Another thread got me thinking a bit. Jochen brought up a valid point when I was jokingly referring to 9./JG 54 members as the elite, as being the best überhumans we can be.
Of course this has some negative connotations and refers (in)directly to the HolocaustA tasteless joke but then again I am not known for having good taste.
At any rate; how can one justify flying for the LW; a branch of the German armed forces that with its brutal effiency helped the conquest of several nations and indirectly assisted in the Holocaust? Can one justify it at all?
I can understand the bad taste most quite rightfully get when they hear the word Luftwaffe - it sounds like a synonym to "nazi" even though it is not - the German air force today is still known as the Luftwaffe. So how does one justify flying for these pirates of the sky?
Separating the armed force from the political ideology is step one. Initially, the Wehrmacht was just the same as the US armed forces are today - a non political state run institution put in place to do the biddings of its political masters. Much like when the American politicians order American pilots to enforce no fly zones, the German politicians ordered the LW to strike various targets. Later in the war, the Wehrmacht became politized - mostly with the introduction of the Waffen SS. As far as I know, there were no Waffen SS jagdgeschwaders.
Step two is looking at the machines - I dare say that most playing AH are a rare breed with a fascination for prop planes and personal favourite aircraft. how does one pick a favourite aircraft? For me, it is not a logical choice - I choose instinctively. Focke-Wulfs are appealing because of their shark like appareance, neatly combining beatuy with a sense of raw power. 109's are ugly but radiate a brutality that overcomes the aestethical and makes ya either love or hate them.
Thirdly, there are the men of the LW - Galland, Marseilles, "Bubi" Hartmann. Many of which are the epithomy of what we see as fighter aces - Galland with his film star looks, own the world attitude and great skills, Hartmann with his unbelievable record. Despite the regime they worked for, it is hard not to admire their achievements. Isolated from the political background, it's really something.
There also is the Bad Guy Appeal - in the Star Wars universe, I always side with Darth Vader and his gang. Tie fighters are way sexier than X-Wings. There are so many heroes out there that being an anti hero is very rewarding. Working for the dark side, being Satan compatriot - I don't know why, but one word describes it for me - "neato". If you cannot be loved and admired, make sure you're hated and feared.
The initial effectiveness of the LW and all the innovations it brought to the field of aviation is another thing.
Lastly, there is the underdog appeal. Late in the war, always outnumbered, *defending the civilian population from the murderous bombs of the Brits and (to a much lesser extent) the Americans. Flying planes that are good but not quite as good as the allied counterparts.
But, let's be honest. Just the slightest thought about the Holocaust, the killing of Russians and everything and all of these reasons are wiped out.
So what do we do? We call ourselves warriors, instruments to be used by politicians, servants of the state. We will do what we're told as long as the order is not illegal. i have yet to hear about an instance where LW units were used to exterminate Jews for instance.
The above reasons is why I fly LW - I do not fly it because I'm a racist or a nazi. I find those things utterly disgusting. Yet it is important to remember that not all LW pilots were nazi's. It's my personal belief that anyone hearing about or witnessing the results of the British bomb raids on civilian populations would be enraged and, if capable, get up into a plane to try to stop it.
But, I am a LW pilot. As such, i try to live up to the stereotypes. My hair is blonde, cut very short. I have a bottle of schnaps in my pocket and I fight wearing a monocle. My arrogance is only rivalled by my extreme views that LW pilots are, in every way, superior to their allied counterparts. I'm elitist and proud of it, and have a "Von" between my surname and my last name.
I am Baron Claus "StSanta" Von Ribbentroppen, old school WWI style aviator, fighting for the *LW*, not for the nazi's. I'm too advanced and civilized to kick bellybutton and take names, so I "eliminate schweinhunde und yell spheetfeure!" instead.
Now, US sons of peasants, cow milkers and Brit scum of the earth, go buy boots; soon I am airbone and you need something to shake in.
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StSanta
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
"I am the light at the end of your sorry little tunnel." - A. Eldricht
