The Air War: 1939-1945 (Potomac Books' Cornerstones of Military History series) [Paperback]

Richard Overy (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cornerstones of Military History

Originally published in 1980 and still the best one-volume aerial history of World War II, Richard Overy’s classic work remains profound and highly origi-nal. Far from just an account of the various air battles, Professor Overy treats the air war as a complex and fascinating historical web, woven out of grand strategy, economic mobilization, the recruitment of science, and the nature of leadership and training. Analyzing the achievements and failures of the aerial component of the war, he places it in perspective by explaining the role aviation played in the overall conflict. He points out that while the Axis powers tended to limit their use of air power to one major role, such as support of ground forces, the Allies exploited all aspects of aerial doctrine: air defense, strategic bombardment, air-naval cooperation, and ground support. He also demonstrates how aircraft ensured that the Second World War became a people’s war and how success in the air war was, in a very real sense, a test of a nation’s modernity. The air war was won and lost not only in the skies but also in the factories and the research institutes. Finally, the author dispels many popular myths and in particular reveals that although air power in the form of strategic bombing by itself did not deter-mine the war’s final outcome, its use dramatically illustrated the complexities of managing modern war. Richard Overy’s The Air War thus deepens our under-standing not only of World War II but of military history in general.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Overy is one of the great historians of the second world war -- Bryan Appleyard Sunday Times This country's most distinguished historian of the Second World War ... Overy's book is easily the best account of Europe's descent into the death and destruction that were Hitler's element -- Michael Burleigh Evening Standard Nail-biting ... with rare narrative verve, he documents the ultimatums, emissaries, letters and increasingly desperate proposals that shuttled across Europe in the countdown to war -- Ian Thomson Independent Even those who think they know it all about how war broke out will learn something from Richard Overy's book -- Simon Heffer Literary Review One of the great historians of this conflict -- Simon Garfield Observer --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

RICHARD J. OVERY, D.Phil., is a professor of modern European history at King’s College, London. An award-winning historian, he has published numerous other books on World War II, including Why the Allies Won; The Battle of Britain: The Myth and the Reality; Interrogations: The Nazi Elite in Allied Hands, 1945; and Russia’s War: A History of the Soviet War Effort, 1941–1945. He lives in London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc.; 1 edition (September 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574887165
• ISBN-13: 978-1574887167
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treat- and consider this in the author's background, October 9, 2006

By 

S. M. Klauber "a history lover" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Air War: 1939-1945 (Potomac Books' Cornerstones of Military History series) (Paperback)

Richard Overy became a major historian of WWII (see his magnum opus on Hitler & Stalin) and this one catches him early career. Bottom line is that its a treat to have someone of Overy's ability & stature tackle this subject. This is not the type of subject that would normally attract a historian like Overy, and every serious WWII student should have this in his or her library. The fact that Overy wrote on subjects like this contributes to the very wide range of knowledge he now brings to his books. I just like the fact that someone who later wrote 1000 pages on Hitler & Stalin also knows the pros & cons of B-17's vs. B-24's.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent 1-volume summary of World War II aviation, February 4, 2008

By 

J. Rudy "Major, USAF" (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Air War: 1939-1945 (Potomac Books' Cornerstones of Military History series) (Paperback)

"The Air War" by Richard Overy is a one-volume historical comparison of the Axis and Allied powers' planning and prosecution of the air campaign during World War II. The book compares the air power strategies of each major power; the application of air power on the different fronts; the economic strategy of each major power; and concludes with a comparative analysis of the continuing scientific development for aviation.

The first section of the book outlines each nation's national aviation strategy, establishing the context for subsequent chapters. Overy addresses each of the major theaters of operation, and relates how the national aviation strategy and the doctrinal organizational structure developed. For example, readers are provided insight into Hitler and Goering's strategy, leaving little question as to why the Luftwaffe abandoned the Battle of Britain and transferred their forces to the Eastern Front. Readers may be surprised at the brevity of the battle descriptions, but the intent of this book is to establish the understanding of the strategic application of air power.

The chapter on aircraft production contrasts how the national aerospace strategies set the production priorities for each nation. Venturing further, it details production issues still applicable to production today, such as lack of standardization and the currying of political favor for immature technology. The Imperial Japanese Army and Navy did not share aircraft designs with each other, leading to a lack of standardization. Political lackeys curried favor with Adolph Hitler and Herman Goering, leading to unnecessary breaks in production. As an example of the unexpected content, the book even covers how the American government permitted aircraft manufacturers to calculate profit margins.

The final major section of the book comparatively analyzes scientific research & development, and the nascent field of air intelligence. This section intertwines the scientific advancements with the political environments of each nation, and relates this context back to the economic footing of each nation.

In 1996, the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force recommended the officer corps read this book, along with "Winged Victory: The Army air Forces during WW II", and "Into the Wild Blue", both of which provide detailed perspectives on the allied efforts in the European Theater of Operations (with a heavy Army Air Corps flavor). "The Air War" complements these detailed accounts by providing perspectives into the Axis powers strategy. It further develops the readers understanding of how the national aviation priorities affected aircraft manufacturing and scientific development.

With the plethora of books available detailing single aspects of World War II aviation, "The Air War" is unique in its single-volume summary of the issues.

4 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Reprint is flawed, September 10, 2007

By 

Randolph M. Siverson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Air War: 1939-1945 (Potomac Books' Cornerstones of Military History series) (Paperback)

This book is not the original. It is a restrike and it shows.
The font is broken in too many places, the print is small and the typos are too frequent to count. I suspect the real version reads more easily, but this is a struggle.