Chapter 10 Summary and Analysis

In 1936, Lindbergh was asked to visit Germany and report on that country's military strength, particularly its planes. Germany had been demilitarized following World War I, but under Adolf Hitler it was quickly rising to become a military force once again, and many were worried. Lindbergh agreed, and was personally shown various facilities by Hermann Goering, the head of the Luftwaffe, the German air force. Goering exaggerated the strength of the Luftwaffe, and Lindbergh's tour was guided and censored by Nazi officials. As a result, Lindbergh reported back to the United States with the opinion that Germany's air force was superior to all of Europe's air forces combined, and that it would be foolish to try to battle Germany.

In 1937 and 1938, the Lindberghs returned for visits to Nazi Germany, hobnobbing with high society folks and high-ranking Nazis. They were very impressed with...