Gotthard Sachsenberg
Encyclopedia
Gotthard Sachsenberg was a German World War I fighter ace with 31 victories who went on to command the world's first naval air wing. In later life, he founded the airline Aero Lloyd, became an anti-Nazi member of the German parliament, and also became a seminal designer of hydrofoils.
He volunteered for seagoing service and became a sea cadet on the cruiser Hertha
on 1 April 1913. In 1914, promotion to Fähnrich and transfer to the battleship Pommern followed. He received the Iron Cross
First Class in August, 1915 as an officer candidate, for his excellence as an artillery spotter. On 18 September 1915, he received his leutnant's (lieutenant's) commission.
He then served as an instructor for observers. He underwent pilot training at Johannisthal, qualifying as a pilot. Returning to MFA 2 to fly a Fokker Eindekker.
On 1 February 1917, Sachsenberg succeeded Oberleutnant
von Santen as commanding officer of Marine Field Jasta I. MFJ II was organized somewhat later, and the two were combined into a larger unit, Marine Jagdgruppe Flanders. Leutnant de See Sachsenberg was appointed its commanding officer. His friend and rival ace Theo Osterkamp
became commander of MGJ II.
MFJ III was later raised and added to the larger unit. Still later, two more MFJs were raised and added to the parent unit, bringing its strength up to about 50 fighter planes, comparable to an army Jagdgeschwader. Stationed on North Sea coastal airfields, the MFJ units often fought against Royal Naval Air Service
aircraft who were stationed in similar circumstances.
Sachsenberg opened his score as a fighter pilot, downing a Farman
and a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter on 1 May 1917. He scored again on the 12th, claiming a Sopwith Pup
into the sea, and then notching a double victory on 7 June to make him an ace.
On 20 August, Sachsenberg was awarded the Knights Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern. By the end of 1917, his victory roll stood at eight.
He claimed his ninth victory on 17 March 1918, and continued to score steadily until 29 October 1918, when he downed his 31st confirmed. Midway through this run, Sachsenberg was awarded Prussia's and Germany's highest decoration, the Pour le Mérite
, on 5 August 1918.
The MJF switched from the Albatros to Fokker D.VII
s in June 1918. They were as colorfully and distinctively marked as Manfred von Richthofen
's Flying Circus
, with the basic color scheme being yellow and black, as a yellow and black checkerboard had been Sachsenberg's personal motif, and it was spread to the entire unit, with minor variations marking the different pilots.
, Lithuania, it gave aerial support to the Freikorps
, fighting Russian communist forces on the Baltic borders of Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. It was successful in establishing air superiority over its opponent, and mainly flew ground support missions on behalf of the Freikorps.
Sachsenberg received a promotion to Oberleutnant on 5 March 1920.
After the Baltic war ended, Sachsenberg initially concerned himself with helping his fellow veterans make the transition back to civil life.
He then joined with Professor Hugo Junker, whose aircraft he had used in the Baltic, to found Aero Lloyd Airlines. Another business interest of Sachsenberg's was his brother's shipyard, building river craft and small coastal ships.
Sachsenberg became interested in politics and was elected to the German Parliament. He represented Liegnitz from July 1932 onwards, taking a pacifist stance. He wrote and published articles decrying Germany's military buildup toward war, and especially its establishment of the Luftwaffe. He predicted it would bring war home to German families and German soil. In retribution for his voiced 'defeatism', the Nazis held a secret trial in absentia, although Sachsenberg escaped the consequences of conviction because his family shipyard was producing military ships.
In the mid 1930s, Sachsenberg allied himself with hydrofoil
ship pioneer Hanns von Schertel. Hydrofoil ship speeds of 30 plus knots, faster than any warships then on water, attracted attention from the German Ministry of Transportation and Finance, the German Navy, and German Air Force. Commercial exploitation of the hydrofoil was cut short by World War II. Several military hydrofoils of differing sizes, with speeds up to 60 knots, were acquired during World War II. However, they were only prototypes, and most fell prey to war damage of some sort.
The end of World War II brought the Russian occupation of Dessau, and their acquisition of the shipyard.
Sachsenberg and Shertel set up a new hydrofoil operation named Supramar in Switzerland. In 1953, they finally saw the first commercial hydrofoil in operation between Ascora, Switzerland and Ascona, Italy. The hydrofoil concept gradually spread worldwide, but Gotthard Sachsenberg did not live to see its general use. He died in Bremen of a heart attack on 23 August 1961.
Early life and naval career
Gotthard Sachsenberg was born on Rosslau Mountain, north of the Elbe River, in Dessau, Germany. After his initial schooling, he attended the gymnasium in Eisenach for secondary schooling preparatory to entering university. His major was economics.He volunteered for seagoing service and became a sea cadet on the cruiser Hertha
Hertha
Hertha can be:*Another name for Nerthus, a Germanic fertility goddess*135 Hertha, an asteroid*Hertha BSC, a German football club*Hertha Zehlendorf, a German football club*CFC Hertha 06, a German sports club...
on 1 April 1913. In 1914, promotion to Fähnrich and transfer to the battleship Pommern followed. He received the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
First Class in August, 1915 as an officer candidate, for his excellence as an artillery spotter. On 18 September 1915, he received his leutnant's (lieutenant's) commission.
World War I
However, he was fascinated by airplanes, and in December 1915 transferred to the air service. He was posted to Marine Feldflieger Abteilung 2 as a Fähnrich zur See observer.He then served as an instructor for observers. He underwent pilot training at Johannisthal, qualifying as a pilot. Returning to MFA 2 to fly a Fokker Eindekker.
On 1 February 1917, Sachsenberg succeeded Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
von Santen as commanding officer of Marine Field Jasta I. MFJ II was organized somewhat later, and the two were combined into a larger unit, Marine Jagdgruppe Flanders. Leutnant de See Sachsenberg was appointed its commanding officer. His friend and rival ace Theo Osterkamp
Theo Osterkamp
Theodor "Theo" Osterkamp was a World War I and World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He flew in the first World War, scoring 32 victories...
became commander of MGJ II.
MFJ III was later raised and added to the larger unit. Still later, two more MFJs were raised and added to the parent unit, bringing its strength up to about 50 fighter planes, comparable to an army Jagdgeschwader. Stationed on North Sea coastal airfields, the MFJ units often fought against Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
aircraft who were stationed in similar circumstances.
Sachsenberg opened his score as a fighter pilot, downing a Farman
Farman
Farman Aviation Works was an aeronautic enterprise founded and run by the brothers; Richard, Henri, and Maurice Farman. They designed and constructed aircraft and engines from 1908 until 1936; during the French nationalization and rationalization of its aerospace industry, Farman's assets were...
and a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter on 1 May 1917. He scored again on the 12th, claiming a Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
into the sea, and then notching a double victory on 7 June to make him an ace.
On 20 August, Sachsenberg was awarded the Knights Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern. By the end of 1917, his victory roll stood at eight.
He claimed his ninth victory on 17 March 1918, and continued to score steadily until 29 October 1918, when he downed his 31st confirmed. Midway through this run, Sachsenberg was awarded Prussia's and Germany's highest decoration, the Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
, on 5 August 1918.
The MJF switched from the Albatros to Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
s in June 1918. They were as colorfully and distinctively marked as Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
's Flying Circus
Flying Circus
Flying Circus may mean:In aviation:*Jagdgeschwader 1 , a German World War I fighter wing commanded by Manfred von Richthofen at one point*The American World War II air corps led by Joe Foss...
, with the basic color scheme being yellow and black, as a yellow and black checkerboard had been Sachsenberg's personal motif, and it was spread to the entire unit, with minor variations marking the different pilots.
Post World War I
Sachsenberg formed Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg in January, 1919, consisting of 700 personnel, several of whom were fellow World War I aces. Based at RigaRiga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Lithuania, it gave aerial support to the Freikorps
Freikorps
Freikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
, fighting Russian communist forces on the Baltic borders of Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. It was successful in establishing air superiority over its opponent, and mainly flew ground support missions on behalf of the Freikorps.
Sachsenberg received a promotion to Oberleutnant on 5 March 1920.
After the Baltic war ended, Sachsenberg initially concerned himself with helping his fellow veterans make the transition back to civil life.
He then joined with Professor Hugo Junker, whose aircraft he had used in the Baltic, to found Aero Lloyd Airlines. Another business interest of Sachsenberg's was his brother's shipyard, building river craft and small coastal ships.
Sachsenberg became interested in politics and was elected to the German Parliament. He represented Liegnitz from July 1932 onwards, taking a pacifist stance. He wrote and published articles decrying Germany's military buildup toward war, and especially its establishment of the Luftwaffe. He predicted it would bring war home to German families and German soil. In retribution for his voiced 'defeatism', the Nazis held a secret trial in absentia, although Sachsenberg escaped the consequences of conviction because his family shipyard was producing military ships.
In the mid 1930s, Sachsenberg allied himself with hydrofoil
Hydrofoil
A hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...
ship pioneer Hanns von Schertel. Hydrofoil ship speeds of 30 plus knots, faster than any warships then on water, attracted attention from the German Ministry of Transportation and Finance, the German Navy, and German Air Force. Commercial exploitation of the hydrofoil was cut short by World War II. Several military hydrofoils of differing sizes, with speeds up to 60 knots, were acquired during World War II. However, they were only prototypes, and most fell prey to war damage of some sort.
The end of World War II brought the Russian occupation of Dessau, and their acquisition of the shipyard.
Sachsenberg and Shertel set up a new hydrofoil operation named Supramar in Switzerland. In 1953, they finally saw the first commercial hydrofoil in operation between Ascora, Switzerland and Ascona, Italy. The hydrofoil concept gradually spread worldwide, but Gotthard Sachsenberg did not live to see its general use. He died in Bremen of a heart attack on 23 August 1961.