“Has it ever occurred to you, Johann; the fact that we’re fighting on the wrong side?”Austria, 1938On the verge of the most devastating war of all times, four young men found themselves sharing a room in a flying school dormitory. A bohemian Berliner, a Flieger-Hitlerjugend member, a prodigy pilot, and a butcher’s son, with nothing in common but their love for the Luftwaffe and the freedom the … Luftwaffe and the freedom the sky has to offer. The bond they develop is put to the test by what might be a stronger adversary – war itself. Over the English Channel, in the dusty skies of Africa, on the brutal Eastern front, they will discover where their loyalty lies, and what true bravery means.
“It’s Großdeutsches Reich, soldier. When one has a family at home, it doesn’t leave him many chances for the revolt.”
As the war progresses, Willi and Johann grow more and more disillusioned with the regime they’re protecting with their lives. An SS unit appearing on their base to claim one of their own; bits of conversation revealing the truth about the extermination program accidentally overheard during the official reception – the pieces of the puzzle are slowly coming together, but it’s too late to do anything but fight to the bitter end, whatever it may bring.
Set during one of the bloodiest wars in history, ”Of Knights and Dogfights” is the story of the shattered illusions of youth, tyranny and freedom, friendship and love guiding one out of the darkest hell of Soviet captivity.
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How do you continue to fight for something you sense is wrong? The joy of doing something you love must take second place to the horror of war. The normal German caught in the tide of war is the subject of this well written story. Be sure to read the information at the end of the book.
A battle for hearts and minds
I’ve read several historical fiction books by this author, haven’t been disappointed, and this one maintains the same high standard. It begins in Austria, 1938. On the verge of war, four young men find themselves sharing a room in a flying school dormitory. A bohemian Berliner, a Flieger-Hitlerjugend member, a prodigy pilot, and a butcher’s son, with nothing in common but their love for the Luftwaffe and flying. The bond they develop is put to the test by a stronger adversary – war. Over the English Channel, in the dusty skies of Africa, on the brutal Eastern front, they will discover where their loyalty lies, and what true bravery means. Expert storytelling brought the book to life for me and the well-developed characters with all their emotions laid bare are engaging and believable. The author’s thorough research adds great credibility and authenticity to the story, which makes for a deeper appreciation of the period, the people and what they were going through at that time. Highly recommended.
I’m not one to typically read war based novels but the reviews made me curious. I can now see why this novel is so well reviewed. The author is wonderful at weaving together not only her words but also her detail. I felt as though I were whisked away into another era and other continents and thrown right into the action.
The camaraderie and close friendships between the young men in the story made my hear warm as well as ache for all the strife and troubles they faced during this war. A truly insightful look into the lives of young soldiers and a highly recommended read.
Already a fan of author Ellie Midwood, I was looking forward to reading ‘Of Knights And Dogfights’ and the book did not disappoint.
Starting in 1938 with their entry into flight school, and running well beyond the war years, this story of German pilots, based on factual accounts, focuses on the experiences of Johann, Wilhelm, Rudolf and Walter. The young men are enamored by the propaganda posters, idolizing decorated heroes of the Spanish Civil War, eager to hear tales of dogfights and achieve their first victories.
Along the way, they hear and experience activities of the Gestapo, the SS, and the mistreatment of the Jews, but they are insulated for the most part and focused on being the best pilots they can be. Like most Germans at the time, they thought they were fighting for a better future for their people. As the victories mount, and the accolades come, praised as aces, there is no denying the losses, the casualties, the retreats. They are losing the war and must identify with what their country has become and how they, as warriors, will be viewed by the winners.
Sweeping the reader across the European theater, from the Afrika Corps to the Eastern Front, the writing is crisp and thrilling, incorporating all the painstaking research the author invested, from men to machinery, locales and formations. The reader is led right into the heart of World War II. There is even a little romance thrown in for good measure.
Wonderful tale. Highly recommended.
A compelling WWII drama I could not put down. This is a fictionalized story based on two actual WWII fighter aces who never met in real life. Midwood’s conceptualization of their story if they flew together is skillfully rendered and exciting to read. As with all of Midwood’s work, the true gift is the emotional story.
So many WWII novels focus on the atrocities of the war, the mass killings of horrendous treatment of the Jews and others the Nazis deemed non-human. This novel, however, takes a different stance. Although it does depict the hatred that ran rampant in the war, it centers more around the battles in the air and how the Luftwaffe pilots dealt with defeating their enemy.
It shows how war changes the eager youth who image it as an adventure, the chance to travel and see the world. The first “kill” has a lasting effect on each of them, and they learn to deal with the trauma in different ways. It’s a story about human nature. Some are good, and others are bad, and how many people are mislead to believe what politicians throw at them as the truth.
The story is well written and engaging. You hope for the best for each of the young boys who shoulder the responsibility of their government. Yet, you know in your heart that all will come out changed in the end. A touching story that’s worth reading.
A little slow to start but an interesting book about two fighter aces based on real characters. Telling from the German viewpoint without endorsing Nazi viewpoints, the story shows a bit how ordinary people got caught up in tide of WWII.
Simply stellar writing. Highly recommend.
I thought this book would be interesting but I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it is. I was hooked almost immediately. The characters develop quickly and are likable. For me, a good character should be someone you wish really existed so you could meet them, even if you hate them, and I definitely want to meet the main characters in this book. The story is believable and you get caught up in the lives that are being portrayed. It manages to demonstrate the horrors of war without being graphic or trying to make a point. It simply tells the story of some young men and how the second world war affected their lives in a way that makes you to keep reading.
I will definitely be reading more by this author
As a former pilot, I enjoyed the story presentation. As a buff of WW II aviation action, I found the story well worth reading.
Midwood’s latest WWII novel is as compelling as her previous ones. She has a knack for telling compassionate stories from the ‘wrong’ side. As we follow Johann and Willi through flying school and into the war, you can’t help but be drawn into their plight and the plight of other Germans caught up in what their leaders were doing. The story highlights that many Germans both in and out of uniform found Hitler’s SS thugs as abhorrent as the rest of Europe and the anguish and dilemmas they suffered fighting for their countries. This is an emotional story of two boys coming of age, lost innocence, and faith in what they are fighting for. As usual the characters are well drawn and likable.
***** A Panoramic Look At War
Once again, Ellie Midwood has produced an in-depth, vividly described, and well-researched portrait of WW2. This time, it’s about the fascinating journey of several young pilots at Göring’s famous Luftwaffe aviator program, training to be ace bombardiers for the Nazi regime. The story begins in 1938, when these young men first meet each other as roommates. New to this “great honor,” they each carry with them their own distinct dispositions: from shy, tense and polite to headstrong and insolent. And with her typically detailed descriptions, the practice of bombing techniques and the characteristics of each student comes out. Instantly, we are on their various paths with them, as each one reacts differently to being responsible for killing human beings. As their courses progress, we are not only witness to the fear and hardships they all encounter, we also are there to see some of the ‘goodies’ they receive, from free room service at the drop of a hat to women throwing themselves at them. However, as time marches on, whether it be in the sand dunes of Africa with General Rommel, or back home in Germany, we are there when PTSD raises its ugly head and a young man becomes suicidal from drugs; another one talks about the personal worry of whether or not to start a family in such mad times. But what truly fascinated me were the arcs of personality changes the different young men experience. The timid and tense become jaded and angry. The willful and insubordinate grow humbled and saddened with despair. And as the years continue on, the places and historical events shown, we end up with a panoramic look at not only WW2, but war in general and what it does to people. Definitely another winner for this author!
Four gifted friends, Walt, Will, Johann and Rudi training to be pilots, are thrown into WW2. They all find themselves fighting for a regime they do not believe in. This is the story of their idealism, heroism and dignity even as war takes a toll of their lives. Will and Johann’s friendship was extremely sweet, Will’s sarcasm and humor and Johann’s loyalty and honesty against all odds and challenges in the war made this book a bittersweet one till the end. Absolutely loved the book. Another masterpiece, another must recommend.
Knights and Dogfights is a fascinating story. It begins with two students in the pre-war Luftwaffe flight school who become the closest of friends. I should mention that this novel is based on two real WWII Luftwaffe pilots; in real life they never flew together and were never assigned to the same unit. In this story, they are inseparable.
There is a relationship that forms in the military, particularly in war. The common term would be ‘bromance,’ but that, I think, cheapens the relationship. For lack of a better word, however, it will do. This story truly captures the bromance of war, of military service.
This is a story I didn’t want to put down. I hurt for the characters when they were injured, or when people they knew, pilots they flew with, died. It captured my interest in a way that few books do. My first impulse when it ended was ‘what else has she written?’
There are precious few books I’ve read that even try to capture the spirit, the feel of Germany during WWII. Indeed, the standard I’d refer to is Hans Helmut Kirst, and he was actually there. This book does at least as well.
In sum, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It was marvelous.
I was introduced to Ms. Midwood’s writing a year ago and ever since then I have devoured her books with great energy and interest. This book proved to be no exception.
The story mainly follows two Luftwaffe pilots, Willi and Johann (though are several side stories as well). The two are friends almost from the start and embark on an epic journey that takes them to Africa and beyond during World War Two. The book is both heartwarming and gut wrenching with several scenes that could easily bring the reader to tears (in a good way). It also can be quite humorous in some spots. I have fallen in love with several of Ms. Midwood’s characters but Willi has proven to be one of my favorites. He’s the type of friend you would want; he’s funny, knows how to have a good time, and is loyal to his friends. It doesn’t matter who you are, Willi will always be there.
There is nothing about this book that I would change or didn’t like. Everything was done perfectly and I was brought to tears at the conclusion of the book. Ms. Midwood has once again given us another fantastic book with memorable characters, a great story line, and meticulous research. All World War Two buffs (and historical fiction fans) will be doing themselves a great injustice if they don’t read this book. You won’t regret it.
Masterfully written with heart-rending scenes
Intimate and tragic, the story is thought-provoking. Despite the fact that the majority of German and Austrian population accepted Nazism, there were many who did not. Although this story is fictional, it is based on the life of real people (two best aces of WWII) who possessed the same qualities as the main characters, Johann and Willi: indomitable spirit and bravery, both in the sky and in the society.
Through her exceptional telling, the author made me feel her fictional characters’ pain, heartbreak, fears, doubts, and triumph of the human spirit. And though they were on the “devil’s” side, I couldn’t suppress my empathy for them.
Like all other Ellie Midwood’s books, this one is both cinematic and literary, with intense pacing and burning suspense.
I can’t help but praise the author’s outstanding research of not only the backdrop of the story (Ellie Midwood is famous for her extensive knowledge of Nazi Germany) but also the details about the aircraft and the particularities of the air battles.
Highly recommended to general public, not only to WWII buffs.
This was a well-written yet disturbing story set during WW11, focussing on the German pilots and their role. It includes themes such as hypocrisy, murder, insanity, cruelty, brainwashing, loyalty, friendships, honour and more…
It appears to have been thoroughly researched and based on true events and lives. The hate of the Jews was astonishing and yet history shows us that the events of that time were true, despite denials. This hate and cruelty from small and dangerous minds were the most disturbing – though, even today, no lessons have been learned; the tragedy of humankind.
Some great storytelling and sense of place, alongside an unbiased account, make this a compelling read, as are all of this author’s books.
Recommended but beware of your sense of injustice being piqued.
A new standalone book by Ellie Midwood and it focuses on the pilots in the war. I knew what a big part they played, but I haven’t really read much about them before so it was so interesting to read this story.
What I loved about this books is that is shows the horrors, but also the strong friendship and comradery between friends and fellow pilots. We see the war through the each of a 4 young man and see how they, their views of the world, change by their experiences. It shows the madness of those years, but also the humanity and kindness you find in the most unexpected places.
This line said it all “And just like that, their childhood ended”.
HAVING FLOWN SEVERAL FIGHTERS IN MY 24 YEARS AS A FIGHTER PILOT, I FOUND IT MORE THAN JUST GOING INTO THE AIR AND WINNING THE DOG FIGHT. I WAS SOAKED EVERY TIME I WAS CHASED OR WAS CHASING ANOTHER FIGHTER, AND LANDED DEAD TIRED FROM SUCKING PURE OXYGEN FOR AN HOUR. GROUND STRAFING IS BY FAR THE MOST DANGEROUS.
A great read