Happy Birthday to Henri!
1910 on this day(20 October ), Luftwaffe's Commander of JG53(Geschwaderkommodore des Jagdgeschwaders 53), Commander of Jagdfliegerführer Oberitalien, and 68 victories' ace pilot which is the winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), Günther "Henri" Freiherr von Maltzahn was born in Wodarg near Demmin, Pommern.
I bought "Jäger Platt" magazine in this month and was able to know more a part of his life.
He was liked by his subordinates and his superiors as great commander and gentle character man. And he joined "Fighter Pilots' Revolt incident" against Hermann Göring. The end of war, he moved in his land Germany by an order, and went to the place at Germany which his wife's sister lives in. Though he wanted to continuing the battle as one of the German pilot, but he was captured by the US army. Soon, he became free again.
The sadly event that happened to his father in 1945, maybe you can imagine from people under the battle of Berlin. And the tragedy of Demmin happened. Henri's 2 brothers already have died in the war.
In post war, He began to learn the agriculture for his family's land. And this after, He had managed a winery. Next he work in the "Amt Blank"which is a forerunner of the Federal Ministry of Defence. Ex-Luftwaffe members called him as the one of a leader to reconstruction of the German Air Force. I found on Wikipedia that he was a candidate for the position of Inspekteur der Bundesluftwaffe(空軍総監) of the German Air Force. His death is too early.
Though I hope to adding it colors if I have time... By the way, this drawing inspiration is here :))
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