Der Stern von Afrika

The film begins shortly before the outbreak of World War II with Jochen Marseille (Joachim Hansen (actor)) attending a Luftwaffe (Air Force) school in Berlin. His squadron is transferred to the Africa Corps in North Africa. Marseille quickly becomes the most successful fighter pilot. His unit loses more and more pilots to the Desert Air Force, and Marseille begins to doubt the usefulness of his operations. He travels to Berlin to receive a high military decoration where he falls in love with a teacher, Brigitte (Marianne Koch). The couple go to Rome where Marseille is to receive a decoration. The distraught Brigitte tries to persuade him to defect, but he returns to North Africa. During a flight over Egypt, his aircraft suffers an engine failure and crashes. Marseille's body is later found in the desert. Brigitte receives the news of his death.