The Udet / Lowenhardt Feud

A while back this topic was touched on in other threads, but no specifics were brought up.

Does anyone know the details of the fight for control of JG1 after the death of Willi Reinhardt, prior to Goering's assuming control?

I have read that both Udet and Lowenhardt served as the temporary leader of JG 1 before Göring's appointment. What prompted this change between U and L?

The fact that Udet and Lowenhardt were competitors for the 'Ace of Aces' title during the summer of 1918 would make for a competition between the two men. How ugly did this competition get? Does anyone know if Udet refers to this in any of his books? If so, what does he have to say about it?

[Barrett]

Peter Kilduff's new book,

Red Baron Combat Wing

Red Baron Combat Wing

may address the subject of MvR/Reinhard's successors--Manfred specified Reinhard as the next CO and evidently there was no objection from higher authority. But neither Udet nor (especially) Loewenhardt had the requisite seniority when MvR died--he and Reinhard both were captains. Of the 9 JG kommodores, 5 were captains and 4 were oberleutnants. I don't know when U & L became "obers" and therefore potential rivals for Goering's slot but suspect they were promoted sometime after he arrived in July.

As for the presumed feud, I'm unaware of any documentation. Obviously ComJG-I was THE prestige assignment in the GAF but I suspect any healthy young Teuton would have been delighted just to be a member, let alone a squadron commander (Udet took a "demotion" from CO J.37 to join JG-I) with lots of targets in easy reach.

Why would you assume that any competition between Udet and Lowenhardt would get "ugly"? They weren't politicians, they were both loyal German officers working for the good of their Fatherland to defeat their country's enemies. The status of leading ace would be decided in the air in combat against the enemy, not against each other. Competition to be sure, but "ugly"? That's more typical of careerists in a peacetime military where rank is often more a function of past and present assignments than it is of capability in combat.

Matt:

From what little information I have been able to find on this matter, the implications are that Udet and Lowenhardt loathed one another. Perhaps their opposing personality types had something to do with this, with Lowenhardt described as a conservative and Udet considered a playboy. Without doubt their competition for the title 'Ace of Aces' came to drive a wedge between two men who already did not like one another.

I just received my copy of Kilduff's new book. It is pretty good, but I'd like to see more details. The bibliography lists included at the end of each chapter are as good as the book itself --lots of new places to go to look for information.

The only thing Kilduff mentions about U & L is that temporary command was given to Udet after Reinhard's death, and then it was rescinded and given to Loewenhardt on the following day. Udet didn't bitch about this and just continued to do his own thing with his Jasta 4.

One interesting thing the book does talk about is the relationship that developed between Lothar and Loewenhardt during the summer of 1918. They got along very well and flew together as often as possible, scoring multiple kills together on several occasions. Lothar goes on to say that flying with Loewenhardt reminded him of flying with Manfred.