The Last Year of the Luftwaffe: May 1944 to May 1945

by Alfred Price

Overview

A historian analyzes Nazi Germany’s air force during its final year before Allied forces brought an end to World War II in Europe.

The Last Year of the Luftwaffe is the story of a once all-conquering force struggling to stave off an inevitable and total defeat. This book gives a complete account of Luftwaffe operations during the last twelve months of the fighting in Europe—including the dramatic Bodenplatte (or “Baseplate”) offensive over the Ardennes in December, 1944.

In this comprehensive examination of Hitler’s air force, Dr. Alfred Price examines its state from May, 1944, to May, 1945, analyzing not only the forces available to it, but also the likely potential, and impact, of new aircraft and weapons systems. He also assesses the Luftwaffe’s High Command’s performance and the effect of Allied attacks and operations.

In doing so he rejects several long-standing myths, clarifies the impact of the jet and rocket fighters, and demonstrates that the Luftwaffe performed as well as could be expected under the harsh circumstances of fighting a losing war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848328679
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	01/31/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	233,559
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Dr Alfred Price, FRHist, has published nearly fifty books on aviation subjects, including Battle of Britain Day, The Last Year of the Luftwaffe, War in the Fourth Dimension, Target Berlin and Targeting the Reich.

Table of Contents

List of maps 7

Preface 9

Author's note 10

1 May 1944 11

Totals of serviceable aircraft, 31 May 1944 22

Deployment of combat flying units, 31 May 1944 22

2 The White Hopes (1) 31

3 In Defence of the Reich 47

4 The Second Battle of France 57

War Diary, III. Gruppe Schlachtgeschwader 4 67

5 Disaster in the East 71

6 The Robot Bombardment 81

7 Attack on the Oil Industry 91

8 Pause in the Autumn 97

9 The White Hopes (2) 105

10 Desperate Times, Desperate Measures 109

War Diary, III. Gruppe Kampfgeschwader 76 118

Totals of serviceable aircraft, 10 January 1945 121

Deployment of combat flying units, 10 January 1945 121

11 Fighting a Losing Battle 129

12 The White Hopes (3) 145

Totals of serviceable aircraft, 9 April 1945 151

Deployment of combat flying units, 9 April 1945 151

13 The Final Collapse 159

Excerpts from the War Diary of Kampfgeschwader 76, April 1945 171

The final days 172

14 With Hindsight 175

Appendices 185

A Comparative ranks 185

B Prefixes of Luftwaffe flying units 185

C Organization of Luftwaffe flying units 186

Bibliography 187

Index 189