German Knights of the Air, 1914-1918: The Holders of the Orden Pour Le Merite - Hardcover

T. Treadwell; Alan C. Wood

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1857532317 ISBN 13: 9781857532319

Publisher: Brasseys, 1997

Synopsis

This is a history of the Ordre Pour Le Merite, or "Blue Max", as it is popularly known, and the 81 holders of the award. The 81 biographies of the holders are enhanced by photographs and, in some cases, multiple photographs of the recipients with their aircraft, and other individuals. The book gives an insight into the fragile world of Germany World War I pilots and observers. It brings to the fore the little-known holders of the Ordre Pour le Merite. The names of Richthofen, Udet, Immelmann, Goering and Boelcke are all well known. But aside from these famous pilots, there are men such as Peter Rieper (a balloon observer), von Groner (an aerial photographer) and Bernert, who wore glasses and was partially disabled, yet still managed to hide these facts from the doctors and his instructors, and ended the war with 28 victories to his credit.

About this title

Review:

This book provides a brief biographical sketch of each of the 81 recipients of the "Blue Max" from the Imperial German Air Service. It is unique in that photographs of each recipient are gathered together in a single volume. Coverage is well- balanced, with each airman, both the famous and the obscure, receiving 2-3 pages. The resulting sketches are somewhat superficial, but the scope of the overall effort makes this unavoidable. This is not a book that should be read cover-to-cover at a single sitting. It is best treated as a collection of short stories, any one of which is worthy of considerable expansion. --David Kirk

This book, written in dictionary-like style, gives a good general vision of the great GERMAN Aces of WWI, including Richthofen, Goering, Voss, Lowenhardt, Udet and all the others who won the Pour Le Merite. It lacks, although, in making a link between these pilots and the scenarios in which they have fought, being somewhat extremely impersonal. --By M. Fonseca

About this edition

• Publisher: Brasseys
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 1857532317
• ISBN 13: 9781857532319
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176