The German aces speak : World War II through the eyes of four of the Luftwaffe's most important commanders / Colin D. Heaton and Anne-Marie Lewis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Heaton, Colin D.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Germany. Luftwaffe--Officers--Biography.

Germany.

World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, German.

World War, 1939-1945.

Fighter pilots--Germany--Biography.

Fighter pilots.

Fighter pilots--Germany--Interviews.

Fighter plane combat--Psychological aspects.

Fighter plane combat.

World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, German.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (375 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Minneapolis, Minn. : Zenith Press, c2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

For the first time, four German WWII pilots share their side of the story. Few perspectives epitomize the sheer drama and sacrifice of combat more perfectly than those of the fighter pilots of World War II. As romanticized as any soldier in history, the WWII fighter pilot was viewed as larger than life: a dashing soul waging war amongst the clouds. In the sixty-five-plus years since the Allied victory, stories of these pilots' heroics have never been in short supply. But what about their adversaries--the highly skilled German aviators who pushed the Allies to the very brink of defeat? Of all of the Luftwaffe's fighter aces, the stories of Walter Krupinski, Adolf Galland, Eduard Neumann, and Wolfgang Falck shine particularly bright. In The German Aces Speak , for the first time in any book, these four prominent and influential Luftwaffe fighter pilots reminisce candidly about their service in World War II. Personally interviewed by author and military historian Colin Heaton, they bring the past to life as they tell their stories about the war, their battles, their lives, and, perhaps most importantly, how they felt about serving under the Nazi leadership of Hermann Goring and Adolf Hitler. From thrilling air battles to conflicts on the ground with their own commanders, the aces' memories disclose a side of World War II that has gone largely unseen by the American public: the experience of the German pilot.

Contents:

""Cover""; ""Title""; ""Contents""; ""Foreword""; ""Acknowledgments""; ""Introduction""; ""German Military Ranks, Medals, and Service""; ""The Count: Walter Krupinski""; ""General of the Fighters: Adolf Galland""; ""Mentor to Many: Eduard Neumann""; ""Father of the Night Fighters: Wolfgang Falck""; ""Appendix: German Pilots Who Scored Victories in World War II""; ""Notes""; ""Bibliography""; ""Index""; ""A""; ""B""; ""C""; ""D""; ""E""; ""F""; ""G""; ""H""; ""I""; ""J""; ""K""; ""L""; ""M""; ""N""; ""O""; ""P""; ""R""; ""S""; ""T""; ""U""; ""V""; ""W""; ""Y""; ""Z""; ""Photo Insert""

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from title page (ebrary, viewed May 15, 2013).

ISBN:

1-61059-748-6