In late 1943, leaders of the German Luftwaffe went to Reichsmarshall Herman Goering and warned him that American fighters were penetrating the borders of the Reich, that P-47s Thunderbolts equipped with drop tanks and the new P-51 Mustang were starting to provide B-17 bombers x1

with the escorts necessary to operate over Germany. Goering actually listened for a change and agreed to refocus the Luftwaffe on defending the Reich against American bomber attacks, building up the fighter force, emphasizing new technology like jets, etc. x2

He went to Hitler for permission and Hitler shut him down, demanding that they build bombers instead of fighters, etc., since the Fuhrer was always focused on offense rather than proper defense. The Luftwaffe generals saw Goering after his meeting with Hitler and found Hermann x3

in despair, for Hitler had lost faith in him. Goering, who was smart enough to know the truth but too cowardly to accept it, then refused to buck Hitler, forbidding his Luftwaffe generals from even *mentioning* the American fighter threat or doing anything about it. x4

Denial and kissing Hitler's ass was more important to Goering. The lesson: You may have an idiot at the top, but the idiot always needs enablers to do the most damage.x5