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The Rise Of The Luftwaffe
Ballantine books photo cover World War 2 Germany air power
403 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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63 people want to read
About the author
Herbert Molloy Mason Jr.
16 books3 followersHerbert M. Mason, Jr was a WWII veteran of the United States Marine Corp, journalist and military historian. During his lifetime he wrote fourteen books on topics as varied as the rise of the German Luftwaffe to Ants.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 27, 2016
Review originally published at Book of Bogan.
The Rise of the Luftwaffe concerns the fallout from the first world war, and follows the development of air power in Germany, and to a lesser degree the allied powers. The book is concerned mostly with the technological and political developments which contributed to the Luftwaffe's initial supremacy throughout the late 1930s, and the first few years of the Second World War.
If you are looking for a book which is a comprehensive history of the air war, this is definitely not the book for you - this book concerns itself with the people behind the scenes, rather than the traditional 'heroes' of the story who are the aces.
From the title of the book, one shouldn't be surprised that it basically stops around the start of the Battle of Britain, although it summarises the Luftwaffe's failings in the latter two-thirds of the war. It does not however seek to mythologise either Blitzkrieg tactics, or the Luftwaffe in general, and is at times quite brutally honest.
I found that it was an interesting look at the people who were behind the scenes, and were responsible for the development of the Luftwaffe. It covered some material I had not read before, and was very well-written.
I received a review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Rise of the Luftwaffe concerns the fallout from the first world war, and follows the development of air power in Germany, and to a lesser degree the allied powers. The book is concerned mostly with the technological and political developments which contributed to the Luftwaffe's initial supremacy throughout the late 1930s, and the first few years of the Second World War.
If you are looking for a book which is a comprehensive history of the air war, this is definitely not the book for you - this book concerns itself with the people behind the scenes, rather than the traditional 'heroes' of the story who are the aces.
From the title of the book, one shouldn't be surprised that it basically stops around the start of the Battle of Britain, although it summarises the Luftwaffe's failings in the latter two-thirds of the war. It does not however seek to mythologise either Blitzkrieg tactics, or the Luftwaffe in general, and is at times quite brutally honest.
I found that it was an interesting look at the people who were behind the scenes, and were responsible for the development of the Luftwaffe. It covered some material I had not read before, and was very well-written.
I received a review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2024
Readable, if grossly outdated and lacking in substance. The book does not offer a good overview over the Luftwaffe's history and at certain points reads like nazi apologia.
Historical figures such as Udet and Goering are portrayed in an undeservingly positive light, while much implicit criticism is levelled against the Western Allies. The book, despite claiming to cover the Nazi Air Force's history up to the end of the Second World War, wholly ignores the eastern front (the german invasion of the USSR), essentially cutting off at 1940/41 and merely describing the final destruction of the Luftwaffe at the hands of allied forces.
Historical figures such as Udet and Goering are portrayed in an undeservingly positive light, while much implicit criticism is levelled against the Western Allies. The book, despite claiming to cover the Nazi Air Force's history up to the end of the Second World War, wholly ignores the eastern front (the german invasion of the USSR), essentially cutting off at 1940/41 and merely describing the final destruction of the Luftwaffe at the hands of allied forces.
August 30, 2023
Dated, particularly when it comes to describing the opening months of WW2 (9/39 to 6/40). Oddly biased against Churchill.
Kindle edition (scanned from the Dial Press printing) has bad character translation (He-111 becomes He-m, and so on). Kindle edition has no photos.
Kindle edition (scanned from the Dial Press printing) has bad character translation (He-111 becomes He-m, and so on). Kindle edition has no photos.
August 27, 2017
A fascinating insight into the birth and early years of the Luftwaffe.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews