Several of the men whose stories appear in the following pages—along with their families—offered support, advice, and often food and housing. Their help was critical for my research, and from the bottom of my heart, I thank them all.
Also, many historians, academics, and writers gave invaluable help. Foremost on the list is Michael Berenbaum. I cannot begin to express my gratitude to Michael Berenbaum of the University of Judaism for his constant support and willingness to help make my work stronger—it is not often that one has the help of one of the foremost Holocaust historians, and I am grateful for his support.
Next, Mark Bernheim of the University of Miami in Ohio was a tremendous help. He provided invaluable advice and feedback not only for this book, but also for my first book, Hitler’s Jewish Soldiers. His insights and constructive criticism have made both works better.
Many thanks go to the lawyer Peter Schliesser, himself a “half-Jew” under the Nazis, for his extensive editorial help. His guidance and extensive editing throughout the writing of this book have been greatly appreciated. He is a true mensch. I would also like to thank the journalist David Seeley and author Michael Skakun for their comments.
Warm thanks go to my graduate advisor at Cambridge University, Jonathan Steinberg, who encouraged the exploration of such a project back in 1996. His years of guidance and help mean more than he knows. Author of Frontsoldaten, Stephen Fritz, and Günther Montfort, Bundes-archiv-Militärarchiv in Freiburg, provided useful feedback on the structure and content of the book.
James Tent, an expert on the Mischlinge (see his excellent book, In the Shadow of the Holocaust), of the University of Alabama at Birmingham has proven most helpful. His feedback during the editorial stage of this manuscript has greatly strengthened it. University of Virginia history professor Hans Schmitt, also a “half-Jew” during the Nazis years, gave me incredible feedback. His support and help these last few years have been tremendous. I also thank the late Andy Baggs at American Military University and Luftwaffe expert Horst Boog for their help. Baggs’s comments and criticism, especially concerning military hardware, were greatly appreciated. Boog’s insights on the Luftwaffe helped me greatly with my biographies of Wilberg and Milch. James Corum of Oxford University and Dennis Showalter of Colorado College offered their comments and words of support and have been an inspiration. Retired Brigadier General Charles Fred Smith and Howard Spiro of Yale Medical School gave me the honor of reading this work and provided helpful advice on its substance and style. To have such a group of historians behind me has added not only to my confidence but also to my sense of responsibility to do my best to live up to their expectations and examples.
Thanks also go to Lois Drew and Bryan Burg for their editorial comments. My colleague from the Phillips Exeter Academy Summer School, Robert Schur Jr., has provided helpful suggestions drawing on his knowledge of World War II and writing.
I profoundly appreciate the opportunity to work once again with the staff of the University Press of Kansas, especially editor-in-chief Michael Briggs and marketing manager Susan Schott, whom I consider both colleagues and friends. This book could not have happened without their support and help.
And last, I thank my wonderful mother, Marilee Rigg, and beloved wife, Stephanie Rigg, for their consistent encouragement throughout the years.