Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader of the Russian Front (Combat Aircraft) [Paperback]

John Weal (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Combat Aircraft | Publication Date: August 19, 2008

This final volume of the Osprey trilogy on the infamous Luftwaffe dive-bomber charts its fortunes in the toughest theater of all: the Eastern Front. The fearsome reputation that the Stuka had enjoyed in the opening months of World War II (1939-1945) was shattered over the English Channel in the summer of 1940 but was restored in the invasion of the Soviet Union. Against a demoralized enemy, the Ju 87 scored a string of spectacular successes, destroying infantry, artillery and armor alike and sinking numerous ships of the Soviet Baltic Fleet. In the far north one Stukagruppe concentrated on bombing the Arctic port of Murmansk and disrupting rail traffic down into the Russian hinterland. However, as the Soviet Union slowly gathered strength, the Stuka units found themselves outnumbered, outfought, and relegated to operating under cover of darkness. The days of the dive-bomber were finally over. The Schlacht, or ground-attack, aircraft now ruled the skies above the battlefields.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A final volume in the trilogy on the Junkers JU 87 Stuka, and recommended for collections with the prior books. The concluding history of the fighting aircraft surveys how its power was finally shattered during World War II, and makes for an outstanding survey." -California Bookwatch, November 2008

"The best titles in Osprery's Combat Aircraft and Aircraft of the Aces series are epitomised by those from the hand of John Weal. A hugely talented author and artist, Weal's unique talents and unrivalled understanding of the Luftwaffe ... [ensure] that his work represents the pinnacle of Luftwaffe research ... This book makes for superb reading and as a reference source for modellers presents huge potential." -Paul E. Eden, Scale Aircraft Modelling (November 2008)

"Specialty military collectons will find these new Osprey titles important, detailed references. John Weal's Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader of the Russian Front, for example, offers the final volume in a trilogy and is a recommended pick for those with the prior two, covering the aircraft that represented the Nazi Blitzkrieg and completing the publishers' history of the Luftwaffe's World War II bomber." -The California Bookwatch (October 2008)

"...another superlative book; one that I know will be a fun read and an inspiration to modelers and enthusiasts alike." -Scott Van Aken, Modeling Madness (August 2008)

About the Author

John Weal is Osprey's primary Luftwaffe author and artist. He possesses one of the largest private collections of original German-language literature from World War 2 and his research is based on this huge archive. Fluent in German, Weal has spent much time establishing contact with ex-members of the Luftwaffe, from General Staff Officers of the RLM to frontline aircrew. A freelance airbrush artist since the days of the monthly RAF Flying Review, he has illustrated some of the finest Luftwaffe profiles to date. The author lives in Berkshire, UK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (August 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184603308X
• ISBN-13: 978-1846033087
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.3 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,125,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK History of Stukas on the Eastern Front!, December 2, 2008

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader of the Russian Front (Combat Aircraft) (Paperback)

John Weal wraps up his three-volume history of the Stuka in WWII with this 2008 release from Osprey. Though many discounted the Stuka's viability after its drubbing in the Battle of Britain, the Ju 87 resoundingly proved its critics wrong by its performance on the Eastern Front as documented in this rather dry chronicle, #74 in Osprey's 'Combat Aircraft' series.

Junkers' crank-winged warbird spearheaded Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, time after time demonstrating its lethality by pounding Russian troop concentrations, armor, warships, etc. Yet there were never enough Stukas available so St.G 1, 2, 3, 77, etc. soon become 'fire brigades' shifted from crisis point to crisis point. Despite the best efforts of pilots like Rudel, Nordmann, Hozzel, Ennecerus, Kupfer and Sigel, nothing could stop the growing Soviet menace. Increasingly flying ground-support missions, the world's premier dive-bomber evolved into an anti-tank killer with its Ju 87G model. By 1944 FW 190 fighter-bombers had replaced Stukas but small numbers still flew combat till war's end.

Granted the author has a large canvas to cover but I still gave Weal's book three stars for several reasons. He devotes too much space to detailing ground actions. Eight pages are given over to Stuka use by Germany's allies (Bulgaria, Hungary, etc.) but it's wasted space since (1) they operated small numbers of Ju 87s and (2) didn't accomplish much with what they had! Lastly Weal includes a few first-person combat accounts but most are from Hans-Ulrich Rudel whose career has already been well-covered.

If you already have Volumes One and Two, you'll undoubtedly want to complete the set. By all means, pick up a copy. You may really enjoy it; I thought it missed its mark. Recommended with reservations.
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As an alternative, I'd recommend Peter Smith's two-volume Stuka history for Classic Publications. It features some of the same photos, has a more lively text and more frontline reminiscences. You might also compare Tom Tullis' Stuka profiles with those done by Weal; some are of the same bird!

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader of the Russian Front, March 25, 2009

By 

William L. Robinson (Elgin, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader of the Russian Front (Combat Aircraft) (Paperback)

Those who are familiar with the Osprey monographs already know what to expect, a compact but detailed presentation of a subject. The book has a very good text, great pictures and useful color renderings of the subject matter.