Henry von Hesse-Dassau

Henry von Hesse Dassau (5 May 1907 - 9 August 2000) was a German politician and Head of the German Airforce from 1936 to 1950. He was a prominent member of the Nationalliberale Partei, much like his father. He is most known for his actions during World War Two.

Biography
Henry von Hesse Dassau was born in Roßlau on the 13th of July, and often found himself away from his father during his youth, owing to the Great War breaking out when he was young. Studying in the newly opened German Airforce Officer Collage in Konigsburg after the war, he rose quickly, in practice flights, his speed and skill were unmatched, and his intuitive made him the most likely replacement for his father. Replacing his father in 1936, he began to push for a rapid air force buildup, and organised the Great Military Evacuation at Warnemünde, helping many German Officers and Politicians flee, with the German Navy and Airforce covering the escape. Working closely with Sir Cyril Newall and later Lord Portal, Henry committed the German Airforce to the Battle of Britian, in which the German Pilots who escaped had the highest confirmed air combat victories. His 'finest hour' came in 1944, where, on June 4th, the Ost-Friesland landings began, sustaining a foothold in the continent after he coordinated with his fellow Germans, along with Americans, Brits and Canadians. Henry moved most of the German army back into Germany late 1944 with the country all but secured, coordinating the march to Paris from Strasbourg. Henry became a member of the Reichstag after the war, and whilst he never became Chancellor campaigned fiercely to pursue a peaceful foreign policy. In 1950, he retired as head of the Airforce, and in 1960 retired from politics at the age of 53, instead making a successful career as an author and an activist for peace. In 1961, his rank as Generalfeldmarschall was honorarily restored for his services. After a stroke in 1985, he was left paralyzed in his left leg, making him be able to not stand for long periods of time, but continued his speaking, and helped to unveil a statue of himself in Berlin the year after. In 2000, at the age of 93, he passed away peacefully in his sleep, the event shocking the nation, and he was buried with full military honours in a state funeral. He is arguably well known for his young age compared to many of his fellow officers, being only 39 at the conclusion of the Second World War, and for his impressive physical strength - despite his stroke, he still insisted on doing many things by himself, having attended a military service for the end of the war in the Balkans mere days earlier alone.



Airforce Ranks

 * Generalleutnant - 1928 - 1930
 * Generaloberst - 1930 - 1936
 * Generalfeldmarschall - 1936 - 1950, 1961 - 2000 (Honorary)