Gerhard Barkhorn: The Shadowed Ace of the Eastern Front

The Eastern Front during World War II was a theater of immense scale, harsh conditions, and intense aerial combat. Amidst the expansive sky, while many focus on the famed Erich Hartmann, another pilot rose to prominence with an astonishing number of victories: Gerhard “Gerd” Barkhorn. While facing largely less experienced Soviet pilots, the numbers achieved by these German aces are nonetheless staggering.