Erich Hartmann, "The Blond Knight of Germany". [Biography]

The Blond Knight of Germany, by Raymond F. Toliver and Trevor J. Constable. Firstly let me thank Jack Seidman for sending me the book as a gift from the USA. It is greatly appreciated my good man.

Everyone interested in military aviation, particularly during WWII, knows or has an idea of who Erich Hartmann is,  a flying legend, the Luftwaffe pilot that became the Ace of Aces flying with JG52 on the Eastern Front scoring 352 victories.

Many would say victories came easy on the Eastern Front and discount such a victory tally relative to the victories scored by Allied Aces during WWII. The book gives insight into how the victories came about, how his tactics were developed to make him victorious in the air.

In fact the air war over the Eastern Front was significantly bigger than that waged on the Western Front, over Europe. 

In the West, Russian pilots and aircraft are often regarded as inferior, yet their leading Ace, Ivan Nikitch Kozhedub, had 62 victories and half a dozen more had 50 or more with a further 8 having 40 or more. 

JG52 constantly relocated as the war progressed, often multiple times in a single month. Imagine the logistical nightmare to keep the aircraft serviceable and yet this is exactly what they and other Luftwaffe units did. 

The insights given through this book highlight the achievements of Hartmann and the numerous aces of JG52, including Gerhard Barkhorn (301), Guenther Rall (275), Wilhelm Batz (237), Hermann Graf (212), Helmut Lipfert (203) and Walter Krupinski (196) to name but the highest scorers.

Erich Hartmann learnt his trade from the veterans of JG52 and then developed his own tactics on the basis of his experience. "See - Decide - Attack - Reverse, or Coffee Break." Interestingly, Erich Hartmann was not a dogfighter, instead using his tactics he closed to minimum range to dispatch the enemy, filling his windscreen with the opposing aircraft before firing.

A Luftwaffe pilot in another squadron, Fritz Obleser, disputed Hartmanns victories and Erich addressed the issue directly with then Gruppenkommandeur, Major Guenther Rall. Fritz Obleser was transferred to Hartmann's unit and in the second element of Hartmann's Schwarm personally witnessed and signed confirmation of two victories.

Incredible insights into the men of JG52, the charismatic figures, the relationships, the team. JG52 was the most successful aerial fighting unit ever. Hartmann's relationship with his crew chief  Heinz "Bimmel" Mertens was an integral part of his success.

The surrender of I/JG52 to the Americans and subsequent handing over to the Soviets is absolutely shocking. There were refugees and family with the unit  when it surrendered and treatment of the women and children left me disturbed for days after reading the account. 

What many don't know is that Erich Hartmann remained a prisoner of the Soviet Union for more than ten years after the defeat of Nazi Germany. The Soviets tried to break the man but didn't. The character of the man is outstanding. His will unbreakable. His love for his wife, and hers for him being the force that kept him strong. 

Hartmann rejoined the new German Air Force and established the first jet fighter wing, JG71 Richthofen. Their F-86 Sabres wore the same black tulip nose that Karaya 1, his Bf109, wore that led to the Soviets calling him the Black Devil. Not willing to play politics he retired from the Air Force in 1970. 

In all this is a definite read for anyone interested in the great aces of a the world and in particular Erich Hartmann, the most successful fighter pilot ever.