Rybin, Y. Luftwaffe ace Walter Schuck researched / Christer Bergstrom, Yuriy Rybin. - Sweden : [s. l.], 2019. - 190 p. : ill.

WALTER SCHUCK Reichskommissar Josef Terboven (secondfrom left) and Oberstleutnant Gotthard Handrick (fourth from left) in front o f aJu 87 D o f I./StG 5 in 1943. medals. Schuck waited until the man had finished his speech, and then, feeling absolutely safe, he asked the Reichskommissar for permission to speak again. With­ out waiting for Terboven’s reply, Schuck stood up quickly and gave a reply where he imitated the anonymous man’s condescending tone and calm and soft voice: “Herr Reichskommissar, unfortunately I was unable to fully understand your neighbour’s speech, because he used a certain foreign word which is not part of my vocabulary. Neither am I acquainted with this gentle­ man’s function. However, I have seen him sitting here without either honorary insignias or medals, neither wearing any collar patches, nor shoulder straps which would help us identify his military rank. Thus I can draw only one conclusion, and that is that he is one of those swivel-chair jockeys who occupy the rear area far behind the frontlines. I regret that you, Herr Reichskom­ missar, have such people next to you - people who have never heard a live gunshot. However, if this man should dare to contradict me, I would ask him to show us his papers so that we can arrange his immediate transfer to the front. You see, people like him are needed at the front!” To his amusement, Schuck saw how the anonymous man got a glowing red face. Then he looked at Terboven and what he saw, surprised Schuck. At the same time as Terboven made a wry face, it was as though his eyes were laughing. In any case, the Reichskommissar saved the situation in an outburst of Solomonian wisdom. He stood up again and ended the party with the words: “Gentlemen, it is late and we all are busy. Leutnant Schuck is one of the youngest and most successful among our fighter pilots up there in the North, and he is the hon­ oured guest of Generalmajor Ritter von Schleich.” Everyone broke up from the table, and Schuck was driven back to Oslo. Terboven had assigned a car, a big Buick, with a Norwegian driver, to the Oak Leaves holder. Schuck stayed at Grand Hotel, and enjoyed the comfort greatly. The next morning, Schuck had breakfast together with Generalmajor Ritter von Schleich. The General- major did not mention the previous evening, but he patted Schuck’s hand as a sign which Schuck much later interpreted that he should relax. At eight o’clock, while the men still sat at the breakfast table in the hotel, Oberftihrer Miiller appeared, showing a very distressed face. He urged Schuck to hurry up, that they had to go to the supply store where all the documents on the supply deliverances to JG 5 were kept. But Schuck felt safe, and replied while he sipped his coffee: “Herr Muller, where I come from, we say that break­ fast is the best season, and I have to pay attention to that, or else I will be of no use during the whole day.” The Oberftihrer resigned and sat down on a chair, shaking his head. Schuck thought he saw Generalmajor Ritter von Schleich laugh up his sleeves. Then he contin­ T