As a pilot, the profession brings one above the rest as a matter of course. As a military pilot, flying brings one into danger as a matter of duty. As a man, Hans-Ulrich Rudel rose above all others, certainly in the context of World War II and within the German Military. Flying over 2,000 missions in the Stuka dive bomber and bearing the highest decoration of any soldier, Rudel survived over 30 crashes and was able to take out over 800 enemy vehicles, hundreds of tanks and even a battleship. After the war he was the top candidate for the German Reich Party, and spent much of his time consulting with presidents of South American nations as a military adviser.
Myth of the 20th Century – Episode 142 – Stuka Pilot – Hans-Ulrich Rudel
— References —
– Imperium, Yockey (1948)
– Stuka Pilot, Rudel (1958)
– Enemy at the Gates, Annaud (2001)
– Carlos, Assayas (2010)
– Black Pilled – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaHgYcWAAcn5D54w4Dqezg
Myth of the 20th Century 
My post on bitchute got marked as spam so I’ll leave my feedback here:
Argh! I’ve listened to every Myth20c episode several times over and this is the first episode which discusses something I’m an expert in and It’s also the first episode I’m wholly disappointed with.
There was a time when in the 70/80s when they did consider a movie on his life, Peter C Smith the aviation historian comments on this in several of his works on the Stuka (Peter exchanged a number of letters with Colonel Rudel). The movie however was cancelled due to political concerns.
It’s important to mention the utility of the Stuka not just as a bomber – which is how it was remembered – but also as how Rudel primarily utilised it from Kursk onwards and that is as a ground attack plane to help blunt Soviet tank offensives. This version of the Stuka would help guide development of the A-10 ground attack plane via lectures and books from many Stuka pilots including Hans Ulrich Rudel.
The Me262 did have ground attack variants but it was only produced in a small quantity, the aircraft that immediately replaced the Stuka dive-bomber was the FW190 – Rudel himself flew several missions in it closer to the end of the war. The FW190 however didn’t have the precision of a dive bomber, or the efficacy in dealing with tanks, but the Germans were impressed with the P51 and other ground attack planes that could double up with other roles (and also were less vulnerable to flak) – but the Stuka was in production all the way until the end of 1944.
His post-war experience is also fascinating. He was involved politically in Germany throughout the post-war landscape, this created some tensions even with comrades such as Gadermann who was a doctor and his gunner – and who saved his life after crashing on the East Prussian front. Savitri Devi also wrote some of her book ‘Lightning and the Sun’ while staying as a guest of Rudel.
You can still find articles in German detailing his post war activities. If you can read German I also recommend finding a copy of ‘Der Adler’ from April 1944, it’s effectively the ‘Rudel’ issue and lionises his struggle in Romania.
Nick, as a movie buff might be interested in the German movie ‘Stukas’, not really about Stukas so much as it is about the pilot but it’s an interesting insight into how it was propagandised during the war. It also has a catchy song.
A shame such an important subject (Rudel and the Stuka) is covered so briefly and in so little detail – but I am thankful that Nick included Rudel’s description of Stalingrad, it’s one of the most striking passages I’ve read across numerous WW2 memoirs, that passage in particular is so striking because it’s the point in the book that Rudel seems to elevate his description of his war experience to that of a wholly spiritual struggle. Another passage in the book on Stalingrad worth reading is the prank he and his comrades play on the Squadron/Group’s doctor – very funny.
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I usually pick up suggestions for books from Myth20C, but this time was pleasantly surprised by an episode being done on a book I own.
I wish the subject matter was a little more in depth as per the usual with this excellent publication, but if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
Thanks for the show, and all you do fellers.
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