Customer Reviews

Air War Over Russia

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The author says the Russian used 500 new T-34 tanks in the battle for Khalkhin-Gol in Sept. of 1939, but the first production T-34 roll out Kharkov in Sept. 1940. Later in his book gives Germans lost about 6,000 against the British from August 1940 to June 1941. The German start the Battle of Britian with 2,600 aircraft. The German losses for Battle of Britian 1733 aircraft. So where did Germans lose the other 4,200 aircraft? Sure they fought in Yugoslavia, Greece, Malta, and North Africa. The German loses in these battles was not close to 4,200 aircraft.

The title for this book should be "Luftwaffe Air War Over Russia". Unfortunately, this book gives a lot about Luftwaffe and the information about the Soviet Counterpart is not fully complete and comprehensive. For example, the first and second Soviet air raids against Berlin on the evenings of August 7 and 8 under commander of Preobrazhenskiy (DB-3s and DB-3Fs) were a total success. However the attack on evening of August 10 under direction of Vodopyanov (TB-7s and Yer-2s) was a disaster from the onset. T-34 tank never been employed in Spain. It was developed in 1940. During the Spanish Civil War the Bf-109B and the I-16 where closely matched where Bf-109 was faster in the level flight and in dive, while the I-16 had a superior climb rate and maneuverability. Even at earlier stages of the war in Russia I-16 in good hand could seriously interfere with Me-109E and Me-110 during the engagements. And geographically, the region between Baltic Countries and Ukraine should be called Belorus and not White Russia.

Soviet Union has at the moment of the invasion probably the second strongest Air Force in the world (after Luftwaffe). Yak-1 fighter, Pe-2 bomber, and Il-2 Shturmovik were deadly witnesses to the USSR ability to produce equipment comparable to the best in the Third Reich's arsenal. Unfortunately, poor pilot training, wrong tactical deployment, lack of radio, and surprise attack on June 22, 1941 lead to the disaster at the earlier stages of Barbarossa. However, the Soviet Air Force was able to recover well both technically and tactically to strike back during the Moscow counteroffensive. Even at the latest stages of WW II Germany technologically was very strong and Goring tried to re-arm Jagdgeschwader (JG) two times during the WW II conflict (from Me-109 to FW-190, and finally to Me-262 jet fighter). Barbarossa and Stalingrad were just the beginning of the death of the Luftwaffe were it starting to lose independence on the Eastern Front, in practice involuntarily adopting the doctrine of its enemy. Obviously human, natural, and industrial resources as well as well know Russian stiff-necked stamina play key roles to the German final defeat. Quite a few skillful fighter pilots were developed during the conflict on the Russian side. Kozhedub (62 kills), Rechkalov (56 personal +5 shared), Pokryshkin (53+6), Shestakov (22+36), Gulaev (53+4), Alelykhin (40+17), Zaitsev (34+19), Baranov (24+28), Glinka (50), Klubov (31+19), Amet-Khan (30+19), Kleshchev (16+32), Safonov (25+14) are the most famous Russian aces of the Great Patriotic War.

I truly believe that Christen Bergstrom book series Black Cross Red Star are much better choice for the reader with one downside: it's very pricey. However, I have to admit that this particular book "Air War Over Russia" gives reasonable overview of the air war over the Russian Front in a single volume with maps, interesting/arguable discussions, and some times too ambition conclusions. It may have too much stressed on the ground operations compared to the air battles overall which should obviously always viewed together. Some detail dog fighter schemes (see Aircraft versus Aircraft by Norman Franks), bombers and attack air planes tactical deployment drawings alone with combined tables of technical data (engine power, weight, speed, range, armament, etc.) would be very helpful in the future, perhaps in the next edition.

The air war over the Eastern Front, which involved thousands of aircraft engaged in hundreds of separate campaigns over the Eurasian landmass, has been the subject of numerous books. Andrew Brookes' 2003 history is a short but insightful history which attempts to summarize the entire Russian Front conflict in just 152 pages. Brookes does a pretty fair job at that!

Though AIR WAR OVER RUSSIA contains a few first-person reminiscences, 80 photographs and numerous maps, I wouldn't term it a 'popular history' as such. Brookes' book is a more scholarly effort that concentrates on strategy, tactics, politics, and overall developments at the expense of turning-and-burning, yank-and-bank dogfight accounts.

Brookes does an excellent job summarizing the pre-war developments in Russia and Germany, the rise of the Luftwaffe and the Russian Air Force, how the differing natures of Hitler and Stalin affected their effectiveness as war leaders, Operation Barbarossa and subsequent air actions, the decline of the Luftwaffe and corresponding revival of the VVS, military commanders on both sides, the effect Germany's multi-front war had on Russian Front ops, etc. Along with relating frontline campaigns, Brookes examines maritime ops, strategic bombing, wartime production and so on.

As a handy, comprehensive summary of Eastern Front air warfare, AIR WAR OVER RUSSIA is hard to beat. While I am one of those who enjoy 'yank-and-bank,' I was impressed by Brookes' insights into the subject and the wide-ranging scope of his research. Recommended.