RE: Erich Hartmann

[Tom5572]

I read the other article about Knoke and was intrigued and then went searching.  I found an interesting site on Erich Hartmann, it has probably been posted already but I thought I would put it out there.  I did not want to hijack the other post.

http://www.acesofww2.com/germany/aces/Hartmann.htm

Kind of interesting reading about the eastern front.

WMTom

[007Rusty]

 

[squealer]

Do you know he was an ardent  nazi?

[Lusche]

Do you know he was an ardent  nazi?

Do you know he wasn't? Maybe simply confusing Hartmann with Rudel? 

[Anaxogoras]

Do you know he wasn't? Maybe simply confusing Hartmann with Rudel? 

Yeah, hartmann was such an ardent Nazi the west german republic rehired him for their airforce.

[squealer]

See Rule #5

[Motherland]

See Rule #5

German pilots were pilots just like Soviet, American, British and Japanese pilots.
One of the things you find when you read about combat pilots is that, at least as far as the Germany vs. Western Allies go, these men often had great respect for each other, especially in the air. This often isn't as true on the Russian front, but there were extensions of good will across the lines here as well.
"Separated for the moment by the barrier of war, we shall one day be reunited by death in the air."

[Masherbrum]

See Rule #6

[squealer]

See Rule #5

[Motherland]

See Rule #5

Tell squealer.
Was Hartmann more of a 'good guy' on May 10, 1945?
Was he more of a 'good guy' during his 10 years of Soviet imprisonment, where he was a symbol of hope and defiance for poorly treated German prisoners?
Was he more of a 'good guy' after his release, when he rejoined the post-war Luftwaffe, and began training a NATO airforce not only in the Luftwaffe, but in the USAF?

Or was he condemned to life to being an evil Nazi for defending the German people against the hordes of the murdering, plundering, raping Red Army?

[Tom5572]

I do not care that he is German, I abhor what the nazi's stood for.  As this is a community that has a general interest in aviation history, thought it might be good to post a non political interview from the highest scoring ace of all time.  We can, and do, learn from our enemies.  The United States' modern infantry Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) were derived from the Germans.  

[squealer]

See Rule #5

[Motherland]

See Rule #5

Nice dodge.
Answer my question.
And here's another one; were all of the American pilots who took instruction from Hartmann post war evil Nazi lovers? How about the two American WWII combat pilots who wrote his biography?

[Emu]

See Rule #4

[squealer]

See Rule #5