German Field Marshal. He joined the German Army in 1910, rising to the rank of Lieutenant in the artillery. During the First World War, Milch served on the Western Front until he was transferred to the German Army Air Service, where he would remain until 1920. After he resigned from the military, Milch entered into the aviation industry, eventually becoming director of the national airline Deutsche Lufthansa. He would join Hermann Goering in secretly establishing the Luftwaffe and in 1933, became Goering's deputy in the Reich Air Ministry, with the responsibility of managing armament production. After the beginning of World War II, Milch commanded Luftwaffe divisions during the Norwegian and French campaigns. Due to the success the Luftwaffe had in France, he, along with two other officers Albert Kesselring and Hugo Sperrle, were promoted to field marshal. A year later, Milch was given the title of Air Inspector General. He was the key officer in the development of Germany's defense against Allied air raids, by organizing the fighters into an umbrella over German industrial sites. Also Milch stood against Hitler in support of using the ME-262 jet as a fighter over Hitler's insistence that it be made into a bomber. He strongly supported the development of the V-1 flying bomb, and pressed for its rapid development. After the poor showing of the Luftwaffe in the Soviet Union, Milch joined Goebbels and Himmler in calling for Goering's ouster. Hitler refused and in June of 1944, he was forced to resign as director of air armaments. Milch would go on to serve under new Armaments Minister Albert Speer. After the war, he fled to the Baltic Coast, but was arrested on May 4, 1945. Milch was a defense witness during Goering's war crimes trial. During his own trial, he was found guilty on two counts, but was acquitted on the charge of ordering the experimentation on human prisoners and sentenced to life imprisonment. Milch's sentence was commuted to 15 years in 1951, but he was released in June of 1954. After his release from prison, Milch worked as an industrial consultant in Dusseldorf until his passing.
German Field Marshal. He joined the German Army in 1910, rising to the rank of Lieutenant in the artillery. During the First World War, Milch served on the Western Front until he was transferred to the German Army Air Service, where he would remain until 1920. After he resigned from the military, Milch entered into the aviation industry, eventually becoming director of the national airline Deutsche Lufthansa. He would join Hermann Goering in secretly establishing the Luftwaffe and in 1933, became Goering's deputy in the Reich Air Ministry, with the responsibility of managing armament production. After the beginning of World War II, Milch commanded Luftwaffe divisions during the Norwegian and French campaigns. Due to the success the Luftwaffe had in France, he, along with two other officers Albert Kesselring and Hugo Sperrle, were promoted to field marshal. A year later, Milch was given the title of Air Inspector General. He was the key officer in the development of Germany's defense against Allied air raids, by organizing the fighters into an umbrella over German industrial sites. Also Milch stood against Hitler in support of using the ME-262 jet as a fighter over Hitler's insistence that it be made into a bomber. He strongly supported the development of the V-1 flying bomb, and pressed for its rapid development. After the poor showing of the Luftwaffe in the Soviet Union, Milch joined Goebbels and Himmler in calling for Goering's ouster. Hitler refused and in June of 1944, he was forced to resign as director of air armaments. Milch would go on to serve under new Armaments Minister Albert Speer. After the war, he fled to the Baltic Coast, but was arrested on May 4, 1945. Milch was a defense witness during Goering's war crimes trial. During his own trial, he was found guilty on two counts, but was acquitted on the charge of ordering the experimentation on human prisoners and sentenced to life imprisonment. Milch's sentence was commuted to 15 years in 1951, but he was released in June of 1954. After his release from prison, Milch worked as an industrial consultant in Dusseldorf until his passing.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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