Two Brazilians in the Luftwaffe

As we have seen before, not all combatants in World War II were European. There were many who were descendants of immigrants in Latin America who felt the call to arms of their ancestral land. To understand why, we must look at the situation in Germany after the First World War. The conditions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles bring hunger, economic crisis and political chaos. The lack of opportunities makes many Germans emigrate to the countries of the American continent. The Brazil of the 1920s (like many Latin American countries) is a country of great possibilities where everything remains to be done.

These countries are emerging countries and the call is irresistible for the German emigration who find life opportunities that their original land cannot offer them. These German colonies are nostalgic for the old days. Imperial times, of opulence and widespread prosperity create the nostalgic feeling of every emigrant of returning to their land one day. This feeling is passed on to the new generations, who, although born in this new world, feel an attachment to their parents’ homeland.

When Hitler comes to power, his speech inflames German hearts inside and outside of Germany. The rebirth of Germany, under the Nazi party during the 1930s, makes the feeling of duty towards the homeland influence the minds of young Germans abroad. Many of them return to the homeland to form part of the Hitler Youth or directly to join this new liberating army. Young minds have always been prey to these kinds of idealistic feelings.

In the article: Two Brazilians in the Luftwaffe

On this occasion, the author, Clemente Balladares, brings us the story of two restless young Brazilians who felt the duty to join the fight that Germany undertook against the other European nations. It is not clear why they traveled and joined the German army but their history is recorded in the Luftwaffe files and this is how they are remembered.

Here is the story of “Two Brazilians in the Luftwaffe”, the young men in question are Wolfgang Ortmann and Egon Albrecth. Both were assigned to the 2nd. ZG1 unit, the famous “Wasps”. They fought gallantly on the eastern front and in France. During their service they flew the famous Messerschmitt Bf-109 and 110 with “Wasp” noses. We will see how his brief, but intense story was.

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