I also think that many german pilots while weary of the war and its costs, particularly late in the day, nevertheless felt a heavy responsibility and duty to defend german cities from the mass bombing attacks carried out by the allies. Most bombs dropped, the vast majority in fact, never hit their intended targets. Many civilians were killed of course and whole cities were leveled. Then of course there was the intentional destruction of civilians and cities through firebombing. I think looking back, as horrific as the toll must have been on the German people, on the Japanese people as well, it was a toll that had to be paid considering their complicity in the rise of the nationalistic militancy in both countries that set the world to a war of unmatched brutality, death, and destruction.
Having said that, I can understand and even empathize with the german fighter pilot and the seemingly hopeless circumstances he found himself in as the end was near.
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