Max Ritter von Müller

January 1, 1887 - August 26, 1917

Max Müller was born on January 1, 1887 in Rottenburg an der Laar in Bavaria. He was one of the eight children of the merchant Max Müller and his wife Margarethe Wiesmüller. After graduating from the primary school he apprenticed at master locksmith Lechner. Having his apprenticeship finished, he became a travelling journeyman, wandering around and working at several places. He was an ardent gymnast, spending much of his spare time pratising gymnastics.

At the age of 20 years he volonteered for the Army, enlistening on October 18, 1907. He saw service with the 6. Kompanie (company) of the 1. Königlich Bayrisches Infanterieregiment (1. Royal Bavarian Infantery Regiment). In 1911 he tranferred to the Kraftfahrkompanie (motorized company). On December 1, 1913 his greatest wish came true as he became a flying cadet of the newly created military aviation in Schliessheim. After only a few months of training, Max von Müller earned his Pilotenabzeichen (pilots badge) on April 20, 1914.

He flew some peace time missions and at the outbreak of war, Müller transferred to the Feldflieger-Abteilung 1b.  Like Oswald Boelcke, he flew reconnaissance missions before he became a fighter pilot, the first mission ending in a disaster. Badly damaged by enemy fire, Müller crashlanded his aircraft, breaking both of his legs. But regardless of his injuries, his strong will gave him the strength to pull his unconscious observer from the wreck. He came to a field hospital where he was impatiently waiting to recover from his wounds. Soon he had been allowed to fly again.

On March 31, 1915 he had to fight hard against two enemy aircraft. During this fight, his elevators got badly shot up but despite this bad damage and a dozen more holes in his aircraft, the higly skilled pilot succeeded to land his aircraft happily.

After having flown more than 200 reconnaissance and bombing missions, Max Müller re-educated for single seater aircraft in Mannheim. Om Mai 17,1916 he transferred to Kampfstaffel Nord. Having advanced to the rank a Vizefeldwebel he earned the Iron Cross 1st Class (E.K.1). Soon later he was the first German Officer to receive the Bayrische Silberne Tapferkeitsmedaille (Bavarian Silver Medal of Bravery) for having executed a reconnaissance mission with extreme bravery. 

His greatest wish being to become a member of the famous Jasta Boelcke, he eventually transferred to it on September 1, 1916. On October 10, 1916, he scored his first aerial victory. Soon later he got five more. Being transferred to the Württembergian Jasta 28, the ambitioned young airman scored victory after victory. The enemy soon recognized him by the colors of his aircraft, which forced him to change the design often. With 17 victories on his list, he is awarded the Württembergische Militärverdiensmedaille (Württembergian Military Medal of Merits), the Kreuz des Hauses Hohenzollern (Cross of the House Hohenzoller) and the Bayrische Goldene Tapferkeitsmedaille (Bavarian Golden Medal of Bravery). Of the 17 victories, he scored 12 within seven weeks only. On September 3, 1917, he had been awarded the order Pour-le-Mérite.

Having returned to Jasta Boelcke on October 29, 1917, Max Müller scored more victories, reaching a total of 39 before he had been shot down by a British Triplane on January 9, 1918. The King of Bavaria honored this great man by nomination to the personal aristrocratic title of Ritter des Militär-Max-Josef-Ordens (Knight of the Military Max-Josef Order).

* Wounded in Action - ** Killed in Action

Max Ritter von Müller in his Albatros DVa

Ranks and dates of promotion:
1. October, 1905	Gefreiter
1. November, 1905	Unteroffizier
18. April, 1913	Sergeant
11. February	Vizefeldwebel
9. November, 1915	Offizierstellvertreter
26. May, 1917	Leutnant

Max Ritter von Müller got KIA flying his Albatros D.V 5405 in a dogfight with a British Fokker Triplane. His aircraft went down in flames and his remains had been returned to his home town Rottenburg an der Laaber on 11. January, 1918. With a total of 38 victories, Max Ritter von Müller had been the most successful Bavarian fighter pilot in WW1. He was first among Millions of soldiers to advance from the low ranks to the rank of an officer. During the war, he kept good contact with his family, writing letters home and keeping a diary too. He awarded many decorations. Today, many of Max Ritter von Müllers personal belongings like shoulder pads, letters, the diary as well as several other things are in possession of Mr. Franz Moises who recently handed them over to Hans Weinzierl, mayor of the City of Rottenburg an der Laar. Mr. Gerhard Marklstorfer translated the diary from the old German handwriting Sütterlin to the modern German language to make it accessible to the younger generations who don't know Sütterkin anymore. The personal belongings of Max Ritter von Müller will be kept in an archive of the City of Rottenburg. It is planned to put them on permanent display in a former Bundeswehr building where already many other clubs and associations found a new home.

Sources: Kriegsarchiv Munich, Document Nr. OP 8925, via Gerhard Marklstorfer.
Landshuter Zeitung, via Gerhard Marklstorfer.
With many thanks to Mr. Gerhard Marklstorfer for his kind support.
Website of Rottenburg an der Laar: www.rottenburg-laaber.de. (nice but German only - partially under construction).