[2] While Schleich was recovering from his wounds of August 1914 he decided to volunteer for the Royal Bavarian Air Service and was accepted for training as an observer.

[3] In December 1915 he joined FA 2b, and in January 1916, during an observation flight, Schleich was wounded in the arm by an exploding anti-aircraft shell.

[6] When Leutnant Erich Limpert, his best friend on the Jasta, was killed in a dogfight, Schleich ordered his plane to be painted all black.

[7] In October 1917, the Imperial German Air Service reorganized, with the respective fighter squadrons being designated as Prussian, Saxon, or Bavarian.

[citation needed] In April 1919, the German Communist Party forcibly gained control of Munich, and Schleich was marked for immediate arrest and trial.

[citation needed] After a short stint as a pilot with the Bavarian Police, Schleich became a liaison officer with the Army Peace Commission, responsible for the implementation of the Armistice terms.

[23] With the creation of the Luftwaffe in 1935, Schleich returned to military service with the rank of a Major,[24] overseeing the training of air reserve units and of dive-bombing pilots.

Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 234 "Schlageter" (JG 234—234th Fighter Wing), replacing Major Gerhard Nielsen.

[citation needed] As a Generalmajor, Schleich became the commander of the fighter pilot school (Jagdfliegerschule 5) at Wien-Schwechat, Nazi occupied Austria, in December 1939.

[28] In late 1940 he was sent to Romania as part of the Luftwaffe Mission, assisting in the organization and training of the Romanian Air Force.

[30][31] Schleich's final assignment was Luftwaffe Ground Forces Commander in Norway, a post he held until late 1944.