Delve, Ken/ How the RAF and USAAF Beat the Luftwaffe

How did the RAF beat the Luftwaffe during the Second World War? Was it actually the fact that they did not lose which later enabled them to claim victory - a victory that would have been impossible without the participation of the Americans from early 1943? This groundbreaking study looks at the main campaigns in which the RAF - and later the Allies - faced the Luftwaffe. Critically acclaimed writer Ken Delve argues that by the latter part of 1942 the Luftwaffe was no longer a decisive strategic or even tactical weapon. The Luftwaffe was remarkably resilient, but it was on a continual slide to ultimate destruction. Its demise is deconstructed according to defective strategic planning from the inception of the Luftwaffe; its failure to provide decisive results over Britain in 1940 and over the Mediterranean and Desert in 1941-1942; and its failure to defend the Reich and the occupied countries against the RAF and, later, combined Allied bomber offensive. Delve studies numerous aspects to these failures, from equipment (aircraft and weapons) to tactics, leadership (political and military), logistics, morale and others.

The Luftwaffe was remarkably resilient, but it was on a steady descent towards ultimate destruction. Poor strategic planning from the start of the war, the failure to achieve decisive results against Britain in 1940 and in the Mediterranean and North African theatres of war in 1941-1942, and the failure to defend the German Reich and occupied countries against RAF and USAAF attacks had a fatal effect. Delve examines numerous aspects of these failures, including equipment (aircraft and weapons), tactics, leadership (political and military), logistics, morale, etc.