Ace of the Black Cross: The Memoirs of Ernst Udet

by Ernst Udet, Richard Overy (Introduction)

Overview

Above the mud and misery of the trenches and the endless slugging matches of the First World War another contest was played out with all the military glamor, chivalric values and deadly outcome of a medieval, knightly tournament. This was the battle in the air between the first primitive aircraft and the intrepid aviators who flew them. This image of air war is brought nobly to light in the memoirs of Ernst Udet, the German ace of aces, whose impressive wartime record was second only to the legendary Red Baron.

Written in a jaunty, Boys Own style, Udet paints a romantic picture of his experiences and captures what perhaps many young pilots must have felt as they flew off each day to duel with the enemy, the elements and an unreliable technology. Ace of the Black Cross also illustrates the way in which war and defeat left this young generation of tough, spirited, individuals rootless and restless. After the war Udet used his flying skills to give displays to crowds of gawking onlookers, a circus act that left him frustrated and resentful. In 1941, disillusioned and depressed, he shot himself. On the wall before he died he scrawled a message for Goring: Iron man, you have betrayed me.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526771940
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	05/30/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Richard James Overy is a British historian who has published extensively on the history of World War II and Nazi Germany.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vii

Introduction Richard Overy ix

Part I

I A Breakage in Mid-Air 3

II Seven Days' Arrest 13

III Transferred to Fighters 22

IV My First Duel 29

Part II

I On the French Front 43

II My First Command 50

III A Duel with Guynemer 60

IV My Meeting With Richthofen 66

V A Prisoner from the RFC 75

Part III

I Leave 87

II Saved by a Parachute 105

III 'The Tanks are Coming' 112

IV The Balloon Raiders 119

V The Aftermath of War 125

VI The Udet Aircraft Factory 130

VII Air Racing in South America 137

Part IV

I Four Men in Africa 147

II Down in the Jungle 152

III International Air Races 166

IV Aerobatics in Hollywood 174

V On the Edge of the World 178

VI Lost on a Glacier 184

VII Afterword 191

Appendix: Ernst Udet's Air Victories 193

Index 199

Editorial Reviews

"...recommended for its unique first-hand reminiscences, appealing presentation and the quality of its translation."

Over the Front

"This book is a 'must have' for any aviation library."

Indy Squadron Dispatch

"...best suited to generalists unfamiliar with World War I aviation but who would like to gain some insight into early aerial combat."

Air Power History

"Udet's writing style is informal, as if you were sitting in a pub with him, having a drink together. His memoir is very informative about life in the fighter squadrons..."

Roads to the Great War