Luftwaffe personnel and Nazi-party membership

[Ruy Horta]

With Goering it was different, he was a politician first and soldier second.

For career soldiers, many of whom started their career before the Nazis came to power or only shortly thereafter, many of the old rules applied. OTOH the wartime mass army would have seen that distinction much reduced.

Conservatism in Germany could actually bring with itself an anti nazi stance, even if only privately or passively. Hitler was never able to win over the German army, which remained very much Prussian in tradition and outlook.

Again, the Luftwaffe is the modern branch and as such the outsider, or more apt the insider (not including the Waffen SS).

It may be correct to say that the Nazi revolution never succeeded in winning over the armed forces, at least not pre-war.