Customer Reviews

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

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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!

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.