Berliner Zinnfiguren/Books & Media/Osprey/Osprey - Air Campaign products

Dildy, D./Turner, G. (Illustr.): Battle of Britain 1940. The Luftwaffe's "Eagle Attack" 19,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:10:15 +0200

In August 1940, the Luftwaffe began an operation to destroy or neutralize RAF Fighter Command, and enable Hitler to invade Britain that autumn. It was a new type of air warfare: the first-ever offensive counter-air campaign against an integrated air defence system.
Powerful, combat-proven and previously all-conquering, the German air force had the means to win the Battle of Britain. Yet it did not. Based on original documents and fresh analysis by a long-term student of the campaign, Doug Dildy argues persuasively that it was the Luftwaffes own mistakes and failures that led to its defeat, and kept alive the Allies chance to ultimately defeat Nazi Germany.

Aloni, Shlomo/Tooby, Adam: Six-Day War 1967. The devastating first strikes that won the Israel air supremacy 16,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:10:15 +0200

The story of how the Israeli Force achieved one of the most audacious and important air power victories in history, wiping out enemy air forces more than twice its own size in a single morning.
This new illustrated study examines the planning, execution and aftermath of Operation Focus showing how it not only effectively won the Six Day War for Israel, but also impacted military thinking - in the Middle East and all over the globe - so profoundly that military leaders' perceptions of air superiority were practically transformed in its wake, signalling a turning point in the Cold War. The Israeli Air Force's Operation Focus was not only a watershed in the history of the modern Middle East but was one of the greatest and most effective air superiority campaigns ever waged. On a single morning, almost the entire IAF was committed to a surprise, preemptive airstrike against the air forces of the encircling Arab states. The attack was extraordinarily successful. Hundreds of Arab aircraft were destroyed, their airfields crippled, and the IAF gained almost complete air supremacy for the rest of the war.

The perception of air superiority was virtually transformed and signalled a turning point in the Cold War. The Israeli Air Force's Operation Focus was not only a turning point in the history of the modern Middle East, but also one of the largest and most effective air superiority battles ever conducted. In a single morning, almost the entire Israeli Air Force was launched on a surprise air attack against the air forces of neighbouring Arab states. The attack was extraordinarily successful. Hundreds of Arab aircraft were destroyed, their airfields rendered unusable, and the Israeli Air Force gained almost complete air supremacy for the rest of the war.

Worrall, Richard/Graham, Turner (Illustr.): Battle of Berlin 1943-44. Bomber Harris' Gamble to End the War 16,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0200

This illustrated study explores, in detail, the controversial Battle of Berlin -- RAF Bomber Command's costly, brutal attempt to prove that strategic bombing alone could bring an end to World War II. Throughout late-1943 into early-1944, an epic struggle raged over the skies of Germany between RAF Bomber Command and the Luftwaffe. This campaign had been undertaken by the Commander-in-Chief Bomber Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, and was baptized "The Battle of Berlin." The Berlin campaign was a hard, desperate slog. Struggling against dreadful and bitter winter weather, Bomber Command "went" to Berlin a total of sixteen times, suffering increasingly severe losses throughout the winter of 1943/44 in the face of a revitalized German air-defense. The campaign remains controversial and the jury, even today, is ultimately undecided as to what it realistically achieved. Illustrated throughout with full-color artwork depicting the enormous scale of the campaign, this is the story of the RAF's much debated attempt to win the war through bombing alone

This campaign was carried out by the commander-in-chief of the British bomber command, Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, and went down in military history as the "Battle of Berlin". The air offensive against Berlin was a failure. The British bombers fought their way to Berlin a total of 16 times in bad winter weather and suffered increasingly heavy losses during this time due to the revitalised German air defences. The campaign remains controversial and experts are still undecided as to what this bomber offensive actually achieved. Illustrated throughout with full-colour illustrations, some full-page, showing the enormity of the campaign, this is the story of the Royal Air Force's much-debated attempt to win the war by the sheer might of its bomber fleet.

Zaloga, Steven J./Noon, Steve (Illustr.): Ploesti 1943. The Great Raid on Hitler's Romanian Oil Refineries 16,95 €

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 06:30:07 +0200

A new study of one of the most famous, costly, and strategically vital air operations of World War II, the United States' great airstrike against Nazi Germany's oil refineries. Operation Tidal Wave was one of the boldest and most controversial air raids by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). At the time, the Romanian Ploesti oil fields produced about a third of all Axis oil, and was Germany's single most important fuel source. In the summer of 1943, the USAAF decided to stage a major raid on Ploesti from air bases in Libya. The resulting Operation Tidal Wave raid on 1 August 1943 was one of the costliest to date, losing 53 aircraft, about a third of the starting force. Of the more than 150 bombers that took part in the raid, only 88 B-24s returned to Libya, 55 of which were damaged. On the other hand, of the 17 Medals of Honor awarded to US soldiers and airmen from Pearl Harbor in 1941 to D-Day in 1944, 5 were awarded to pilots of the Tidal Wave mission in recognition of their extraordinary performance. Although undoubtedly bold and heroic, the mission had questionable results. Initial assessments argued that the mission caused 40% of the refinery capacity at Ploesti to be lost but subsequent studies concluded that the damage was quickly repaired and that output had exceeded August levels within a month. This new study examines the raid in detail, exploring the reasons why its dubious success came at such a high price. Supported by maps, diagrams, and full-color artwork including battlescenes and bird's-eye-views, this is the full story of the audacious Ploesti raid of 1943.

In the summer of 1943, the USAAF decided to carry out a major air raid on Ploesti from its air bases in Libya. The resulting operation "Tidal Wave" on 1 August 1943 was one of the USAAF's heaviest loss operations to date, with 53 aircraft lost in the mission, about a third of the starting strength. Of the more than 150 bombers that took part in the air raid, only 88 B-24s returned to Libya, 55 of which were damaged. On the other hand, of the 17 U.S. Congressional Medals of Honour awarded to U.S. servicemen and airmen between Pearl Harbor 1941 and Pearl Harbor D-Day 1944, five were awarded to pilots of Operation Tidal Wave in recognition of their extraordinary achievement. Although undoubtedly courageous and heroic, the mission had questionable results. Initial assessments claimed that 40% of the refinery capacity at Ploesti was lost as a result of the mission, but subsequent studies concluded that the damage was quickly repaired and production had exceeded August levels within a month. This new study examines the air raid in detail and explores the reasons why its dubious success was so costly. Supported by maps, diagrams and colour illustrations, including operational scenes and bird's-eye views, this is the full story of the daring Ploesti raid of 1943.

Stille, Mark/Laurier, Jim (Illustr.): Guadalcanal 1942-43. Japan's Bid to Knock Out Henderson Field and the Cactus Air Force 16,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0200

This new title tells the story of Japan's long-range air campaign to destroy the "Cactus Air Force" on Guadalcanal, why Henderson Field was so vital to both sides, and how the Allies defeated the previously all-conquering Japanese. The campaign for Guadalcanal, which stretched from August 1942 until February 1943, centered on Henderson Field. The airfield was captured by the US on 8 August and placed into operation by 20 August. As long as the airfield was kept operational and stocked with sufficient striking power, the Japanese could not run convoys with heavy equipment and large amounts of supplies to the island. Instead, they were forced to rely on night runs by destroyers which could not carry enough men or supplies to shift the balance decisively against the American garrison on the island. The American air contingent on the island, named the "Cactus Air Force," comprised Marine, Navy and Army Air Force units. It had the challenging mission of defending the airfield against constant Japanese attacks, and more importantly, of striking major Japanese attempts to reinforce the island. The mission of neutralizing Henderson Field fell primarily to the Imperial Navy's Air Force flying out of airfields in the Rabaul area. The units charged with this mission were among the most accomplished in the entire Imperial Navy with a high proportion of very experienced pilots and a superb air superiority fighter (the famous "Zero"). However, the distance from Rabaul to Guadalcanal handicapped Japanese operations and their primary bomber was terribly vulnerable to interception. This book traces the air campaign from both sides and explores the factors behind the American victory and the Japanese defeat. The text is supported by full-color illustrations and contemporary photography.

As long as the airfield was operational and sufficiently resourced, the Japanese could not bring convoys of heavy equipment and large quantities of supplies into position on the island. Instead, they had to rely on night runs of destroyers that could not carry enough men or supplies to gain a sufficient numerical advantage over the Americans. The American air force on the island, called the "Cactus Air Force", consisted of Navy, Marine Corps and Army aviation units. It had the challenging task of defending the airfield against constant Japanese attacks and, more importantly, thwarting Japanese attempts to reinforce the island's garrison. The mission to neutralise Henderson Field fell primarily to the air forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy operating from airfields in the Rabaul area. The units tasked with this mission were among the most successful in the entire Imperial Japanese Navy, with a high proportion of highly experienced pilots and an excellent fighter aircraft, the famous "Zero". However, the distance from Rabaul to Guadalcanal hampered Japanese air operations and the main Japanese bomber ("Betty) was extremely vulnerable to attack by enemy fighters. This book traces the air operations of both sides and examines the factors behind the American victory and the Japanese defeat. The text is supported by colour illustrations and contemporary photographs.

Michael III., Marshall/Laurier, Jim (Illustr.): Schweinfurt-Regensburg 1943. Eighth Air Force's costly "double strike" 16,95 €

Sat, 30 May 2026 07:20:05 +0200

In 1943, the USAAF and RAF launched the Combined Bomber Offensive, designed to systematically destroy the industries that the German war machine relied on. At the top of the hit list were aircraft factories and plants making ball-bearings - a component thought to be a critical vulnerability. Schweinfurt in southern Germany was home to much of the ball-bearing industry and, together with the Messerschmitt factory in Regensburg, which built Bf 109 fighters, it was targeted in a huge and innovative strike. Precision required that the targets were hit in daylight, but the raid was beyond the range of any existing escort fighter, so the B-17s would go in unprotected. The solution was to hit the two targets in a coordinated 'double-strike', with the Regensburg strike hitting first, drawing off the defending Luftwaffe fighters, and leaving the way clear for the Schweinfurt bombers. The Regensburg force would carry on over the Alps to North Africa, the first example of US 'shuttle bombing'. Although the attack on Regensburg was successful, the damage to Schweinfurt only temporarily stalled production, and the Eighth Air Force had suffered heavy losses. It would take a sustained campaign, not just a single raid, to cripple the Schweinfurt works. However, when a follow-up raid was finally launched two months later, the losses sustained were even greater, and nearly a thousand US airmen were killed on the two operations. This title details the 'double strike' in full, exploring the tactics, aircraft, and events of this historic mission.

Precision required that the targets be approached in daylight, but the attack was beyond the range of the available escort fighters, so the American B-17s had to fly in unprotected. This "Osprey" title describes the "double strike" in detail, examining the tactics, aircraft and events of this historic mission.

Lardas, Mark: Battle of the Atlantic 1939-41. RAF Coastal Command's Years of Struggle Against the U-Boats 16,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:10:15 +0200

This is the David-and-Goliath story of how RAF Coastal Command battled with outdated aircraft against the deadly U-boat fleet during the crucial first years of World War II. In his six-volume series The Second World War, Winston Churchill wrote "The only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril." But initially, everyone was surprised at the efficient of the submarines. Sonar proved less effective a detection method than the British had predicted; surface attack made the U-boat invisible, especially at night; and wolf-pack tactics overwhelmed convoy escorts. Only faulty German torpedoes and the restricted number of available U-boats limited their success. Astonishingly, Britain had the major piece of the solution to the U-Boat threat from the opening days of World War II: the antisubmarine aircraft. If it had been used assiduously and effectively in the first months of the war, Britain might have won the Battle of the Atlantic in its first year. Instead, the opportunity was missed and the Battle of the Atlantic continued until Germany's surrender in May 1945. This title examines the role played by aircraft in the early years of the Battle of the Atlantic. Highlighting their success when employed effectively, the book follows these early operations to show how and why aircraft were initially misused. It also traces the development of technologies which made aircraft more effective submarine killers including radar and depth charges.

Corum, James S./Turner, Graham (Illustr.): Legion Condor 1936-39. The Luftwaffe learns Blitzkrieg in the Spanish Civil War 16,95 €

Wed, 27 May 2026 06:30:06 +0200

The bombing of Guernica has become a symbol of Nazi involvement in the Spanish Civil War, but the extent of the German commitment is often underestimated. The Luftwaffe sent 20000 officers and men to Spain from 1936 to 1939, and the Condor Legion carried out many missions in support of the Spanish Nationalist forces and played a lead role in many key campaigns of the war. Aircraft that would play a significant role in the combat operations of World War II (the Heinkel 11 bomber, the Me 109 fighter, and others) saw their first action in Spain, fighting against the modern Soviet fighters and bombers that equipped the Republican Air Force. Condor Legion bombers attacked Republican logistics and transport behind the lines as well as bombing strategic targets, German bombers and fighters provided highly effective close air support for the front-line troops, and German fighters and anti-aircraft units ensured Nationalist control of the air.

The experience garnered in Spain was very important to the development of the Luftwaffe. The war allowed them to hone and develop their tactics, train their officers, and to become the most practised air force in the world at conducting close support of ground troops. In effect, the Spanish Civil War proved to be the training ground for the Blitzkrieg which would be unleashed across Europe in the years that followed. In this rigorous new analysis, Legion Condor expert James Corum explores both the history and impact of the Luftwaffe's engagement during the Spanish Civil War and the role that engagement played in the development of the Luftwaffe strategy which would be used to such devastating effect in the years that followed.

The experience gained in Spain was of great importance for the development of the Luftwaffe. The war enabled them to refine their tactics, train their officers and in this way become the most battle-hardened air force in the world when it came to providing close support to ground troops. Indeed, the Spanish Civil War proved to be a training ground for the blitzkrieg that would be unleashed across Europe in the years that followed. In this latest analysis, expert James Corum examines both the history and the impact of the German Luftwaffe's involvement during the Spanish Civil War and the role this involvement played in developing the air force strategy that would lead to such devastating effects in the years that followed.

Worrall, Richard/Turner, Graham (Illustr.): The Italian Blitz 1940-43. Bomber Command's strategic campaign south of the Alps 16,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0200

Between June 1940 and August 1943, RAF Bomber Command undertook a little-known strategic bombing campaign in Europe. The target was Mussolini's Italy. This air campaign was a key part of the strategic policy of Britain from 1940 to 1943, which aimed at securing Italy's early surrender. However, it posed unique challenges, not least of which was Italy's natural defences of distance and the Alps. The bombing campaign against Italy can be divided into a number of phases, with each one having its own specific goals such as affecting Italian war production or hindering the Italian Navy's war in the Mediterranean. However, each also furthered the ultimate aim of forcing Italy's final capitulation, demonstrating that the tactic of area-bombing was not just about the destruction of an enemy's cities, as it could also fulfil wider strategic and political objectives. Indeed, the intensity and frequency of attack was greatly controlled, and the heavy bombing of Italy was only ever sanctioned by Britain's civilian war leaders to achieve both military and political goals. The issue of target-selection was also subject to a similar political restriction; cities and ports like Milan, Turin, Genoa and La Spezia were sanctioned under an official Directive, but other places, such as Verona, Venice, Florence and, above all, Rome, remained off-limits. This fascinating title from British strategic and military history expert Dr Richard Worrall explores the political, motivational and strategic challenges of the campaign in full. His thorough analysis and meticulous research is supported by specially commissioned artwork, maps, and contemporary photographs.

This fascinating title by British strategic and military historian Dr Richard Worrall fully illuminates the political and strategic challenges of the British air war campaign against Italy. His thorough analysis and meticulous research is supported by specially commissioned colour illustrations, contemporary photographs and maps.

Davies, Peter E./Tooby, Adam (Illustr.): Ho Chi Minh Trail 1964-73. Steel Tiger, Barrel Roll, and the secret air wars in Vietnam and Laos 16,95 €

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:25:05 +0200

The Trails War formed a major part of the so-called "secret war" in South East Asia, yet for complex political reasons, including the involvement of the CIA, it received far less coverage than campaigns like "Rolling Thunder" and "Linebacker". Nevertheless, the campaign had a profound effect on the outcome of the war and on its perception in the USA. In the north, the "Barrel Roll" campaign was often operated by daring pilots flying obsolete aircraft, as in the early years, U.S. forces were still flying antiquated piston-engined T-28 and A-26A aircraft. The campaign gave rise to countless heroic deeds by pilots like the "Raven" forward air controllers, operating from primitive airstrips in close contact with fierce enemy forces. USAF rescue services carried out extremely hazardous missions to recover aircrew who would otherwise have been swiftly executed by Pathet Lao forces, and reconnaissance pilots routinely risked their lives in solo, low-level missions over hostile territory. Further south, the "Steel Tiger" campaign was less covert. "Arc Light" B-52 strikes were flown frequently, and the fearsome AC-130 was introduced to cut the trails. At the same time, many thousands of North Vietnamese troops and civilians repeatedly made the long, arduous journey along the trail in trucks or, more often, pushing French bicycles laden with ammunition and rice. Under constant threat of air attack and enduring heavy losses, they devised extremely ingenious means of survival. The campaign to cut the trails endured for the entire Vietnam War but nothing more than partial success could ever be achieved by the USA. This illustrated title explores the fascinating history of this campaign, analysing the forces involved and explaining why the USA could never truly conquer the Ho Chi Minh trail.

The book looks at the secret air operations of the CIA and American special forces against the Ho Chi Minh Trail as well as the massive and controversial bombings by American B-52 bombers in Laos and Cambodia or the missions of the dreaded AC-130 gunships.

Stille, Mark/Laurier, Jim (Illustr.): Malaya & Dutch East Indies 1941-42. Japan's air power shocks the world 16,95 €

Sun, 31 May 2026 07:20:05 +0200

Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 was quickly followed by a rapid invasion of Malaya, a plan based entirely on the decisive use of its airpower. While the British was inadequately prepared, they likewise relied on the RAF to defend their colony. The campaign was a short match between Japanese airpower at its peak and an outgunned colonial air force, and its results were stunning. The subsequent Dutch East Indies campaign was even more dependent on airpower, with Japan having to seize a string of island airfields to support their leapfrog advance. Facing the Japanese was a mixed bag of Allied air units, including the Dutch East Indies Air Squadron and the U.S. Far East Air Force. The RAF fell back to airfields on Sumatra in the last stages of the Malaya campaign, and was involved in the last stages of the campaign to defend the Dutch colony. For the first time, this study explores these campaigns from an airpower perspective, explaining how and why the Japanese were so devastatingly effective.

Lardas, M./Postlethwaite, M. (Illustr.): Rabaul 1943-44. Reducing Japan's great island fortress 15,95 €

Sat, 30 May 2026 07:20:05 +0200

In 1942, the massive Japanese naval and air base at Rabaul was a fortress standing on the road to Tokyo. It was impossible to seize Rabaul, or starve the 100,000-strong garrison out. Instead the US-led Allies began an innovative, hard-fought air campaign to draw Rabauls teeth, and allow them to bypass the island completely. Avoiding a costly invasion, they would gradually destroy Japans offensive capabilities on Rabaul, and then rely on air power to keep Rabaul out of the war. But Rabaul was a tough, hugely fortified target for pilots and aviators to fly against. Mark Lardas explains how this legendary air campaign was conceived and fought, and how its success provided a roadmap for the rest of the Pacific War.

Konstam, Angus: Sinking Force Z 1941. The day the Imperial Japanese Navy killed the battleship 16,95 €

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:50:14 +0200

In late 1941, war was looming with Japan, and Britain's empire in southeast Asia was at risk. The British government decided to send Force Z, which included the state-of-the-art battleship "Prince of Wales" and the battlecruiser "Repulse", to bolster the naval defences of Singapore, and provide a mighty naval deterrent to Japanese aggression. These two powerful ships arrived in Singapore on 2 December - five days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But crucially, they lacked air cover. On 9 December Japanese scout planes detected Force Z's approach in the Gulf of Thailand. Unlike at Pearl Harbor, battleships at sea could manoeuvre, and their anti-aircraft defences were ready. But it did no good. The Japanese dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers were the most advanced in the world, and the battle was one-sided. Strategically, the loss of Force Z was a colossal disaster for the British, and one that effectively marked the end of its empire in the East. But even more importantly, the sinking marked the last time that battleships were considered to be the masters of the ocean. From that day on, air power rather than big guns would be the deciding factor in naval warfare.

The decisive factor, however, was that they lacked cover from the air. On 9 December, Japanese reconnaissance aircraft detected the approach of Force Z in the Gulf of Thailand. Unlike Pearl Harbor, battleships could manoeuvre at sea and their air defences were ready. But it did them no good. The Japanese dive bombers and torpedo bombers were the most advanced in the world, and the battle was one-sided. Strategically, the loss of Force Z was a colossal disaster for the British, signalling the end of their empire in the east. More importantly, however, the sinking of the two capital ships clearly signalled the end of the battleship's dominance at sea. From that day on, air power rather than big guns would be the decisive factor in naval warfare.

Lardas, Mark/Groult, Edouard A. (Illustr.): Battle of the Atlantic 1942-45. The climax of World War II’s greatest naval campaign 16,95 €

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:50:14 +0200

As 1942 opened, both Germany and the Allies were ready for the climactic battles of the Atlantic to begin. Germany had 91 operational U-boats, and over 150 in training or trials. Production for 1942-44 was planned to exceed 200 boats annually. Karl Dönitz, running the Kriegsmarine's U-boat arm, would finally have the numbers needed to run the tonnage war he wanted against the Allies. Meanwhile, the British had, at last, assembled the solution to the U-boat peril. Its weapons and detection systems had improved to the stage that maritime patrol aircraft could launch deadly attacks on U-boats day and night. Airborne radar, Leigh-lights, Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) and the Fido homing torpedo all turned the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft into a submarine-killer, while shore and ship-based technologies such as high-frequency direction finding and signals intelligence could now help aircraft find enemy U-boats. Following its entry into the war in 1941, the United States had also thrown its industrial muscle behind the campaign, supplying VLR "Liberator" bombers to the RAF and escort carriers to the Royal Navy. The US Navy also operated anti-submarine patrol blimps and VLR aircraft in the southern and western Atlantic, and sent its own escort carriers to guard convoys. This book, the second of two volumes, explores the climactic events of the Battle of the Atlantic, and reveals how air power - both maritime patrol aircraft and carrier aircraft - ultimately proved to be the Allies' most important weapon in one of the most bitterly fought naval campaigns of World War II.

This book, the second of two volumes on Allied air operations in the "Battle of the Atlantic", examines the highlights of this important World War II conflict from the US entry into the war to 1945, showing how Allied air superiority, in the form of land-based maritime patrol aircraft and carrier-based anti-submarine warfare aircraft, ultimately tipped the balance in the fierce Battle of the Atlantic.

Corum, James S./Turner, Graham (Illustr.): Norway 1940. The Luftwaffe’s Scandinavian Blitzkrieg 16,95 €

Fri, 22 May 2026 06:45:09 +0200

The German invasion of Norway was a pivotal moment in modern warfare, the first joint campaign that featured air power as an equal element of all operations. It was, in fact, the superior use of their air force that gave the Germans the decisive margin of victory and ensured the failure of the Allied counter-offensive in central Norway in April and May 1940. All aspects of air power were employed in Norway, from long-range bombing and reconnaissance to air transport, with the Luftwaffe's ability to transport large numbers of troops and supply ground forces over great distances being particularly important. Norway was the first campaign in history in which key targets were seized by airborne forces, and the first in which air superiority was able to overcome the overwhelming naval superiority of an enemy. Researched from primary sources, this engaging history by air power expert Dr. James Corum skilfully draws out where and why air power made the difference in Norway, and analyses the campaign's influence on the coming months and years of World War II.

The author shows how, where and why the German Luftwaffe made the difference in Norway and analyses the impact of the campaign on the coming months and years of the Second World War.

Noppen, Ryan K./Tooby, Adam (Illustr.): Holland 1940. The Luftwaffe's first setback in the West 16,95 €

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:45:06 +0200

The German invasion of the Netherlands was meant to be a lightning-fast surgical strike, aimed at shoring up the right flank of the assault on France and Belgium. With a bold plan based largely on Luftwaffe air power, air-landing troops and the biggest airborne assault yet seen, a Dutch surrender was expected within 24 hours. But the Netherlands possessed Europe's first fully integrated anti-aircraft network, as well as modern and competitive aircraft. On 10 May, the German attack was only partly successful, and the Dutch fought on for another four days. On the fifth day, with its original strategy having largely failed, the Luftwaffe resorted to terror-bombing Rotterdam to force a surrender. Explaining the technical capabilities and campaign plans of the two sides, and charting how the battles were fought, this fascinating book reassesses this little-known part of World War II. Author Ryan K. Noppen argues that while the Holland campaign was a tactical victory for Germany, the ability of the well-prepared but outnumbered Dutch to inflict heavy losses was a warning of what would come in the Battle of Britain.

Worrall, Richard/Turner, Graham (Illustr.): The Ruhr 1943. The RAF’s brutal fight for Germany's industrial heartland 16,95 €

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0200

Between March and July 1943, RAF Bomber Command undertook its first concentrated bombing campaign, the Battle of the Ruhr, whose aim was nothing less than the complete destruction of the industry that powered the German war machine. Often overshadowed by the famous "Dambusters" single-raid attack on the Ruhr dams, the Battle of the Ruhr proved much larger and much more complex. The mighty, industrial Ruhr region contained not only some of the most famous and important arms makers, such as the gunmakers Krupp of Essen, but also many other industries that the German war economy relied on, from steelmakers to synthetic oil plants. Being such a valuable target, the Ruhr was one of the most heavily defended regions in Europe. This book examines how the brutal Ruhr campaign was conceived and fought, and how Bomber Command's relentless pursuit of its objective drew it into raids on targets well beyond the Ruhr, from the nearby city of Cologne to the Skoda works in Czechoslovakia. Drawing on a wide-range of primary and secondary sources, this is the story of the first titanic struggle in the skies over Germany between RAF Bomber Command and the Luftwaffe.

Based on a variety of primary and secondary sources, this is the story of the first major battle in the skies over Germany between RAF Bomber Command and the German Luftwaffe.

Hallion, Richard P./Tooby, Adam: Desert Storm 1991. The most shattering air campaign in history 16,95 €

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:10:07 +0200

The combat phase of the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, was 43 days long. This consisted of a 39-day air campaign followed by a four-day armoured mechanized assault. Together they shattered what had been the world's fourth-largest army and sixth-largest air force, and overturned conventional military assumptions about the effectiveness and value of air power. In this book, author Richard P. Hallion, one of the world's foremost experts on air warfare, explains why Desert Storm was a revolutionary victory, a war won with no single climatic battle. Instead, victory came thanks to a rigorously planned campaign, which opened with a devastating night of attacks that shattered Iraq's advanced air defence system, and allowed follow-on strikes in the subsequent weeks to savage Iraq's military infrastructure and troops in the field - largely by destroying capabilities and equipment, without massive loss of life. When the Coalition tanks finally rolled into Iraq, to widespread Iraqi surrenders, it was less an assault than an occupation. The rapid victory of Desert Storm, which surprised many observers, led to widespread military reform as the world's advanced militaries saw the new capabilities of precision air power. The military world that we live in today reflects, to a large degree, the transformation of military power heralded by the air campaign of the 1991 Gulf War.

Instead, the coalition's victory was due to a carefully planned air campaign that began with a devastating night of airstrikes that took out Iraq's advanced air defence system. The subsequent attacks in the weeks that followed permanently destroyed Iraq's military infrastructure and gradually decimated its forces in Iraq and Kuwait.