Erhard Milch

Erhard Milch, born on March 30, 1892, was a prominent figure in the German military and aviation sectors, serving as a Generalfeldmarschall of the Luftwaffe. His career spanned the critical periods of Germany's rearmament and World War II, during which he played a pivotal role in the establishment and expansion of the Luftwaffe.

Milch's journey began in World War I as an early member of the Luftstreitkräfte, where he honed his skills as an aircraft pilot. After the war, he transitioned into the civil aviation industry, eventually becoming an airline director. His political ascent began in 1933 when he was appointed as the deputy to Hermann Göring in the Reich Ministry of Aviation, where he was instrumental in the Luftwaffe's organization and development starting in 1936.

From May 1933 to June 1944, Milch served as State Secretary in the Reich Ministry of Aviation, and from February 1939 to January 1945, he held the position of Inspector General of the Luftwaffe. His leadership during the war included overseeing aircraft production and supply, where he controversially adopted mass production policies that relied on the exploitation of forced labor under dire conditions.

Milch's career took a downturn after he supported a failed coup against Göring in June 1944, leading to his removal from key positions. He was captured by Allied forces in May 1945 and subsequently tried at the Milch Trial in 1947, where he was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity, resulting in a life sentence. This was later commuted to fifteen years by John J. McCloy, the U.S. High Commissioner for Germany, and he was paroled in 1954. Erhard Milch passed away in West Germany in 1972.