Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The German Aces Speak: World War II Through the Eyes of Four of the Luftwaffe's Most Important Commanders

Rate this book
For the first time, four German WWII pilots share their side of the story.
 
Few perspectives epitomize the sheer drama and sacrifice of combat more perfectly than those of the fighter pilots of World War II. As romanticized as any soldier in history, the WWII fighter pilot was viewed as larger than life: a dashing soul waging war amongst the clouds. In the sixty-five-plus years since the Allied victory, stories of these pilots’ heroics have never been in short supply. But what about their adversaries—the highly skilled German aviators who pushed the Allies to the very brink of defeat?
 
Of all of the Luftwaffe’s fighter aces, the stories of Walter Krupinski, Adolf Galland, Eduard Neumann, and Wolfgang Falck shine particularly bright. In The German Aces Speak, for the first time in any book, these four prominent and influential Luftwaffe fighter pilots reminisce candidly about their service in World War II. Personally interviewed by author and military historian Colin Heaton, they bring the past to life as they tell their stories about the war, their battles, their lives, and, perhaps most importantly, how they felt about serving under the Nazi leadership of Hermann Göring and Adolf Hitler. From thrilling air battles to conflicts on the ground with their own commanders, the aces’ memories disclose a side of World War II that has gone largely unseen by the American public: the experience of the German pilot.

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

71 people are currently reading
524 people want to read

About the author

Colin D. Heaton

17 books83 followers
Former soldier and Marine scout-sniper, former history professor, military historian, consultant to historians, TV and film, and author.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
188 (44%)
4 stars
162 (38%)
3 stars
59 (13%)
2 stars
8 (1%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for KOMET.
1,256 reviews143 followers
July 26, 2014
"THE GERMAN ACES SPEAK" (which I finished reading a short time ago) is one of the best books of its kind that I've yet read. Each of the 4 former Luftwaffe fighter pilots who were interviewed had served in a variety of commands, both combat and administrative, throughout the Second World War. And in the case of both Adolf Galland and Eduard Neumann, both also served as combat pilots with the Condor Legion in the Spanish Civil War. [The Condor Legion was a German military unit which supported the Nationalist forces of General Francisco Franco in its fight against the Spanish Republican government. Franco triumphed in March 1939 and ruled Spain til his death in 1975.]

The perspectives the 4 men (Walter Krupinski, Galland, Neumann, and Wolfgang Falck) provide the reader on their military experiences and their insights (in particular, those of Galland - who served as the Luftwaffe's General of Fighters from November 1941 to January 1945 --- and Falck, who was one of the figures instrumental in the establishment and organization of the Luftwaffe's night-fighter arm) gained from direct dealings with the Third Reich's political leaders (Hitler and Goering) are revealing and amply demonstrate how a dictatorship can go awry (due to hubris and its own misdeeds) under wartime pressures.

Each of the 4 men survived the war, maintained their links with aviation (in both the civilian and/or military spheres) or went into business, and strove in their own respective ways to promote peace and understanding between former enemies. Sadly, Krupinski, Galland, Neumann, and Falck are no longer with us. But through this book, the reader can gain a deep understanding and appreciation of the challenges these men faced in war and peace.
174 reviews4 followers
April 8, 2019
A good examination of the German side of the WW2 air war. It's based on interviews conducted with five prominent German flyers, who were all fortunate to survive the war.

An excellent relationship was formed many years later between the German, British & American flyers, who respected that each was fighting for their country. The book reveals that the German pilots were not fans of Hitler and wished he could have been deposed in some way.
1,628 reviews23 followers
January 10, 2025
I am noticing that the people who met and knew Hitler liked him, but they often did not care for his cabinet. The disdain for Herman Goering is pretty well laid out. Aside from the occasional meeting with Hitler or other high-profile people it is similar to any other military book.
Profile Image for Adam.
197 reviews2 followers
November 24, 2020
So, for people that aren’t into the World War II air war, this is the book that I would recommend! So many interesting stories from generals and German pilots about personal interactions with Adolf Hitler.

Give it a try!
190 reviews2 followers
July 24, 2024
Really interesting read on the view of the air war from German eyes.
Opening feels very “please don’t think we’re Nazis” but it reads like a level history.
Profile Image for J.D..
Author 1 book10 followers
February 15, 2012

I just finished reading The German Aces Speak: World War II Through the Eyes of the Luftwaffe’s Most Important Commanders. I had high hopes for this book when I first saw it on Goodreads. I was not disappointed. To tell you simply that it is comprised of the stories of four of Germany’s top fighter aces from World War Two as conveyed to the author would be accurate, but it would not do justice to this book. It is a refreshing and fascinating look into the lives and minds of great military men from the other side, the privilege of which is rarely ours.

German veterans of World War II have had to live with an unjustly deserved taint—presumed guilt by association with the barbarous acts of Nazi monsters who ruled Germany from 1933 until 1945. Nazi Germany, in the minds of many people, is all about SS goons, death camps, evil doctors, mass exterminations, war crimes, and anti-Semitism. The German Aces Speak dispels that myth as it introduces us to four great men of the German Luftwaffe--fighter aces who, yes, did shoot down many Allied aircraft during the war, but who were civilized gentlemen, gallant and chivalrous warriors, and humane opponents. Professional military men all, they were apolitical—not members of the NDSAP (National Socialist German Workers’ Party, i.e. “the Nazis”). They fought for their country, as any good patriot would. As members of the unique fraternity of combat pilots, these men fought well, fought fair, and when the occasion allowed, were gallant and even merciful toward their foes.

The German Aces Speak is a required read for any military history enthusiast, especially World War II enthusiasts. Every year we lose more of our veterans from the greatest war in human history. Their memories, experiences, and wisdom are priceless and irreplaceable. The author has done us a service in finding and preserving these stories from Germany’s “greatest generation.” It gives hope that, even amidst the unadulterated evil of criminals like Hitler, Goring, Himmler, and Goebbels, there were men like Macky Steinhoff, who wept over the death of a Soviet fighter pilot who had become trapped in his burning plane after engaging him in a brief dogfight; and like Adolf Galland and Gunther Lutzow who, for the sake of their men, dared to stand up to the craven and amateurish leadership of Reichmarschall Hermann Goering. Even while the world lurched in the bloody throes of world war, German and Allied pilots regarded each other with respect and admiration, treating each other with chivalry in combat, and magnanimity in victory.


I received my copy of The German Aces Speak: World War II Through the Eyes of the Luftwaffe’s Most Important Commanders from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway as an incentive for an honest review. Full disclosure: author Colin Heaton is a former professor at American Military University, and author Anne-Marie Lewis is a Master’s graduate from American Military University. I am currently a student at American Military University, but have had no contact with either author before receiving this book or writing this review.
Profile Image for Marc.
231 reviews41 followers
February 19, 2016
In the first of what I hope will be several volumes, four Luftwaffe aces speak about their wartime experiences, and very candidly I might add. Adolf Galland is probably the most famous of the four, and since I read his memoir over 30 years ago it was nice to get a bit of a refresher. Edu Neumann's chapter is the shortest, but very interesting. He was Hans-Joachim Marseille's commander and thus offers plenty of anecdotes and insights about one of the Luftwaffe's brightest stars. Walter Krupinski is one of those aces who racked up an impressive score (197 confirmed victories) but never has received the accolades or attention. Wolfgang Falck is known as the "Father of Night Fighters" and was instrumental in creating the German defenses against the RAF's nocturnal bombing campaign.

All four parts of the book are interesting, and they all provide further insights into some of the Luftwaffe's greatest aces such as Moelders, Rall, Hartmann, Barkhorn, Marseille, Nowotny, Steinhoff and Luetzow. The four pilots also are quite candid in their feelings about the Third Reich's leadership: Hitler, Himmler, Goering, and Goebbels are all thought of rather poorly and this is definitely not a pro-Nazi book in any way. The aces all realized Germany could not win the war at one point or another, but they all had a sense of duty to their country and their comrades and thus kept on fighting. There's much discussion about the "Fighter's Revolt" against Goering and I found this to be particularly interesting since I wrote a paper about this very subject when I was in college.

My only issue with the book was Wolfgang Falck's part--it seemed a bit disjointed at times as if several interviews were spliced together and parts were out of order. Maybe that was just the way he talked, but it was a little confusing as he bounced around in the timeline a fair amount.

Overall, a very excellent book and worth reading by anyone who is interested in the German perspective on World War II's war in the air.
Profile Image for John.
547 reviews6 followers
June 4, 2020
Terrible narration. Seemed like the guy paused everytime he came to naming German officers and other people. Monotone delivery doesn't really make it sound too interesting.

It is based on a series of interviews with Luftwaffe aces from WW2. These are narrated in the first person. Once you get used to the terrible delivery, the actual contents of what the individual aces have to say is very interesting. There's seems to be a united hatred of Herman Goering and to some extent Hitler. I don't go along with the line they were "just defending their country". How can they say that when they are actively invading Poland, Denmark, France and later Russia? I think they knew what they were doing but because of their personality type, youth, naivety, as well as being hooked on the danger and thrills of flying on active missions, they didn't look beyond what they were doing to innocent people.

Interesting book.
Profile Image for T.
1,028 reviews8 followers
December 16, 2011
I received a free copy of this book through a Good Reads First Read giveaway. Thanks!

The old saying is, more often than not, true -- "history is written by the victors". This is an important book to truly grasp what the 'enemy' was going through during WWII. A great humanizing look.

Recommended read for any WWII or history buff or those who just want a better idea of what happened to those on the other side of the fight.
22 reviews3 followers
October 21, 2017
Turns out, Goering was a dick. Who knew?
Profile Image for Pete.
1,104 reviews79 followers
June 30, 2019
The German Aces Speak : WWII Through the Eyes of Four of the Luftwaffe's most Important Commanders (2011) by Colin D Heaton is interviews with Adolf Galland, Walter Krupinski, Eduard Neumann and Wolfgang Falck. 

The book starts with the interviews with Walter Krupinski who had a staggering 197 kills in the East and West. He talks about how poorly prepared most of the Russian pilots were and how their aircraft didn't have reflector sights until late in the war. After the war Krupinski worked with NATO intelligence services and then was in the West German Airforce until the 1970s and a Brigadier General. 

Adolf Galland was an ace with 104 kills, all in the West, who became a general at a young age and fought extensive with Goring and disagreed strongly with Hitler about the use of the Me 262. His section has a lot on internal issues within the German high command. 

Eduard Neumann has 15 kills and was a commander of the German North Africa Fighter group. In his chapter he discusses Hans Joachim Marseille and his personality and tactics which is all pretty remarkable. 

Wolfgang Falck had 8 kills and was one of the main organisers of the defense of Germany during the night. Falck flew the Me 110 Zerstorer, which was a dismal failure as a heavy fighter but which became the main German night fighter. His interviews have remarkable detail about how radar was used and how the Allies and the Germans fought electronic warfare. He also talks about how there was layered defence and how the radar equipped night fighters, the 'Wilde Sau' fighters and flak were organised to provide the strongest defence against night bombers that they could. It's all very interesting. 

The details in the book are really very interesting for anyone interested in aerial combat and WWII history. The book does contain a largely useless list of top German aces that can be quickly obtained today in wikipedia. The list is largely just padding for the book. But the interviews shine and the recollections of these folks are quite something. 
Profile Image for Andrew Post.
Author 1 book7 followers
January 8, 2019
A captivating glimpse inside of the lives of ace pilots in the Luftwaffe during WWII (and told in their own words) which, when taken together, provide a fascinating portrait of Luftwaffe air operations before and during the war, and the insanity, egotism, and mismanagement in the upper echelons (Adolf Hitler, and especially Hermann Göring). The scenes of air combat are thrilling, but my favorite story was Wolfgang Falck's, who only scored 8 kills during the course of the war, but became "the Father of the Night Fighters," pretty much single-handedly inventing the concept of night-fighting and all the ludicrously complex infrastructure that went along with it. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a view from the other side of the air war.
Profile Image for Al Williams.
26 reviews4 followers
June 18, 2019
I greatly enjoyed Colin D. Heaton's presentation of the interviews that he had conducted with these airmen. They felt candid and honest, and covered a fairly broad range of experiences whilst managing to maintain an emphasis on each of the interviewee's individual personalities.
As my interest, and level of background knowledge, with this type of publication revolves more around veteran experience and reflection than the airwing of the Luftwaffe, the author included sufficient background information, along with short biographies preceding each chapter, for someone with relative ignorance to be able to appreciate the content of each respective narrative.
262 reviews2 followers
May 16, 2023
The below is are review of the audiobook edition of this work.

The book provides a very good first hand account not only of air combat from the perspective of
individual pilots, as well as their unique experiences of aerial combat, but in many cases many
interesting facts and stories regarding their interactions with high level officials in the Luftwaffe while in their official capacities. Very interesting. The only negative is that the audiobook is very robotic and monotone. One needs to consume a massive amount of Red Bull to be able to stay awake while listening. This negative alone prevents this from being a five star book.
Profile Image for Al Lock.
814 reviews24 followers
June 6, 2023
A good book as long as you keep in mind that interview based material like this is biased because the people being interviewed tell their stories to make themselves look good, and in this case, the four people interviewed were all friends. The author seems to be a bit enamored of them as well as defensive about them.

Interesting material. No great surprise that all four try to distance themselves from the Nazis as much as possible (and especially Goring), but it should not be forgotten that all four reached high positions in the Third Reich. It would be more than a bit naive to think that would be possible if these interviews were accurate.
2 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2025
Really fantastic. The chivalry these warriors showed for their fellow man moved me. The Luftwaffe leadership (Goering) was truly abysmal and let down German airman and the German people alike. I’ve known the Luftwaffe was the most apolitical of the German military branches and their conduct and intent really drove that point home for me as well as their courage in standing up to Goering for their subordinates. The story of Hans-Joachim Marseilles and his subordinate and best friend should be made into a documentary or major motion picture and was a particular highlight despite having briefly heard the story in the past. Cannot recommend enough!
Profile Image for John Waldrip.
Author 4 books6 followers
January 15, 2018
This is obvious a niche book that most would not find interesting, but as a military history buff and a former student at the United States Air Force Academy the book was very interesting to me. Of the four German aces featured in this book by far the most well known was Adolf Galland, the young fighter pilot elevated to the rank of general and the leader of the first jet fighter squadron in history. However, each man was for the most part an ordinary career military professional who just happened to be German and also despised his nation's leader, Adolf Hitler. An interesting read.
Profile Image for William.
585 reviews17 followers
November 4, 2019
Detailed and engrossing remembrances, suitably collated and edited. Fascinating especially are the parallel retellings of important events by different participants (such as the Fighter Pilots' Revolt against Goering in early 1945).
Profile Image for Nick Pearson.
166 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2020
Great read! Full of fantastic stories about dogfights, personalities, and the “inside baseball” look at the screwed-up power structure within the Third Reich, this book took me completely by surprise. I was engaged, and excited throughout. Definitely a must-read for any WWII history buff.
Profile Image for Jeff Fambrough.
68 reviews
May 21, 2018
This is a great look at the Luftwaffe and how many mistakes Herman Georing made that made the war shorter...Think if they had done it right???

Great stories!
Profile Image for Randall Harris.
34 reviews
March 28, 2022
This was a biography of sorts of all the luftwaffe pilots who were Aces during World War II and their Fates.
Profile Image for Piotr.
51 reviews
September 19, 2022
It's amazing to find out what a german high command was really like back in WW2. Also, tons of interesting stories of some amazing people.
Profile Image for Mihai Pop.
339 reviews4 followers
June 15, 2024
A good book for the story, but should have gone less into the ethics and whitewashing the characters for the support to 3rd reich. The readers came in for the war stories alone
80 reviews
December 20, 2025
Interesting insight into some of the Luftwaffe's greatest pilots, their personalities, experiences of the war and views of it at the time and afterwards.
Profile Image for Ron Ciola.
4 reviews
March 10, 2017
Old German Fighter Pilots Tell Great Stories

I could not put this book down. These men were true leaders and elite pilots. Their stories are nothing less than fascinating. I only regret the book wasn't longer. I will reread this book one day.
Profile Image for Shirley (MommyBookwyrm).
95 reviews14 followers
February 21, 2014
I don't know why, but all the reviews for this book seem to be over in the spot for the second book in this series. That doesn't make sense to me so here I am in this poor little neglected part of the internet.

Alright, so biographies are not something that I usually read. I like history, I just wish there were more book that could teach it in a less boring manner. Less droning on with endless facts and dates. In other words I need more books similar to this one.

I found this when it was one of the Kindle daily deals for $2 and it seemed interesting so I went for it.

I’ve been interested in anything from the World Wars, and I can’t coherently explain it, but I’ve always been more interested in learning about the other side. I guess it’s because just about everything I learned about it in school was only to help me understand why the Allies won the war, which, ironically, did not include a very good discussion on why the Axis lost.

See, I told you couldn’t be coherent about it.

This book gives a pretty god insight to the average German soldier’s feelings about the The National Socialist German Workers’ Party (aka the Nazi’s). And by average what I mean is the high ranking officers of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force during WWII)…so maybe not that average. You might be surprised to read how much these guys disliked Hitler, even long before they started to lose the war.

I found myself enjoying this book more than I had anticipated, which was a pleasant surprise but it still at times felt like I was back in school, trudging through one of my history books. I’ll probably pick up the next one that’s coming out soon, but probably not for a while and only if I can manage to get it at a bargain like this one.
Profile Image for Rob.
601 reviews10 followers
October 31, 2015
This is an important book.

It's important because it's a reminder that good people doing things for a good reason can find themselves doing those things in the service of monsters.

It's important because it shows that true gentlemen warriors, men of principle, discipline, and strong morals, were not the exception in Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe, but the rule.

And it's important because it highlights the importance of humanity in war. In this book, it's not the shots and lives that are taken that matter, but the ones that aren't. Time will tell whether that kind of restraint can or will prevail in the age of drone warfare (let's not think about the fully autonomous drones of the near future).

A great read for history buffs, fans of aeronautics, and anyone who can appreciate quality badassery. There's plenty of that to be found in this book.
Profile Image for Dave Hutcheson.
50 reviews7 followers
January 18, 2017
An interesting and fascinating read about the lives of four German pilots from just before WWII through to their post war lives. The bulk of each story is about their time during the war, what they did, what they faced, and their personal interactions with their peers, opponents, and leaders. Some truly memorable stories and insights. Well written and engrossing. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone interested in other people's experiences, or want to learn more about WWII from another perspective.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.