The last chance : the pilots' plot against Göring, 1944-1945 / [by] Johannes Steinhoff ; translated from the German by J. A. Underwood.

Translation of In letzter Stunde.

This translation originally published: London : Hutchinson, 1977. - Translation of: 'In letzter Stunde'. Mun̈chen : List, 1974.

Includes index.

In many years of interviews with Steinhoff, it became clear that his insights and recollections regarding the Kommodores Revolt in January 1945 were historically accurate. The other surviving members of the conflict between the elite pilots and Goering collectively agreed with the contents of the book. Hitler's last minute intervention between Galland, Steinhoff, Lutzow, and Goering is detailed and fascinating. The reader will be drawn into the foray behind the scenes, and allowed to witness a different kind of war for survival by the aces fighting for their nation. Jahannes Steinhoff was one of the top fighter pilots for the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. In this book he recounts how late in the war, he and his fellow pilots became increasingly disillusioned with their leadership (in particular that of Goring) and how they set about trying to restore the Luftwaffe to its former glory in a last ditch effort to defend the Reich. It makes for very interesting reading for anyone with an interest in this time period, but I for one try to remain a little sceptical when it comes to such memoirs. The book has been reissued with the title The Final Hours.