Luftwaffe: Birth, Life and Death of An Air Force

Ballantine's Illustrated History of World War II / the Violent Century: Weapons Book #10

by Alfred Price, Adolf Galland (Introduction), Barrie Pitt (Editor-in-Chief)

From triumphant partner in the opening Blitzkrieg campaigns in the war to the last futile efforts to stem the inexorable Allied advance, the Luftwaffe waged a savage but honourable war against an enemy who eventually had overwhelming and irresistible forces.

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Luftwaffe: Birth, Life and Death of An Air Force is part of The Pan/Ballantine Illustrated History of World War II, and is Book #10 in the Weapons Book series.

Genres: History, World War II, War, Military History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1973

About the author

Alfred Price seved for 16 years as an aircrew officer in the Royal air Force where he specialised in electronic warfare and air fighting tactics.

He left the RAF in 1974 and thereafter he worked full time as a writer on aviation subjects.

He holds a PhD in history from Loughborough University and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Reviews

[Julio The Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermann Goering built up the most fearsome air corps in the history of the world, and then the Germans sacrificed it at the foot of the RAF and shortage of petrol. This is the story of invention, invasion, and collapse on the part of the German Air Force. Designed by Goering and Hitler as a "flying artillery" to support the Wermacht, it proved supremely advantageous in Poland, Scandinavia and above all France, and useless against the fighter planes of the RAF or carrying supplies to the army on the Eastern front. Demise was inevitable once the Allied bombers knocked out the "Achilles heel" of German oil production. Put this on the same shelf with David Irving's LIFE AND DEATH OF THE LUFTWAFFE.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in 1969, 'Luftwaffe' gives a brief but informative operational history of the Luftwaffe in WW2. Like many in this series, the book suffers from poorly reproduced photos with indifferent captioning, some of which a out of context as well. Nevertheless, the saving grace is the excellent text.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read chocked full with pictures and statistics. Narrative is chronological then capabilities.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short review of the enitre Luftwaffe during the whole course of the war. Touches on everything important (leadership, development, production, strategy,...) A good starting point for further study of the German airforce during WWII.