The Berlin Raids: R.A.F. Bomber Command Winter 1943/44

by Martin Middlebrook

The Battle of Berlin was the longest and most sustained bombing offensive against one target of World War II. 19 major raids between August 1943 and March 1944 and more than 10,000 aircraft sorties dropped over 30,000 tons of bombs on Berlin. The city was not destroyed, however, and the RAF lost over 600 aircraft and their crews. The controversy over whether the battle was a success or failure has continued to this day. The author has interviewed more than 400 people in this study in an attempt to bring together both sides of the story - the tactics of the bombing force and the experiences of ordinary people in the target city. The battle is described month by month, and tactical factors that helped first the bombers and then the night fighters are identified. The experiences of the people of Berlin are also recounted, showing how bombs destroyed homes and families, affected morale and reduced the German war effort. Martin Middlebrook is the author of many books on military history including "The First Day on the Somme", "The Bomber Command War" and "Operation Corporate", a study of the Falklands War.

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

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Martin Middlebrook was a British military historian and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Appointed Knight of the Order of the Belgian Crown in 2004.

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably not a beach read, but a detailed and thorough history of the "battle of Berlin". Lots of good stars in the notes.

[Chris Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

The problem was finding the target

After the successful bombing of Hamburg, it was downhill on the road to Berlin. The target was just much further and technology which had succeeded up to that point failed Bomber Command.
The tour of duty for a bomber crew was 60 missions and when this is combined with a casualty of 7% on every mission, it was not good odds.
Success on a bombing mission was setting fires in the target. At Berlin, this did not happen and bombs were often delivered only to the outskirts.
The reason I wanted to read this book was to take a look at the rationale Bomber Harris had in bombing Germany. His lack of success should have caused him to abandon the operation. Perhaps to even forego it.

[Joseph Langham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is yet another outstanding piece of research benefitting greatly from a wealth of personal testimony available at the time; its value can only increase as time goes on.

[David Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book from Middlebrook, with all his usual hallmarks: well researched, well organized, and with many passages in the participants own words. Where I generally gave his other books 5 stars, this one is perhaps too big a canvas. Rather than the one or two or three nights his other raid books span, this one covers months. As such, it seems a bit... diluted. So I "only" give it 4 stars.

[Jesper Jorgensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

For inexplicable reasons some books simply doesn't 'catch'. Unfortunately this book was a such for me. But, still, I got a bit wiser on RAF Bomber Commands 'Battle for Berlin'. So reading it was no wast of time after all

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

..

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Research

Very well done and evenly told.

The sheer numbers of air crew killed are appalling, how they went night after night is a true testament of courage and their story is told brilliantly in this book.
The story of the bombed Berlin civilians are the best and clearest reports I've read and makes you sad that they were in this position, regardless of whether they supported Hitler or not.

[George Wilson]

again, the futility of war. lives lost on both sides to little effect on the war.