10 German World War I Aces As Feared As The Red Baron
10 Max Immelmann
The legendary Max Immelmann was Germany’s first ever ace. He was also the first aviator to be decorated with the country’s highest military medal, the Pour le Merite, which became known as “The Blue Max” in his honor. Born in September 1890, Immelmann rejoined the German military as a pilot when the war began. He had previously enlisted as a 14-year-old cadet before leaving in 1912 to study.
During his first assignment (to deliver supplies and mail between aerodromes), Immelmann was honored with the Iron Cross, Second Class, for landing his badly damaged aircraft within German lines. His first victory came on August 1, 1915, when he downed one of 10 British aircraft that attacked Germany’s Douai aerodrome, earning him the Iron Cross, First Class.