The First and the Last [Hardcover]

Adolf Galland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1997

A fearless leader with 104 victories to his name, Galland was a legendary hero in Germany's Luftwaffe. Now he offers an insider's look at the division's triumphs in Poland and France and the last desperate battle to save the Reich. "The clearest picture yet of how the Germans lost their war in the air".--Time.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 364 pages
• Publisher: Buccaneer Books; 1st edition (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899667287
• ISBN-13: 978-0899667287
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,528 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The German "Samurai!" - A must read., January 1, 2000

By 

Jason W. Smith (Texas - United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The First and the Last (Hardcover)

When this book was first published, it, like Saburo Sakai's "Samurai!", created quite a stir. As one of the earliest books to be told from the "enemy" perspective during World War II, it was, to say the least, revealing.

Galland started the war with the Condor Legion in Spain and rose to become Germany's General of Fighters. His book is a firsthand account of the Luftwaffe's (and Germany as a whole, for that matter) relentless rise to supremacy and gradual decline to the pit of defeat. Galland's narrative is vivid, at times brilliant, but what is most striking is the incredible--and astoundingly REPETITIVE--ignorance and ineptitude of the German leadership.

Hitler's continued insistence on wasting much-needed aircraft in futile offensives is, even to readers from the Allied nations, frustrating. The same story seems to be repeated over and over again: Galland, through sheer force of will, manages to build up a large force of reserves. His plan is to send them up en masse to wipe out so many Allied bombers that the bombing raids over Germany would have to be postponed until replacement planes can be built and delivered from the U.S.. On the eve of Galland's plan going into action Hitler orders an offensive and the reserves are depleted, forcing Galland to start again from scratch. The story is repeated over and over again, and eventually, Galland resigns his post in disgust and goes on to lead a jet squadron composed of hand picked EXPERTEN, the last of Germany's great fighter aces. Fighting a war they know is lost, they write a poignant final chapter to one of histories bloodiest periods.

Unlike the pilots of the Allied nations, the pilots of the Luftwaffe were forced to do battle until they were maimed or killed. Galland's book gives us a glimpse of the human element of the German side during World War II. The increasing tempo of Allied bombing raids, the dwindling stockpiles of planes, parts, pilots, and fuel, and the exasperation that comes with fighting a losing battle with one hand tied behind your back are told in a no-nonsense manner the reader will appreciate.

Well worth picking up.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for any W.W.II history junkie..., March 29, 2001

By 

Rodger Raubach (Converse County ,WY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The First and the Last (Hardcover)

Adolf Galland was one of the truly outstanding heroes of W.W.II. regardless of the side one which he served. As an individual he developed quite a large "cult" following in aviation circles and was a very popular speaker. His book was one of the first wartime memoirs published by a high ranking officer of the former enemy camp. General Galland does not go into alot of detail in regards to his "dogfights";not that he was too self-effacing,but that he was a pilot of consummate skill and many of his victories were fairly easy. (Galland held many prewar gliding records for time aloft!) When you are the best,you don't need to brag!

What sets this volume apart from many of the later wartime histories is the unique position the author attained,and the descriptions derived from personal contact with many of the leaders of the Third Reich. Galland is analytical--not apologetic--in his comments on the reasons for Germany's loss to the Allies.

If W.W.II history is your "thing" , then this is your book. Other reviewers have criticized the "wooden" writing style,but German is not the easiest language to translate into "literary" English. Put aside your quibble about style and read it for CONTENT and enjoy a view of recent history from one who actually made it. Five stars all the way.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Only half the book it purports to be, April 21, 2008

By 

M. S. Lavender - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The First and the Last (Hardcover)

The First and the Last is a superlative book. The edition on offer here, care of Buccaneer Books, Cutchogue, NY is not. The first seven chapters have been dumped, all the maps and charts are missing and the majority of the original photographic illustrations have been omitted or replaced with different images. I can't say whether these were used in later editions - they are certainly not in my Methuen & Co 1955 edition. Aside from the back of his head there no longer remains a single image of the man himself! All photo reproductions are poor.
On the positive side I didn't waste much money on this copy. Give it a miss!