Ethics of pilots fighting for the sides in WWII

[MD_Titus]

Originally Posted by Feathered_IV

Anthony Beevor wrote something of that in his book on Stalingrad. The Germans physical courage wasn't in doubt, but their moral courage was nowhere. I always respected the Italian troops who recognised things for what they were and surrendered. If only 5 million Germans were as brave as that.

i recall an episode in his stalingrad book about that... the italian commander surrendered in the face of an overwhelming soviet assualt supported with tanks. the italians had no anti-tank weapons, and surrendered without firing a shot. when asked why, the reply was "we thought it would be bad idea".

and recently, there was something i saw on telly, something in the region of 250,000 or somthing (could be wildly inaccurate, can't recall) were sent to the eastern front, and only 10,000 (or something as hugely disparate) returned.