HERMAN GÖRING FIGHTER ACE

[Ruy Horta]

Reached the final chapters and that hasn't changed my view on the book.

Basically the word is disappointing, although not a total loss.

Kilduff hasn't written a WW1 biography on Goering, but an "investigation" of his youth and WW1 career.
Everything is suspect, even bravery is pathological.

However Kilduff shows very little proof for many of his claims, making it all very circumstantial at best, often even petty.

The urge for recognition, a race for the Pour le Merite, frequently mentioned, no strong evidence.

The use of connection to achieve goals, again frequently mentioned, but with little or no proof when it comes to a number of "crucial" moments, like the award of the Pour le Merite, or getting command of JG I.

In relation to Goering's taking over command of JG I there is a nice example how Kilduff is exhorting himself to fit the narrow view he's presenting, and based on flawed logic / knowledge at that!

p. 140

"The Geschwader breaths easier again, [Goering] is the man who meets all the qualifications that are implicitly placed by his superiors and subordinates on the Kommandeur of the first and most famous Jagdgeschwader in the army ...The new Kommandeur was "right" [for the job] ..."

That observation is difficult to accept at face value, however, as Bodenschatz published in 1935, when he was a Luftwaffe Oberst, serving as 1st Adjudant on Goering's staff.

A more believable contemporaneous view of JG I's new leader appeared in Bodenschatz's contribution to a 1923 anthology, in which he wrote simply:

"Oberleutnant Goering, a successful Staffelfuhrer proven on all fronts, was appointend Geschwader-Kommandeur".

And even that short statement was exaggerated, as Goering had only served on the Western Front and not "all fronts" (i.e. not on the Eastern Front or in Italy or Palestine) as Bodenschatz hinted.

In fact Bodenschatz is saying the same, but Kilduff doesn't (want to) understand the meaning of "on all fronts" and translates this (if he even knows German) literally.

"Proven on all fronts" means proven on all counts, not on all military fronts. So in 1923 Bodenschatz wrote that Goering was "the right man" for the job, as he did in 1935 although more elaborate (in light of the new Luftwaffe understandable).

A simple example that illustrates the way Peter Kilduff is willing his (lack of) evidence to the set story piece he wants to present.

Perhaps Peter let himself be carried away too much by Jack Hunter's novel and 1946 psychological profiles and too little by contemporary evidence and witnesses.

A good example is his early award of the Pour le Merite, at "only" 18 confirmed claims. Kilduff lays focus on his low number of kills, but seems to forget about his great success as a reconnaissance pilot. Although he quotes the citation, he fails to include it in his analysis (which doesn't fit Kilduff's aim).

p. 135

The recommendation was approved by the Kogenluft himself, General Leutnant Ernst von Hoeppner, who hailed Goering as an"

"... outstanding flying officer, who, by his reconnaissance and long-range flights during the ...war, delivered exemplary support materials [needed] for crucial decisions by his then commanders-in-chief.[After] recovering from a serious wound, he again distinguished himself with personal daring in the latest great offensives of the 17th an 4th Armies as the leader of a Jagdstaffel, which, under his prudent leadership, attained forty-nine aerial victories. He alone conquered eighteen enemies in aerial combats.

I find it harder to believe that Goering's influence ran all the way up to Von Hoeppner, than to take at face value that his achievement as an observer and reconnaissance pilot was also honored by the award of the Pour le Merite. That's what the evidence supports.

As for interbellum writing by Goering or endorsed by him.

Never let the truth stand in the way of a good yarn. It isn't pathological to embellish events, there are many (auto) biographies on both sides of the war that don't stand up to a thorough investigation. OTOH, there are plenty events that cannot be traced back to the archives either.

The subject deserves some leeway, even if he happens to be future Nazi leader Hermann Goering.

The final pages won't change my views on this work.

7/10