Der Adler was the official magazine of the Luftwaffe in World War II. In
the years before Hitler, declared war on America an English language
edition of Der Adler costing eight cents was published and widely sold
in the USA. The magazine was available on American newsstands and the
surviving English language editions provide readers who do not speak
German with a fascinating primary source from inside the Third Reich.
The magazine was at its best and most interesting during the years of
German ascendancy between 1940 and 1942. From that point onwards the
Luftwaffe had less and less to celebrate and Der Adler tended to
concentrate on the exploits of the Luftwaffe ground forces especially
the burgeoning Falshirmjaeger divisions. This selection of the best of
the English language articles from Der Adler provides a privileged
glimpse inside the Luftwaffe during its years of triumph between 1940
and 1942.