Two Roads to War
The French and British Air Arms from Versailles to Dunkirk
1st Edition
Published on 15. June 2012
448 pages
978-1-61251-085-9 (ISBN)
Description
Noted aviation historian Robin Higham has written this comparative study of the evolution of the French and British air arms from 1918 to 1940 to determine why the Armée de l'Air was defeated in June 1940 but the Royal Air Force was able to win the battle over Britain in September. After analyzing the structure, men, and matériel of the air arms, and the government and economic infrastructure of both countries, he concludes that the French force was dominated by the Armée de Terre, had no suitably powerful aero engines, and suffered from the chaos of French politics. In contrast, the independent RAF evolved into a sophisticated, scientifically based force, supported by consistent government practices. Higham's thorough examination, however, finds the British not without error.
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08/2012
Naval Institute Press
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Person
Robin Higham, a former RAF pilot, is the author of numerous books on aviation history. A resident of Manhattan, KS, he taught military history at Kansas State University for thirty-five years.
Content
- Intro
- Contents
- List of Tables
- List of Abbreviations
- Preface
- Introduction: France to 1940
- PART i Legacies of World War 1
- 1. Britain and France
- PART II The Interwar Years, 1918-1934
- 2. Postwar, 1918-1932
- 3. French and British Aircraft Industries, 1918-1934
- PART III The Road to War, 1932-1940
- 4. From the Advent of Hitler to War, 1933-1940
- 5. Technical Infrastructure, 1928-1940
- 6. On the Road to War, 1933-1940
- PART IV War, 1938-1940
- 7. Munich and the Phoney War, September 1938-10 May 1940
- Conclusions
- Epilogue
- Appendix I PRESIDENTS, MINISTERS, CHIEFS OF STAFF, FRANCE (1914-1940)
- Appendix II PRIME MINISTERS, FOREIGN SECRETARIES, AND AIR MINISTERS OF GREAT BRITAIN (1914-1940)
- Appendix III STRUCTURES DE L'ARMÉE DE L'AIR AU 1ER JUILLET 1934 (5 RÉGIONS AÉRIENNES)
- Appendix IV ORGANISATION GÉNÉRALE DE L'ARMÉE DE L'AIREN TEMPS DE PAIX
- Appendix V ORGANISATION TERRITORIALE
- Appendix VI ORGANISATION DE L'ARMÉE DE L'AIR AU 1ER JUILLET 1939
- Notes
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
