Just as All Quiet On The Western Front showed an alternative perspective to that of the Allies, this too gives a point of view not often experienced by Western readers. We see the perspective of a German pilot whose mission was to defeat Allied enemies. This is sometimes hard to read, especially given all we now know about the evils of the Third Reich, but so fascinating to learn about. Everyone is the hero of their own story, but this book is not ignorant of the wider context. I really found this an interesting read and, while it can be difficult and challenging, I recommend it to history buffs.

Although I am no fan of nazism to say it the least, I Flew for the Führer was still a fascinating read considering that it was informative about how it was to be a pilot on that side of the war. While reading, I also noticed a few familiar lines, so I suspect the documentary series Nazi Megastructures used this book as inspiration in one of their episodes on the Luftwaffe.

Heinz Knopa rejoiced every time he shot down an American heavy bomber. That’s not easy reading, but it is interesting to learn how the Luftwaffe pilots were organized and see their decline in the end.
Knopa, a dyed-in-the-wool Nazi, believed the German soldiers in the East heroically fought against Communism. They fought to save not just Germany alone, but all of Western civilization. The belief was widespread that Germany and the western powers should quickly come to terms and unite in a common front against Bolshevism. Did Knopa really believe that France, Holland, Belgium, and all the occupied countries were better off under the fascist boot?
He believed Germans were intensely indignant about the assassination attempt on Hitler. Yet the soldiers, he says, knew too well the Nazi follies and excesses. They would eliminate this unsatisfactory state of affairs as soon as the war ended. Really?
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Author Heinz Knocke published the book “I Flew for the Fuhrer: Memoirs of the Third Reich's Pilot” in 2012 (the original version of the book appeared in 1954). This is Mr. Knocke's only publication.

I categorize this book as ‘PG’. The book tells the story of Luftwaffe pilot Heinz Knocke. Knocke's story begins in 1935. The book relates his experiences during the war from his diary. As a fighter pilot, he was credited with more than 50 aerial victories. He survived the war, in part due to wounds suffered during the final months that grounded him.

Knocke flew more than two thousand missions during the war. He ended his wartime Luftwaffe career as the commanding officer of a fighter wing.

I found the 6+ hours I spent reading this 236-page memoir from WWII very interesting. I have only come across a few books in English written from the Axis point of view. They give a different perspective on the War. I think that the chosen cover art is a little dull. I give this book a 4 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

This e-book I enthusiastically requested for, and was subsequently given to me by the publisher Pen & Sword through NetGalley, and was written by Heinz Knoke, a Luftwaffe fighter ace pilot during World War 2. Minor spoilers ahead.

Where to start?

There is some allure, when it comes to books that are for one reason or another controversial, or from “the other” side of any war which makes them fascinating to me, since they give a perspective of certain events that differs from the dominating one, regardless of whether it is being perceived as a righteous one or not. Such books described the Crusades from Arab point of view, Napoleonic wars, American Civil War etc. This one in particular, is a compilation of memoirs, given from a perspective of a pilot who fought basically through all phases of World War 2 against the enemies of his Fatherland.

As such, the author, who always had a thing for writing, gives a perfect picture, maybe even too good, of a man, a pilot, fueled by hatred and propaganda of the day, while expressing full joy of killing enemy soldiers. That said, not all enemies were perceived equally, showing some regard and respect towards Western Allies, while simultaneously treating Soviet forces on the Eastern front as lower beings, vermin, disease, and Germans were in his perception the protectors of Europe from the effect of bolshevism.

But, as the war progressed, we could see the situation turning grim in the West, where he built his piloting career in combat. Stalingrad was lost, his comrades were dying left and right around him, yet he still flew steadily, still victorious. That is where the most powerful part of the book is: Knoke looking at the pictures of his fallen comrades, remembering fond memories of them, contemplating on life, luck and fate, all of which served him well.

D-Day happens, and the feeling of despair alongside a long, slow and painful defeat that is looming on the horizon create a very dark and emotional picture of a man that had to embrace the reality of the situation.

That things are not to be the way he hoped for.

That a dream is crushed.

Under the Soviet boot.

All in all, this book is a fantastic account from a soldier luckier than most, led by his own convictions, and is something I can thoroughly recommend to those who are interested in memoirs and World War 2 experiences.

An excellent biography from one the the German WW2 aces. He does an excellent job of telling his story and making you feel as if you are there. His descriptions of the dog fights are gripping. A must read book for air warfare enthusiasts.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. I never read such a story. From the German point of view it tells a tale I didnt know existed. The early war years are descibed and what drove Germany to war. The news he tells is not what I learned in any history book.. That said the action and details given made me feel like I was there in the cockpit dueling with American and British planes. The luck and bravery of this man cannot be doubted after reading his story. The shear number of kills by Knoke proves his flying skill and cunning. One very remarkable piece of history I took away from this book was the use of air to air bombs by the Germans during the war. I never ever heard of this but they dropped bombs that exploded in mid air against the bomber formations. This book is anything but boring . If you want to read a military tale from the German side of the war this book will not hold back.