The Blond Knight of Germany

4157 The Blond Knight of Germany, by Raymond F.Toliver and Trevor J. Constable (read 27 Apr 2006) This is a biography of Erich Hartmann, who was a fighter pilot for Nazi Germany in the Second world war and shot down 352 planes--the most anyone ever did. He was on the Russian front from 1942 to the end of the war. He surrendered to the Americans who turned him over to the Russians--and he was a prisoner of war for almost ten years! His story is of high interest, though one cannot help but be dismayed by the fact that the book does not show he ever became aware of the evil he so ably fought for. There is much about Russian troops' brutality to German civilians at the end of the war, but not a word to indicate that he ever acknowledged the show more unspeakable evil that went on in German concentration camps. But I suppose that is to be expected. This is a much different book from Soldat (read 4 Feb 1993), Frontsodaten (read 18 Apr 1996), and The Forgotten Soldier (read 1 Sep 1994)--all highly interesting accounts of German soldiers and better books than this, I suppose because Hartmann was always successful and is the world's leading air ace--and was on the wrong side. I enjoyed reading this book, even if Hartmann was admired and decorated by Hitler. show less

Superb biography of the world's leading ace. Hartmann's career as the best of the best when it comes to fighter pilots will probably never be surpassed.

During the Second World War, one German Luftwaffe pilot compiled a combat record so remarkable that he earned the distinction of becoming the premier fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare! Erich Hartmann, called the Blond Knight of the German Luftwaffe, achieved the staggering total of 352 confirmed victories. Hartmann's incredible combat record earned him the coveted diamonds to his Knight's Cross, but his wartime exploits convey only an inkling of the drama consummated in Hartmann's life and career. Now, at last, the story of Germany's Blond Knight has been told by the award-winning authors of Fighter Aces of the U.S.A and Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe. You'll relive Hartmann's extraordinary aerial achievements, the ordeals show more suffered during 10 years of postwar imprisonment by the Soviet Union, and his subsequent role in the development of the new West German Air Force. show less

Pretty good story of one of Germany;s best aces. Some of the claims that Hartmann made have been discredited in recent years, but no one denies he was a great ace in JG-52.

Such a talented and dynamic individual fighting on the wrong side. If you are on the wrong side you get forgotten.

Dva renomovaní američtí autoři Raymond F. Toliver a Travor J. Constable, ve své knize "Sundejte Hartmanna!" podávají svědectví nejen o životě nejlepšího německého stíhače druhé světové války Ericha Hartmana (*12.4.1922 - 20.12.1993), ale líčí i osudy válečného zajatace Hartmanna, který prožil více jak 10 let v táborech NKVD v Sovětském svazu. Čtenář má kromě bojovýchosudů možnost seznámit se s hrůznými metodami, jež sovětská moc používala nejen proti opozici ve vlastní zemi, ale i pro trestání válečných zajatců.