Battle of Britain 1940

The Luftwaffe’s ‘Eagle Attack’

Battle of Britain 1940 cover

Description

A new analysis of the Battle of Britain, told unusually from the perspective of the Luftwaffe, detailing its plans to crush Fighter Command and win the war with air power.

In August 1940, the Luftwaffe began an operation to destroy or neutralize RAF Fighter Command, and enable Hitler to invade Britain that autumn. It was a new type of air warfare: the first ever offensive counter-air campaign against an integrated air defence system. Powerful, combat-proven and previously all-conquering, the German air force had the means to win the Battle of Britain. Yet it did not.

This book is an original, rigorous campaign study of the Luftwaffe's Operation Adlerangriff, researched in Germany's World War II archives and using the most accurate data available. Doug Dildy explains the capabilities of both sides, sets the campaign in context, and argues persuasively that it was the Luftwaffe's own mistakes and failures that led to its defeat, and kept alive the Allies' chance to ultimately defeat Nazi Germany.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chronology
Attacker's Capabilities
Defender's Capabilities
Campaign Objectives
Order of Battle
The Campaign
Analysis
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published Jan 25 2018
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472820587
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 76 col
Series Air Campaign
Short code ACM 1
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Douglas C. Dildy

Douglas C. Dildy is a retired US Air Force colonel…

Illustrator

Graham Turner

Graham Turner is a leading historical artist, spec…

Resources

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