ISBN 978-9761034-2-71
375 pages

Foreword; Acknowledgements; photos; color profiles; Glossaries; Sources and Bibliography; Index

Appendices: OBs; Loss List; Victory List; Colors and Symbols; Log Book

   Almost exactly two years ago we reviewed volume one of Jagdgeschwader 300 and rated it as one of the best WWII air unit histories to come down the pike in a long time. The second volume from Lorant and Goyat (by way of Eagle Editions) is now available, and it proves every bit as impressive as the first tome.
   Once again, the authors base their account on a thoughtfully edited blend of archival material (including Allied records) and firsthand interviews conducted over the years with JG 300's veterans. This allows the authors to cover the broader perspective of strategy, tactics, and weapons in the air war over western Europe in the concluding months of the war, and it also allows Lorant and Goyat to emphasize the view from the cockpit. The personal stories of Luftwaffe pilots engaged in sorties against the overwhelming strength of Allied bombers and escorts make for especially exciting reading. It should not diminish the courage and professionalism of the men of the US 8th Air Force in any way to note that by this point in the war the fighter pilots defending Germany required tremendous amounts of fortitude to climb into their machines day after day and challenge the vast, unceasing airpower of the enemy.
   That situation seems not to have been so readily apparent to Hermann Goering. In one of the most interesting vignettes in the book, the authors relate Goering's visit to JG 300 on 30 November 1944. Learning that due to weather conditions the fighters would not be launched that day against the American bombers, the Reichsmarschall—in front of the assembled airmen and ground crews—accused his pilots of cowardice. Storming off, Goering shouted "I'm ordering my flak to shoot down...all you lily-livered runts if you're not willing to fight!" Further, he insisted that fighter pilots would no longer be permitted to carry parachutes into combat.
   As in the first volume, the authors punctuate their text with a good number of carefully captioned photos. Not surprisingly, information about a large proportion of the pilots identified in the snapshots includes dates killed in action.
   Of course, the authors could only interview those who survived, so they provide a number of stories of events at the end of the war. As late as 2 May 1945 JG 300 retained 25 airworthy fighters. On 3 May the remaining aircraft transferred to Prague, taking the time to strafe an Allied convoy along the way. There many of the pilots were caught up in fighting on the ground, with several killed. Those who could quickly moved to Saaz and Eger. On the morning of 8 May Eugen Maier flew what must have been the unit's last sortie, claiming a victory over a Soviet plane.

   For what was left of Jagdgeschwader 300, the end had arrived. In the early afternoon [of the 8th] the last aircraft were blown up and the pilots and mechanics set out for the airfield at Eger. They surrendered to the Americans between 8 and 13 May 1945.
   The unconditional surrender of the Third Reich came into effect on 9 May 1945 at 00:00. In the course of the war, 53 million women, men, and children had died horrible deaths, often atrociously so. German losses alone numbered approximately 6,500,000 dead and missing. Added to this figure were the 180,000 men who never returned from Allied prisoner of war camps.
   The war in Europe ended in an unprecedented human catastrophe. Among those countries that had suffered the most devastation, Hitler's Germany had been laid waste. The struggle to survive in the ashes was unrelieved. Seen in this context the battles fought by the airmen of Jagdgeschwader 300, despite the intensity of their commitment, had no bearing whatsoever on the outcome of the conflict.

   Another fine job by Lorant and Goyat. Highly recommended.
   Available from online booksellers, local bookshops, or directly from Eagle Editions.
   Thanks to Eagle for providing this review copy.