Kriegs-Tagebuch von Hannes Trautloft - Grünherzjäger im Luftkampf 1940-1945 - (auto)biography

[Ruy Horta]

Is this a completely new book, or a spin off / reprint / rewrite of JG 54 A Photographic History of the Grünherzjäger?

http://www.christian-schmidt-fachbuc...oducts_id=4292

I'd like to know before I order a "dud".

Thanks in advance!

[David P. Williams]

Hi Ruy,

It's a totally new book. I saw the manuscript at Hans-Ekkehard Bob's house back in 2002/2003. It was all written in Trautloft's own hand and Hans-Ekkehard was proof reading and typing it up.

A lot of photographs. I believe Trautloft had well over a thousand pictures in all, and some 6-700 or so are in the book. Saw a copy of it at Christian Schmidt books. Not as big as i thought it would be. I'm waiting for the English version.

All the best,

[Kurt Braatz]

What you see published is only a distorted fraction of Trautloft’s diary, heavily ‘edited’ by Hans Ekkehard Bob. He had strong opinions on how to do that. Too strong for NeunundzwanzigSechs. Need I say more?...

[Ruy Horta]

Thank you David and especially Kurt.

I wasn't too happy with Hans-Ekkehard Bob's short biography, which although having a value in its own right, isn't exactly the style I prefer.

I have great trust Kurt's opinion and publishing sense!

[Jukka Juutinen]

Since I haven´t read Hans-Ekkehard Bok´s bio, could you Ruy tell me what was wrong with it? Poorly constructed? Perhaps too un-PC?

[Ruy Horta]

Jukka, you keep misjudging me, but NP.

No, it has little or nothing to do with Political Correctness.

I can read and enjoy Rudel's or Panzermeyer's autobiographies with little reservation...

The english translation that I read of Bob's book was pretty rough. His story interesting in its own right IIRC felt a little apologetic, but basically his story didn't capture my imagination.

Style, translation, message or person, I don't know.

[Jukka Juutinen]

Actually I didn´t doubt you, but mr. Braatz´s comment of opinions "too strong for Neunundzwanzigsechs" did cause some doubt in my mind.

[Kurt Braatz]

FYI - the original Trautloft diary amounts to roughly 1.000 handwritten pages covering his time as Kommodore of JG 54 from July 40 to 43. NeunundzwanzigSechs was ready to take the risk of publishing it at full length in 2 volumes. In my opinion, this is the only serious way of dealing with such a first class source. Bob, who claims to hold the rights of the diary, wanted it cleaned and polished in a way he thought to be appropriate. That's what you get if you buy his 'edited' version.

[Jukka Juutinen]

Kurt, that´s a bloody crime! Using the original author´s name after such chopping should be punished.

By the way, you wrote that Bob claims to have the rights. So he doesn´t have any evidence to prove that?

[Franek Grabowski]

Kurt, any chances of more books related to the Western Front 1940-1943? I recall Don Caldwell used unpublished memoirs of a JG26 airman (Crump?), and it looks Steinhoff had his own diary used as a base for his books. Any chances they will be published?