The Star of Africa is a biography of the dramatic life and meteoric career of German Luftwaffe Captain Hans-Joachim Marseille, known to Germans and Allies alike during World War II as "The Star of Africa." Marseille, a legendary figure in the annals of military history, had over 100 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.


Comments from Those Who Knew Marseille

"His list of affairs with women, some even married and famous was an embarrasment, but his success as a fighter pilot quieted much of the dissent."

Lt. Gen. Hans Baur


"He was so handsome, all the women loved him, and it was easy to be infatuated with him."

Film director Leni Riefenstahl


"Marseille was the ultimate role model for German youth, until he opened his mouth."

Hitler Youth Leader Artur Axmann


"His loss was a bitter blow to his compatriots in JG-27 but a blessing to those of us on the other side."

Ron Cundy, Royal Air Force, North Africa

"If Marseille had about three victories per mission on average. If he had He could have been the top ace above Hartmann, if he had lived."

Col. Hannes Trautloft, Knight's Cross


"I suppose from what I learned, and what i knew, that once Marseille accidentally learned of Auschwitz, that may have been what changed his attitude."

SS Lt. Gen. Karl Wolff

"Watching Marseille in the air was like watching a deadly aerial ballet. He looked like he was twelve years old, and often acted like it."

Major Werner Schroer, Knight's Cross, Oak Leaves and Swords, JG-27.

"Marseille was perhaps the best that the Luftwaffe had. His record was only surpassed by his immature unrpofessionalism."

Col. Hajo Herrmann, Knight's Cross, Oak Leaves and Swords.

"Men like Marseille captured the public imagination, and rightly so. they played a dangerous game, and Marseille was perhaps the best to ever fly a fighter."

Lt. Gen. Gunther Rall, Knight's Cross, Oak Leaves, Swords with 275 victories.


"There was great rivalry for kills, and Marseille boasted that he would beat all of us."

General Gustav Rodel, JG-27, Knights Cross, Oak Leaves, 98 victories