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Summary: The diary of a pilot, a soldier, and a father
Review: Heinz Knocke was a teenage Boy Scout when the Hitler Youth began taking over the social activities of his life. As a scout, he wanted to fly and become a pilot and eventually Hitler's war machine gave him the opportunity. This book is a journal, not quite a diary, of his life as a Luftwaffe pilot and top "experten" (what we would call an "ace")on the Eastern and Western Fronts, from the battle for Kursk to the fall of the Reich. Each section is no more than a few pages long, but it speaks volumes about the philosophy of the Luftwaffe pilots and their dedication to their country and their rather low opinion of their Fuhrer. A good bedside read, or reading on the go. I would recommend it for aviation enthusiasts and anyone interested in history.
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Summary: Views from the sky
Review: Heinz Knoke was not only a heroic German aviator, but a father and a husband, completely dedicated to his country. A part of Nazism was a huge sense of nationalism, which Knoke often referred to. He fought, not neccesarily for the Nazi cause, but becasue he was a German, and he wanted to protect his country. I obtained this book from my father, who had gotten it from his father. His father bought it in the '50's, as aviation has been a passion in my family for years. My grandfather trained British pilots during the war. I am glad that he thought enough of Knoke and his story to pass his story down. It is the most startlingly blunt story I have ever read, and it was wonderfully written.
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Summary: Views from the sky
Review: Heinz Knoke was not only a heroic German aviator, but a father and a husband, completely dedicated to his country. A part of Nazism was a huge sense of nationalism, which Knoke often referred to. He fought, not neccesarily for the Nazi cause, but becasue he was a German, and he wanted to protect his country. I obtained this book from my father, who had gotten it from his father. His father bought it in the '50's, as aviation has been a passion in my family for years. My grandfather trained British pilots during the war. I am glad that he thought enough of Knoke and his story to pass his story down. It is the most startlingly blunt story I have ever read, and it was wonderfully written.
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Summary: Feeling truely comes through
Review: I read this book while deployed to Grafenwoehr training area in Germany. While it is very simply written, and very egotistical in the beginning, it develops into a thoughtful and moving book. Losses of friends, comrades and enemies alike are touched on, not glamorized, as in too many war books. Knoke covers his kills, as well as his downfalls, literally crashing his plane several times. Great reading for someone who wants to know how the "front liners" had it.
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Summary: Straight account of daily life.
Review: If Heinz had been an RAF pilot he would have been out of the cockpit more than in it. An absorbing account of the never ending and punishing grind of the German combat pilot. His accounts of aerial bombing of US B17's and B24's is made all the more remarkable in the way the tactic came about. His regard for his enemy and his comrade admirable. Not to be missed.
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Summary: Straight account of daily life.
Review: If Heinz had been an RAF pilot he would have been out of the cockpit more than in it. An absorbing account of the never ending and punishing grind of the German combat pilot. His accounts of aerial bombing of US B17's and B24's is made all the more remarkable in the way the tactic came about. His regard for his enemy and his comrade admirable. Not to be missed.
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Summary: I FLEW FOR THE FUHRER
Review: just a beautiful true not hyped up story of a fighter pilots everyday life with clean well writen storys.How wounderful and full of energy knoke was in the early 40,s to the total destruction of his fighter wing in 45.
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Summary: WEAK NARRATIVE
Review: Like most biohraphies written by German military men, this one is completely written without any style, in a totally dry manner, that's very unpleasant to read. Knoke's career itself is very interesting and brave, but he could have done more than justpublishing this sort of diary.
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Summary: Very interesting, Col. Klink
Review: Like the defeated in France and Japan, Knoke blames betrayal. Interestingly, he accuses the Nazis, not for their values, but for betraying their values. He criticizes Nazism, but not German nationalism, as if waiting for the next war with Russia.His diary provides a contrast with American training for pilots. He demonstrates chivalry; shallow, but committed, family life; crack ups and victories; and the grim reality of attrition. He's the one who thought up "bombing" American bombers from above, without prior approval from headquarters, with consequences that illlustrate why Germany lost the war: It was over-organized. He must have known about deportation of Jews; he may not have known about extermination as public policy, as he was immersed in fighting. His diary is the work of a very young man, so naievete is understandable and excusable. Taken whole, he's the sentimental sadist in the German "boy next door," illustrating qualities that terrified ancient Romans and American bomber pilots alike--intelligence, tenacity, courage, obedience, discipline. His dairy also shows what happens when these qualities are controlled by gangsters.
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Summary: Unintentionally good self-potrait of an ace - and a Nazi
Review: One thing must be admitted - this book is exceptionally honest. As such, it comes out as a portrait of the author, his experiences and his thinking. I don't think he intended it that way but he comes out looking as an egoistic and shallow youth, completely fooled by the Nazi propaganda. He truly believed in the Nazi cause and found it hard to understand just why is everyone else at war with the righteous and oh-so-good Third Reich. After the war he became a member of the Neo-nazi "Deutsche Reichspartei" which was consequently outlawed in Germany - obvoiusly the defeat changed nothing in his beliefs. I certainly would feel resentful to having anything to do with people of his character - one begins to wonder if all German pilots were like this, but probably not. Having said that his book is a very accurate description of what it was like to be a German fighter pilot, especially as an insight into the terrible losses the "Jagdfliegern" suffered towards the end of the war. I heartily suggest it as a "required reading" for anyone who is interested in the air war over Europe in WW2. The insight into author's soul makes it even more interesting. Finally let me say that I'm glad that Mr. Knoke's flying career ended as it did, and especially WHERE it did. Too bad it probably saved his life.
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