What were the circumstances of Ernest Udet's death?

[shackleton]

Len Deighton in 'Fighter' blames alcohol and pep pills (benzedrine?) in part. He points out the setback of failing to achieve the Luftwaffe's objectives in the Battle of Britian played a part. Also the very much cleverer Milch was running rings around him at the air ministry. Udet wanted increased production of the FW190 while Milch pushed for the inferior Me109. Milch won. Udet realised that Germany was incapable of producing a strategic bomber force to attack England and argued with Goering that fighters rather than bombers must be produced. Goering was overuled by Hitler on that. When Udet pressed Goering on the matter Goering said he would not be able to 'protect' Udet any longer. While Udet was on sick leave Milch got Udet's chief of staff posted to the Eastern Front. Milch was upset about this and Milch suggested they take a short holiday in Paris together the next week. Milch spent the weekend with his mistress and was found dead on Monday morning with two empty cognac bottles and a revolver.
Deighton does not make any comments about Udet's nazi sympathies but when Udet was found in the morning he had scrawled a message on the wall accusing Goering of selling him out to the jew Milch. "Iron man (Goering) you have deserted me." This certainly suggests anti-semitic sympathies.
(in fact Milch was not jewish.)

[Kilian]

Originally Posted by shackleton

"Iron man (Goering) you have deserted me." This certainly suggests anti-semitic sympathies.
(in fact Milch was not jewish.)

Veto. Specualtion.
"Eiserner du hast mich verlassen" does not imply any anti-semitism. Nevertheless we do not have to prove Udet was a Nazi, since he served in a high rank in the Nazi system but i do not believe he was anti-semitic. Or can you come up with a photo where he wrote something anti-semitic onto the wall?

[shackleton]

yes, speculation I agree.

I have tried to find the actual words used by Udet and there appear to be at least two versions. Some authorities give:
“Reichsmarschall, why have you forsaken me?”

To quote Deighton >> On the wall he had scrawled a message accusing Goering of selling out to 'the Jew' Milch: "Iron man you deserted me." <<

The quotation marks are Deighton's and seem to suggest that the word jew was used in a perjorative way without quoting the actual words. It's interesting that Kamian gives a version in its original German and even in his suicide message Udet is using the German 'Du' which is a very informal form only used between very close friends, family or to establish a certain superiority when a man speaks to a child or a pet dog. Certainly I would have thought it very unusual to use it to someone holding a superior military rank even if they were on close friendly terms.

Perhaps one of our German native speakers might comment on this. Does it show a very close relationship of equals here or is there an implied insult to Goering? If he had wanted to insult Goering his other nickname was 'Der Dicke' (fatty) and it would have been funnier if he had used that rather than the Eisener
used
One awful thing I found out while looking for the actual words was that Udet shot himself while actually speaking by telephone to his mistress.

[Hans]

Comrades, Brothers-in-arms are adressing each other with 'du'. Definitely no insult, but normal if Udet would adress G. with 'du'.

H

[Freebooter]

Hello all,
Thanks for the replies and input. It is all so very interesting. I feel sorry for Udet, a pilot and fighter at heart forced to a career behind a desk; the worst fate for such a man.

Another thing I am curious about, or dissapointed about. In that book he wrote he never really gives his opinions of the various airplanes. It only mentions him flying the Triplane a bit. I wish he had've put his opinions down on paper. I wonder which plane he liked the best or felt performed the best?
Freebooter

[Jenny]

If you will give me a list of articles /books to consult on Udet I will take them to my dad. He is a retired forencic psychiatrist, who may be able to shed some light on the subject. Jenny

[FliegerJG1]

Jenny,
A while back there was a discussion in the Books forum about works on Ernst Udet. If you follow this link, it will take you to that thread and you will find a selection of books about him.

Books on Udet

FliegerJG1

[shackleton]

Originally Posted by Hans

Comrades, Brothers-in-arms are adressing each other with 'du'. Definitely no insult, but normal if Udet would adress G. with 'du'.

H

Thanks Hans. That is the point really - IF Udet would normally address Goering with 'du'. Certainly it might have been usual between comrades and brothers in arms of the same rank but Goering was Reichmarshall. It's good to get a native speakers view on this. Do you by any chance have the actual wording used by Udet from German sources?

[Cigogne]

George Monkhouse in his book "Motor Racing with Mercedes-Benz 1934-39, describes a visit to Franz-Josef Popp's vacation home in Bavaria shortly before the war. Popp was BMW's chief at that time. Dick Seaman, another Mercedes driver was married to Popp's daughter and had been killed a year earlier. Monkhouse worked for Kodak and would shoot photographs of the team, and the racing cars. Monkhouse was invited to Popp's for dinner as well as Ernst Udet. This was during the summer of 1939. Popp sent the family and servants out of the house and Udet swept the house for bugs and other listening devices. After this then he shared his insights and views about the Nazi leadership and what he REALLY thought of them. He thought Hitler and the other leaders were going to ruin the country. This is what Monkhouse recorded Udet saying during that dinner in 1939. He also told him how to leave the country to avoid trouble.