posed to the silly talk and insolence of the simpler womenfolk.”
Oblivious of Germany’s crucial manpower shortages, Göring
would allow his own private office and personal staff to grow to
people in September .
Again visiting Paris during March , Göring bought
half a dozen paintings, a terra-cotta figurine of Madame d u
Barry as Diana, and a vase. He toured the Left Bank dealers.
Hofer totted up the purchases and handed the list to Fräulein
Limberger aboard Göring’s train on March .
During his absence abroad, Milch had drawn up tables
showing that Germany was now producing airplanes per
month, of which only were fighters. The air staff’s current
requirement was fighters itself a ludicrously low figure.
“Herr Reichsmarschall,” Milch said, tackling Göring at Romin-
ten on March , “if you were to say thirty-six hundred fighters,
then I should be bound to state that, against America and Brit-
ain combined, that figure is still too few!”
“I shouldn’t know what to do with more than three hun-
dred sixty,” retorted General Jeschonnek, baffled.
Milch suggested they double the figure to . Göring
paused, agonizing as ever whenever a firm decision was called
for. Outside, the temperature was degrees below freezing. In
mid-discussion, so the minutes record, “the Reichsmarschall
went for a sleigh ride at : .. Conference resumed at :
.... .” He told Milch to go ahead. Two years later Milch
would be manufacturing three thousand fighter planes a
month.
As though on the devil’s cue, a few days later the British fire-
bombing of Europe’s ancient cities began in mortal earnest. RAF
Bomber Command now had orders to attack the population
centers rather than the Nazi factories. Earlier in March they