The First and the Last
by Adolf Galland
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Book Summary Information
Author: Adolf GallandEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1997-12
ISBN: 0899667287
Number of pages: 364
Publisher: Buccaneer Books
Book Reviews of The First and the Last
Book Review: A former enemy that has to be honored and admired.
Summary: 5 Stars
The title of the book comes from the fact that Adolf Galland began WWII as a flight captain, and though rising through the ranks like a meteor to the equivalent rank of 3 star general, ended it the same way after refusing to kowtow to Adolf Hitler. Galland was a man who proves that even evil regimes have their worthy heroes. He had well over 100 air combat victories despite being promoted to general at age 30 (the youngest of any of the war) and removed from active combat for most of WWII. The top Amercan aces of the war, great as many of them were, scored less than 40. Generally regarded as one of the finest fighter pilots ever, he was also a great leader and stategist whose understanding of the air war was apparently far in advance of Hitler's and other Nazi leaders. Luckily for us, most of his advice as commanding general of the fighter side of the Luftwaffe fell on deaf ears. Despite his great accomplishments and impact,he generally downplays his role and tells the story of the European air war from a very humble perspective. Reading it is like reading the mind of Alexander the Great, but without any trace of ego or bitterness towards his former enemies. He was also as strong a humanitarian as combat permits, for example, insisting that his pilots refrain (though not always successfully) from gunning an enemy pilot who has bailed out and is helpless in his parachute. It is noteworthy that after the war he was among the few high ranking German leaders who was not found guilty of a war crime. He was just a man who served his nation, however wrong it was, to the best of his rather astonishing ability. Further evidence of his character is shown by the fact that he was for the rest of his life held in the highest regard by those he fought against. For example, he was asked to read the obituary for British Wing Commander Douglas Bader, a great Battle of Britain hero, many decades after the war. Despite the dry style of the writing, the inside story of a pivotal time in world history told by a dominant insider has to rank the book as one of the finest military historical and autobiographical works ever written. Like Chuck Yeager, he was a man bigger than life, whose story could make a wonderful movie.
Summary of The First and the Last
A fearless leader with 104 victories to his name, Galland was a legendary hero in Germany's Luftwaffe. Now he offers an insider's look at the division's triumphs in Poland and France and the last desperate battle to save the Reich. "The clearest picture yet of how the Germans lost their war in the air".--Time.Germany Books
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