Adolf Galland Biography

Adolf Galland was a German military general and flying ace who served during the World War II as a commander of the fighter forces for the Luftwaffe (German air force). Galland was born in Westerholt, Westphalia. He graduated as a pilot from the German Commercial Flyers’ School in Braunschweig, after which he applied to join the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic. He was accepted and later transferred to the Luftwaffe. He took part in the Spanish Civil War in 1937. When the World War II began, he took part in the German invasion of Poland, where he flew ground attack missions. He also led a fighter squadron during the Battle of Britain. He was then promoted to the post of commander of the Luftwaffe’s fighter arm. He was eventually promoted to a major general. At the age of 30, he was the youngest general in the German armed forces. Despite his capability, Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goring blamed him for the gradual collapse of the German air defenses in 1944, and he was relieved of his command. He was captured and imprisoned for some time at the end of the war. He eventually passed away on 9th February 1996, in Oberwinter, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.