
Bombing Germany: The Final Phase
The Destruction of Pforzheim and the Closing Months of Bomber Command's War
Tony Redding(Author)
Pen & Sword Aviation (Publisher)
Published on 12. December 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-1-3990-1959-0 (ISBN)
Description
During 1942 and 1943 the striking power of RAF Bomber Command was transformed by the arrival of heavy bombers, advanced navigation and blind bombing systems, and new tactics to concentrate the bombers over the target and swamp the German defences. By October 1944 most of Germanys cities were in ruins, yet the bombing continued to intensify, reaching unprecedented levels in the final seven months of the air campaign. The value of further area raids was questioned during the opening months of 1945, yet the Allies destroyed the remaining cities in a bid to hasten the end of the war. The handful of German cities still largely unscathed in early February 1945 included Dresden, which was obliterated on 13 February. Ten days later, the South German city of Pforzheim was destined to suffer the same fate.
This book commemorates the efforts of the aircrew members who risked their lives, consolidating a host of intriguing first-hand accounts. It also considers Pforzheim as a representative community under National Socialist rule. The citys survivors remember the horror of the raid and its aftermath, including eventual occupation by French Colonial troops and, subsequently, American forces. Tony does an admirable job of presenting historical context when considering actions in times of extreme trauma and his narrative offers an intriguing, engaging and poignant evocation of the closing months of Bomber Commands war.
This book commemorates the efforts of the aircrew members who risked their lives, consolidating a host of intriguing first-hand accounts. It also considers Pforzheim as a representative community under National Socialist rule. The citys survivors remember the horror of the raid and its aftermath, including eventual occupation by French Colonial troops and, subsequently, American forces. Tony does an admirable job of presenting historical context when considering actions in times of extreme trauma and his narrative offers an intriguing, engaging and poignant evocation of the closing months of Bomber Commands war.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
South Yorkshire
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
100 black and white illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 158 mm
Width: 235 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
880 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3990-1959-0 (9781399019590)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Anthony Redding is a journalist and international specialist in the media aspects of emergency response. He is an aviation historian, with a particular interest in RAF Bomber Command. He is the author of Flying for Freedom: Life and Death in Bomber Command published by Cerberus Publishing in 2005.