Fighter Pilots Conspiracy
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The Fighter Pilots Conspiracy refers to the verbal rebellion of the leading German Luftwaffe officers against the incompetence of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht.
By 1944 the Luftwaffe had lost the air war over Europe. Hermann Göring, Reichsmarschall and chief of the Luftwaffe accused and blamed the fighter pilots for the bombings and losing the war. All of the senior Kommodore brought their concerns to Adolf Galland, commander of Germany's fighter force (General der Jagdflieger).
Galland arranged for a meeting with Göring. However, Galland was not invited to this meeting so he was kept informed of the proceedings by Hannes Trautloft. The group of the most decorated and valiant Luftwaffe leaders, led by spokesman Günther Lützow, confronted the Luftwaffe commander and deputy Führer, Reichsmarschall Herman Göring, with a list of demands for the survival of their service. Their main concern was the Reichsmarschall's lack of understanding and unwillingness to support his pilots against accusations of cowardice and treason, which existed since the Battle of Britain.
The outcome was devastating. Blamed by Adolf Hitler and Hermann Göring for the collapse of Germany's air defense against Anglo-American bombing raids, Adolf Galland was relieved of his command in 1945. Johannes Steinhoff was threatened with court-martial and sent to Italy, and Göring told Günther Lützow that he was going to be shot for high treason. Similar penalties were imposed upon others in the so called "mutiny". Subsequently Gordon Gollob was appointed General der Jagerflieger. Adolf Galland was given the opportunity to form his own elite JV 44 flying the Messerschmitt Me 262. Galland was wounded in combat and Steinhoff severly burned in a takeoff accident before the end of the war. Günther Lützow was killed in action on 24 April 1945.
[edit] Reference
- Johannes Steinhoff (1195), In letzter Stunde - Verschwörung der Jagdflieger. List Verlag ISBN 3-471-78819-0
