This is a book I have had for forty years but decided to read again. It tells the story of Germany's most decorated pilot and probably the most experienced combat pilot of the war.
Rudel joined the Luftwaffe in 1936 at its inception. He became a Stuka pilot and later moved to cannon armed Stuka's used for tank busting. He served through out the war on the Eastern front and was credited with over 500 destroyed tanks apart from many dive bombing successes.
His descriptions of battle against the Russians are exceptional and demonstrate a fanatical desperation to defeat the Bolsheviks and save Germany. Although he does not discuss politics in any depth he was clearly a committed soldier and was happy to serve the Nazi regime as is clearly shown by his admiration of Hitler who he met several times usually for the presentation of more decorations.
This book gives a very good appreciation of the desperate fighting on the Russian front and the refusal of many German soldiers to admit that defeat was inevitable even in the final months of the war. A good book and well worth reading if you are interested in the Eastern campaign generally or the use of Stuka's in particular.
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