Aces of the Luftwaffe: The Jagdfliegern and Their Tactics of World War II: The Jagdflieger in the Second World War

The air battles of the Second World War were fought ferociously and with extraordinary skill and courage on both fronts. The fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe, the jagdfliegern, in fact outscored their Allied counterparts by some margin and were some of the highest scoring fighter pilots of all time. More than a hundred recorded a century of aerial successes with two going on to surpass a quite astonishing 300 victories. In the end, the vast effort required by the Luftwaffe to maintain the air war on so many fronts proved too much and few jagdfliegern survived the last days of the Reich but their courage and ability was beyond question, and the names of some will live on in the annals of air warfare with their extraordinary achievements never to be surpassed. In Luftwaffe Fighter Aces, Peter Jacobs examines the many campaigns fought by the Luftwaffe from its fledgling days during the Spanish Civil War to its last days defending the Reich, and includes the exploits of Erich Hartmann, the highest scoring fighter pilot of all time, Hans-Joachim Marseille, the Star of Africa, Werner Molders, the first recipient of the Diamonds, and Adolf Galland, perhaps the most famous of all. The Air Battles Of The Second World War Were Fought Ferociously And With Extraordinaryskill And Courage On Both Sides. The Fighter Pilots Of The Luftwaffe, The Jagdflieger, In Fact Outscored Their Allied Counterparts By Quite Some Margin And Became The Highest-scoring Fighter Pilots Of All Time. ... In The End, The Vast Efforts Of The Luftwaffe To Maintain The Air War On So Many Fronts Proved Too Much And Few Jagdflieger Survived The Last Days Of The Reich, But Their Courage And Ability Was Beyond Question ... [here], Jacobs Examines The Many Campaigns Fought By The Luftwaffe From Its Fledgling Days During The Spanish Civil War To Its Last Days Defending The Reich, And Includes The Exploits Of Erich Hartmann, The Highest-scoring Fighter Pilot Of All Time, Hans-joachim Marseille, The Star Of Africa, Werner Mölders, The First Recipient Of The Diamonds To The Knight's Cross, And Adolf Galland, Perhaps The Most Famous Of All...--book Jacket. Introduction -- 1. Fledgling Days -- 2. Blitzkrieg -- 3. Battle For Britain -- 4. Mediterranean And The Balkans, 1941 -- 5. Invasion In The East: Barbarossa -- 6. North Africa And The Mediterranean, 1941-1943 -- 7. The Tide Turns In The East -- 8. Air War At Night -- 9. Struggle In The East: Zitadelle -- 10. America Enters The Fray -- 11. Final Defence Of The Reich. Appendix 1: The Highest-scoring Experten -- Appendix 2: Highest-scoring Experten By Operational Theatre -- Appendix 3: Highest-scoring Experten At Night -- Appendix 4: Recipients Of The Knight's Cross With Oak Leaves, Swords And Diamonds -- Appendix 5: Recipients Of The Knight's Cross With Oak Leaves And Swords -- Appendix 6: Equivalent Ranks -- Appendix 7: Luftwaffe Hierarchy. Peter Jacobs. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 199-200) And Index. The air battles of the Second World War were fought ferociously and with extraordinary skill and courage on both fronts. The fighter pilots of the Luftwaffe, the Jagdfliegern, in fact outscored their Allied counterparts by a considerable margin and were some of the highest scoring fighter pilots of all time. More than a hundred recorded a century of aerial successes with two going on to surpass a quite astonishing 300 victories. In the end, the vast effort required by the Luftwaffe to maintain the air war on so many fronts proved too much and few Jagdfliegern survived the last days of the Reich but their courage and ability was beyond question, and the names of some will live on in the annals of air warfare with their extraordinary achievements never to be surpassed. In 'Aces of the Luftwaffe', Peter Jacobs examines the many campaigns fought by the Luftwaffe from its fledgling days during the Spanish Civil War to its last days defending the Reich, and includes the exploits of Erich Hartmann, the highest scoring fighter pilot of all time; Hans-Joachim Marseille, the Star of Africa; Werner Mlders, the first recipient of the Diamonds and first ace to score 100 victories in aerial combat; and Adolf Galland, perhaps the most famous ace of them all. A history of Nazi Germany's air force along with details of some of its most successful pilots. World War II's air battles were fought ferociously and with extraordinary skill and courage on both fronts. The fighter pilots of Luftwaffe, the jagdflieger, in fact outscored their Allied counterparts by some margin and were some of the highest scoring fighter pilots of all time. More than a hundred recorded a century of aerial successes with two going on to surpass an astonishing 300 victories. In the end, the vast effort required by the Luftwaffe to maintain the air war on so many fronts proved too much. Few jagdflieger survived the last days of the Reich. But their ability was beyond question, and the names of some will live on in the annals of air warfare with their extraordinary achievements never to be surpassed. In Aces of the Luftwaffe, Peter Jacobs examines the many campaigns fought by the Luftwaffe, from its fledgling days during the Spanish Civil War to its last days defending the Reich, and recounts the exploits of Erich Hartmann, the highest scoring fighter pilot of all time; Hans-Joachim Marseille, the Star of Africa; Werner Mölders, the first recipient of the Diamonds; and Adolf Galland, perhaps the most famous of all. Introduction Fledgling Days Blitzkrieg Battle for Britain The Mediterranean and the Balkans, 1941 Invasion in the East: Barbarossa The Tide Turns in the East Air War at Night Struggle in the East: Zitadelle America Enters the Fray Final Defence of the Reich Appendix 1The Highest-Scoring Experten Appendix 2Highest-Scoring Experten by Operational Theatre Appendix 3Highest-Scoring Experten at Night Appendix 4Recipients of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds Appendix 5Recipients of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Captures the many campaigns fought by the Luftwaffe, identifying the tactics and techniques that secured many jagdfliegern their place in the history of air combat. Superbly illustrated.