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  • Luftwaffe production and policy

    From John Dallman@21:1/5 to Joe Osman on Wed Sep 14 14:28:25 2016
    In article <43d7e92d-4db2-4c76-b9b8-c9410cb88ed4@googlegroups.com>, joseph.osman@verizon.net (Joe Osman) wrote:

    You might want to look at Williamson Murray's work on the Luftwaffe.

    Thanks, that looks promising.

    John

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  • From Joe Osman@21:1/5 to John Dallman on Wed Sep 14 11:53:45 2016
    On Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 2:10:09 PM UTC-4, John Dallman wrote:
    Erhard Milch was the Air Inspector General from 1940, and seems to have
    been responsible for the Luftwaffe's poor decision-making on aircraft production. I'd like to know a bit more about this, but the only
    biography of him I can find is by David Irving, whom I don't trust to
    assess Third Reich decision-making.

    Can anyone recommend a source?

    John

    You might want to look at Williamson Murray's work on the Luftwaffe.

    Attrition and the Luftwaffe, Dr. Williason Murray, Air University Review, March-April 1983 (available online)

    It's a preview of his "Strategy for Defeat: The Luftwaffe 1933-1945" from 1985.

    His "Military Adaptation in War" from 2009 (also available online) talks about Milch and aircraft production as well.

    Joe

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  • From Geoffrey Sinclair@21:1/5 to John Dallman on Thu Sep 15 10:41:33 2016
    "John Dallman" <jgd@cix.co.uk> wrote in message news:memo.20160223200124.9204V@jgd.cix.co.uk...
    Erhard Milch was the Air Inspector General from 1940, and seems to have
    been responsible for the Luftwaffe's poor decision-making on aircraft production. I'd like to know a bit more about this, but the only
    biography of him I can find is by David Irving, whom I don't trust to
    assess Third Reich decision-making.

    Can anyone recommend a source?

    As far as I know only Irving has produced a biography. Most
    histories rate Milch as talented, though vindictive, he carried
    on feuds.

    In Phoenix Triumphant by E R Hooton Milch is described as
    "not inconsiderable vanity", "ruthless egoist with a justified
    belief in his own abilities", "organiser with technical expertise",
    "strong streak of outspoken bravado", "insensitive to
    opponents","over sensitive to slights, both real and imagined".

    He did things like enable all weather operations, setting up
    the training and aids. Plus realistic early production programs.

    As already suggested when you consult Williamson Murray
    you will find Goering largely stripped Milch of his production
    and technical control powers in 1937 and 1938, they were
    largely returned at the end of 1941. (Luftwaffe - Strategy for Defeat)

    Geoffrey Sinclair
    Remove the nb for email.

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  • From John Dallman@21:1/5 to Geoffrey Sinclair on Fri Sep 16 09:25:53 2016
    In article <_sidnXuFq_IjL0fKnZ2dnUU7-W3NnZ2d@westnet.com.au>, gsinclairnb@froggy.com.au (Geoffrey Sinclair) wrote:

    In Phoenix Triumphant by E R Hooton Milch is described as
    "not inconsiderable vanity"

    Clearly I need to re-read that - not looked at it for a couple of
    decades.

    thanks,

    John

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