How Did German and Japanese Pilots Perceive Each Other?

During World War II, German and Japanese pilots largely did not interact with one another, making it difficult to discuss any form of respect or disdain. The geographical and temporal isolation of their respective operations meant that diplomatic exchanges or serious interactions were unlikely to occur. The war's vast theaters of conflict did not allow for significant cross-cultural interactions, and the enemy nature of the forces ensured that any interchanges would be minimal and fraught with tension.

Interactions Between Japanese and German U-Boat Crews in Penang

There were, however, some isolated instances of interaction between Japanese and German forces. One notable example was the interaction between the Imperial Japanese Navy and German U-boat crews, which were ordered to operate from a base in Penang. While both groups shared a sense of camaraderie born from their shared experiences in combat, this mutual respect did not last long. When Germany surrendered, Japan took control of the U-boats and interned their crew members, terminating any further interaction.

The Teutonic and Japanese Suicide Missions: Inspiration and Context

The German "Vernichtungsgeschwader" or "elimination squadrons," especially during the final months of the war, were not without some inspiration from the Japanese Kamikaze pilots. The German Sturmgruppen, more commonly known as the Sturmstaffel, attempted suicide missions to down American B-17 bombers. However, these attempts were more homegrown than influenced by Japanese practices.

In 1945, before the fall of Berlin, German fighter pilots volunteered to fly one-way missions against Soviet Red Army bridges over the Oder River. Despite rare instances of direct hits, Red Army engineers quickly repaired the damage. This suggests that the effectiveness of such missions was limited, and their impact on the war effort was minimal.

The attempted mass suicide missions, known as Sonderkommando Elbe, were conceived to sacrifice poorly trained German fighter pilots to disrupt the aerial raids against Germany. However, this plan lacked the organized structure of the Japanese Kamikaze attacks. The concept of the Sturmstaffel aimed to dramatically increase the number of downed American bombers by having pilots sign a form promising to ram a bomber after depleting their ammunition.

Attitudes Towards the Sturmgruppen

Contrary to popular belief, many pilots refused to sign the form required for the Sturmgruppen missions, and their actions were not met with punishment or ostracism. For instance, in Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3), the leadership often refused to distribute the form to its Sturmgruppe pilots, indicating a lack of official support for such missions. The refusal to ram a bomber was not seen as a sign of disloyalty but rather as a reflection of the pilots' reluctance to engage in missions that carried such high risks.

Conclusion

Overall, the German and Japanese pilots' interactions were largely limited and not reflective of mutual respect or disdain. The inspiration for suicide missions in Germany and Japan came from similar circumstances and the exigencies of war. Despite the shared objectives, the cultural and operational differences between the two countries' air forces meant that their methods and attitudes towards these missions were quite distinct.