Himmler (Peter Padfield's Second World War)

by Peter Padfield

Nevertheless his stock had fallen drastically, and Hitler acted as he had with the generals, virtually taking over tactical control of the air forces on the eastern front, and making all major decisions about aircraft production. His natural inclinations in favour of attack against defence and in favour of terror as the ultimate argument, together with his unscientific faith in scientific wonder weapons which would outweigh mere numerical superiority, exacerbated the already desperate situation; it was eventually to leave the Reich defenceless in the air. The one miracle weapon that could have saved Germany, the atomic bomb, was not taken seriously enough to be accorded the priority it was given in Britain and America – where, of course, Jewish physicists who had fled from Germany played a leading role.