Why Must We Go On Hating? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Biggles Flies East

Biggles first meets von Stalhein during the First World War, when he is assigned to Palestine, with orders to go undercover in the German camp and attempt to find out the real identity of El Shereef, a German spy who is turning the local Arab population against the British.

While in the camp he meets the commanding officer's chief of staff, Hauptmann Erich von Stahlein, who suspects that Biggles is not who he says he is, although the commanding officer, Count von Faubourg, dislikes von Stalhein and trusts Biggles' explanations for his actions.

By the end of the book Biggles learns that that von Stalhein, who is frequently flown out to the desert at night, is acting both as El Shereef and as Major Sterne, the British leading intelligence officer in Palestine. He manages to be in the pilot's seat of von Stalhein's plane before one of the latter's excursions, with the intention of taking him straight to the British camp. However, von Stalhein parachutes out, unnoticed, before Biggles lands.

All ends well for Biggles as the German returns to the British camp, in his Major Sterne disguise, and Biggles denounces him to the camp's General. Von Stalhein flees on a horse, then steals a plane, which is soon shot down by the gunners. The plane erupts into flames, and it is assumed that von Stalhein has been killed.

Answer: Biggles and Co

Biggles, along with his friends Algy and Ginger, is asked to start an airline, with the intention to transport large quantities of gold to Paris. The previous airlines to take on this job met accidents, and the gold was stolen. Biggles is at first reluctant to take on the job, until he receives a mysterious phone call, warning him off, at which point he becomes keener.

At first all goes well, then Algy is captured and locked up in a German castle. The leader of these men is von Stalhein, who survived his crash in "Biggles Flies East" and is now after the gold. Biggles follows, and is captured in his turn, only to be rescued by Ginger, who has followed him.

Biggles then breaks back into the castle, steals a guard's purple livery and confronts von Stalhein, with both men complimenting each other on their nerve. At this point Ginger, reacting to Biggles' signal, switches off all the lights from the outside electrical plant, and Biggles flees. He takes an ancient arquebus from the armoury and proceeds his hunt for Algy, only to discover him with von Stalhein in the latter's office. He fires the arquebus at von Stalhein; it fails to go off at first, only to fire when neither man is expecting it. Von Stalhein, shocked, catapults backwards into a fireplace, and Biggles and Algy escape.

Eventually, after many twists and turns, the three pilots manage to fly back to Britain. Von Stalhein loses a lot of the gold that he stole, but he is also not prosecuted for his crimes.

Answer: Biggles - Secret Agent

During "Biggles - Secret Agent", which is set shortly before the Second World War, von Stalhein is working as the Chief of Secret Police for Lucrania, a small Central European principality. Biggles, Algy and Ginger are told to fly there to try to find out the whereabouts of a Lucranian/British scientist, who is believed to have been killed in a car accident in the country. However, it is believed that he might have been kidnapped, as he has recently developed a new kind of poison gas, which the Lucranians might want.

It is not long before von Stalhein enters Biggles' hotel, as it is his job to investigate the arrival of foreigners. The two men exchange compliments for a while, with von Stalhein admitting that he wishes that Biggles could be on his staff, before von Stalhein informs Biggles that he is staying in the local castle.

Biggles and Ginger break into the castle via a tunnel that leads from their hotel, and discover not only that the scientist has indeed been kidnapped, and is staying in the castle, but also that Algy, who had been staying behind in reserve, is also a prisoner. In an attempt to prevent von Stalhein from leaving the area, Biggles pushes the parapet off the roof on to his car.

Von Stalhein then escapes in the scientist's car, but Biggles holds him up at gunpoint, steals the car and rescues the scientist and his young son. He then heads cross country to a local aerodrome to borrow a plane, while Ginger manages to rescue Algy from the castle. Von Stalhein's plans have been foiled again!

Answer: Biggles in the Baltic

"Biggles in the Baltic" takes place at the beginning of the Second World War, when Biggles, Algy and Ginger are tasked with making raids on enemy operations from a small secret island in the Baltic Sea. Von Stalhein, who has resumed his role as an intelligence officer, is stationed nearby in Kiel, and he is naturally interested in finding out where these British planes are coming from.

Biggles makes his acquaintance again when he boards a ship, which bears neutral colours, only to discover that the ship is German and that von Stalhein is in residence. He manages to escape after Algy, not knowing that Biggles is on board, bombs the ship and destroys it. Biggles does suggest a temporary truce to the German, but von Stalhein is furious with the situation that he would have shot Biggles, if the latter had not managed to dive overboard and swim away.

Later on, von Stalhein discovers the hidden island, and, after waking Biggles up, orders his execution. However, Ginger is hiding in a cave on the island, and aims his machine gun at the firing squad, allowing Biggles to escape again. Von Stalhein calls up a destroyer to try to take over the island, but the pilots manage to fly away just in time, thus putting an end to this adventure.

Answer: Biggles Takes a Holiday

Once the second world war is over, von Stalhein moves to South America, where he acts as an advisor to some former Nazis, who have enticed men of various nationalities to their secluded valley, ostensibly to farm, but in reality they are little more than slaves, and the valley is so isolated that escape is almost impossible. However, one man does manage to escape back to London, where he shares his story with Biggles. Biggles naturally decides to fly to South America to rescue the men, one of whom is his former Flight Lieutenant, Angus Mackail.

Biggles meets von Stalhein at the house of the plantation owner, Dr Liebgarten, where he refers to von Stalhein as the "one bright star in a gloomy star", thus showing that he doesn't really hate him. He also gives von Stalhein the first of many speeches throughout the series, about how he should be making different choices in life.

Later on, Biggles hides in the attic of a bungalow in the grounds of the large house, and manages to lock himself in. Liebgarten and von Stalhein enter the bungalow after him, and they hear Biggles' attempts to cut his way out. Von Stalhein goes up to investigate, and Biggles trips him up and runs down the ladder, locking von Stalhein up in his place.

Eventually, Biggles and the others manage to rescue the farmers, and take back their stolen money. Liebgarten is killed trying to escape, but von Stalhein manages to get away and, after crossing the jungle on foot, heads back to Europe.

Answer: Biggles Gets his Men

Several scientists have disappeared, and are believed to be kept prisoner in eastern China. Biggles and his men are asked to fly in and rescue them, disguised as Koreans. Biggles and Ginger locate the camp where they think that the scientists are being held, and break in. To Biggles' astonishment, as he approaches the main house in the camp he hears von Stalhein's voice. Von Stalhein had been tasked with the intelligence and security of the organisation, which is mostly run by Russians. However, he is annoyed that no one is taking his advice.

Von Stalhein, who has developed a complex where Biggles in concerned, suspects that the pilot might get involved, and, on hearing that a plane has been heard in the vicinity of the camp, orders a search. While Ginger frees the scientists Biggles decides to hold up von Stalhein, to give the others the chance to escape. Therefore, he enters his hut and sits down, and buys time by lecturing the other man again on his choice of career.

Once the prisoners have escaped, Biggles leaves, locking the door behind him. He is caught in an explosion, and temporarily captured by a freed von Stalhein, but he is rescued by his fellow pilot, Bertie, and manages to escape to the waiting plane.

Answer: Biggles Follows On

By the time of "Biggles Follows On", von Stalhein has started to work for the Soviets. He is spotted by Ginger in London, where he is trying to entice young soldiers to desert from the army, and join an International Brigade. The men would be sent to Manchuria, from where they would broadcast propaganda against the west. The men were told to wear black ties with red spots to identify themselves.

One of the men who is seen talking to von Stalhein, a guardsman called Ian Ross, is sent on by Biggles to find out what the Soviets are doing, and Biggles attempts to keep in close contact behind him. He also wears a spotted tie so that he will be under less suspicion, if any of the Soviets see him.

Biggles first meets von Stalhein accidentally in the airport in Prague, then later in a hotel in East Berlin, where Biggles again tries to get him to come over to his side. By this time, Biggles has discovered that Ross has been sent to Kratsen, by the Yellow Sea, to help with the Korean War. The pilots, therefore, after a quick stop in London, head to Kratsen in their turn. They manage to free many of the men from the camp.

Von Stalhein is also at the camp, inside a hut. He spots Biggles after the latter has locked the door, and shoots through the door. Biggles, in an act of defiance, takes off his tie and ties it to the door knob, before fleeing. The camp is then blown up by the Commandos from Johns's "Gimlet" books, thus ending that adventure.

Answer: Biggles in the Blue

Biggles has been sent to Jamaica to look for some important documents, which were hidden there by a recently deceased former German intelligence officer. Von Stalhein has also been sent there, along with his Soviet handler, Zorotov. He first appears at the dead man's house, which he intends to buy, so that he will be more easily able to search for the papers. Biggles would also like to buy the house, for the same reason.

However, Biggles then receives information that the papers might be in a hut on the small island of Inagua, which is home to a famous flamingo colony, so the pilots fly there. They reach the hut, with some difficulty, only to find that the papers are not there. Von Stalhein and Zorotov also turn up, and after he learns that the papers are not in the hut, Zorotov is very rude to von Stalhein, which Biggles objects to loudly. He is still trying to persuade von Stalhein to leave the Soviet service, and Ginger jokes that the two men will be having dinner together next.

The pilots find the box in the possession of a local woman, who dug it up and is now trying to open it. They pay her for the box, and leave quickly. However, there is then an exciting final battle between Biggles' plane and Zorotov's ship, and so the box is jettisoned into the island's lagoon, to prevent the Soviets from getting hold of the documents. The pilots then manages to escape back to Jamaica.

Answer: Biggles - Foreign Legionnaire

Von Stalhein only appears towards the end of "Biggles - Foreign Legionnaire", in which Biggles and Ginger join the French Foreign Legion. It is suspected by Marcel Brissac, the sole member of the French flying police, and Biggles' opposite number, that various men, all pilots, have been deserting from the Foreign Legion, in order to stir up trouble in the Middle East. Biggles and Ginger therefore decide to join the Legion under false names, in order to discover who is behind this plot.

After training in North Africa, the two men talk to a man called Raban, who convinces them to desert. They end up flying to Kurdistan, where they meet several other deserters outside a large castle. Von Stalhein turns up, along with two other operatives, and Biggles and Ginger try to hold the castle against them. Von Stalhein and his colleagues at first plan to burn the aeroplanes and leave, but then the camp is attacked by some Kurds.

The surviving Europeans escape to the castle, and, working on the basis that their enemy's enemy is their friend, Biggles and Ginger let them in, and agree to a truce. They therefore find themselves fighting on the same side for a while, and von Stalhein proves to be his usual efficient self. Before everything is lost, Algy and Bertie turn up with the Iraqi air force, and relieve the defenders.

Of course, when the various leaders of the plot are prosecuted, von Stalhein is not among them. As he only appeared on the scene at the last moment, nothing could be proved against him. He is therefore free to take up his usual mischief again.

Answer: No Rest for Biggles

"No Rest for Biggles" takes the pilot to Liberia, in Western Africa, to investigate the crashes of a number of planes in that area, all of which have been carrying important people. He ends up in prison camp, which is run by a local, called Christophe, who has stolen a secret weapon, which can bring down planes, and once the planes are down he plans to steal any state secrets that the passengers are carrying. The weapon was supposed to be handed over to Soviet agents, two of which are von Stalhein and Zorotov who last appeared in "Biggles in the Blue". However, Christophe is using the weapon for his own devices. The two agents soon turn up at the camp.

Von Stalhein asks Biggles to meet him by the camp's fence, and he puts a proposition to him: he will give Biggles some wire cutters, to that he can escape, and in turn Biggles will fly him in Christophe's plane outside the area, and then hand the plane over to him. Biggles is not impressed with this idea, and threatens to shoot von Stalhein; however, the latter knows Biggles well enough by now to know that he is unlikely to shoot anyone in cold blood. Von Stalhein, in making his offer, is also planning to double cross Zorotov, with whom he has an uneasy relationship.

When von Stalhein returns to the fence, Ginger, who is waiting outside, steals the cutters and cuts the fence, allowing Biggles to escape. This also raises the alarm, but in the chaos Biggles and Ginger are not pursued. Von Stalhein shoots Zorotov dead, in order to stop him from telling Christophe what he is up to. By the end of the book, von Stalhein and some henchmen open fire on Christophe and his team, although Christophe does survive. Von Stalhein quickly leaves the country, having reached a low and violent point in his villainous career.

Answer: Biggles Takes Charge

"Biggles Takes Charge" takes place earlier than some of the previously published books. It opens in France, where Algy is visiting a chateau, which is owned by an old friend of his. The friend isn't there, but his younger cousin arrives during the middle of the night with a strange tale. It turns out that the friend is actually the Grand Duke of a small European country, now taken over by the Soviets, and before the second world war he buried a vast quantity of jewels. Now, some Soviet agents are after the jewels, and it is feared that the Grand Duke has been assassinated. His cousin is trying to find out his whereabouts.

One of the Soviets is von Stalhein, who turns up at the chateau. He doesn't believe Algy's explanation for what he is doing in the chateau; Algy bets him five thousand francs, and says that if von Stalhein phones Biggles the story will be corroborated. This also will let Biggles know that von Stalhein is with him, in case there should be an accident later. True enough, Biggles tells von Stalhein what Algy is going, and Algy pockets von Stalhein's money.

Algy and Charles, his friend's cousin, then race von Stalhein to Monaco, where they hope to find some news of the disappeared man, as he used to spend a lot of time there. They meet von Stalhein again at a hotel in Vierzon, on the route south, where Algy embarrasses him by announcing, very loudly, and in front of a lot of French people, that the man is German and used to be in the Gestapo. The locals start a small riot, and Algy and Charles slip out.

Algy and von Stalhein meet up again in Monaco, where von Stalhein's friend nearly shoots Charles, only to be interrupted by Biggles, who has arrived in time. Biggles delivers one of his usual lectures to von Stalhein, then lets himself go. By the end of the book the Grand Duke has been discovered, alive and in hiding, and Biggles and his friends locate the jewels. These are then sold in Paris.

Answer: Biggles Buries a Hatchet

Biggles and his friends are visited by a young German man; he says that he is called Fritz Lowenhardt, he has come from East Berlin, and he is Erich von Stalhein's nephew. Von Stalhein has recently been sent to a Soviet prison on Sakhalin island, in Siberia, This is because of his recent failures, as chronicled in the previous books that feature him, whenever he encounters Biggles. His Soviet masters suspect him of secretly working for the British, and order him, as a test, to assassinate Biggles. Von Stalhein refuses, as he feels that assassination is too low, even for him, and he sends Fritz to London, to warn Biggles.

Fritz also asks Biggles to rescue von Stalhein; Biggles at first is not keen, partly because of the difficulty of this plan and partly because the two men have been on opposite sides for a long time. Fritz assures Biggles that his uncle has recently changed his outlook, partly because of Biggles' influence, despite the fact that he appeared to not pay any attention to Biggles' lectures. However, the pilot eventually agrees to attempt a rescue.

After arriving on the island, Biggles and Fritz find von Stalhein, along with other prisoners, at work at a coal face. They hide behind some coal, and manage to speak to von Stalhein, who is naturally surprised to see them. They come back the next day, and break von Stalhein out of the prison, although they are pursued by guards. However, after Bertie, waiting in reserve, throws some grenades at them the guards are soon persuaded to disappear.

By the end of the book everyone is back at the plane. Von Stalhein asks why Biggles rescued him. Biggles admits he came there partly out of sympathy and affection for his old enemy and that, as far as he is concerned, there are no strings attached to the rescue. He offers to leave von Stalhein anywhere he wants, but von Stalhein agrees to come to England. The hatchet is buried for good.

Answer: Biggles in Mexico

By the time of "Biggles in Mexico", which is set shortly after von Stalhein's escape from Sakhalin, the former spy is living in Kensington, living under the assumed name of Lothar Boelke, and working as a translator of Russian and German. Biggles has left him alone since he came to London, but now he pays him a visit to find out if he knows anything about a man called Hugo Schultz, who has been mentioned as the purchaser of some stolen diamonds. It is assumed that he is a German born Soviet agent, and therefore von Stalhein might have heard of him.

As it happens, von Stalhein has met a man of that name; he accompanied him to the United States, to act as an interpreter while Schultz was buying some different diamonds. He tells Biggles what he knows, and then Biggles leaves, promising to look von Stalhein up on his return to London.

Biggles and the others then travel to Mexico, to try to locate the men who have stolen the diamonds, which leads to another exciting adventure.

Answer: Biggles Takes a Hand

Biggles receives an anonymous note through his flat's letterbox, which asks him to meet the writer at a restaurant in Kensington to receive some information. He turns up at the restaurant early, and is met by a bearded man, who is wearing dark glasses. He recognises the man by his voice - it is von Stalhein, in disguise.

Von Stalhein sent the note so that Biggles can see three men who regularly eat at the restaurant, and are known to von Stalhein. The men are assassins, and von Stalhein suspects that they are in London to assassinate someone, although it is unclear who the target might be. Von Stalhein would rather not be recognised by the men, hence the disguise and the secretive manner of the assignation.

After some investigating, it is deduced that the target might be a man called Hans Roth, the former under Minister of Defence in East Berlin, who was recently arrested, and might be fleeing to England. Biggles learns that Roth has been convicted of treason and shot, but his family might still be in danger. Biggles and the others therefore search for the Roths, enlisting the help of a young friend of the family, who might know where they would go. Von Stalhein helps from the sidelines, and it is clear that Biggles now trusts him implicitly.

The Roth family are found in Hampstead, safe and sound, and find accommodation briefly with an old friend, before they emigrate to America. The three assassins are either killed or placed under arrest, so all ends happily.

Answer: Biggles Looks Back

By the time of von Stalhein's last appearance, in "Biggles Looks Back", he and Biggles are meeting regularly at London restaurants, where they discuss their past. On this occasion, von Stalhein mentions Marie Janis, the German spy that Biggles was in love with during the First World War. Von Stalhein, who met her when they were both training to be spies, was also in love with her, and proposed to her, but she turned him down.

She has now written to von Stalhein from her home in Czechoslovakia, and Biggles suspects that she is in trouble, or why else would she write to him now? Von Stalhein goes to find her, and disappears for a few weeks. Algy then receives a post card, advertising a Bohemian café. It is assumed to be from von Stalhein, and as this is the only clue that the pilots have as to his whereabouts, Biggles and Bertie travel to Bohemia.

When they arrive at the café, they notice some musicians in the corner. One of them approaches their table, playing the violin, and he turns out to be a long-haired von Stalhein, who whispers that he would like to meet them outside. He informs the other two that he has located Marie's home, which is the local castle, but he is unable to do rescue her as he has been spotted by one of his former Soviet associates, and he has no wish to be re-captured. His money has also been stolen.

With Biggles on the case, things move more smoothly. He, Bertie and von Stalhein approach the castle, make contact with Marie and make plans to rescue her. After a long wait, in which Bertie travels back to England to acquire a plane while Biggles and von Stalhein move into the castle, they manage to help Marie escape. It is then her turn to help Biggles, as he is shot when getting into the plane and it is only her nursing that saves him before he is able to get to a hospital.

After the events of the book Marie buys a cottage in Hampshire, and she is visited by both Biggles and von Stalhein, where they reminisce over their shared histories.