Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51749 in Books
• Published on: 1990-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 364 pages

Customer Reviews

A former enemy that has to be honored and admired.
The title of the book comes from the fact that Adolf Galland began WWII as a flight captain, and though rising through the ranks like a meteor to the equivalent rank of 3 star general, ended it the same way after refusing to kowtow to Adolf Hitler. Galland was a man who proves that even evil regimes have their worthy heroes. He had well over 100 air combat victories despite being promoted to general at age 30 (the youngest of any of the war) and removed from active combat for most of WWII. The top Amercan aces of the war, great as many of them were, scored less than 40. Generally regarded as one of the finest fighter pilots ever, he was also a great leader and stategist whose understanding of the air war was apparently far in advance of Hitler's and other Nazi leaders. Luckily for us, most of his advice as commanding general of the fighter side of the Luftwaffe fell on deaf ears. Despite his great accomplishments and impact,he generally downplays his role and tells the story of the European air war from a very humble perspective. Reading it is like reading the mind of Alexander the Great, but without any trace of ego or bitterness towards his former enemies. He was also as strong a humanitarian as combat permits, for example, insisting that his pilots refrain (though not always successfully) from gunning an enemy pilot who has bailed out and is helpless in his parachute. It is noteworthy that after the war he was among the few high ranking German leaders who was not found guilty of a war crime. He was just a man who served his nation, however wrong it was, to the best of his rather astonishing ability. Further evidence of his character is shown by the fact that he was for the rest of his life held in the highest regard by those he fought against. For example, he was asked to read the obituary for British Wing Commander Douglas Bader, a great Battle of Britain hero, many decades after the war. Despite the dry style of the writing, the inside story of a pivotal time in world history told by a dominant insider has to rank the book as one of the finest military historical and autobiographical works ever written. Like Chuck Yeager, he was a man bigger than life, whose story could make a wonderful movie.

A great read from amaster of air warfare
This is Adolph Galland's autobiographical account of his experiences throughout World War Two. It starts with him as a flight commander on the Western Front then progresses through as he assumes the role as the Inspector General of the Fighter Arm of the Luftwaffe and then back to commanding a flight of jet fighters right upto the German surrender.

As a result of Gallands varied activities during the War, the reader benefits from a gripping account of the Battle fo Britain at the tactical level before getting into the strategic insight of the German High Command. His depth of knowledge and understanding of the strategic issues makes this book a valid history of the war as well as an account of his own personal experiences.

His obvious and justified pride in his Fighter Arm does not deter him from writing a very fair, balanced, humble and knowledgeable narrative of World War Two. He gives credit where it is due to friend and foe alike and his disappointment with the Higher Command of the Luftwaffe, particularly of Goring, is apparent but never bitter.

This is a very well written book by a tactical genius. This book will appeal not only to aerial warfare historians but also to anyone with an interest in World War Two. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and learned a lot from him at the same time.

An airwar classic but a rather dry reading experience
Germany's General of Fighters recounts the rise and fall of the Luftwaffe. Despite its autobiographical flavour, Galland seems to fade into the background of the wider context of Germany's airwar. Similar in scope and approach to Johnny Johnson's "Wing Leader", "The First and the Last" holds more value as a reference book than as a particularly fun read. Be sure to read more reviews at the "WWII Aviation Booklist" http://www.ampsc.com/~prophet/booklist.html