|
Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kampfflieger
The book is published in german / english!
Ernst Obermaier’s books Die Ritterkreuzträger der
Jagdflieger and Die Ritterkreuzträger der Stuka- and Schlachtflieger were first printed in the 1960s and 70s. Later revised, these titles are still considered standard works on the subject.
Obermaier planned a third volume, which was to have dealt with Knight’s Cross winners from the bomber arm. Work on the book had begun, but was far from complete, when Ernst Obermaier
died unexpectedly in 1997.
Jochen Kaiser took over Obermaier’s files and,
together with a number of German aviation historians, continued work on the project. After more than 10 years of research, he has now completed Volume I of Die Ritterkreuzträger der
Kampfflieger. In its 272 pages the author describes the military careers, special missions and fates of five winners of the Swords, 26 winners of the Oak Leaves and 191 Knight’s Cross
winners, whose names begin with the letters A through K. Volume 2 covers 165 Ritterkreuzträger with the letter L till Z and one Oak Leave amendment, corrections and additions, photos of
award ceremonies, successful crews, group photos, funerals and graves, as well as documents and log books. The book is illustrated with a portrait photo and three or four other photos each
winner of the Swords and the Oak Leaves, and two photos of each winner of the Knight’s Cross, a portrait photo and another photo depicting a milestone event, an aircraft or a mission
tally on the tail of an aircraft. Volume I thus contains more than 510 photos, Volume 2 more then 440 photos, some of them in color.
65 years after the end of the war,
this work by Jochen Kaiser fills a gap in the history of the Luftwaffe. Volume II is expected to be released in 2011. These books will make it possible to finally identify many of the bomber
crewmen who won the Knight’s Cross. The books will also document the military careers of these men for posterity, factually and without glorification or political bias. They thus
represent a special reference work of contemporary history.
|
