Because his entire family was killed during a bombardment he had nothing to return to. I know that after WWII he enlisted in the French foreign legion with which he served as an infantryman in Indochina. He featured very shortly in a recent documentary about nowadays Legion. Nowadays he lives in a retirement home of the Legion in Southern France (Provence). Now in his 80s, he has been there for 32 years.Siegfried Freytag was born on 10 November 1919 at Danzig-Langfuhr. Freytag served with 6./JG 77 from early 1941. He participated in the invasion of Greece and Crete. However, he did not gain his first victory until 13 June 1941, operating over the Eastern front, when he shot down a Russian MiG-3 fighter. A year later Oberleutnant Freytag had 57 victories to his credit, recorded in 360 missions, plus 12 aircraft destroyed on the ground and had been awarded the Ritterkreuz on 3 July 1942. He recorded his 10th victory on 12 August 1941, his 20th victory on 30 October, his 30th victory on 26 March 1942, his 40th victory on 8 May 1942 and his 50th victory on 3 June. On 27 June 1942, Freytag was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 77 and relocated with the unit to the Mediterranean theatre. Operating over Malta from July until October, Freytag was to claim 21 confirmed victories, and many unconfirmed, raising his victory total to 78. He was the highest scoring German fighter pilot over Malta. However, RAF Spitfire fighters shot him down on 27 July. He was rescued from the sea off Valetta by a Do 24 three-engine flying boat, just as British rescue launches were approaching. Operating over North Africa and Tunisia, Freytag added a further 16 victories. On 13 March 1943, Freytag was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 77. He also saw action over Sicily but was shot down over Gela by USAAF P-38 twin-engine fighters on 12 July. Freytag successfully baled out of his stricken Bf 109 G-6 (W.Nr. 180 25) but was wounded in the encounter. Following his recovery from wounds, Freytag led II./JG 77, on Reichsverteidigung duties, from bases in Germany. He claimed his 100th victory on 13 June 1944. On 25 December, Freytag was appointed acting Kommodore of JG 77 when Major Johannes Wiese (133 victories, RK-EL) was shot down and wounded in aerial combat. He recorded his 102nd, and last, victory on 1 January 1945. Freytag was again appointed acting Kommodore of JG 77 on 7 March, following the death in action of Major Erich Leie (121 victories, RK). He led the unit until 1 April. On 4 April 1945, Freytag was transferred to the Geschwaderstab of JG 51 but was soon transferred to JG 7, operating the Me 262 jet fighter, where it was intended he become a Gruppenkommandeur. However, the war ended before he could take up the position. Freytag was recommended for the award of the Eichenlaub but never received it. Siegfried Freytag was credited with 102 victories. He recorded 57 victories over the Eastern front. Included in his 45 victories recorded over the Western front are at least three four-engine bombers.
Does anyone have more information about this ace, especially about his post WWII life...?