Overview

The story of Germany's disastrous last cross-Channel bombing campaign in early 1944, which left the Luftwaffe's strike capability devastated and barely able to oppose the D-Day landings. Operation Steinbock was the Luftwaffe’s last sustained bomber offensive against the United Kingdom, often referred to by the British as the ‘Baby Blitz’ or ‘Little Blitz’. In this book, renowned World War II historian Simon Trew explains how and why the Luftwaffe's last cross-Channel campaign was such a contrast to the Blitz of 1940–41. In 1944, the Luftwaffe’s under-trained and inexperienced bomber crews were out-thought and outfought by their opponents, who combined electronic warfare with powerful new night fighters and advanced anti-aircraft defences, including modern radar-cued guns. Although a few raids in February 1944 caused significant damage to small parts of London, some attacks missed their target completely and German airmen often struggled even to find the English coast, let alone drop their bombs accurately. Attempts to copy or adapt British methods of night-time target marking and other bombing procedures, and to utilise new navigational tools, proved largely unsuccessful. German losses were heavy, while British morale – though potentially vulnerable to effective bombing – remained mostly unaffected. Packed with dramatic original illustrations, explanatory diagrams, 2D maps of the strategic situation and 3D maps recreating key missions, this book tells the story of Operation Steinbock and its crucial consequences. The Germans' last air campaign over England ended in late May 1944, with the Luftwaffe having lost hundreds of strike aircraft. Just days later, the Allies stormed ashore across the beaches of Normandy, and the Luftwaffe's depleted strike force could do little to stop them.

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9781472855329

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Dr Simon Trew worked as an academic in the Department of War Studies at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for 28 years, for almost half that time as deputy head or head of department. He has written, edited or contributed to more than 20 books, mostly on the 1944 Normandy campaign. In 2009 Simon was nominated for an ‘Emmy’ award for his research for a D-Day documentary. He is a frequent visitor to Normandy, leading staff rides for British and other military units as well as battlefield tours.

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