Evening star., 1947-02-21
Failure Of Air Force
Believed 10 Be Hitler S
Worst Disappointment
By George Allen
Copyright. 1947. by North American
Newspaper Alliance

Copyright. 1947. by North American
| Newspaper Alliance.
| Filth and last article based on
notes OF Hitler's maritime military
talks.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 21.-Adolf
Hitler had three big military dis
appointments during the war: The
Luftwaffe, f1ame-throwers and the
fact that he could not enforce a
final, cataclysmic 1ast-ditch stand.
But without doubt his greatest dis
appointment was the air force-and
the chief reason it was so poor
seems to have been that Hitler had
made Hermann Goering its chief.
Hitler got progressively angrier
when the Luftwaffe failed to bring
England to her knees, failed to re-
lieve Stalingrad and then failed
Goering's boast that 1t could stem
the Allied invasion of Europe. In
desperation the Luftwaffe dropped
mines in the Channel and the North
Sea, but Hitler couldn't be appeased.
eve must counter-attack," he
ragged. Everything else is nonsense
The whole question of dropping
mines is in my opinion of no value.
1t does not affect the people either
in England or here. What psyche
logical effect does the loss of ships
by mines have on the German peo-
Iple? 1t doesn't move the German
people at bit. If 100000 people in
Hamburg are put out of work in
one night by the destruction of the
wharves, this loss is far greater
than the sinking of a few ships"
Could Not Find Target.
Luftwaffe officers came back and
reported that they could not find
their target, and this aroused Hitler
even more.
"It is now so bad that we must
be glad If we find London today.
was just told, We hope to find
London now This smells to high
heaven, and I'll say just that to
Goering. . 1t is now coming to
the point where the people have
no more trust in the Luftwaffe.
mot find London! A disgrace. And
later some idiot tells me, Yes, my
fuehrer, If he (the RAFD comes to
Dortmund from England he can
throw bombs at Halle on a stretch
500 yards by $50 with his present.
day bombsights' But we can't find
London, 80 miles wide and 100 dis
tamil"
Goering Noted for Stupidity.
Goering, who appeared at staff
meetings only about once a week.
was noted for his silly remarks. He
stood strictly on his honor, and
rarely knew what was going on. He
usually had to consult an aide for
answers to questions on the Luft-
waite. Goering- batting became a
way of varying the tedium of the
meetings.
At one session Goering said, eve
have very good gun; now we must
build a good bomber to put it into"
Hitler interrupted, THAT is cross
ing your bridges before you come to
them"
Goering insisted that this was not
the case, and Hitler pointed out,
THE gun is there; the bomber is
only imaginary"
Goering continued, "I still believe
we shall have good results with the
gun," and Hitler had to tell him,
Forget it."
Hitler Respected Our Planes.
Discussing our planes at another
meeting, Hitler said, "the British
and American planes are regular
battleships. I read a report that
one plane had IL to 18 guns, and a
new one will have "a. That is an
awful lot of firepower for a fighter"
Goering interrupted, "He can use
only half of the "a at one time"
To this Hitler said, "He uses ball
turrets so that he can shoot In every
direction. It's an awful situation
to be in. Goering, get to work, I
beseech you"
Goering promised to discuss the
matter with Albert Speer, the head
Of production in Germany.
Luftwaffe communiques did not
always agree with the British. These
we're constantly checked.
Heavy London "Raid" Failed.
A Luftwaffe general once re-
marked, ''The British report "a losses
in the attack and we claimed only
23."
'Donnerwetter," said Hitler.
Gen. Wilhelm Keitel suggested,
I'VE can report the rest tomorrow
through army communicates"
Another time Hitler was told sew
eral hundred planes had set out
for England, though the British