 For his service in Spain he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds, Germany's highest decoration of the Spanish Civil War.After an assignment as fighter pilot instructor, he was appointed "Gruppenkommandeur" (group commander) in "Jagdgeschwader" 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) following the outbreak of World War II.He led the "Gruppe" through the Battle of France and claimed his first victory of World War II on 14 May 1940.