Talk:Erich Hartmann/Archive 2

Recent removal of sourced statements edit

Please note that the talk page is the place for major discussions to take place as to the direction of the article. The recent removal of sourced statements is untenable. FWiW Bzuk (talk) 00:26, 30 January 2010 (UTC). I've mentioned the reason of removal. Why do you consider it untenable? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.52.101.196 (talk) 00:31, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply

You're supposed to provide some evidence that the source for the deleted info was unreliable. Ian.thomson (talk) 01:09, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply

Yes, but the key phrase there is "Hartmann witnessed widespread rape and murder of civilians." It is vague and alleges mass rape and murder of civilians by military personnel of a major country. Such strong claims do require much better referencing than the one provided. Materialscientist (talk) 01:25, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply

I am not telling that it is unreliable. It is a view of minority. Try to google another source for the statement. There are lot of books published around nowadays, and a lot of them contain nonsense simply to rise their sales. Russian mass murder and rape of germans at the end of WW2 is a modern fashion among western writers and public. However statistic does not confirm those theories about ugly brutal russians killing and raping everything that moves. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.52.101.196 (talk) 01:31, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply

Is there doubt about a statement that is also verified in the authoritative Toliver and Constable biography (1970) that provides an extensive author's note on p. 188. I suggest that removing the statement after it was identified as contentious is exactly the wrong thing to do. FWiW Bzuk (talk) 01:33, 30 January 2010 (UTC).Reply
How was it "verified"? Simply by stating? Did Erich Hartmann ever tell anything like that in any of his interviews?
What evidence have you that it is a minority view? What evidence that is not propaganda have you for your statements? Ian.thomson (talk) 01:35, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
As i said try to google another source for that and you'll find nothing. That is the evidence. And of cause everything that does not tell or imply that russians are simply brutal inhuman animals is "a propaganda" and contrary terms are of cause "the truth". Really, everybody knows that those russians are evil and do not really deserve to live on the planet.
There is a MO of "crusading" that clearly shows an effort at revisionism; simply stating an ambiguous "minority view" is not an argument. FWIW Bzuk (talk) 01:38, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
Propaganda, crusading or whatever .. Could someone explain me why the removed phrase is not an allegation of international crimes committed by a major nation? Materialscientist (talk) 01:46, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
The statement was attributed to Hartmann's own diaries and based on his eye-witness account of atrocities. Toliver and Constable carefully draw out Hartmann's views and that he is not labeling the entire Russian people and that he had no hatred for the Russians. "The events in this chapter (Ch. 13) have been set down to show their shocking effect on Erich Hartmann."" (Tolliver and Constable, 1970, p. 188). FWiW Bzuk (talk) 01:55, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
Bzuk, that nonsense doesn't even sound robust. If they were "shot on the spot" I maybe would have believe in it. But arranging "hanging on the spot" is something really strange. And i wonder what did their commander said about losing his man? Like "oh they were committing atrocities and didn't smell really well, so i shut them". 84.52.101.196 (talk) 02:04, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
Getting clearer; did I understand it right that the authors carefully prepared the reader to the (controversial) information? Was the information confirmed independently? Was it disputed? Is this all reflected in the phrase being deleted? The reason for my questions is serious doubts in NPOV of the discussed text. Materialscientist (talk) 02:02, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
The remainder of the author note which comes as an insert to the text is a scholarly debate about the causes of "savagery" on the battlefield and an exploration of the pathological uses of sex against a vanquished foe. There is abundant proof in archival footage of the Russian pillage of Germany, but the authors instead of glorifying the excesses, try to make the reader understand the underlying motivations behind the "social sickness" of the events. FWiW Bzuk (talk) 02:09, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
Oh, so the source says that the russians were raping german solders? oO Did they eat those solders afterwards? Cause, you know, that is what we normally do in russia with POWs. 84.52.101.196 (talk) 02:30, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
On p. 187 of the Toliver and Constable biography is an extensive description of the hanging of three Russian soldiers, an occurrence, that was deliberately instituted in order to quell the destabilization of the prison compound. The officer in charge felt that the "situation had to be stabilized" and that a new dimension was brought to the prison staff that of "shame." Nowhere is there a condemnation of the Russian actions, moreover it is an affirmation that rule of law and common decency should prevail even in those tense times. FWiW, do you even have one source to back any of your statements? Bzuk (talk) 02:21, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
Did that even happen in prison? oO If FWiW is me, than, i do not have any statements. I just have strong doubts about this part of the article. It doesn't sound really robust and consistent. And smells like typical FoxNews or BBC programme or article about russia. Could you please make a scan or a photo of that part of the book?84.52.101.196 (talk) 02:30, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
That's it, that's all you have? no sources? The book is online see: Russian prison. FWiW, 10 seconds of even casual research would have revealed this information.Bzuk (talk) 02:40, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
your link doesnt really lead anywhere. Only to web page, that ask for registration. And which source do you want to see? Source that says that Erich Hartmann have never actually seen how russians were raping german POWs in camps?
Actually Hartmann does mention rapes and Russian soldiers being executed in his last interview. http://www.hotlinecy.com/hartmann.htm

84.52.101.196 (talk) 03:57, 30 January 2010 (UTC) <indent>No doubt rape accompanies war, it is a common phenomenon. My concern are:Reply

  • Phrasing and accuracy - the deleted sentences did sound suspicious and sooner or later would induce an edit war. "Hanging on the spot" is incompatible with military procedures.
  • The deleted part was sourced to Kaplan whereas the arguments above originate from another source
  • The quoted source apparently focuses on the causes of rape at war, which is a serious topic, but. The text written for such books need proper adaptation (if used at all) before inserting them into biography articles. If we are talking about specific facts, then we need to be careful and detailed in who saw what and who did actually witness the events (at least in footnotes). Materialscientist (talk) 04:27, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
I've read quickly the chapter from the google book. Didn't find anything about raping. There is something about beating though. 84.52.101.196 (talk) 04:32, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
Yes, there was a rape, the girl claimed three Russian soldiers had committed the crime. The Russian General had the soldiers trussed up and hanged "on the spot." The details of the rape occur on pp. 186–187. The reason for such a summary judgement was to be a "lesson in discipline." FWiW, I don't have the Kaplan source at hand but since another editor has used it as a source does not negate the fact that an entire statement was deleted based on the "it doesn't sound right argument." Bzuk (talk) 05:09, 30 January 2010 (UTC).Reply
This doesn't seem to justify the discussed sentence "Hartmann witnessed widespread rape and murder of civilians." Materialscientist (talk) 05:16, 30 January 2010 (UTC)Reply
As indicated, I do not have the Kaplan source but Toliver and Constable do substantiate the claims with extensive notes on incidents that Hartmann was witnessing that stretch from Chapters 12–14. FWiW Bzuk (talk) 05:22, 30 January 2010 (UTC).Reply

Just to put us all on the same picture here. The passage that is being challenged is the following.

After being handed over to the Soviets, the German group was split up into groups according to gender. Hartmann witnessed widespread rape and murder of civilians. When the outnumbered Americans tried to intervene, the Soviet soldiers charged towards them, firing into the air and threatening to kill them. Order was later restored, and some of the guilty soldiers were hanged "on the spot" by a Soviet commander.

My understanding of this discussion here is whether this is factual or not. There is no question at least to the fact that this story, whether true or not, can be cited. The information is in Toliver and Constable and various other sources as well. I suggest mediating the wording of the paragraph and suggest rephrasing it slightly, something like this:

According to Hartmann's own account, the German group was split up into groups according to gender after being handed over to the Soviets. He then claims to have witnessed widespread rape and murder of civilians. He goes on to state that when the outnumbered Americans tried to intervene, the Soviet soldiers charged towards them, firing into the air and threatened to kill them. Presumably order was later restored, and some of the guilty soldiers were hanged "on the spot" by a Soviet commander.

Would this work? MisterBee1966 (talk) 16:44, 2 February 2010 (UTC)Reply

There is no issue here. All I see is one anon who wants a sourced statement watered down or possibly removed. Philip Kaplan also supports Toliver, et al. He refers to the crimes in mentioned detail (Mr B above). It is not for others to interpret what did or did not happen. There is no evidence that Hartmann was lying, there is no counter evidence from the anon - just a diatribe of accusation. My message to the anon: read properly. Dapi89 (talk) 19:08, 2 February 2010 (UTC)Reply
When the US forces handed Hartmann over he was located at a open air compound with some 50,000 civilians. The text:

The first thing the Russians did was to separate the German women and girls from the men. What followed was a brutal orgy of rape and debauchery by Red Army soldiers. When the greatly outnumbered Americans tried to intervene, the Russians charged towards them firing into the air and threatening to kill them if they interfered. The raping continued throughout the night. The next day a Russian General arrived at the encampment and immediately ordered a cessation... Later when a few Russians violated the order again and assaulted a German girl, she was asked to identify them from a lin-up. There were no formalities, no court martial. The giulty parties were immediately hanged in front of all their comrades. The point was made.. Philip Kaplan. Dapi89 (talk) 19:17, 2 February 2010 (UTC)Reply

The removed text was a poor paraphrasing of this (reasonable) statement. Please do keep it as a quote, or suggest a better rephrasing here. Materialscientist (talk) 22:24, 2 February 2010 (UTC)Reply
No it wasn't. Dapi89 (talk) 23:05, 2 February 2010 (UTC)Reply

I have to agree with the earlier editor who wrote "There are lot of books published around nowadays, and a lot of them contain nonsense simply to rise their sales. Russian mass murder and rape of germans at the end of WW2 is a modern fashion among western writers and public." This is the same kind of image of Russians that Hitler foisted on his countrymen. And those editors who continue inserting such rubbish into Wikipedia are perpetuating the same stereotypes. There will always be some authors who will slander various races and countries, and of course it is always possible to argue that as these are "reliable sources" therefore their writings must be included. A measure of the reliability of Kaplan is that he does not even understand the difference between Russian and Soviet. But this crap will remain because Kaplan is after all, a "reliable source". Steel2009 (talk) 22:44, 2 February 2010 (UTC)Reply

Stop being disruptive Steel2009. Stop following me around wikipedia, it comes under wikipedia stalking, now termed Wikipedia:Harassment. You have no interest here and know nothing about the subject. So you and your "comments" will be ignored for the guff they are. If some moron reading this generalises it is not our fault. Philip Kaplan is not a racist. So be careful what you say. The only person at risk of slander here is you. Anyway, I'm not wasting any more energy here. You've failed. Dapi89 (talk) 23:03, 2 February 2010 (UTC)Reply

BTW, its worth pointing out that it seems you share the same ignorance as Kaplan, "Soviet"/"Russian". Pft. Dapi89 (talk) 23:17, 2 February 2010 (UTC)Reply
Dude, don't have an inflated sense of your own importance. If you see my editing history, you will see I generally edit history articles, and specifically WWII articles (which apparently you edit a lot of too). I could as well be following MisterB around. I have no idea why you think I don't know the difference between Soviet and Russian. Steel2009 (talk) 00:59, 3 February 2010 (UTC)Reply
What do you have to back up your last statement? That the Russian Army was responsible for atrocities in their sweep through Germany is a matter of historical record backed up by countless researchers. When Erich Hartmann wrote that he was a witness to some of these events, he did not typify them as the act of barbarians, nor did he castigate all Russians as the same. His biographers have taken great pains to clearly state his intentions to describe the acts of rage that he saw as atypical. FWiW Bzuk (talk) 03:55, 3 February 2010 (UTC).Reply
Bzuk, don't give him legitimacy by trying to reason with him. This guy argued consistently for the inclusion of German war crimes against Soviet POWs in the Blitzkrieg artcile (irrelevant I know) yet he has a problem with Soviet war crimes being added to an artcile in which it is highly relevant. Go figure. Dapi89 (talk) 12:24, 3 February 2010 (UTC)Reply
If something is labeled atypical, that is more reason to doubt its validity. On the other hand, if something is typical, it carries more weight. If you want a modern parallel, do bear in mind that travelers to Europe in 2003 say that they saw a completely different Iraq war in the media, than the one that they saw in the US. It is the task of enlightened scholarship to rise above the obvious biases and try to put forth as objective an account as possible. And was there really a creature such as the "Russian Army"?

Steel2009 (talk) 19:25, 3 February 2010 (UTC)Reply

Source? Bzuk (talk) 23:47, 3 February 2010 (UTC)Reply
Source? Try http://www.goebbels.info/press/macasev-danas.html Steel2009 (talk) 19:40, 4 February 2010 (UTC)Reply
Self opinionated nonsense. What does this have to do with Erich Hartmann? Can you prove he was lying? Do you have contrary sources? What has goebbels go to do with this? Its desperate wikilwayering by somenone who can't have his way. Dapi89 (talk) 19:51, 4 February 2010 (UTC)Reply
I pretty much had my way with you whenever I wanted to. Steel2009 (talk) 02:45, 5 February 2010 (UTC)Reply
Ok, that's enough; this discussion is going nowhere and descending into inneundo and baiting. I'm closing it right now and suggesting that people get back to the business of writing an encyclopedia. FWiW Bzuk (talk) 05:17, 5 February 2010 (UTC)Reply
Good call. The joker's suffering delusions of grandeur. Best not waste more time on the troll. Dapi89 (talk) 11:16, 5 February 2010 (UTC)Reply

Air-to-Ground missions? edit

I've read the Blond Knight of Germany and recall that in one part it talks about how Hartmann was on his way to recon and strafe a Russian troop convoy but on the way they encountered Soviet air forces and engaged them. Can anyone provide other sources that describe air-to-ground operations that he was involved in? Obviously this would exclude the Soviet war crimes allegations. Hartmann is, of course, noted for having the most air-to-air kills but knowledge of air-to-ground actions could be used to make an estimate of how many people he actually killed. XXVII (talk) 15:49, 29 July 2010 (UTC)Reply

Personal life edit

Might this article benefit if a little detail of his personal life was included? The information that's there is a little scattered, so it's hard to know much about his life outside of work -OOPSIE- (talk) 05:51, 22 September 2010 (UTC)Reply

I'll try and add a few more things of interest over the next few days. We had to slim down the size of the article to get the article to GA - one of wikipedia's irritating limitation policies. Dapi89 (talk) 08:22, 22 September 2010 (UTC)Reply

Dubious statement edit

How exactly does the common cold "progress to" angina pectoris? Last time I checked one's a minor upper-respiratory disease caused by viral infection, and the other's not even a disease; it's a painful symptom of mid-stage obstructive heart disease, caused by cholesterol blocking blood flow to the heart. I'm not sure what kind of medical science they have in Germany, but this is ridiculous and anti-scientific and I'm going to reword it if nobody objects. Bravo Foxtrot (talk) 01:39, 21 October 2010 (UTC)Reply

Find an alternate source that supports your contention. FWiW Bzuk (talk) 04:28, 21 October 2010 (UTC).Reply
Here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angina_pectoris —Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.183.236.96 (talk) 12:50, 11 November 2010 (UTC)Reply

Years of service edit

Years of service ignore the time spent in Soviet captivity. Hartmann, as every other Wehrmacht POW, would have been in continuing service until such time as he returned to Germany to be de-mobilised. This is an odd and glaring error. Perhaps the author has some reason for having included it? Gr1bble8s (talk) 00:24, 15 November 2010 (UTC)Reply

The Wehrmacht ceased to exist in 1945. The Luftwaffe was officially disbanded in 1946. There was no German military in existence until 1955. So there was no military for him to demobilised from. Yours is the only 'odd glaring error'! Dapi89 (talk) 13:54, 15 November 2010 (UTC)Reply

On the picture with the caption Oberleutnant he is a Hauptmann. On his right Kragenspiegel you can see three wings. On the Schulterklappen on can see a button and two stars. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.221.19.97 (talk) 22:46, 23 June 2011 (UTC)Reply

Hypocoristic edit

MisterBee1966, could you please provide me a more detailed reason for reverting my edit? Such as why we need an unwieldy and little known term like 'hypocoristic' which even my spellchecker doesn't know, and why, in addition to the reason I gave in my edit summary, in the lead of an article about a famous fighter ace we even need to include the definition of an aerial victory? I'm reverting as I think these are unnecessary complications for the lead. The mayor of Yurp (talk) 16:32, 11 October 2013 (UTC)Reply

Sure, I gladly give the reason. The term aerial victory was once mandated to have a stand-alone explanation. The terminology we agreed upon was aerial victory = an aerial combat encounter resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. I can't comment on the quality of your spellchecker but the term is known to me and again was used and passed the various reviews. MisterBee1966 (talk) 16:56, 11 October 2013 (UTC)Reply
That mandate seems to be coming from a peer review for another article on Helmut Wick ( '(...)it would be helpful to briefly explain what exactly is meant by "aerial victory". This might best fit in a note (...)', no suggestion that it belongs in the main body of the lead, is there?), and the lead for that article (like all other articles on major fighter aces) doesn't include this mangled definition of an aerial victory that you insist on keeping for this article. You and me might be familiar to the word 'hypocoristic', but I bet the vast majority of the people who consult WP don't, so, as outlined in our MOS, let's write for them, not the technicians.
Referring to '352 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft', I'm fairly sure that Hartmann encountered more than one aircraft on each occasion, often downing more than one in each encounter, and therefore he had 'less than 352 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft', right? Otherwise among the top scoring aces of all time he would be notable for being the only one who limited himself to one kill per combat encounter. The mayor of Yurp (talk) 22:55, 14 October 2013 (UTC)Reply
What is being referred to here is 352 successful dogfights. In each air battle a pilot participates in a separate and distinct dogfight whenever he engages a different individual opponent. Umpteen dogfights can occur in a single mission/encounter, but not all of them result in a claim for a victory. Misterbee1966 has correctly explained this, albeit to the "Nth" degree. Each victory counts as a successful (and separate) dogfight, or "encounter". Dapi89 (talk) 17:46, 15 October 2013 (UTC)Reply

LaGG-5 or La-5 edit

Hartmann's notes say he shot down an "LaGG-5." No doubt the Luftwaffe thought (incorrectly) that's what it was called, given the LaGG-3 designation of its predecessor. However the article is stating what Hartmann shot down, not what his notes say, therefore "LaGG-5" is incorrect. --FergusM1970Let's play Freckles 18:19, 19 January 2014 (UTC)Reply

No, the sentence and the reference are about a LaGG-5 and that should be shown (maybe with an explanation). The link goes to the correct page. LaGG-5 was a correct designation by this time as that's how the germans called these machines. --Denniss (talk) 20:31, 19 January 2014 (UTC)Reply
No, LaGG-5 was not a correct designation, even if the Germans though it was. It wasn't a German design after all. The sentence was not about an LaGG-5 because there was never any aircraft of that name. I agree with BilCat that unless it's a direct quote the correct designation should be used.--FergusM1970Let's play Freckles 11:51, 20 January 2014 (UTC)Reply
Unless it's a direct quote, we should use the designation that our WP article uses, La-3, though noting in a footnote that LaGG-3 appears in the source is probably fine. I think the equivalent of using "LaGG" here would be allowing US-related articles to use Me 109 or 110 in certain cases, and we don't generally do that either. - BilCat (talk) 21:59, 19 January 2014 (UTC)Reply

Inconsistency - Hartmann feared to be attacked a second time? edit

The chapter Civilian life states: " However, fearing a second attack, he became cautious and limited his appearances at public events. He stated: "I am retired and I am a civilian, and now I like to have my rest and peace. I do not live for exhibitions."[50]". I can nowhere find a detail about the first attack, apparently it's related to someone publicly attacking him for having been a Luftwaffe ace. Where has this bit of information went from the article? --Pudeo' 20:00, 10 February 2014 (UTC)Reply

? The sentence above refers to an attack of angina pectoris. It is in the line above the one you quoted. Dapi89 (talk) 20:03, 10 February 2014 (UTC)Reply
OK, thanks for clarifying. Perhaps it was just beyong my comprehension that angina pectoris is referred as an "attack" (as it is not rather as severe as an heart attack for example) and that it has something to do with limiting public appearances. But perhaps if I wasn't the only one, it could be edited to (directly) refer to the medical condition. --Pudeo' 20:09, 10 February 2014 (UTC)Reply

Transfer to Galland edit

According to Toliver / Constable Hartmann asked Gallands Successor as COG Fighters General Gollob to return to his old unit.

One reason for the wish to return to the eastern front was that in the "defense of the Reich" many German fighter aces were killed or wound by supirior, in number and quality, American and British fighters. --176.199.13.235 (talk) 15:49, 19 June 2013 (UTC)Reply

Quote by Hartmann from a conversation with Eric "Winkle" Brown on page 10 here: [1] — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.24.216.123 (talk) 20:54, 14 June 2014 (UTC)Reply

Ashamed of war service edit

Why should he have been "ashamed of his war service", he should be proud of his achievements. And what does this have to do with his opting "to go on a hunger strike and starve rather than fold to "Soviet will", as he called it"?Royalcourtier (talk) 07:02, 20 March 2015 (UTC)Reply

It reads "Hartmann, not ashamed of his war service, ..." MisterBee1966 (talk) 07:37, 20 March 2015 (UTC)Reply

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Further reading edit

I trimmed the list -- some would not be considered RS and some in foreign language and unlikely to be helpful to Eng language readers. Some of the books are discussed here: Unreliable sources, from MilHist archives. Please let me know if there are any concerns. K.e.coffman (talk) 05:38, 8 July 2016 (UTC)Reply

Glorification edit

We can all appreciate an achieving soldier, but is this article seriously more concerned with mocking the Soviet Union than with him being the most deadly Nazi pilot, having shot down and undoubtedly killed many of the pilots of the 352 Allied aircraft he shot down? The introduction reads as if he even needed to be convicted of War Crimes in the SU when he was one of the staunchest tools of Hitler. But no, 10 years in a labour camp is what the article portrays as inhumane... Bataaf van Oranje (talk) 17:18, 22 September 2015 (UTC)Reply

Agreed. I've observed this glorification of WWII German officers, pilots and tankers -- in some cases, even members of the SS -- is par for the course in Wikipedia. Similarly, the Soviet Union's army is usually described as being incompetent and brutal to their own men. Germans: brave, if mistaken. Russians: incompetent, brutal fools. I guess Wikipedia loves its Germans! 190.194.216.151 (talk) 02:08, 9 December 2015 (UTC)Reply

I agree with the sentiment expressed, even though it's been a while. The sourcing is problematic as well:

  • a coffee-table book by Philip Kaplan Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe in World War WWII -- 18 citations
  • Work by Toliver, Raymond F.; Constable, Trevor J. (1986). The Blond Knight of Germany. -- 20 citations

From The Myth of the Eastern Front: The Blond Knight of Germany is a "hallmark of romanization", with its "insidious" title suggesting medieval chivalry that "not only fails to characterize the conduct of the German Army in the East, but, indeed, marks its opposite".

Trevor James Constable does not appear to be a serious scholar; the wiki article describes him as:

  • "an early UFO writer who believed that the UFO phenomenon was best explained by the presence of enormous amoeba-like animals inhabiting earth's atmosphere.[1]

References

  1. ^ Pilkington, Mark (June 23, 2005). "Life: Letters: Phantom flyers: Far out". The Guardian. London. p. 10.

Any feedback or opinions? K.e.coffman (talk) 23:51, 8 July 2016 (UTC)Reply

This author indeed sounds like he has an abnormal mind, UFO and all. But as authors on aviation combat, both seem to do alright, with Zabecki and co recommending them multiple times, Kaplan and Mitcham too

I don't think Smeler and Davies, who themselves wax poetic mainly on the name of the book (at lengths!) without pointing out which specific details are wrong historically, can be used as a good basis to judge the book either. As for the name, well, it was a nickname of Hartmann, already used during the war, like Bubi, Black Devil...etc (likely even more famous than those two, considering that the Soviet aces seemed to know him more by that one, according to the bio of the famous woman ace Litvyak. The Soviets in this bio seemed to be impressed by the nickname. Perhaps Toliver and Constable thought it was edgy and sounded like something which helped to sell books - and you cannot blame authors for that). To be fair, aviators, dark types or not, are easy to romanticize, even the Litvyak book does that to Hartmann, with a tinge of romance (not as knight in shining armour of course). Deamonpen (talk) 15:58, 8 August 2016 (UTC)Reply


What is a "precision board clock"? edit

Can any experts explain what is a "precision board clock"? ...mentioned in section https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Hartmann#Knight.27s_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross "...Hartmann shot down two enemy aircraft before his fighter was hit by debris and he was forced to make an emergency landing. He then, in accordance with Luftwaffe regulations, attempted to recover the precision board clock. As he was doing so, Soviet ground troops approached..."

Or perhaps it is a "precision bombing clock"? 68.35.173.107 (talk) 00:01, 20 October 2016 (UTC)Reply

A Chronometer, see [2] --Denniss (talk) 08:01, 20 October 2016 (UTC)Reply

"Luftwaffe" of the Bundeswehr edit

I changed the section heading for the second time: diff. After my first edit, editor Dapi89 changed it back to Luftwaffe with this series of edits: diff.

Please note that the Luftwaffe, as used in English wikipedia, ceased to exist in 1945. I consider this to be a POV edit; please refrain from changing it back to Luftwaffe. K.e.coffman (talk) 09:03, 21 February 2017 (UTC)Reply

No.
It was actually the Bundesluftwaffe see the German article here].
In any case, it was dissolved in 1946 not 1945.
If you don't understand an article ask. Your opinion is irrelevant. Dapi89 (talk) 17:04, 21 February 2017 (UTC)Reply
This is English wikipedia and the article on the post-war air force of West Germany is called German Air Force and not Luftwaffe. If the editor believes that Luftwafffe is the more appropriate name for the German Air Force article, then I would suggest requesting a move of that article, rather than imposing a Germanisation of the name within this article.
For the "his nose is long and straight" language, please see this edit over at the Hans-Joachim Marseille article: "reverted OR/un-necessary interpretation" by editor Richard Keatinge.
I believe the above is a sufficient justification to revert the edit. K.e.coffman (talk) 01:49, 22 February 2017 (UTC)Reply

The Germans do not refer to the current air force as the "German Air Force"! I suggest some reading is in order for you. The description of the image was put in place to aid blind users. It is not for Wikipedians to remove them at random. Dapi89 (talk)

Re: "description for blind users", it has not been removed. Please check.
Please also help me understand why the article needs to use German language terminology, while en.wiki uses German Air Force and Inspector of the Air Force. Is there any guideline or policy that this edit was reflective of? K.e.coffman (talk) 02:07, 23 February 2017 (UTC)Reply
@Dapi89: please advise. K.e.coffman (talk) 23:01, 24 February 2017 (UTC)Reply
It is up to the discretion of the creator how subsections are titled. Wikipedia is to inform, so obviously the translations are helpful. The articles you mention are not subsections. In any case I'm sure you've seen Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht, or perhaps Kriegsmarine? Dapi89 (talk) 23:15, 24 February 2017 (UTC)Reply
Yes, Luftwaffe was the air force of Nazi Germany, as used in English-language literature. Same literature does not use Luftwaffe as the name of the post war German Air Force. Please also help me understand why the article needs to use German language terminology for the post-war air force, vs the name that aligns with en.wiki's article? K.e.coffman (talk) 00:09, 25 February 2017 (UTC)Reply
Well, actually it does. What is this literature you speak of? Or is it based on selected work? Bundesluftwaffe is used by English literature on the topic. I'd also say that aligning with the Wikipedia article isn't the most important thing. It should be called what it is. Dapi89 (talk)
I actually don't get the impression that "Luftwaffe was the Air Force of Nazi Germany and German Air Force is the modern one" in English academic literature. In common perception, maybe?
A quick google search of

German Air Force[3] and Bundesluftwaffe[4] will show you that the "German Air Force" is a term frequently used to refer to the German Air Force of the Nazi Era, as well as the one of the pre-Nazi Era. For example:

The Rise and Fall of the German Air Force (1933-1945)[5] (by British Air Ministry)
The German Air Force Versus Russia, 1943, Volume 3[6] by Hermann Plocher, Air University of the United States Air Force. Aerospace Studies Institute. USAF Historical Division
Zabecki, in his numerous works that he authors or co-authors, frequently refers to the WWII Luftwaffe as the German Airforce[7] too.
[Above Ypres: The German Air Force in Flanders 1914-1918[8] by Bernard Deneckere
I think a solution for this is "Bundesluftwaffe" (also a term widely used) - It cannot be mistaken for anything else. Or, if we want to avoid both Germanization of the Wikipedia and the confusion between Airforces of different eras, just call it German Federal Air Forcelike some authors do [9].

--Deamonpen (talk) 03:15, 9 March 2017 (UTC)Reply

Of course, I would agree with retaining Bundesluftwaffe. "German Air Force" wasn't an accurate description of the German Imperial Air Service, and, even though I have the literature you mention, Luftwaffe is used overwhelmingly in English speaking countries for World War II related subjects. Dapi89 (talk) 20:53, 11 March 2017 (UTC)Reply

Discussion at NPOV noticeboard edit

I believe that this has been sufficiently addressed at the NPOVN: link. Would there be any further objections? K.e.coffman (talk) 04:31, 5 March 2017 (UTC)Reply

I've notified the editor here, to which there was no reply. K.e.coffman (talk) 23:16, 10 March 2017 (UTC)Reply

Rapes edit

The first thing the Russians did was to separate the German women and girls from the men. What followed was a brutal orgy of rape and debauchery by Red Army soldiers. When the greatly outnumbered Americans tried to intervene, the Russians charged towards them firing into the air and threatening to kill them if they interfered. The raping continued throughout the night. The next day a Russian General arrived at the encampment and immediately ordered a cessation ... Later when a few Russians violated the order again and assaulted a German girl, she was asked to identify them from a lineup. There were no formalities, no court martial. The guilty parties were immediately hanged in front of all their comrades. The point was made.

What does this have to do with Hartmann? Creuzbourg (talk) 15:45, 25 April 2017 (UTC)Reply

I removed it; pls see diff. K.e.coffman (talk) 23:25, 29 April 2017 (UTC)Reply

Tags edit

The sources in the article are not suitable for a GA; I would consider some of them to be WP:QS. For example, the main source in the article is The Blond Knight of Germany (1970) by the authors Trevor J. Constable & Raymond F. Toliver. It was described in The Myth of the Eastern Front as "hallmark of romanticism". The German language version of the above book was profiled at the recent conference in Germany, "So was the German Landser"; the commentary on the book is as follows:

JENS WEHNER (Dresden) studied the portrayal of the air war on the Eastern Front in the books of the American authors, Trevor J. Constable and Raymond F. Toliver. He presented on the bestseller Holt Hartmann vom Himmel! The History of the World's Most Successful Jagdflieger, published by Constable and Toliver in 1970 in the USA and 1971 in Germany. The books were very popular. As a general rule, the argumentation concerning the statistics and the war situation on the Eastern Front is contradictory and lacking in reflection [not sure if the right translation]. These included the Nazi propaganda elements of the Fliegerassen and stereotypes about the Soviet Union and communism. According to Wehner, the latter could be traced back to the Cold War and the tensions between the US and the Soviet Union. Furthermore, in the books by Constable and Toliver, the political and social consequences of the Second World War were completely ignored.[1]

I'm sure that other sources in the article can be 'unpacked' in similar fashion. If mostly unreliable sources are used, then the level of detail is WP:UNDUE. I will restore the tags. K.e.coffman (talk) 23:00, 29 April 2017 (UTC)Reply

I don't think so. There isn't consensus for this. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 10:52, 23 June 2017 (UTC)Reply

The Blond Knight of Germany edit

Hi @Kyle Delwood: Re this edit: "It is only a couple reviews of a book. It is not enough to have "In popular culture" portion", could you help me understand your objection to this section? K.e.coffman (talk) 19:28, 1 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

Hello. It is dedicated solely to a discussion of a book, which is relevant on the Wikipedia page for the book but not this one in my opinion. It is not enough for an "in popular culture" or a similar title to just be reviews of a biography, it is tangential. Kyle Delwood (talk) 06:34, 3 January 2018 (UTC)Reply
I respectfully disagree. The book is an only full-length biography on the subject; it was discussed by several RS. I believe it belongs. To address your concerns about the scope of the section, I propose that it would be titled as The Blond Knight of Germany. Please let me know of any feedback. K.e.coffman (talk) 21:06, 3 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

Possibly a section could be named "Nicknames" and cover the "Bubi", "Black Devil", and "Blond Knight of Germany" all in one section? Currently they are interspersed throughout the page and may be difficult to find. In this scenario, there could be mention of The Blond Knight of Germany book without it being a tangential section. For example:

The "Hartmann's youthful appearance earned him the nickname "Bubi" (the hypocoristic form of "young boy" in the German language), and Walter Krupinski, to whom Hartmann was assigned as wingman, would constantly urge him: "Hey, Bubi, get in closer"." sentence could be moved into this new section. Then the "so Soviet personnel consequently nicknamed him Cherniy Chort ("Black Devil")" could also be added. The Los Angeles Times link I put in mentions he was known "to the opposing Soviet pilots on the Eastern Front as "the Black Devil of the South" because of the black-painted nose of his Messerschmitt 109" and "known to his countrymen as "the Blond Knight of Germany"". At this point, then mention "In 1970 Hartmann was the subject of a biography which used The Blond Knight of Germany nickname as its title" and something such as "It was a commercial success and enjoyed a wide readership among both the American and the German public, but has been criticised as ahistorical and misleading in recent American and German historiography. It has been described as one of the works that promoted the Clean Wehrmacht myth."? Kyle Delwood (talk) 10:24, 4 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

I disagree. The book is the only full length bio on Hartmann. It's the major source in this article. The removal of the section strikes me as non-neutral. Please advise. K.e.coffman (talk) 03:35, 6 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

The content is not about Hartmann or his influence "in popular culture", but simply reviews of a book that is about him. It is a leap in connection that was not stated in the section. This is tangential. If the title is renamed to the book's title then this is even more tangential. He did not write the book. In my proposed section introduction of the book would be related to the topic as its title is one of Hartmann's nicknames, and a little discussion may be relevant.

Kyle Delwood (talk) 19:25, 7 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

Note by a German native speaker: I doubt the book title translation "Fetch Hartmann from Heaven!" is correct. It could also be translated to "Shoot Hartmann down" (vom Himmel holen -- to shoot down [a plane]), which I think is the meaning the title intents. 87.79.160.252 (talk) 23:38, 4 February 2018 (UTC)Reply

NPOVN edit

I disagree. You’ve removed a well-sourced section, and inserted material cited to a dubious source (the 1986 L.A. Times article, which seems to be in large part based on the same book). I restored the section pending discussion at WP:NPOVN. Please see the discussion at: Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view/Noticeboard#Section_in_WWII_bio_article. K.e.coffman (talk) 00:03, 9 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

Hi Kyle Delwood — coming here after seeing the post at WP:NPOVN. What is your objection to the "in popular culture" section? A novel about Hartmann places Hartmann in "popular culture," and the importance of the book is highlighted by the availability of scholarly reviews. Are you suggesting that a novel about Hartmann is irrelevant to him or his place in popular culture? Or that criticism of the novel about Hartmann casts him in a negative light? -Darouet (talk) 18:23, 9 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

The book is not a novel, for the record. I am not saying the book is irrelevant to Hartmann but that a section just about reviews of the book which do no not pertain specifically to Hartmann's influence in popular culture is tangential. If you see above, I mentioned that I think discussion would be relevant as an extension to his nickname "the Blond Knight of Germany". But things such as "According to Wehner, the latter could be traced to the prevailing attitudes during the Cold War. Further, the political and social consequences of World War II were completely ignored" are simply a review of the book, not about Hartmann's influence in popular culture.

Kyle Delwood (talk) 12:05, 10 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

  • Since this is a GA rated article I've removed the contentious text until consensus is achieved here on talk first. --Nug (talk) 19:30, 11 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

NPOVN 2 edit

The consensus at NPOVN seems pretty clear to me; please see: Section in WWII bio article. --K.e.coffman (talk) 03:35, 13 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

I restored the deleted content; pls see diff. The content removed is relevant to the section and I don't see a reason to shorten it. No concerns about the totality of the section have been expressed at NPOVN. If there are concerns, I suggest discussing them at NPOVN as the thread is still open. K.e.coffman (talk) 23:46, 14 January 2018 (UTC)Reply
I gave a reason to remove the sentence in the earlier section. You did not respond to my argument so I took that as agreement that the sentence did not pertain to the topic. The other changes are small. Why are you rewording "clean wehrmacht" to a title that is not the title of the page on Wikipedia? There is no reason for this. Kyle Delwood (talk) 13:30, 17 January 2018 (UTC)Reply
Apologies, I misunderstood the intent of your earlier comment (...that a section just about reviews of the book which do no not pertain specifically to Hartmann's influence in popular culture is tangential) to mean it was still about the section in its entirety. I did not respond as I understood the matter to have been sufficiently addressed at NPOVN.
I disagree with the removal, since the revert. Please note that Wikipedia operates on the Bold-Revert-Discuss cycle. You've been reverted several times. If there are still concerns, I suggest that the matter be taken to NPOVN as the thread is still open there. K.e.coffman (talk) 00:24, 18 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

In popular culture section changes edit

Hello fellow editors. I have re-inserted an entry into the In popular culture section of this article:

The character Erica Hartmann from the mixed-media franchise Strike Witches is based on Hartmann. She has the black tulip design from Hartmann's aircraft painted on her striker unit and also has a sister named Ursula, referring to Hartmann's wife.

The insertion had been previously deleted by User:Denniss who said that it was “not real so irrelevant”. Though I would agree that the insertion is “not real”, in the sense that it is from fictional media, it is still relevant as the section is about cultural depictions of Hartmann and the Strike Witches franchise does exist. Currently, the In popular culture section has only one entry on The Blond Knight of Germany so I feel it would be beneficial to expand the section. For anyone who would like to delete this change, feel free to discuss first. Tsushima6 (talk) 07:45, 21 March 2018 (UTC)Reply

Popular culture items must comply with WP:IPC and WP:MILPOP, which your addition does not. In addition, Wikia is not a reliable source. - BilCat (talk) 14:21, 21 March 2018 (UTC)Reply
I agree with this removal: diff. This material does not meet WP:MILPOP. In addition, it fails WP:NOR and WP:WEIGHT. K.e.coffman (talk) 01:11, 22 March 2018 (UTC)Reply

Thank you for the comments. I will revise the entry in accordance to the Wikipedia guidelines. Tsushima6 (talk) 09:30, 22 March 2018 (UTC)Reply

A Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion edit

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion:

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 17:22, 19 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Good article edit

I have renominated since the issues were addressed but ignored by the editor seeking the delisting. Dapi89 (talk) 15:55, 18 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

I have raised the delisting of the article by the nominator of the article for GAR at Wikipedia talk:Good article nominations#Closure of GA Review (and removal of GA Status) by nominator of article for review as the instructions for closure of discussions states that closure should be done by an uninvolved editor.Nigel Ish (talk) 20:10, 19 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Since everybody associated with the GA process appears to be quite happy that someone can both nominate and decide consensus on whether to delist, I will unwatch the page. I'm sorry to have wasted my time.Nigel Ish (talk) 22:59, 19 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Hartmann was summoned to the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze edit

The person fought to implement Nazi genocides. The page contains Nazi propaganda, please respect millions of victims. Please compare to the German page, which isn't so childish like this one.Xx236 (talk) 09:58, 24 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Please post sensible recommendations only. Dapi89 (talk) 11:49, 24 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Discussion at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Military history edit

HI, just a quick note about a current discussion at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Military history (WWII content: Otto Kittel, other GA/FA articles) that editors of this page may be interested in. K.e.coffman (talk) 22:25, 29 January 2016 (UTC)Reply

Peter Stockert-what are his credentials ? edit

This author is used to source some dubious claims.What are his credentials and is he a historian? In publication Przegląd historyczno-wojskowy, Tom 14(page 218) issued by Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej this author is named as "improving" German versions of events and mixing tales with actual facts[10] --MyMoloboaccount (talk) 22:25, 21 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

I have found another source, this time German, that describes Stockert's writing as apologetic

"Eicke: Eine SS-Karriere zwischen Nervenklinik, KZ-System und Waffen-SS

"Ein weiteres typisches Beispiel apologetischer Vertuschungstaktik lieferte Peter Stockert 1996, der in einem mehrbändigen Werk über die »Eichenlaubträger« ." page 20

What does the Polish Ministry of Defence claim? Do you have anything more from Niels Weise? An accusation doesn't provide much information. Or facts. Dapi89 (talk) 19:27, 23 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
FYI - as explained Stockert's contribution to this article is list of dates and events. There are no stories or justifications in his publications. Dapi89 (talk)
  • I removed a sentence sourced to Stockert about Hartmann's convictions having been vacated in 1997; preserving here by providing this link. My rationale was: "source is not reliable for this claim; I was unable to confirm it". K.e.coffman (talk) 15:39, 26 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Individual reassessment edit

GA Reassessment edit

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.


This discussion is transcluded from Talk:Erich Hartmann/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the reassessment.

The article fails criterion #2b "all in-line citations are from reliable sources". The article is largely based on The Blond Knight of Germany which has been criticised as ahistorical and misleading (please see the linked article). The book is also likely to be semi-fictional; please see discussion here: [11]. Given the questionable source, the article also fails criterion 4 as being non-neutral. --K.e.coffman (talk) 22:51, 5 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

  • Delist. Much of the article is based on a dubious source known to have fabricated claims. I am not convinced that the sources exist to write a good article; ideally there would be a scholarly biography that examined the Hartmann's life in detail and could be used to distinguish fact from fiction. buidhe (formerly Catrìona) 09:20, 6 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
If you look closer, Toliver & Constable is not the only unreliable source used here: at present his death is referenced to Find a Grave, and there are multiple citations to dubious, self-published websites in the "Combat record" section. In addition, the Toliver & Constable source is used to reference what I would consider extraordinary claims, such as the alleged sidearm/Hitler incident. When I said that Toliver & Constable fabricated things, I am referring not only to Assayer's list linked above, but also to T & C's account of Hartmann's request to return to his original unit in 1945 — contradicted by Hartmann himself. buidhe (formerly Catrìona) 20:26, 6 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
  • reject delist. The complaint lacks credibility and as usual is full of opinion. The link to the biography, itself a creation of the complainant, is based on two scholars' opinions which are, at best, vague. Their comments don't contain any specific examples to justify the criticism and their own work is criticised for failing to prove the case they make. Perhaps the editor above would also like to demonstrate how Constable and his co-author have fabricated information. Dapi89 (talk) 18:28, 6 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
I'll remark on Assayer's comments as and when they appear. I can't find Hartmann talking about the 1945 incident. I did a search and found his name only once talking about his opinion of Allied pilots. Dapi89 (talk) 21:23, 6 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
So what? Does that mean I cannot comment? Dapi89 (talk) 16:41, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
  • Delist per above. –Vami_IV♠ 17:11, 6 January 2018 (UTC)Reply
  • Delist As I explained in greater detail before (see Coffman's link above), in an interview Hartmann himself acknowledged that several aspects in his bio were made up by the authors Toliver/Constable. Based upon that somehow seminal bio the article relates several anecdotes as facts, which are questionable, to say the least. The concerns are known for over a year and have not been properly addressed.--Assayer (talk) 23:53, 6 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
    • I may add that The Interrogator by Toliver has been thrashed by historian Stefan Geck in his study on the Dulag Luft (2008) for its method and unreliability. That it is popular among American authors is a serious problem, but does not enhance Toliver's reliability.--Assayer (talk) 01:12, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
  • COMMENTARY. This looks to me like a hitjob and much is original research, so I have to defend the author of the book Raymond F. Toliver. Toliver was one of the most respected military aviation historian in the world who wrote multiple books on the subject including Fighter Aces of the USA, Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe, and Blond Knight of Germany. Two of the above titles have won top nonfiction awards of the Aviation-Space Writers Association. Beside this, I think the best book he wrote is The Interrogator: The Story of Hanns Joachim Scharff, Master Interrogator of the Luftwaffe who is widely used and taught by the US ARMY, CIA and FBI.
His books are quoted in numerous research papers and journals as well as books. Some examples: The Canadian Air Force Journal, the official publication of Canadian Chief of the Air Staff source, CIA source, Directorate of Operations Research source, NATIONAL DEFENSE INTELIGENCE COLLEGE source, US ARMY source.
His books are held by the many libraries around the world. See in Australia: Libraries: Australian War Memorial - Research Centre, National Library of Australia, State Library Victoria.
More information on the author pls read the obituary.
The criticisms provided by the initiator in the articles he wrote are misleading. Ronald Smelser and Edward J. Davies never read the book and their only problem is with the name of the book. As they should have known better is the publisher who choose the name, and they choose this name because they wanted to sell as many books as possible. The German publishers choose a different name! Jens Wehner criticizes stereotypes about Soviet Union which was a horrible regime and the close attention to technical details which is no reason for not being reliable.
The Blond Knight of Germany is a well written biography about Erich Hartmann and is a worthy contribution to the aviation history. The book is not widely used in the article and is not the job of editors like Assayers to do original research. World famous university professor like Richard J. Evans, Ian Kershaw, Peter Longerich, Timothy Snyder will never write a military biography about a single soldier of Nazi Germany, and what Raymond F. Toliver wrote after years of research is the best we have. FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO POST UNDERSTAND THAT THE BOOK IS A WELL RESEARCHED BIOGRAPHY OF ERICH HARTMANN AND IS NON-FICTION. — Preceding unsigned comment added by DiorandI (talkcontribs) 00:46, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
  • Delist - Assayer's comments (including the linked diff in K.e.'s initial comment) on the reliability of Tolliver & Constable are convincing - the yelling above is not. That would be enough to delist if it was the only problem with the article, but it is not as others have also identified. Parsecboy (talk) 16:51, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Why the rush to delist without giving proper time for corrections of assumed issues? Am I to assume that even without T&C that, that would not be enough ? Dapi89 (talk) 17:14, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
I haven't seen any indication that anyone is going to actually do the work of overhauling the article in the short term. If you're going to, that's fine, but there's also nothing inherently wrong with delisting now and doing another GA review once the article is in better shape.
But yes, there are other references that are problems - for instance, what makes hartmannerich.com or http://acesofww2.com/germany/aces/hartmann (which is a dead link), or http://members.aol.com/falkeeins/Sturmgruppen/hartmannclaims.html reliable sources? There are also copyright issues - how is File:Erich Hartmann (c. 1943).jpg in the PD in the US? Ditto for File:Messerschmitt Me109G.jpg. Parsecboy (talk) 17:30, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Don't ask me about copyrights, I have no idea or inclination to read up on it, and I don't think that is our main concern at the moment.
The links can be swept away. They're not really needed from what I can see. It'd be better if the article can be cleaned up now to save wasting time in another review. Dapi89 (talk) 17:45, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Sure, but the point is, somebody needs to figure out the copyright situation on the photos, since the GA criteria require images to be suitably licensed. They can be removed (and the 109 can very easily be replaced), of course, but it's still an issue that needs to be resolved.
It would be ideal if the article could be fixed now, but it's a matter of who's willing (and able) to do the work. Parsecboy (talk) 18:17, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
I’m not sorry Parsecboy, but I believe some people here want to denigrate and cast aspersions about the author of the book to discredit him. I pointed out with examples that he is highly respected author and his books are used as a source in research papers, journals, academic works, studies, US ARMY, CIA. He is not fringe and doesn’t write fiction or semi-fiction. Assayer complaints are just opinions where he believes that there no way that thing could had happened or that thing or this is too good to be true. I think most of his opinions are wrong. In a interview Hartmann gave he details that encounter with Hitler:
Extended content
Q: How was the meeting with Hitler and receiving the Diamonds different from the previous two encounters? A: Well Dieter Hrabak and the rest threw a party before I left, and I was so drunk I could not stand the next day. It sounds like we were all alcoholics, but this was not the case. We lived and played hard. You never knew what the next day would bring. I few my 109 to Insterburg, and JG-52 gave me an escort. When I arrived at the Wolfschanze the world had changed. Hitler had already begun the trials and executions of those involved and everyone was under suspicion. You had to enter three areas of security, and no one was allowed to carry a weapon into the last section. I told Hitler’s SS guard to tell the Fuehrer that I would not receive the Diamonds if I were not trusted to carry my Walther pistol. The guy looked like I had just married his mother. He went to speak with von Below, who was a Colonel then, and Below came out said it was all right. I hung my cap and pistol belt on the stand and Hitler came to me, and said, “I wish we had more like you and Ruedel,” and he gave me the Diamonds, which were encrusted upon another set of Oak Leaves and Swords. We had coffee and lunch, and he confided in me, saying ‘militarily the war is lost,’ and that I must already know this, and that if we waited the Western Allies and Soviets would be at war with each other. He also spoke about the partisan problem and he asked me of my experience. Hitler asked me my opinion of the tactics used in fighting the American and British bombers. Since I did not have a lot of experience with this, I simply stated what I thought was a fact. Goering’s orders to combat them and the method employed was in error. I also informed him of the deficiencies in pilot training; too many minimally trained men were simply throwing their lives away. He also spoke about the new weapons and tactics, and then we parted. That was the last time I saw him, 25 August 1944. I flew back to the unit, where an order for a ten days leave waited. I also had to report to Galland, where we discussed the Me-262 situation. I went back to marry my Ushi, that was all that mattered to me.
Source It seems to me that is very accurate what was written in his wikipedia page. Now Parsecboy, do you believe Assayer opinions that is too good to be true or Erich Hartmann the person who was there? — Preceding unsigned comment added by DiorandI (talkcontribs) 18:21, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Hartmann himself said that Constable and Tolliver played freely with facts - I'd suggest you ask yourself the same question. I'd also point out that Trevor James Constable was a UFO-ologist and a promoter of quackery (as you can see from his article) - hardly what I'd consider to be a reliable author. Parsecboy (talk) 18:31, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Were dealing here with Assayer opinions about “Who believes that Barkhorn, Krupinski and Wiese visited Hitler intoxicated and that Hartmann put up Hitler's hat (a jolly good story)? Who believes that Hartmann was allowed to carry his pistol while he received the Diamonds from Hitler personally? Since the beginning of the war no one who approached Hitler was allowed to carry a firearm. That was one of the reasons why the plotters of 20 July planted a bomb. In short, the whole article is full of such details too good to be true.” As I pointed out above all of this is true. So if Assayer lied about this he may have lied about other opinions. Also where do you know that Hartmann said Toliver played freely with facts? Hartmann was not involved in the writing process but he was interviewed to a considerable degree about his life and career. — Preceding unsigned comment added by DiorandI (talkcontribs) 18:42, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
I find it curious that you have no problem finding his opinion of the anecdote about Hartmann carrying his Walter, but you seem to have such trouble reading the rest of it. I'll help you out: "Kühn also used this interview for a piece in his book Luftkrieg als Abenteuer ("Air war as adventure", 1975), to which I am referring. It turned out that Hartmann considered Toliver to be a friend, but was not realy involved in the writing process. He said that the book featured only few authentic statements directly from him. What may interest us, is the fact that Hartmann also acknowledged that several aspects in his bio were made up by the authors, for example, what he allegedly thought after his visit with Hitler shortly 20 July 1944. Thus we know from Hartmann himself that Toliver/Constable dealt with their subject freely and that their work contains elements of fiction, apparently to fashion a certain image of Hartmann." What evidence do you have that Hartmann was interviewed extensively for the book? According to Hartmann as relayed in Kühn, he was not. Parsecboy (talk) 19:48, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
DiorandI, I urge you to read Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/German_war_effort#Final_decision, esp. item 4, on reliable sources. I further urge you to not start out by personalizing a possible dispute over content--that is, it seems you dispute content statements and claims about the unreliability of sources, and you seem to blame that on people's supposed agendas rather than on a factual disagreement. That is not a good way to start a Wikipedia career. Drmies (talk) 23:25, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Hartmann and the side arm edit

It is clear that Assayer's remarks on this issue are wrong. Hartmann said that was what happened; you may argue that Hartmann embellished aspects of it, or call him a liar. What you may not do is say T&C made it up. See the following: https://migflug.com/jetflights/final-interview-with-erich-hartmann/ Dapi89 (talk) 18:51, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

The interview was videoed. FYI Dapi89 (talk)
I think we're getting a little bent around the axle about something that isn't actually the crux of the matter. The point is that Hartmann was not as involved in the book as Constable and Toliver might like us to believe (and that C&T added or embellished aspects of their biography), which calls into question its overall reliability. Whether any single event described therein is accurate or not isn't really all that relevant. Parsecboy (talk) 19:50, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

I'm just going through the accusations one by one. And the first story complained about was true, at least to the degree Hartmann told it. I'm not going to argue the case for the authors. As it stands, they have been largely removed already. And I'm confident the citation that remain are easy to deal with. Our colleague above maybe getting bent out of shape, but if he is reading this, he should relax. There is plenty out there that can cover this article. Dapi89 (talk) 21:13, 7 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

First, for those interested, I will cite Dieter Kühn at some length.
"Und so spreche ich mit Hartmann kurz auch über die Entstehung dieses Buches […]. Der „blonde Ritter“ bestätigt, daß ihn mit Toliver, dem Piloten, Freundschaft verbindet, seine Mitarbeit an diesem Buch habe vorwiegend jedoch nur darin bestanden, Adressen und Kontakte zu vermitteln, das Buch enthalte nur wenige direkte Äußerungen von ihm selbst. Wir können aber davon ausgehen, daß er es akzeptiert." (Luftkrieg als Abenteuer. Kampfschrift. München: Hanser, 1975, p. 111) = And so I briefly talk to Hartmann about the genesis of this book [...]. The "blond knight" confirms that he is friends with Toliver, the pilot, but his involvement with this book consisted mainly in communicating addresses and contacts; the book contained only a few direct statements by himself. But we can assume that he accepts it.
Kühn later refers to a quote by Toliver/Constable which reads: „Vielleicht hatte sein Vater Recht. Als er zur III. Gruppe des JG 52 an der Ostfront zurückflog und auf dem Feldflugplatz der 9. Staffel in Lemberg landete, schob er die quälenden Gedanken beiseite. Die harte Pflicht ließ ihm keine Zeit mehr zu Grübeln.“ As he flew back to III Gruppe of JG-52 on the Eastern Front, the words of his father and Usch mingled in his mind with the confident predictions of the Führer. He could not decide between optimism and pessimism, and when he touched down at the 9th Squadron's base at Lemberg the mental debate ended. The stern business of duty came first. (1985ed., p. 107) One may note the omission of the “Führer”’s predictions in the German translation. When Kühn questioned Hartmann about these thoughts, Hartmann answered: “Ich möchte sagen, daß das mehr dichterische Freiheit ist. Ich möchte heute behaupten, quälende Gedanken sind in der Jugend seltener als harte quälende Pflichten, die erfüllt werden müssen.“ (p. 117) = I would like to say that this is more poetic licence. Today I would like to say that tormenting thoughts are less common in youth than harsh tormenting duties that have to be fulfilled.
Kühn did not go through the whole content of the book with Hartmann. But the Toliver/Constable book is clearly closer to a novel than to a reliable biography.
Second, I won’t quibble about the reliability of these interviews, conducted and edited by Colin Heaton, published or hosted by and on sites like MiGFlug & Adventure GmbH. Even if Erich Hartmann confirms and retells some of the anecdotes, that does not mean that they were facts. Wikipedia did not consider Philip Roth to be a reliable source on himself. Likewise Erich Hartmann is not a reliable source on Erich Hartmann. Thus, substituting the Toliver/Constable source with an interview hosted on some website does not resolve the issues. Given the fringe character of most of the other literature being cited (e.g. Kaplan and Weal), it is also not clear, whether these authors conducted original research, or simply took their information uncritically from Toliver/Constable.
Third, those anecdotes are unnecessary details and do not conform with WP:SUMMARY.--Assayer (talk) 00:38, 8 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Sorry, that still isn't satisfactory. It is standard practice to use a quotation through a third party. I don't recall quotations or interviews being condemned on Wikipedia.
You'll have to prove that they (Weal and Kaplan) have done so and log another complaint against them. Thus far this assessment is based around the unreliability of T&C. Once they have been erased you'll be left holding an empty sack.Dapi89 (talk) 00:55, 8 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Can you delete all traces of Franz Kurowski while you're fixing things? –♠Vami_IV†♠ 02:08, 8 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
There are also a number of harv errors that need repair: There are no references for "Bergström 2007", "Bergström 2008", "Mitcham 2012", or "Airpower Journal (Air University United States Air Force) & winter, 1991". –♠Vami_IV†♠ 02:15, 8 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Yes of course. The Air power Journal is a complete citation and been given in the inline fashion only. I can add it to the biblio as well as the very well-known work from Bergstrom, and Mitcham. David T. Zabecki has also made some information on Hartmann available. I doubt anyone will have a problem with him. Dapi89 (talk) 12:45, 8 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Neither Weal nor Kaplan provide any notes. Their studies are not scholarly, but “popular history” to put it mildly. There is not much that can be proven. It would be interesting to learn, though, whether there went some original research into the works of Weal or Kaplan. But I don't think that the WP:ONUS is on me. Yes, without Toliver/Constable the sack is nearly empty. As buidhe observed above, I am not convinced that the sources exist to write a good article. A lack of reliable sources does not justify the use of unreliable sources to fill the void with legends.--Assayer (talk) 13:01, 8 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
They don't, you're quite right, but some reliable sources operate the same way. But the onus I think is on those making the claim that either the author or their publishers are unreliable. In Weal's case, Osprey have been used to cover both Allied and Axis forces; in other words they're not obsessed with the German side. And I think the recent replacements are certainly reliable.
FYI. Kaplan' s work on Hartmann is very brief. Dapi89 (talk) 15:48, 8 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
I've fond Weal so far to be reliable. That is to say, no reason to throw him into the trash with Gordon Williamson. Osprey is a tricky line to walk if you're not a wargamer. –♠Vami_IV†♠ 16:13, 8 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Karl Schmider says that Weal has done "valuable work" on Luftwaffe fighter aces, stating that his work involves "painstaking research". He does note that his work has the flaw of lacking source notes. I consider him reliable, but not of academic quality. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 20:51, 11 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Current state edit

Remarks, please. Dapi89 (talk) 13:42, 10 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

T&C and Williamson are gone. Dapi89 (talk) 19:37, 10 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Thanks for the work so far. Some comments, based on the overall changes: diff.

  • Kaplan, Philip (2007). Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe in World War WWII. Auldgirth, Dumfriesshire, UK: Pen & Sword Aviation. ISBN 978-1-84415-460-9. is used for 24 citations. What makes it a reliable source?
  • Same question for Stockert, Peter (2007). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 5 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 5] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662.
  • Is there an author & article title for {{sfn|Airpower Journal (Air University United States Air Force)|winter, 1991|p=7}}?
  • Some of the content has failed verification. For example:
    • Hartmann, for a time, used a black tulip design around the engine cowling near the spinner of his aircraft, so Soviet personnel consequently nicknamed him Cherniy Chort ("Black Devil").[1] -- Zabecki, p. 586 does not mention the tulip design, nor how long Harmann used the black markings for.
    • He also made several trips to the United States, where he was trained on U.S. Air Force equipment.[2] -- Zabecki, p. 587 does not mention this.

References

  1. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 586.
  2. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 587.
  • There are still a quite few anecdotes that can apparently be only traced to Hartmann, such as "According to Hartmann, all four of them got drunk ..."; "During his meeting with Hitler, after sobering up..."; "According to one account,[which?] Hartmann..."; "They began a revolt, overpowered the guards..." etc.
  • The removal of T&C cite resulted in Berger's cite being appended at the end of the entire para, encompassing material previously cited to T&C: [12]. It's unclear whether the Berger source supports the 16,000 number. If this is the case, this casts shade on Berger as well, as a number of the 1955 returnees were former SS, police and civilian personnel; see Heimkehrer. Including them with the military returnees is misleading.
  • Berger itself is a self-published source: "Selbstverlag Florian Berger".

--K.e.coffman (talk) 04:14, 11 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

All the harvref errors I mentioned prior are still broken, with the addition of "Spick 1996". Raymond Toliver, Trevor Constable, and Gordon Williamson are still listed in the Bibliography despite having no references linking to them. Delete them. –♠Vami_IV†♠ 06:58, 11 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

I will deal with these issues in-depth later. But the two sources questioned were not a part of this assessment, and I have no reason to believe they are not reliable, unless of course there is a claim which can prove they are not.
Zabecki links the nickname to the paint scheme on the aircraft quite clearly. Other sources refer to the pattern as a tulip, that can be added in with Zabecki to cover that oversight.
There is no author in the USAF doc.
I made the assumption that they come from Hartmann; as do the authors. I believe the reduction of the stories to a few words is appropriate. Braatz has been hailed as reliable in other articles by other editors; I think Assayer was one of them. Peacemaker certainly was. 12:10, 11 January 2019 (UTC)
FYI Hartman-US equipment cant be dealt with its no problem. Dapi89 (talk) 12:11, 11 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
The issues raised around verification have been fixed. Zabecki remarks on the unit and equipment Hartmann commanded - Kaplan mentions he received training in the US. Dapi89 (talk) 12:20, 11 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
I believe the issues Coffman has raised have been dealt with. Dapi89 (talk) 16:44, 11 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Follow-up edit

Still a few outstanding issues:

  • This is a Good Article Reassessment, and all sources are being evaluated. With that in mind, what makes Stockert and Kaplan reliable sources?
  • The article still contains a number of unverifiable anecdotes, such as conversations with Hitler, "he took a rifle and went to search for Hartmann", etc. Just because Hartmann (or popular history writers) claim that these events took place, they do not need to be replicated in an encyclopedia article. For example, the Zabecki source does not repeat any of them.
  • {{Spick 1996}} is not linking appropriately, even though the full source is listed in the bibliography.
  • Magazines generally don't publish pieces without attribution. If this page ({{sfn|Airpower Journal (Air University United States Air Force)|winter, 1991|p=7}}) does not have an author nor title, then what is it? An ad? Alternatively, these details can perhaps be dropped: "Paule Roßmann taught Hartmann the fundamentals..." & "His approach was described by himself..."
  • The reason I listed the Zabecki & Berger misquotes as concerning was because the swapping of citations suggests that other sources may have been otherwise appended to prior T&C cites. I.e. does Kaplan contain the exact same content & Hartmann's quote as here: [13] & [14]? Is Kaplan citing T&C then? Or they are both quoting from the same interview?

--K.e.coffman (talk) 00:43, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

No indication that they're not, as I've said. Unless you can say otherwise.
Zabecki is not thorough though is he. Its a 300-word biography.
It isn't clear. I'll use another volume.
Why? It isn't logical to drop Hartmann details on his tactics. They enabled his success and made him notable.
Can't help with technical issues. I don't know why it doesn't work. Dapi89 (talk) 09:35, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Not completely. Kapalan is an extremely condensed source. It is partially quoted. Of course, all quotes will be from Hartmann. Whether this was from the same, or a different interview in which Hartmann reiterated the same information is not known. Dapi89 (talk) 09:35, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
My 2c on the Kaplan/Stockert issue: The publisher is not necessarily known for strong fact-checking, while the authors don't use footnotes and there is a high probability that they sourced the account from a fictionalized book. This would seem to indicate that it is not RS. I am not convinced that the self-published Berger book counts as RS either. buidhe (formerly Catrìona) 10:19, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
There is a lot of opinion there. Berger isn't in the article for anything other than to say Hartmann was a civil instructor. That can be sourced to Zabecki in any case. Stockert's source practically gives all the information in bullet point style paragraphs and really isn't interested in anything other than dates, awards and promotions. No stories there. Dapi89 (talk) 13:37, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
From the Good Article criteria, all inline citations are from reliable sources—even for non-controversial information. If the sources are not reliable, it fails. buidhe (formerly Catrìona) 13:54, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
And? You've failed to show it is unreliable. That is the point. Explain to me why he was used on the good article of Hermann Fegelein, Himmler's little Nazi soldier. Dapi89 (talk) 15:33, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

WP:BURDEN edit

That's not how Wikipedia works. Dapi, your defense of unreliable source even merited an entry during the WP:ARBGWE case: Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/German war effort/Evidence#WWII articles. For the benefits of others, I'm reproducing it here:

Editor claims: Site policy actually says:
Dapi89 aggressively defends Kurowski, the Nazi propagandist: "no, you claim he's unreliable, you prove it. He's innocent until proven otherwise. Do you understand? Else it is nothing more than your opinion. That's how it works. It's laughable to suggest otherwise." "The burden to demonstrate verifiability lies with the editor who adds or restores material, and is satisfied by providing an inline citation to a reliable source that directly supports the contribution... Any material lacking a reliable source directly supporting it may be removed and should not be restored without an inline citation to a reliable source." (emphasis in original)

Now Kaplan / Stockert are being put forth as reliable sources under the same rationales. I also had concerns about unverifiable anecdotes and swapping of citations, which have not yet been addressed, such as: Does Kaplan contain the exact same content & Hartmann's quote as here: [15] & [16]? Is Kaplan citing T&C then? --K.e.coffman (talk) 18:51, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

That isn't true at all. In what way is asking for proof of unreliability unreasonable?
Are you seriously saying the factors that got Kurowksi labelled as unreliable apply to these authors as well?
Where is the evidence?
They have been dealt with. I've told you they have been. You can see from the article, they have been.
I've already told you, Kaplan is condensed. He covers PARTof the quotation.
It is the same with Hans-Joachim Marseille. You want something deleted on the basis of your opinion. It does not say in WP:Burden or WP:Reliable sources that authors should be deleted on the basis of opinion or because they do not have a PhD. Dapi89 (talk) 19:54, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
I can put it this way: In what way is asking for proof of reliability unreasonable? This is what the site policy actually says. Are there any reviews of Kaplan or Stockert describing them as authoritative? Are they published in presses known for reliability or fact checking? Etc.
See Wikipedia:Reliable sources#Definition of a source: "Any of the three [i.e. the nature of book, author, & publisher] can affect reliability. Reliable sources may be published materials with a reliable publication process, authors who are regarded as authoritative in relation to the subject, or both. These qualifications should be demonstrable to other people." (emphasis mine). K.e.coffman (talk) 20:09, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

It isn't. If neither criticism nor praise can be found, then it proves neither. I'm sure that is self evident. So at best we're at an impasse, particularly when one considers Kaplan was published by Pen and Sword; a well know publisher with no links to Nazis or their apologia. I know of no critical reviews levelled at them. Dapi89 (talk) 20:21, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

FYI. From Pen and Sword's website (this explains how Kaplan did his research; though this is also discussed in the book); This book examines the reality behind the myths of the legendary German fighter aces of World War II. It explains why only a small minority of pilots - those in whom the desire for combat overrode everything - accounted for so large a proportion of the victories. It surveys the skills that a successful fighter pilot must have - a natural aptitude for flying, marksmanship, keen eyesight - and the way in which fighter tactics have developed. The book examines the history of the classic fighter aircraft that were flown, such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the Focke Wulf Fw 190, and examines each type's characteristics, advantages and disadvantages in combat. The accounts of the experiences of fighter pilots are based on archival research, diaries, letters, published and unpublished memoirs and personal interviews with veterans. The pilots included are Werner Molders, Gunther Rall, Adolf Galland, Erich Hartmann and Johannes Steinhoff. Dapi89 (talk) 20:30, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Third follow up; see https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/escort-pilot. Dr. Michael J. Deeb commends his work in this instance. Dapi89 (talk) 20:46, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Fourth, it appears as if your reading of WP:Burden is selective. It has come to my attention that there is also further guidance from the said page;

Once an editor has provided any source that he or she believes, in good faith, to be sufficient, then any editor who later removes the material has an obligation to articulate specific problems that would justify its exclusion from Wikipedia (e.g., why the source is unreliable; the source does not support the claim; undue emphasis; unencyclopedic content; etc.). If necessary, all editors are then expected to help achieve consensus, and any problems with the text or sourcing should be fixed before the material is added back.

So it would seem, as I suspected, the burden of proof is on those making the claim. Dapi89 (talk) 23:06, 13 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

This GAR edit

A publisher's blurb is not sufficient. The other piece is about an Allied airman fighting on the Western Front; not a related topic. In re: BURDEN, sure, the concerns expressed during this GAR were about the sources being unreliable; undue emphasis; and unencyclopedic content:

  • Assayer: Neither Weal nor Kaplan provide any notes. Their studies are not scholarly, but “popular history” to put it mildly. There is not much that can be proven. (...) A lack of reliable sources does not justify the use of unreliable sources to fill the void with legends.
  • buidhe: My 2c on the Kaplan/Stockert issue: The publisher is not necessarily known for strong fact-checking, while the authors don't use footnotes and there is a high probability that they sourced the account from a fictionalized book. This would seem to indicate that it is not RS.
  • Myself: There are still a quite few anecdotes that can apparently be only traced to Hartmann, such as "According to Hartmann, all four of them got drunk ..."

Sample content which fails both NPOV and RS:

  • Afterward, Hartmann practised diligently and adopted a new credo which he passed on to other young pilots: "Fly with your head, not with your muscles." During a gunnery practice session in June 1942, he hit a target drogue with 24 of the allotted 50 rounds of machine-gun fire, a feat that was considered difficult to achieve. His training had qualified him to fly 17 different types of powered aircraft, and, following his graduation, he was posted on 21 August 1942 to Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group, East) in Gleiwitz, Upper Silesia, where he remained until 10 October 1942.[1][2]
  • When Hartmann's Crew Chief, Heinz "Bimmel" Mertens, heard what had happened, he took a rifle and went to search for Hartmann.[3] Etc.

References

  1. ^ Kaplan 2007, p. 90.
  2. ^ Stockert 2007, p. 40.
  3. ^ Kaplan 2007, p. 102.
--K.e.coffman (talk) 01:30, 14 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Sources are entitled to refer to the subject for information. You have not proven the source is untrustworthy. Who cares? The opinions of wikipedians are irrelevant. As for anecdotes, if this thing about the mechanic and his rifle and 1944 meeting is such a problem, then it can go. But it is a lame excuse to justify delisting the article. Dapi89 (talk) 08:25, 14 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

The result of this GAR is delisted. While considerable effort has gone into the article, such as to remove Toliver & Constable's semi-fictional work, there are issues that have not been addressed: POV anecdotes; unreliable sources; etc.

New issues also keep cropping up, such as content failing verification, due to (possibly) swapping of citations without proper checking to make sure that the new sources support prior material; see: #Current state. Once identified, the Zabecki issues have been addressed, but here's the latest example:

Paule Roßmann taught Hartmann the fundamentals of the surprise attack, a tactic that led to his "See – Decide – Attack – Break" style of aerial combat.[1]

References

  1. ^ Patton 1991, pp. 5–7.

The source -- STEALTH IS A ZERO-SUM GAME: A SUBMARINER’S VIEW OF THE ADVANCED TACTICAL FIGHTER, Capt James H. Patton, USN, Retired -- is a passing mention of Hartmann and does not mention Roßmann nor what he taught Hartmann. (It also took three tries during this GAR to pry out the author's info, which is concerning).

In this situation, it's hard to assume AGF re: existing content. I recommend that the improvements continue to address the issues identified in this GAR, with the attention to NPOV, proper sourcing, and verification. Then the article can be renominated. --K.e.coffman (talk) 03:37, 18 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

You should not have closed this; there is no consensus.

The original vote was taken on the state of the article at that time, not since. And these points can be dealt with. Three sources attribute these tactics to Hartmann's tutor. The source about is reliable as well. Passing mentions in academic sources are just as reputable. You don't get to decide whether they are or not. Dapi89 (talk) 09:50, 18 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

I've added another citation from Boyne and Deac confirming Roßman was indeed a factor in Hartmann's success. A direct quote can be supplied.
I'd appreciate it if Coffmann would not try and sneakily end this discussion until all editors have commented.
If you want to go through each citation one by one we can to show that they do say what is in the article.

I have reverted your removal of GA on the article FYI. Dapi89 (talk) 10:04, 18 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

Other contributors edit

Other contributors need to get involved. Otherwise it will be another case of one editor making a decision he or she feels is fit. That is not an appropriate way forward. Dapi89 (talk) 10:22, 18 January 2019 (UTC)Reply

And? Dapi89 (talk) 13:48, 20 January 2019 (UTC)Reply
Meaning: I agree with the two editors who responded. --K.e.coffman (talk) 19:23, 21 January 2019 (UTC)Reply