Hans "Assi" Hahn

Hans Hahn
Hahn as a Hauptmann
Nickname(s)	Assi
Born	(1914-04-14)14 April 1914 Gotha, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, German Empire
Died	18 December 1982(1982-12-18) (aged 68) Munich, Bavaria, West Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Army (1934–1935) Luftwaffe (1935–1945)
Years of service	1934–1945
Rank	Major (major)
Unit	JG 2, JG 54
Commands	4./JG 2, III./JG 2, II./JG 54
Battles / wars	See battles World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Eastern Front  (POW)
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Relations	Heinrich von Vietinghoff (father-in-law)

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.

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. Initially serving in the Heer (Army), he transferred to the Luftwaffe (Air Force) in late 1935. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing) in April 1936. 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.^{[Note 1]} On 16 September 1942, Hahn claimed his 66th and last victory on the Western Front. Hahn was then appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) operating on the Eastern Front. 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. 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.

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.^[2] He also had an older sister named Käte. 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".^[3]

Hahn enlisted in the Reichswehr on 1 April 1934, as a Fahnenjunker (officer candidate) in 14. (Badisches) Infanterie-Regiment (14th Infantry Regiment). On 1 December 1934, he was promoted to Unteroffizier (corporal). From January to October 1935 he attended the Kriegsschule (war college) in Munich and was promoted to Oberfähnrich (master sergeant) on 1 October 1935.^[4] In November 1935, Hahn transferred to the Luftwaffe, and underwent flight training at Celle. He was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 1 April 1936.^[5] On 15 April 1936, Hahn was posted to 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing),^{[Note 2]} 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. This assignment ended on 31 October 1937.^[6]

From 1 November 1937 to 1 April 1938, Hahn served as a flight instructor and Staffelführer (flight leader) of 1. Staffel in the newly created Jagdfliegerschule (fighter flying school) at Werneuchen.^[6] Acknowledging his leadership skill, he was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 February 1939. He was then transferred to the Stabstaffel of I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing), based at Merseburg.^[7] There Hahn introduced his personal emblem of a rooster's head. Hahn in German literally translates in English to rooster.^[8]

On 11 October 1939, the creation of new II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing), named after the World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen, was ordered. The Gruppe was formed on 15 December from elements of I. Gruppe of JG 2 "Richthofen" and I. Gruppe of JG 3, at Zerbst and placed under the command of Hauptmann Wolfgang Schellmann. In consequence, Hahn was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel of JG 2 "Richthofen" on 15 December 1939.^[9][10]

World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. In February 1940, II. Gruppe of JG 2 "Richthofen" relocated to Nordholz. Following the start of the Battle of France on 10 May, the Gruppe moved to Münster and then to airfields in Belgium. Hahn claimed his first victory on 14 May 1940 over a Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricane fighter.^[9] On 30 May, Hahn was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse).^[11]

Hahn would claim five victories during the Battle of France, before becoming even more successful in the Battle of Britain. After 20 claims by September 1940, Hahn was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 24 September, the fourth recipient of JG 2 to receive this distinction.^[12] Together with Hauptmann Wolfgang Lippert, the presentation was made by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, at his residence Carinhall.^[2] He then was invited by the mayor of Gotha to sign the cities Guestbook (Goldenes Buch)—a book signed in German communities and cities by special guests of honor.^[13]

On 28 October, Hahn was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe of JG 2, succeeding Hauptmann Otto Bertram who was transferred.^[14] In consequence, command of 4. Staffel was passed on to Oberleutnant Jürgen Hepe.^[15] The next day, Hahn was promoted to Hauptmann (captain).^[4] At the time, the Gruppe was based at Bernay close to the English Channel. Hahn claimed his first aerial victory in his new capacity on 6 November when he shot down a Hurricane fighter southeast of Southampton.^[16] In late April-1941, III. Gruppe was equipped with then new Bf 109 F-2.^[17]

Hahn claimed three RAF Supermarine Spitfire fighters shot down on 12 August. Two days later, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). He was the second pilot of JG 2 and 32nd member of the German armed forces to be so honored.^[18] The presentation was made on 27 August 1941 by Hitler at the Führer Headquarter Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg (now Kętrzyn in Poland). Also present at the award ceremony were the fighter pilots Oberleutnant Hans Philipp and Oberleutnant Heinz Bär who were also awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.^[19]

On 15 February 1942, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Théville where the Gruppe was flew fighter protection over the Cotentin Peninsula.^[20] In May, the Gruppe converted to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A variant, a radial engine powered fighter aircraft.^[21] III. Gruppe of JG 2 intercepted a RAF "Circus" mission headed for Caen.^[22] On this mission, Hahn claimed two of the four Spitfire fighters shot down.^[23] On 6 June, the RAF flew a "Circus" mission to Cherbourg which was intercepted by III. Gruppe, claiming thirteen Spitfire fighters shot down, including three by Hahn.^[22][24] On 16 July, Hahn was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).^[25]

On 6 September, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Poix-de-Picardie.^[26] Hahn claimed a Spitfire fighter on 16 September 1942 to record his 66th claim over the Western Front. Two Spitfires were lost that day; one was shot down by Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) near Le Treport, while Spitfire Vb AB859 from No. 122 Squadron, piloted by Sgt G. Nadan crashed, owing to unknown reasons.^[27] On 1 November, Hahn was transferred and relinquished command of III. Gruppe to Oberleutnant Egon Mayer.^[28]

On 1 November 1942, Hahn was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). He replaced Hauptmann Dietrich Hrabak who was transferred to command Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing). At the time, the Gruppe was based at Rjelbitzi Airfield, located 26 kilometers (16 miles) north of Dno and 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) west-southwest of Soltsy on the northern bank of the Shelon, an airfield south of Leningrad and west of Lake Ilmen on the Eastern Front.^[29] The transfer request had been made by Oberstleutnant Hannes Trautloft, the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 54, a friend of Hahn who appreciated his leadership qualities.^[30] Hahn claimed his first aerial victories on the Eastern Front on 4 December in the combat area southeast of Staraya Russa. On two separate missions, he was credited with a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter and three Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft destroyed.^[31]

On 18 December, Hahn was promoted to Major (major), effective as of 1 January 1943.^[32] Hahn became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 30 December 1942. That day, pilots of II. Gruppe claimed 31 aerial victories for the loss of one of their own. Depending on source, Hahn was either credited with five LaGG-3 fighters shot down, or four LaGG-3 fighters and a single Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.^[33][34] On 12 January 1943, Soviet forces launched Operation Iskra, also known as the second battle of Lake Ladoga, an operation which created a corridor into the besieged city Leningrad. Two days later, II. Gruppe flew their first combat missions in support of German ground forces, flying combat air patrols and ground support missions against Soviet resupply lines. That day, Hahn claimed seven Lavochkin La-5 fighters shot down in the area of Mga and Shlisselburg.^[35] Hahn claimed his 100th victory on 26 January. He was the 34th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.^[36]

Hahn documented his experiences as a prisoner of war upon his return in his narrative "I Speak the Truth" (Ich spreche die Wahrheit). The book begins with his last combat mission flown on 21 February 1943, and ends with his return in late 1949.^[37] According to his own account, on Sunday 21 February 1943, Hahn intended to fly to Riga for a meeting with the Luftflotte 1 (1st Air Fleet) commanding staff. Since he had not planned to fly operationally, he did not wear his regular combat dress and did not carry a sidearm that day. On his way to his aircraft, he ran into his wingman, Max Stotz, who informed him that the Heer (German Army) had just requested fighter support over the Demyansk combat area.^[38]

On 21 February 1943, Hahn encountered fighters near Staraya Russa. He shot down a La-5 fighter for his 108th victory before his aircraft received hits in the left wing. Disengaging from combat, Hahn's engine soon began overheating and he force-landed his Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 13949—factory number) in enemy territory south of Zaluchye.^[39] According to Soviet sources, Hahn was shot down by Soviet pilot Starshiy Leytenant Pavel Grazhdaninov of 169 IAP (169th Fighter Aviation Regiment),^{[Note 3]} and his wingman Starshiy Serzhant Davydov. According to this report, Hahn had bailed out over Soviet territory was then captured and interrogated.^[40]

Hahn was released as a prisoner of war shortly before Christmas 1950, returning home by train. Among others, he was welcomed by his son but learned that his first wife had left him for another man. He worked at the International Corporation of Bayer Leverkusen and later became a director of Wano Schwarzpulver Company, which manufactured gunpowder, at Kunigunde near Goslar. In 1971, he married Gisela von Vietinghoff, daughter of the former Generaloberst Heinrich von Vietinghoff. Hahn retired in 1977 and lived in southern France. He died of cancer on 18 December 1982 in Munich and was buried in Tirol, Austria with his lifelong friend Julius Meimberg speaking at the memorial service.^[41][25]

According to Spick, Hahn was credited with 108 aerial victories claimed in 560 combat missions. This figure includes 20 aerial victories during the Battle of France and Britain, further 48 aerial victories over the Western Front and 40 more on the Eastern Front.^[42] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 105 aerial victory claims, plus five further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 43 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 62 over the Western Allies.^[43]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 05 Ost 1151". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km²). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.^[44]

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (30 May 1940)^[71]
  • 1st Class (13 June 1940)^[71]
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold (26 April 1941)^[72]
• German Cross in Gold on 16 July 1942 as Hauptmann in the III./Jagdgeschwader 2^[73]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 24 September 1940 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"^[74][75][76]
  • 32nd Oak Leaves on 14 August 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"^[74][77][78]