The Last Year of the Luftwaffe
May 1944 to May 1945
Price, Alfred
There have been numerous books on the activities of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War, and in many cases these contain good accounts of the early and middle war periods, but no work previously published gives a comprehensive coverage of that Service in the final year of the war.
This book describes in detail, for the first time, the offensive and defensive operations of the Luftwaffe between May 1944 and May 1945. Dominating everything was the eagerly expected increase in fighting power when the advanced new aircraft and weapon systems entered service; simultaneously, there was an almost continual shift in tactics, as the Germans sought to avoid the effects of the massive quantitative and qualitative superiority in equipment enjoyed by the Allied air forces. To bring life to the story, there are numerous first-person accounts from ex-Luftwaffe personnel interviewed by the author.
In its final chapter, the book analyses the effectiveness of each of the new aircraft and weapon systems introduced into the Luftwaffe during the final year of the war - and it explains why each one of them in turn failed to have the anticipated impact on the enemy. There is an appraisal of some of major planning decisions taken by the Luftwaffe High Command during the period. The author's researches lead him to believe that several so-called 'mistakes' were in fact correct decisions at the time they were taken. He argues that the decision not to build up a large bomber force like those of the western Allies was the only course possible, given the limited resources available to the Germans. Adolf Hitler's much-criticised decision that the Messerschmitt Me 262 Jets should initially be issued to fighter-bomber units is shown in a new light, and so is the decision to form a special force of fighters flown by volunteer pilots, to destroy enemy heavy bombers by ramming. On these points and others, the author presents fresh and detailed evidence to shatter several long-held but erroneous beliefs concerning the Luftwaffe.
For historians, veterans and the postwar generations, this volume will prove to be an entertaining addition to their knowledge and understanding. It is a classic story of a once all-conquering force struggling to stave off inevitable defeat.
Hardcover with dust jacket
191 Seiten / pages
photos and maps
excellent condition, like new
Osceola, Wi, USA - 1991 - Motorbooks International
Art.Nr. 20488
