Hans "Assi" Hahn

Major Hans "Assi" Hahn (born 14 April 1914 - 18 December 1982) was a German World War II  Luftwaffe Flying ace with 108 victories and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). He was shot down and captured by Russian forces in 1943, and remained a prisoner of war until 1950. Upon his release, Hahn became a successful businessman before retiring to the south of France. Hahn's memoirs "I Tell the Truth" recounted his military service and detailed life in Soviet captivity for himself and other Luftwaffe Aces like Hermann Graf.

World War II
Hahn was born at Gotha in Thüringen. 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.

Hahn enlisted in the army in 1934 as an officer candidate in the Infantry. In November 1935, Hahn transferred to the Luftwaffe, and underwent pilot training. Leutnant Hahn was then posted to 4./Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134), based near Dortmund. On 1 November 1937, Hahn was posted as a flying instructor and Staffelführer (flight leader) of 1. Staffel at the new transferred Jagdfliegerschule (fighter flying school) at Werneuchen. Promoted to Oberleutnant on 1 February 1939, at the outbreak of World War II, Hahn was assigned to the newly formed II./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2), based at Zerbst, being appointed Staffelkapitän of 4./JG 2 late in 1939.

Hahn claimed his first two victories on 14 May 1940 during the Battle of France; two Hawker Hurricane fighters. 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 Ritterkreuz, promoted to the rank of Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III./JG 2. Hauptmann Hahn was awarded the Eichenlaub in August 1941 for 41 victories. Hahn claimed a Supermarine Spitfire 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) near Le Treport, while Spitfire Vb AB859 from No. 122 Squadron, piloted by Sgt G. Nadan crashed, owing to unknown reasons.



Hahn was then appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz (JG 54), based near Leningrad on the Eastern front, on 1 November 1942. In three months he claimed a further 42 Soviet kills. He recorded his 100th victory on 27 January 1943.

On 21 February 1943, Hahn encountered fighters near Staraya Russa. He shot down a Lavochkin 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/R6 in enemy territory. Soviet sources claim Hahn was shot down by Soviet ace Leytenant Pavel Grazhdaninov (13 victories) of 169 IAP (169th Fighter Aviation Regiment).

Hahn was captured and subsequently made a prisoner of war. Hahn's recalcitrant and forceful personality even in the harsh Soviet regime of a prison camp meant he was held captive by the Soviet Union until 1950. After his release Hahn worked at the International Corporation of Bayer Leverkusen. He later became a director of Wano Schwarzpulver Company, which manufactured gunpowder, at Kunigunde near Goslar. He retired in 1977 and lived in southern France. Hahn died on 18 December 1982 in Munich.

Hahn was credited with 108 victories in some 560 missions. He recorded 66 victories over the Western Front, of which 53 were Spitfires. Of the 42 victories he recorded over the Eastern front, at least seven were Il-2 Sturmovik ground-attack aircraft.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (30 May 1940)
 * 1st Class (13 June 1940)
 * German Cross in Gold on 16 July 1942 as Hauptmann in the III./JG 2
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 24 September 1940 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the 4./JG 2 "Richthofen"
 * 32nd Oak Leaves on 14 August 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./JG 2 "Richthofen"