Born Joachim Spieler, Joachim Hansen was the 'poster boy' for German movie officers in films of the 1950's and 60's. Masculine and of commanding presence, he portrayed such historical figures as Luftwaffe ace Hans Joachim Marseille in Der Stern von Afrika (1957) and Generaloberst Alfred Jodl in The Winds of War (1983) and War and Remembrance (1988).