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Description: | obverse design: Oberleutnant Max Immelmann, bust, right profile, in uniform
obverse text: "OBERLEUTNANT MAX IMMELMANN"
reverse design: eagle, perched, with wings folded, upon a rock, its head turned round to face the observer. In the distance the roofs and
spires of a city, behind which is a range of hills. Around the upper edge of piece an oakleaf garland and to the right of the eagle a small
Latin cross prefixing the date "20.6.16"
reverse text: "DER ADLER VON LILLE" & "1914-16"
First World War portrait medal by Fritz Eue, commemorating the German fighter ace Oberleutnant Max Immelmann (1883-
1916), one in a series of patriotic medallic tributes to military personalities produced by the artist during the war. Immelmann, who had
previously served in the German Army, was recalled for duty on the outbreak of war in 1914. He rapidly transferred to the Flying Service
and qualified for active air operations by March 1915. Following initial reconnaissance duties Immelmann's obvious skill and daring
manifested itself in some spectacular aerial combats. His aggressive offensive patrols over the Lille battlefront earned him the nickname
'Der Adler von Lille' ('The Eagle of Lille'). An innovative flyer Immelmann perfected a combination of a half loop and half roll as a
counter-attacking ploy, a manoeuvre which came to be known as the 'Immelmann Turn' and one which was imitated (often with less success) by
many subsequent airmen. By the time of his death in June 1916 he had been credited with 15 'kills'. Controversy surrounds the precise
circumstances of his death as the British claimed that he crashed as a result of an attack by an FE2b. German opinion was that he shot
himself down when his synchroniser gear malfunctioned. Note, most authorities give the date of his death as 18 June 1916 (not 20 June, as
stated on reverse of the medal). For a smaller version of this in silver, see MED 536. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Subjects: | DE.A Air Service & Jasta 2 portrait / personification Max Immelmann Death of & 18/6/1916 Western Front Air Operations & Immelmann commemorative First World War | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Ball's of Berlin | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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