Specialty Press

Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945: A Reference Source Volume 1

by  Henry L. de Zeng IV & Douglas G. Stankey

Reviewed By  James Kelley, IPMS# 42106

MSRP: $59.95 ISBN 10: 1857802799 ISBN 13: 9781857802795 www.specialtypress.com During the interwar years, both in Britain and Germany, some believed that bombers could expand the battlefield to the home front of their opponents, damaging morale and disrupting the means of production. The German Blitzkrieg relied heavily on the Luftwaffe's bomber force. From Spain to Barbarossa, the integration of the Kampfflieger forces into the overall strategy proved highly successful. However, once Germany was forced on the retreat, the tactics of the Luftwaffe's bomber forces changed from offensive to defensive actions. This is the first of two volumes providing highly detailed material on the organization of Luftwaffe bomber units in World War II. Each volume treats a number of Kampfgeschwader in numerical order. Presented in a 9 x 12" Hardback format, Volume I covers the units beginning with KG 1 and ending with KG 60. Each is presented in numerical order in its own chapter. As such, this comprehensive book covers some 50 bomber Geschwader together with their component Staff flights and Gruppen. It also deals with formations, designations, and reorganizations through to the end of the war, with locations, bases, and transfers. The book also includes a comprehensive breakdown of theatres of operations, key battles, and aircraft types that were flown by each unit. This volume has listings of commanders showing when and where they were in command. Each volume has numerous photos, many in color, depicting bombers in unit markings with close-ups of the unit emblems and badges. Volume I, specifically, has 208 pages, containing 400 color and B & W photos. As stated above, chapters are titled by Geschwader, and do not bear repeating of the list. KG.'s 1 through 60 are represented in this volume. Highly recommended. My thanks to Specialty Press for the review copy.

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