To Defeat the Few: The Luftwaffe’s campaign to destroy RAF Fighter Command, August–September 1940

by Douglas C. Dildy, Paul F. Crickmore

Over the past 80 years, histories of the Battle of Britain have consistently portrayed the feats of 'The Few' (as they were immortalized in Churchill's famous speech) as being responsible for the RAF's victory in the epic battle. However, this is only part of the story. The results of an air campaign cannot be measured in terms of territory captured, cities occupied or armies defeated, routed or annihilated. Successful air campaigns are those that achieve their intended aims or stated objectives. Victory in the Battle of Britain was determined by whether the Luftwaffe achieved its objectives. The Luftwaffe, of course, did not, and this detailed and rigorous study explains why. Analysing the battle in its entirety in the context of what it was – history's first independent offensive counter-air campaign against the world's first integrated air defence system – Douglas C. Dildy and Paul F. Crickmore set out to re-examine this remarkable conflict. Presenting the events of the Battle of Britain in the context of the Luftwaffe's campaign and RAF Fighter Command's battles against it, this title is a new and innovative history of the battle that kept alive the Allies' chances of defeating Nazi Germany.

691 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 9, 2020

About the author

Douglas C. Dildy is a US Air Force Academy graduate and retired US Air Force colonel with a degree in history. He attended the US Armed Forces Staff College and USAF Air War College and holds a Master's Degree in Political Science.

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly Researched & Excellent Photographs/Maps

Highly recommend “To Defeat the Few...” It is superbly researched, has excellent photographs and detailed maps. The Kindle experience is fantastic to pinch-out photos/maps to see greater details.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Defeat the Few: The Luftwaffe’s campaign to destroy RAF Fighter Command, August–September 1940 was an interesting read and I highly recommend it. Five plus stars.

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a great and very informative read.
There is quite a lot of fine details in this book as well.