942) and Therese Zurmühlen.

Martin Harlinghausen (17 January 1902 – 22 March 1986) was a German military aviator and general.

Harlinghausen specialised in maritime interdiction and anti-warship operations.

During World War II Harlinghausen was the leading exponent of anti-ship warfare with the destruction of 22 ships credited to him.

Born in 1902 Harlinghausen joined the Reichsmarine, the Weimar navy.

Harlinghausen was born in Rheda, the German Empire in 1902.

Harlinghausen received his elementary and secondary education in 1922.

After completing his Abitur he studied law for one semester at the University of Göttingen.

He joined the Reichsmarine (German Navy) on 1 April 1923 and trained on torpedo boats.

He received his commission as Leutnant zur See in 1927 and the Oberleutnant zur See in 1929.

In 1931 he transitioned from sailor to pilot.

In 1931 Harlinghausen began pilot training.

After formation of the Third Reich in 1933, Harlinghausen was compelled to join the Luftwaffe.

With the Nazi seizure of power, and the founding of the Third Reich, he transferred to the Luftwaffe, the aerial warfare branch of the Wehrmacht (Nazi German Armed Forces) in October 1933.

At this time Harlinghausen held the lowly rank of Leutnant zur See (Lt zS or LZS).

In 1934 he began work as an instructor in training schools.

After training as an observer in October 1934 he joined the training section of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium.

At the ministry became an associate of Hans Geisler.

The two men became the foremost anti-shipping experts in Germany.

In 1936 he was selected to command an anti-shipping unit in the Condor Legion and subsequently served in the Spanish Civil War.

Harlinghausen developed effective combat tactics and was highly decorated by Nationalist Spain.

Harlinghausen was appointed chief of staff of the anti-shipping Fliegerkorps X in 1939.

During World War II Harlinghausen flew combat missions even while a staff officer.

On 5 May 1940 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for commanding anti-shipping units in the Norwegian Campaign.

In mid–1940 Fliegerkorps X transferred to German-occupied France.

The command supported the Kriegsmarine in the Battle of the Atlantic and the Battle of Britain.

He married Inge Ruhenstroth in 1940.

In January 1941 he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.

In February 1941, Harlinghausen was appointed commanding officer of the newly established Fliegerführer Atlantik.

Harlinghausen lobbied hard for the expansion of his forces but other military theatres received priority.

In October 1941 he was wounded in action while attacking a convoy leaving the command leaderless.

On 5 January 1942 Ulrich Kessler replaced Harlinghausen.

Harlinghausen was simultaneously appointed Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 26 and Bevollmächtigter for das Lufttorpedowesen (Plenipotentiary for airborne torpedoes).

In January 1943 Harlinghausen was given command of Fliegkorps II and relieved five months later on 10 June.

He returned to duty in October 1943 as chief of staff to the General der Kampfflieger.

His last command was Luftgau XIV from 21 August 1944 through to April 1945.

During the appointment Harlinghausen was promoted to Generalleutnant on 1 December 1944.

Harlinghausen was captured in 1945 and remained a prisoner of war until 1947.

He served in the Bundesluftwaffe from 1957 to 1961.

Harlinghausen either resigned his commission or was forced into retirement after disputes with superiors.