Joe,
thanks for rising this topic.
I think that it is useful to separate it into two topics
1) behaviour of some distinctive individuals
2) way how German government worked in 30´s and during the WW II and what was opinion of public in Germany
Comments to point 1:
Marseille and Bär IMHO can´t be compared too much because:
- Marseille was solo player having strong troubles with his father in the youth. His father was former officer and Marseille did not want to talk to him anymore. So you can imagine size of this son-father conflict. IMHO reasons for Marseille´s behavior were not related to regime, but to his past
- I see Bär as extremely capable leader and fighter pilot, but difficult to be 100% managed by his superiors. I see two basic reasons for his approach towards Luftwaffe superiors and regime:
a) health problems that started in late 1940, combined with injury in August 1941 and repeated physical and psychical exhaustion later on. If I simplify it - he either performed 110% or did not perform at all. His superiors tried to punish him instead helping him.
b) he seems to have "sceptical" approach towards regime and Luftwaffe command. There are several indications for it. He also had personal tension with H. Göring and Gen. Seidenmann, possibly with others.
Comments to point 2:
Well, the government did not work during the WW II on top level. Führer managed to prevent regular meetings of government, so you can imagine how strange was control of the country ... we should take into account the way how local governments and party authorities worked + what was opinion of public in Germany about the party, government, war etc. There were many people with different opinion, but for obvious reasons they had to remain silent, otherwise they would risk their lives.
I know what I am talking about (but not risking my life) because I grew in a country with similar political system.
In such society everyone was trying to find his/her way how to survive in the family, job, society, Party, military unit etc. This ranged between fanatic opinions driven by Party and propaganda, war effort or personal reasons .... to very educated and practical opinions.
Giving you examples - one of pilots I know, wanted apply for NSDAP membership as teenager before WW II. His father, already a local senior Party member, prevented him to do so telling him: "Don´t enter the Party, there are many strange things in it. I can´t cancel my membership, otherwise I would risk too much."
For instance also Hartmann´s father seems to be also very practical and educated person being sceptical towards regime.
Totalitarian regime is like a trap. If you are in it, you hardly escape if you would like to try it. And if you do so, you are risking lives of your family back home.
Hope you will my opinion find as useful.
And the book will be not only simple documentation of facts
kind regards