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The Star of Africa: The Story of Hans Marseille
"Heaton expertly portrays Marseille as one of history's great fighter pilots, as well as a man who lived life to the full and who fought with honor." - "Dennis Showalter"
"The Star of Africa"is a biography of the dramatic life and meteoric career of German Luftwaffe Captain Hans-Joachim Marseille, the "Star of Africa." Marseille, a legendary figure in the annals of military history, had 158 kills to his name and was one of the rare recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, the Third Reich's highest honor awarded for valor in combat. Unlike other German fighter aces, Marseille is also a famous figure in the public imagination in the United States and other English-speaking countries, where his rebellious nature, iconoclastic behavior, and early death have nourished his reputation just as greatly as his exceptional skill and chivalrous conduct as an adversary.
"The Star of Africa"is a biography of the dramatic life and meteoric career of German Luftwaffe Captain Hans-Joachim Marseille, the "Star of Africa." Marseille, a legendary figure in the annals of military history, had 158 kills to his name and was one of the rare recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, the Third Reich's highest honor awarded for valor in combat. Unlike other German fighter aces, Marseille is also a famous figure in the public imagination in the United States and other English-speaking countries, where his rebellious nature, iconoclastic behavior, and early death have nourished his reputation just as greatly as his exceptional skill and chivalrous conduct as an adversary.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
31 people are currently reading
515 people want to read
About the author
Colin D. Heaton
17 books84 followersFormer soldier and Marine scout-sniper, former history professor, military historian, consultant to historians, TV and film, and author.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 25, 2022
Even though Marseille's actual victory score is disputed by many historians, this book undoubtedly makes it clear that he was one of the greatest fighter pilots of World War 2. The book gives great detail on his operational flying and his claimed victories and many anecdotes about him as a comrade from many different great fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe. The book is more than that though as the book follows him through his turbulent youth growing up in Nazi Germany and his early years in the Luftwaffe where he was a "troublemaker" before going to join the North African campaign. While reading this book I realized that he was a mere 22-year old at the time of his death and just how fast these men had to grow up during the War and make life and death decisions. His devil-may-care attitude toward authority and the Nazi's also brings to light some interesting incidents. and calling him the James Dean of his time is very accurate to me. Great book about a great man who was on the wrong side at the wrong time, as he can surely be counted as one of the Greatest Generation.
March 31, 2013
Depending on what you want from this book it is either great, or just good. If you are a war historian this book is amazing. It chronicles most of Marseille's 158 victories in minute detail, manoeuvres, times, types of aircraft, name of the pilot shot down etc. But there are only so many ways you can shoot down an air plane and after 158 times things get rather repetitive. For me this became a little boring.
Marseille was aptly described as a rogue Luftwaffe ace. His womanising, drinking, playing jazz and generally defying the military brass made him a really interesting character. In the end he had mellowed somewhat and was getting burned out. Personally I wish the book had more about the man and less about his deeds.
I would also have liked a map so I could visualize where all this took place.
Marseille was aptly described as a rogue Luftwaffe ace. His womanising, drinking, playing jazz and generally defying the military brass made him a really interesting character. In the end he had mellowed somewhat and was getting burned out. Personally I wish the book had more about the man and less about his deeds.
I would also have liked a map so I could visualize where all this took place.
October 18, 2012
The Star of Africa, a biography of Hans Marseille (who I like to think of as the James Dean of German Luftwaffe pilots) is an excellent profile of one of the most iconoclastic Germans who fought in WWII. Marseille was larger-than-life: he loved women, flying, and drinking, had a South African servant who served with him in the North Africa, and was a talented musician who loved jazz and dared to play Scott Joplin in front of Hitler at an official state function, much to Der Fuehrer's horror (this scene is one of the best passages in the book). Besides being in love with life, Marseille was an exceptional pilot whose talent alone made him bearable to his superiors, who generally hated him. They were, however, in awe of his awesome flying skills, as was every German Ace, and all considered him to be the best pilot Germany ever produced.
In brief, Marseille was a genius in the air, mortal (and fun) on the ground, and someone worth spending time with. This is a great story of an extraordinary person.
In brief, Marseille was a genius in the air, mortal (and fun) on the ground, and someone worth spending time with. This is a great story of an extraordinary person.
September 28, 2018
“The Star of Africa” is a biography of one of the most brilliant and controversial aces of the Luftwaffe. “Marseille was the ultimate role model for the German youth - until he opened his mouth,” is a perfect quote to describe Jochen Marseille’s personality. A bohemian Berliner, who was openly anti-Nazi in the era when one careless word could send you packing off to a concentration camp, was definitely born in a wrong place, if not in the wrong time. Freedom-loving and eccentric, honest and kind-hearted, Marseille simply didn’t belong in Nazi Germany. Of course, in a country where military service was an obligation and not a choice, the liberal Luftwaffe was probably the only suitable option for him. This is where his star truly shone, and here’s where he celebrated every victory over the downed aircraft and mourned the death of every killed enemy pilot.
A brilliant pilot who wasn’t afraid to tackle ten enemy aircraft at once, he remained a true humanitarian. Against Göring’s standing orders and risking being shot down, he would fly to the enemy airbase just to drop a note to the downed pilot’s comrades to let them know of their friend’s fate. He would entertain the captured enemy pilots like personal guests and protect his African mechanic (and good friend) in front of the highest-ranking Wehrmacht generals. Eventually finding himself more and more disillusioned with his country’s new nationalistic values, he tried his best to act like a human in the army where humanism was frowned upon.
This wonderfully written biography is great not only because it offers a glimpse into Marseille’s unforgettable personality but due to the detailed study of his flying career and techniques, all based on actual documentation sources and interviews given by his comrades and people who were lucky to know him. I laughed at Jochen’s numerous exploits and I cried at his tragic and untimely death. An invaluable research source and just a great read for all WW2 history buffs. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
A brilliant pilot who wasn’t afraid to tackle ten enemy aircraft at once, he remained a true humanitarian. Against Göring’s standing orders and risking being shot down, he would fly to the enemy airbase just to drop a note to the downed pilot’s comrades to let them know of their friend’s fate. He would entertain the captured enemy pilots like personal guests and protect his African mechanic (and good friend) in front of the highest-ranking Wehrmacht generals. Eventually finding himself more and more disillusioned with his country’s new nationalistic values, he tried his best to act like a human in the army where humanism was frowned upon.
This wonderfully written biography is great not only because it offers a glimpse into Marseille’s unforgettable personality but due to the detailed study of his flying career and techniques, all based on actual documentation sources and interviews given by his comrades and people who were lucky to know him. I laughed at Jochen’s numerous exploits and I cried at his tragic and untimely death. An invaluable research source and just a great read for all WW2 history buffs. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
December 6, 2020
Colin D. Heaton using his collection of personal interviews of comrades who flew with Hans Marseille along with historical research has created a moving biography of a German hero. Mr. Heaton has weaved this historical biography into a short story conveying the many aspects of a man who loved life and while finding himself engaged in a life and death struggle fighting for his country. Mr. Heaton does a fabulous job capturing the complex individual who was Hans Marseille. A man who cared deeply for family and friends yet was a womanizer, a practical jokester and one who could care less for military decorum yet was a true small unit leader who practiced chivalry on a modern battlefield, but most of all Marseille loved to fly. A moving tribute and history of a man who was The Star of Africa.
September 5, 2025
As a longtime military aviation enthusiast, I'm deeply impressed with the achievements of one of the top fighter aces of the Second World War: Hans-Joachim Marseille. He was a Berliner whose parents divorced when he was a child. His father, who had himself been a combat pilot during the First World War, Marseille didn't have much of a relationship with, though, with the coming of the Third Reich, he re-entered the military and rose to the rank of General, and helped protect his son from being booted out of flight school for the many infractions he incurred there. Marseille soon developed a reputation for being bohemian, a playboy, charmer, speaking his mind in the most inopportune moments (the book highlights many examples of these, including an awards ceremony for Marseille in Berlin during June 1942 in which Hitler and several bigwigs in the Nazi Party were present), and a fan of jazz and ragtime music (both of which were forbidden by the Nazis and regarded as degenerate music in the Third Reich).
Yet, it could not be denied, as was amply pointed out in this book, that Marseille proved to be an exceptional pilot shortly after joining the Luftwaffe in 1937, age 18. His flying was so outstanding that he was earmarked for fighters by his flight instructors. By the summer of 1940, Marseille entered combat along the Channel Coast with I Gruppe (Jagd) of Lehrgeschwader 2 (LG 2). Though his latent skills as a fighter pilot soon became apparent, Marseille had problems conforming to working with his squadron mates. He soon ran afoul of his commander, who was content to have him transferred to a fighter wing, JG 52. There, Marseille fared no better, often flouting regulations and ingratiating himself with as many women as possible, including the daughter of a high-ranking Gestapo official. His squadron commander, Johannes Steinhoff (who survived the war as a high-ranking Luftwaffe officer with 176 victories), did Marseille a favor by ensuring that Marseille escaped the possible wrath of the Gestapo by having him transferred to the 27th Fighter Wing (JG 27) in December 1940. By that time, Marseille had been credited with shooting down 7 British fighters, but also with having crash landed his damaged fighter on at least four separate occasions.
By April 1941, Marseille was in North Africa with I Gruppe of JG 27, commanded by Eduard Neumann with whom Marseille would develop a close, supportive relationship over the next 17 months of his combat career.
Colin Heaton does a fantastic job of fleshing out for the reader much of what Hans-Joachim Marseille was, as a man and a stellar fighter pilot, through interjecting interviews he had with many of Marseille's fellow pilots, as well as with Neumann himself. The war in North Africa could be cruel and life for the combatants on both sides was - in stark contrast to conditions in Western Europe - rather harsh due to the vagaries of the desert climate and meager diet that was often the rule than the exception.
Marseille earned his title as the "Star of Africa" once he learned how to be an effective fighter pilot (while incurring little or no damage to his ME 109 fighter in combat) and a team player. When Marseille hit his stride between late 1941 and the summer of 1942, he would often score multiple victories per mission, expending minimal amounts of ammunition that would become legendary in the Luftwaffe. He would achieve legendary status on September 1, 1942, when, over the course of 3 missions, he managed to shoot down 17 enemy fighters. All the while, Marseille never lost his humanity. Whenever possible, he would volunteer to fly over to the nearest enemy fighter base to drop a note informing its personnel of the death or capture of any of its pilots Marseille or one of his JG 27 mates shot down in aerial combat.
For anyone who loves human interest stories and shares my fascination with military aviation, this book is an absolute keeper, with photos of Marseille and many of his fellow pilots throughout his military service. Sadly, Marseille would not survive the war, dying from wounds he received in a flying accident on September 30, 1942. His final tally: 158 confirmed aerial victories.
Yet, it could not be denied, as was amply pointed out in this book, that Marseille proved to be an exceptional pilot shortly after joining the Luftwaffe in 1937, age 18. His flying was so outstanding that he was earmarked for fighters by his flight instructors. By the summer of 1940, Marseille entered combat along the Channel Coast with I Gruppe (Jagd) of Lehrgeschwader 2 (LG 2). Though his latent skills as a fighter pilot soon became apparent, Marseille had problems conforming to working with his squadron mates. He soon ran afoul of his commander, who was content to have him transferred to a fighter wing, JG 52. There, Marseille fared no better, often flouting regulations and ingratiating himself with as many women as possible, including the daughter of a high-ranking Gestapo official. His squadron commander, Johannes Steinhoff (who survived the war as a high-ranking Luftwaffe officer with 176 victories), did Marseille a favor by ensuring that Marseille escaped the possible wrath of the Gestapo by having him transferred to the 27th Fighter Wing (JG 27) in December 1940. By that time, Marseille had been credited with shooting down 7 British fighters, but also with having crash landed his damaged fighter on at least four separate occasions.
By April 1941, Marseille was in North Africa with I Gruppe of JG 27, commanded by Eduard Neumann with whom Marseille would develop a close, supportive relationship over the next 17 months of his combat career.
Colin Heaton does a fantastic job of fleshing out for the reader much of what Hans-Joachim Marseille was, as a man and a stellar fighter pilot, through interjecting interviews he had with many of Marseille's fellow pilots, as well as with Neumann himself. The war in North Africa could be cruel and life for the combatants on both sides was - in stark contrast to conditions in Western Europe - rather harsh due to the vagaries of the desert climate and meager diet that was often the rule than the exception.
Marseille earned his title as the "Star of Africa" once he learned how to be an effective fighter pilot (while incurring little or no damage to his ME 109 fighter in combat) and a team player. When Marseille hit his stride between late 1941 and the summer of 1942, he would often score multiple victories per mission, expending minimal amounts of ammunition that would become legendary in the Luftwaffe. He would achieve legendary status on September 1, 1942, when, over the course of 3 missions, he managed to shoot down 17 enemy fighters. All the while, Marseille never lost his humanity. Whenever possible, he would volunteer to fly over to the nearest enemy fighter base to drop a note informing its personnel of the death or capture of any of its pilots Marseille or one of his JG 27 mates shot down in aerial combat.
For anyone who loves human interest stories and shares my fascination with military aviation, this book is an absolute keeper, with photos of Marseille and many of his fellow pilots throughout his military service. Sadly, Marseille would not survive the war, dying from wounds he received in a flying accident on September 30, 1942. His final tally: 158 confirmed aerial victories.
February 16, 2017
I read a few notes in other works about Hans Marseille, but never looked deeper until I found the book on the site Book Lemur.
What a great story. This man was anything but the typical Nazi. He was a drinker, womanizer, jazz listener, military protocol rule breaker and an anti-party pilot. If it weren’t for his father, sympathetic superiors and his excellent pilot skills, it’s no doubt he would have been court-martialed and shot or sent to Buchenwald. He was the antithesis of everything Germany stood for ideologically.
In his early years as pilot he was nothing more than rogue. He didn’t communicate with his copilots or wingman on what his intentions would be during combat. He took off, engaged the enemy with no regard for his mates. Many of them complained and refused to fly with him fearing for their own lives. Yet they could not deny his prowess in the air. No one in the Luftwaffe could make an ME-109 dance and maneuver the way he could.
It was in Africa under the tutelage of Oberleutnant Gerhard Holmuth he finally started finding his groove. Rather than constantly reprimand him for his indiscretions and lack of discipline he became the father figure Hans never had. He became aware that combat flying wasn’t a one-man-show. It was a concerted effort of his gruppen and schwarm. This isn’t to say he still didn’t pull pranks on his mates or continue his defiance of authority figures. He was invited to Berlin by Hitler to receive his Knight’s Cross. During the reception, he showed his pianist skills for all the top Nazi brass. After several excellent classical pieces, he started pounding out jazz. By the end of the recital the room was empty. In another instance he commented about Goring wearing nail polish and insinuated he could have a gender issue. Any of these acts would have spelled the doom of an ordinary man, not Hans.
The last item I want to point his respect and chivalrous behavior to his opponents. He was a firm believer that if at all possible the families of downed pilots, especially the mothers, should know the fate of their sons. Several times he would fly over British airfields, dropping off notes concerning a pilot who didn’t return from a mission.
Despite his charm and excellent flying skills, there was one threat he couldn’t combat-mechanical failure. On September 30, 1942 he would take to the sky for the last time. His final tally would be 158 enemy kills.
There are some minor punctuation and formatting issues. They do not detract from the story.
Highly recommend this story.
Five Stars
What a great story. This man was anything but the typical Nazi. He was a drinker, womanizer, jazz listener, military protocol rule breaker and an anti-party pilot. If it weren’t for his father, sympathetic superiors and his excellent pilot skills, it’s no doubt he would have been court-martialed and shot or sent to Buchenwald. He was the antithesis of everything Germany stood for ideologically.
In his early years as pilot he was nothing more than rogue. He didn’t communicate with his copilots or wingman on what his intentions would be during combat. He took off, engaged the enemy with no regard for his mates. Many of them complained and refused to fly with him fearing for their own lives. Yet they could not deny his prowess in the air. No one in the Luftwaffe could make an ME-109 dance and maneuver the way he could.
It was in Africa under the tutelage of Oberleutnant Gerhard Holmuth he finally started finding his groove. Rather than constantly reprimand him for his indiscretions and lack of discipline he became the father figure Hans never had. He became aware that combat flying wasn’t a one-man-show. It was a concerted effort of his gruppen and schwarm. This isn’t to say he still didn’t pull pranks on his mates or continue his defiance of authority figures. He was invited to Berlin by Hitler to receive his Knight’s Cross. During the reception, he showed his pianist skills for all the top Nazi brass. After several excellent classical pieces, he started pounding out jazz. By the end of the recital the room was empty. In another instance he commented about Goring wearing nail polish and insinuated he could have a gender issue. Any of these acts would have spelled the doom of an ordinary man, not Hans.
The last item I want to point his respect and chivalrous behavior to his opponents. He was a firm believer that if at all possible the families of downed pilots, especially the mothers, should know the fate of their sons. Several times he would fly over British airfields, dropping off notes concerning a pilot who didn’t return from a mission.
Despite his charm and excellent flying skills, there was one threat he couldn’t combat-mechanical failure. On September 30, 1942 he would take to the sky for the last time. His final tally would be 158 enemy kills.
There are some minor punctuation and formatting issues. They do not detract from the story.
Highly recommend this story.
Five Stars
March 20, 2013
Five stars for the depth of research and to the authors for having the foresight to conduct interviews with Marseille's contemporaries while they were still alive. This detailed book is filled with interviews that give the reader a sense of what Marseille was like, how he behaved, and how the code of chivalry he lived up to.
One nit, and its really small"
As a student of the war in North Africa, I had very good awareness of where the airfields and targets described were. This book would have benefited greatly from one or two detailed maps.
Highly recommended story of one of Germany's greatest aces.
One nit, and its really small"
As a student of the war in North Africa, I had very good awareness of where the airfields and targets described were. This book would have benefited greatly from one or two detailed maps.
Highly recommended story of one of Germany's greatest aces.
November 13, 2014
*Disclaimer* I won this through a Goodreads ARC giveaway. *Disclaimer*
That said, The Star of Africa is a well researched and lively portrait of an extremely interesting figure, Hans Marseille. He was gifted fighter pilot who served in both the European and African theaters with a distinctly un-military flair. And throughout his life he was involved in numerous escapades, many that should have resulted in sacking. The book was an enjoyable read, if a bit stuffy at parts. But, I enjoyed this book none the less.
That said, The Star of Africa is a well researched and lively portrait of an extremely interesting figure, Hans Marseille. He was gifted fighter pilot who served in both the European and African theaters with a distinctly un-military flair. And throughout his life he was involved in numerous escapades, many that should have resulted in sacking. The book was an enjoyable read, if a bit stuffy at parts. But, I enjoyed this book none the less.
February 9, 2023
Second World fighter aces were not the most interesting of people. Outside the narrow range of attributes and skills that made them successful, they tended to be ordinary men not given to deep thought or public leadership. Their biographies are only of interest to specialists in air combat. This particularly applies to the German fighter aces, who can come across like machines.
Marseille was different. The fact that he may have been the greatest fighter pilot who ever lived is almost incidental to his fame. He was intelligent, gifted, a rebel, the very antithesis of Nazi kultur, his charm scored almost as many victories in his bedroom as his flying did in the air - and some of his conquests were legendary - he was annoying and immature but grew up, he looked like a fashion model, suffered from being the product of a broken home, was almost psychotically daring - and not just in the air - his skill as a pilot was preternatural, and above all, he was a romantic and humanitarian whose story has an inspirational element. And the fact that he was a humanitarian who killed scores of men while in service to Hitler is a paradox that sorely conflicted Marseille, and his way of dealing with it gives this book much of its interest.
In short, Marseille is not just interesting, but fascinating.
It's easy to say Marseille was like a Hollywood vision of a fighter ace, but honestly, there are things in his life you couldn't make up: his unbelievable piano concert before Hitler, his beloved sister being murdered by a jealous lover, the events that ensued after he learned of the Holocaust.
This book has one great strength that sets it apart from other biographies: the author interviewed men who had served with Marseille, and also several of his commanding officers, starting in the 1980s when their memories were still reliable. He also interviewed people who witnessed his meetings with Hitler and the leading Nazis, which means this biography is the best for portraying Marseille's relationship with the Party. Their testimony is the life of this book and the reason why I gave it four stars. There are also critical problems, however, which is why it doesn't get five.
This is a military history. All his combat victories are described in the text - though often there is no more information than the date, time and aircraft type - and are also listed in an appendix. Where possible, the identity of Marseille's victims is recorded. If you're interested in such matters it's fascinating stuff. If you're not it can be tedious. However, every now and then, the 'tedium' is interrupted by some incredible event: an example of Marseille's humanity, perhaps, or a skirmish in his ongoing feud with the commanding officer who hated him (honestly, you couldn't make this stuff up).
One problem with this book that is not the author's fault is the paucity of source material. Some of the incredible events survive only as a brief recollection by an eyewitness that is described in two sentences when two pages would have struggled to do it justice.
Only about five pages out of two hundred cover Marseille's life before the war, and the author resorts to general statements about his character then that are unsupported by eyewitness accounts or documentation. Granted that primary sources may have been lacking by early this century when the author began this book, but you can't help feeling he could have done better. Even though this is a military history Marseille's character is such a key aspect to his importance that his formative years are certainly relevant.
The big problem, though, for this as a military history is that the book has egregious errors on most pages that betray a lack of proper editing. There are factual errors aplenty - in fact the book often contradicts itself, even in successive paragraphs. Most of the errors are apparent to a careful reader - so why didn't the author or publisher do some careful reading before publishing to save book purchasers the trouble? - but other errors require specialist knowledge to detect, which throws everything into question since you can't help wondering how many errors you missed.
Also, the writing is often incoherent, particularly the air battle descriptions when the author often doesn't seem to understand what was happening. He was probably trying to make sense of a combat report scribbled by an exhausted pilot, but again, with more effort he could have done better.
This isn't a bad book and may be the best biography we'll ever get of Marseille. But it succeeds only because Marseille's charm and humanity illuminate it, not because of the author's skill and knowledge - though we do owe him gratitude for all those interviews. But Marseille deserves better.
Marseille was different. The fact that he may have been the greatest fighter pilot who ever lived is almost incidental to his fame. He was intelligent, gifted, a rebel, the very antithesis of Nazi kultur, his charm scored almost as many victories in his bedroom as his flying did in the air - and some of his conquests were legendary - he was annoying and immature but grew up, he looked like a fashion model, suffered from being the product of a broken home, was almost psychotically daring - and not just in the air - his skill as a pilot was preternatural, and above all, he was a romantic and humanitarian whose story has an inspirational element. And the fact that he was a humanitarian who killed scores of men while in service to Hitler is a paradox that sorely conflicted Marseille, and his way of dealing with it gives this book much of its interest.
In short, Marseille is not just interesting, but fascinating.
It's easy to say Marseille was like a Hollywood vision of a fighter ace, but honestly, there are things in his life you couldn't make up: his unbelievable piano concert before Hitler, his beloved sister being murdered by a jealous lover, the events that ensued after he learned of the Holocaust.
This book has one great strength that sets it apart from other biographies: the author interviewed men who had served with Marseille, and also several of his commanding officers, starting in the 1980s when their memories were still reliable. He also interviewed people who witnessed his meetings with Hitler and the leading Nazis, which means this biography is the best for portraying Marseille's relationship with the Party. Their testimony is the life of this book and the reason why I gave it four stars. There are also critical problems, however, which is why it doesn't get five.
This is a military history. All his combat victories are described in the text - though often there is no more information than the date, time and aircraft type - and are also listed in an appendix. Where possible, the identity of Marseille's victims is recorded. If you're interested in such matters it's fascinating stuff. If you're not it can be tedious. However, every now and then, the 'tedium' is interrupted by some incredible event: an example of Marseille's humanity, perhaps, or a skirmish in his ongoing feud with the commanding officer who hated him (honestly, you couldn't make this stuff up).
One problem with this book that is not the author's fault is the paucity of source material. Some of the incredible events survive only as a brief recollection by an eyewitness that is described in two sentences when two pages would have struggled to do it justice.
Only about five pages out of two hundred cover Marseille's life before the war, and the author resorts to general statements about his character then that are unsupported by eyewitness accounts or documentation. Granted that primary sources may have been lacking by early this century when the author began this book, but you can't help feeling he could have done better. Even though this is a military history Marseille's character is such a key aspect to his importance that his formative years are certainly relevant.
The big problem, though, for this as a military history is that the book has egregious errors on most pages that betray a lack of proper editing. There are factual errors aplenty - in fact the book often contradicts itself, even in successive paragraphs. Most of the errors are apparent to a careful reader - so why didn't the author or publisher do some careful reading before publishing to save book purchasers the trouble? - but other errors require specialist knowledge to detect, which throws everything into question since you can't help wondering how many errors you missed.
Also, the writing is often incoherent, particularly the air battle descriptions when the author often doesn't seem to understand what was happening. He was probably trying to make sense of a combat report scribbled by an exhausted pilot, but again, with more effort he could have done better.
This isn't a bad book and may be the best biography we'll ever get of Marseille. But it succeeds only because Marseille's charm and humanity illuminate it, not because of the author's skill and knowledge - though we do owe him gratitude for all those interviews. But Marseille deserves better.
May 6, 2017
Hans-Joachim Marseille was a great fighter pilot. His skills were amazing - great pilot and unbelievable shot but a rogue within the Luftwaffe and German military. He was a deadly fighter pilot yet he had a soft spot for enemy pilots and risked his life more than once to assist them when he knew they were no longer able to fight. The descriptions of his air tactics and aircraft handling are fun to mentally recreate. This is one of the best books about fighter pilots I've read.
September 22, 2018
The Best aviation book I've ever read. I read this book 5 times. each time it is as fresh as the first reading. You really feel like your in the cockpit with Marseille. you feel each control movement.Fantastic Book.
Read
June 5, 2023Well researched
Fascinating story of a remarkably intelligent and gifted young man. Highly personable writing style, as if the reader got to know Marseille. Amazingly courageous, moral, and sensitive individual.
Fascinating story of a remarkably intelligent and gifted young man. Highly personable writing style, as if the reader got to know Marseille. Amazingly courageous, moral, and sensitive individual.
February 16, 2022
Muy buena combinación de relatos de combate y sobre la persona y su entorno
April 2, 2016
I bought this book a couple of months ago but before I began it, I started reading about the pilots of the RAF during the Battle of Britain and in the Western Desert. I became so caught up in the Allied cause that I couldn't bear to countenance the human experience of the Axis forces. Eventually though, I picked up this book and began to read. I really didn't want to like Hans Marseille but the stories of several instances when he helped Allied pilots (after he had shot their planes) drew my grudging respect, and then admiration. It also amused me no end that he was said to have loved jazz music (forbidden as degenerate by the Nazis) and once ended a piano recital by playing the banned music in front of Hitler. Apparently he was troubled by Nazi policies regarding the Jews and blacks, though not troubled or aware enough to do anything about it. He also accepted all the accolades awarded to him by Hitler and Mussolini, and went to speak with Hitler Youth. The personality who comes across in these pages is someone who was vain, arrogant, spoilt, and immature, and yet his humanity also shines through. A little insight into what Germans were fighting for, even when they disagreed with Hitler's ideology, was provided by Marseille's superior; he told them to fight for their families and homes. The book itself was well-written, with many in-depth accounts of aerial battles - tactical descriptions which I have not read about elsewhere and which were consequently very interesting (though the fact that it was Allied pilots being shot down in each case made me feel faintly ill!). However, such accounts were so numerous, they did become slightly tedious. These long descriptions of dogfights may in part be an attempt to compensate for the lack of emotional insight into his personal life. The biography was written after extensive interviews with Marseille's former colleagues but they admitted that it was difficult to really know the man behind the stardom and the letters he wrote to his mother were not used. She died alone in poverty after the war, having lost two children and a husband so perhaps the letters were lost.
October 20, 2015
Hans Marseille is one of the most interesting individuals on either side of WWII and study in contradictions that is often so characteristic of war.
He was the top Luftwaffe ace in Africa with 158 confirmed kills and the ace with the highest count against western allied pilots. Yet, he hated killing. He recognized his skill and used it to the fullest potential, but tried to down enemy aircraft without killing the pilot outright whenever possible and when Allied pilots were captured would treat them as honored guests, even to the point of exchanging contact information so they could reunite after the war.
Hans was a carouser who partied, chased women,and listened to banned American jazz music, which was at odds with the strict military discipline of the Luftwaffe and often got him in trouble with superiors. At one point, after being awarded the Knight's Cross he played piano at a party for top Nazi officials, including Hitler; he ended the set with a banned ragtime piece, which sucked the mood out of the room and would have gotten any other soldier executed on the spot.
He refused to join the Nazi party because he disagreed with their authoritarian principles, but fought anyhow to defend Germany and the German people. Once he heard hints of the "Final Solution" and the Nazi treatment of Jews and other minorities (which was unknown in Africa where he was stationed) he took in a captured South African soldier, ostensibly as a servant, so he wouldn't be sent to a concentration camp; that action was punishable by death.
The book drags a bit as every kill Hans made is recounted, which can be repetitive and feel like an exercise in accounting. However, it more than makes up for this with Marseille's colorful personality and is an excellent window into the last arena where fighting with honor and respecting you enemy during and after combat was encouraged and expected.
He was the top Luftwaffe ace in Africa with 158 confirmed kills and the ace with the highest count against western allied pilots. Yet, he hated killing. He recognized his skill and used it to the fullest potential, but tried to down enemy aircraft without killing the pilot outright whenever possible and when Allied pilots were captured would treat them as honored guests, even to the point of exchanging contact information so they could reunite after the war.
Hans was a carouser who partied, chased women,and listened to banned American jazz music, which was at odds with the strict military discipline of the Luftwaffe and often got him in trouble with superiors. At one point, after being awarded the Knight's Cross he played piano at a party for top Nazi officials, including Hitler; he ended the set with a banned ragtime piece, which sucked the mood out of the room and would have gotten any other soldier executed on the spot.
He refused to join the Nazi party because he disagreed with their authoritarian principles, but fought anyhow to defend Germany and the German people. Once he heard hints of the "Final Solution" and the Nazi treatment of Jews and other minorities (which was unknown in Africa where he was stationed) he took in a captured South African soldier, ostensibly as a servant, so he wouldn't be sent to a concentration camp; that action was punishable by death.
The book drags a bit as every kill Hans made is recounted, which can be repetitive and feel like an exercise in accounting. However, it more than makes up for this with Marseille's colorful personality and is an excellent window into the last arena where fighting with honor and respecting you enemy during and after combat was encouraged and expected.
April 4, 2014
Imagine this scene, It's a party in Nazi Germany. All the bigwigs are there. Hitler, Goring, Gobbels, Himmler, lots of Generals in uniform and their families. The tip top of the elite of Nazi Germany during the earlier years in WWII while the Germans were still victorious on all fronts.
A young pilot sits down at a piano in a corner of the large room full of these people and begins to play. He's very good. First Beethoven's Fur Elise flows from his fingertips, then some Brahms, and then Chopin and after each selection people in the room applaud his skill. After close to an hour of playing the pilot abruptly changes gears and with a little smile begins to play an upbeat American jazz song. This type of music if strictly forbidden in Germany. It was viewed as the music of degenerates and the creation of lesser races (black people). As the song progressed people fled from the room so no one could even accuse them of listening to it. Suddenly Hitler stood, raised his hand and said "I think we've heard enough". And then walked away followed by Goring and Himmler. There was no applause for the Scott Joplin piece.
This is a true story. The pilot, Hans-Joachim Marseille, known as The Star of Africa and one of the greatest fighter pilots of all time. He was openly contemptuous of the Nazi party mocking anyone who ever asked him about joining, he saved a black prisoner of war and kept him in his own tent in the desert and defiantly played his American jazz records when he wasn't flying. Any ordinary person would have been severely punished. Hans got away with it because of his incredible skill as a pilot (He once shot down 17 British fighters in one day) and because his father was an Army General no one wanted to offend. Hans did not survive the war, perishing in an accident when his engine failed. This is his story.
A young pilot sits down at a piano in a corner of the large room full of these people and begins to play. He's very good. First Beethoven's Fur Elise flows from his fingertips, then some Brahms, and then Chopin and after each selection people in the room applaud his skill. After close to an hour of playing the pilot abruptly changes gears and with a little smile begins to play an upbeat American jazz song. This type of music if strictly forbidden in Germany. It was viewed as the music of degenerates and the creation of lesser races (black people). As the song progressed people fled from the room so no one could even accuse them of listening to it. Suddenly Hitler stood, raised his hand and said "I think we've heard enough". And then walked away followed by Goring and Himmler. There was no applause for the Scott Joplin piece.
This is a true story. The pilot, Hans-Joachim Marseille, known as The Star of Africa and one of the greatest fighter pilots of all time. He was openly contemptuous of the Nazi party mocking anyone who ever asked him about joining, he saved a black prisoner of war and kept him in his own tent in the desert and defiantly played his American jazz records when he wasn't flying. Any ordinary person would have been severely punished. Hans got away with it because of his incredible skill as a pilot (He once shot down 17 British fighters in one day) and because his father was an Army General no one wanted to offend. Hans did not survive the war, perishing in an accident when his engine failed. This is his story.
September 30, 2013
Hans-Joachim Marseille 马塞尔 是历史上第一个将空战技术上升至另一个高度的人。Erich Hartmann 哈特曼 等许多同时代的空战高手尽管在杀敌数量上超过了马塞尔，但仅从空战技术上，他们与马塞尔还有距离。
所谓上升至另一个高度，意味着他的空战技术必然包含别人没有的东西。其中，最重要的是偏差射击。偏差射击能力给马塞尔带来巨大的想象空间，让他可以从各个仰角发起攻击，这种随心所欲的超强攻击能力是同时代飞行员无法想象的。大部分人做不到偏差射击是因为太难了：在攻击过程中，飞行员所处的位置往往看不到对方的目标，只能凭借对目的速度和方向的判断，来确定攻击的方位和时机；而且攻击时机转瞬即逝，往往只有零点几秒的时间。但这些马塞尔都能做到。他通常使用low-yoyo、high-yoyo 或者 半个高G滚筒，让自己的飞机处于偏差攻击的位置上，然后凭借对两飞机间相对位置、速度变化的判断，准确无误的在那零点几秒时间空隙中扣动机枪和航炮。如此天才型的空间感、速度感空前绝后。
一次射击完毕，马塞尔不会跟随攻击，而是马上调整飞机位置，攻击下一个目标。这侧面验证了他高超的situational awareness能力。高手都具备一个冷静的头脑，思考时囊括所有空战元素，缜密的分析整个空战局势。分析的目的，第一，要从混乱的局势中将敌人飞机对自己的威胁程度进行排序，首先要对付的就是对自己威胁最大的敌人，不在高级威胁没有消失前盲目发动对低级目标的进攻；第二，对攻击对象预先排序，事先计划每一个的攻击的方式，就如同斯诺克台球一样，打一个球前会想好下面几个球的走位。在所有德军飞行员里，我想只有马塞尔真正做到了对多个攻击对象的预判，扫了几眼战场便清楚的预判了所有飞机的动向和自己最佳的策略。马塞尔太多次的用实际证明了他能在短短几分钟内打下多家英国飞机：曾经10分钟内击落8架、一天击落17架，前无古人后无来者！而这让人无法相信的高效攻击成功率的前提就是超级的situational awareness战场分析能力。
另一方面，马塞尔对飞机的优异操控性，让他很难被对手攻击。在被尾随攻击时，通常他会突然放下flap减速，让对方冲到前面；或者进入高G滚筒，对方往往承受不了那么高的G作用力，从而冲到他前面；或者忽然快速做剪刀交叉动作，反应慢的对手也会冲到前面。这样他便从被攻击者变成了攻击者。事实上，马塞尔当初在军校里成名就是源于其杂耍一般、高难度的飞行动作。经过学校学习和战争洗礼，他已经把活塞式发动机飞机的性能发挥到了极致。BF109F系列在他手里就是音乐大师手里的小提琴，可以演奏最动人的乐曲。马塞尔曾不止一次在离地面一米高的高度飞行；在偏差攻击时，为获得更大攻角，他能放下机翼flap增加升力；在低速时，他能拉出5-6个G、直径200米的180度侧转弯，这应该是BF109系列最小转弯直径的记录。进入空军后，他很好的将这种技术用于防守。这种转防守为进攻的能力和偏差射击一样，都是马塞尔独有且高效的空战武器。
马塞尔的另一法宝是他的视力。高手过招时，谁先发现谁，谁就已经赢了一半。马塞尔总是那个能最先发现对方的人，这就意味着他有足够时间调整位置，让自己进入最佳的攻击状态或最佳的脱离逃逸状态。在这一点上，其它高手也较为相似。
当然，不能否认或低估哈特曼等杰出飞行员也具有同样一流的situational awareness能力和攻击方式上取得的创新。二战中，每个空战高手都有他自己的成名的独门方法。但仅就dogfight空战斗狗的技术而言，根据历史资料进行分析和推断，马塞尔所有二战飞行员中最出色的。这一点已被历史界和广大二战军事迷所广泛认可。
By Yifan Xu
2012.9.30
所谓上升至另一个高度，意味着他的空战技术必然包含别人没有的东西。其中，最重要的是偏差射击。偏差射击能力给马塞尔带来巨大的想象空间，让他可以从各个仰角发起攻击，这种随心所欲的超强攻击能力是同时代飞行员无法想象的。大部分人做不到偏差射击是因为太难了：在攻击过程中，飞行员所处的位置往往看不到对方的目标，只能凭借对目的速度和方向的判断，来确定攻击的方位和时机；而且攻击时机转瞬即逝，往往只有零点几秒的时间。但这些马塞尔都能做到。他通常使用low-yoyo、high-yoyo 或者 半个高G滚筒，让自己的飞机处于偏差攻击的位置上，然后凭借对两飞机间相对位置、速度变化的判断，准确无误的在那零点几秒时间空隙中扣动机枪和航炮。如此天才型的空间感、速度感空前绝后。
一次射击完毕，马塞尔不会跟随攻击，而是马上调整飞机位置，攻击下一个目标。这侧面验证了他高超的situational awareness能力。高手都具备一个冷静的头脑，思考时囊括所有空战元素，缜密的分析整个空战局势。分析的目的，第一，要从混乱的局势中将敌人飞机对自己的威胁程度进行排序，首先要对付的就是对自己威胁最大的敌人，不在高级威胁没有消失前盲目发动对低级目标的进攻；第二，对攻击对象预先排序，事先计划每一个的攻击的方式，就如同斯诺克台球一样，打一个球前会想好下面几个球的走位。在所有德军飞行员里，我想只有马塞尔真正做到了对多个攻击对象的预判，扫了几眼战场便清楚的预判了所有飞机的动向和自己最佳的策略。马塞尔太多次的用实际证明了他能在短短几分钟内打下多家英国飞机：曾经10分钟内击落8架、一天击落17架，前无古人后无来者！而这让人无法相信的高效攻击成功率的前提就是超级的situational awareness战场分析能力。
另一方面，马塞尔对飞机的优异操控性，让他很难被对手攻击。在被尾随攻击时，通常他会突然放下flap减速，让对方冲到前面；或者进入高G滚筒，对方往往承受不了那么高的G作用力，从而冲到他前面；或者忽然快速做剪刀交叉动作，反应慢的对手也会冲到前面。这样他便从被攻击者变成了攻击者。事实上，马塞尔当初在军校里成名就是源于其杂耍一般、高难度的飞行动作。经过学校学习和战争洗礼，他已经把活塞式发动机飞机的性能发挥到了极致。BF109F系列在他手里就是音乐大师手里的小提琴，可以演奏最动人的乐曲。马塞尔曾不止一次在离地面一米高的高度飞行；在偏差攻击时，为获得更大攻角，他能放下机翼flap增加升力；在低速时，他能拉出5-6个G、直径200米的180度侧转弯，这应该是BF109系列最小转弯直径的记录。进入空军后，他很好的将这种技术用于防守。这种转防守为进攻的能力和偏差射击一样，都是马塞尔独有且高效的空战武器。
马塞尔的另一法宝是他的视力。高手过招时，谁先发现谁，谁就已经赢了一半。马塞尔总是那个能最先发现对方的人，这就意味着他有足够时间调整位置，让自己进入最佳的攻击状态或最佳的脱离逃逸状态。在这一点上，其它高手也较为相似。
当然，不能否认或低估哈特曼等杰出飞行员也具有同样一流的situational awareness能力和攻击方式上取得的创新。二战中，每个空战高手都有他自己的成名的独门方法。但仅就dogfight空战斗狗的技术而言，根据历史资料进行分析和推断，马塞尔所有二战飞行员中最出色的。这一点已被历史界和广大二战军事迷所广泛认可。
By Yifan Xu
2012.9.30
March 29, 2015
Fascinating stories about Marseille. I had read a little about him in "A Higher Call" a couple of years ago. Like with most things in life, the lesson that "if you're really good at something, you can get away with almost anything" is apt. The comment he made about Goering's nail polish, playing ragtime in front of Hitler and other Nazi officials, etc., would have resulted in death sentences for any other Wehrmacht official. For those not interested in the minutiae of air to air combat, this book can get tedious for some (not me, however). I feel that any of that tediousness is made up by the stories of how he took care of downed pilots, told "enemy" squadrons that their pilots were safe, his best friend was technically a POW that, how he was disgusted by the Nazi politics - most of which would have resulted in a general court martial had he been in the European theater.
If you like WWII history, this (or any other book about Marseille) should be in your library.
If you like WWII history, this (or any other book about Marseille) should be in your library.
December 1, 2013
Colin D. Heatonin "Marseille - Afrikan taivaan voittamaton" (Koala, 2013) on kiinnostava elämäkerta Hans-Joachim Marseillesta (1919-1942), peräti 158 länsiliittoutuneitten konetta alasampuneesta saksalaisesta toisen maailmansodan ässästä, joka eli vauhdikkaasti, taisteli ritarillisesti ja aiheutti kurittomilla tempauksillaan, natsismia vastustaneilla mielipiteillään ja epäsotilaallisella käytöksellään harmaita hiuksia esimiehilleen.
"Marseille - Afrikan taivaan voittamaton" on kiinnostavimmillaan kuvatessaan lentäjä-ässän persoonaa, mutta varsinaiset rintamakuvaukset tuntuvat joskus hieman luettelomaisilta, mikä ei tietenkään ole ihme, kun ottaa huomioon ettei kyseessä ole suinkaan muistelmateos vaan elämäkerta.
"Marseille - Afrikan taivaan voittamaton" on kiinnostavimmillaan kuvatessaan lentäjä-ässän persoonaa, mutta varsinaiset rintamakuvaukset tuntuvat joskus hieman luettelomaisilta, mikä ei tietenkään ole ihme, kun ottaa huomioon ettei kyseessä ole suinkaan muistelmateos vaan elämäkerta.
May 2, 2016
A fascinating biography of Luftwaffe ace Hans Marseille, with a wealth of anecdotes supported by numerous numbered references to previous interviews with other former Luftwaffe pilots. Unfortunately, is let down by the technical and historic information used to put the events in context, such as repeated errors in aircraft details and some real howlers in descriptions of the desert campaigns in which most of events took place. This points to poor research, which taints the whole book as a result.
July 27, 2013
Loved it - the book. Liked Marleilles aloof personality. His disdain of authority but how he grew to understand it and be a leader himself. How he spoke his mind regardless of the company. His favorite music. The authors description of the dogfights were great. Really enjoyable book given the unfortunate setting of WWII.
June 14, 2014
An absorbing biography of a World War Two Luftwaffe fighter Ace who was one of those rare gifted pilots who could do anything with his aircraft. The descriptions of the aerial battles are amazing and his sense of honor to his foes speaks volumes about his character. He was not a Nazi, just a fighter pilot doing his job.Great read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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