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.