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As part of my continued interest in the wars, I am reading a book "The German War' (accounts of the war from a German perspective) and it touches quite a bit on the bombing of their cities and I realised this is a part of the conflict I know little about. Can anyone recommend any books about the campaign at all? I am not looking for anything directly just about Bomber Harris (which an initial search seems to throw up) or anything that seeks to be either overly critical OR defensive of the bombings, just an overview of that part of the war.
Thank you.
This trilogy is very good, and very poignant.
Men Of Air: The Doomed Youth Of Bomber Command
by Kevin Wilson
Paperback
£8.44
Bomber Boys: The RAF Offensive of 1943 (Cassell Military Paperbacks)
by Kevin Wilson
Paperback
£8.44
Journey's End: Bomber Command's Battle from Arnhem to Dresden and Beyond
by Kevin Wilson
Paperback
£7.78
Also this is a good read too.
No Moon Tonight (Witness to War) Paperback – 1 Aug. 2000
by Don Charlwood
Bomber Command by Max Hastings is quite old but still as good as anything about the conduct of the RAF bombing campaign. As you'd expect from the title there's very little on the USAAF. I haven't read anything that covers the American bombing campaign as a whole
Although it's fiction, Bomber by Len Deighton is also worth a read. It's very well researched and full of fascinating little nuggets of information.
@creakingdoor - I read Bomber Boys a while ago, I'll have to look out the other Wilson books, thanks. Also, was "Bomber" the inspiration behind your user name? Bit of a coincidence otherwise!
Big Week by James Holland is an easy read and covers much of the theory, strategy, and personal that devised the area bombing campaigns, especially in the latter half of the air war over western Europe.
As a counter to the "Area Bombing" theory; Malcolm Gladwell's Bomber Mafia, about a group of USAAF officers dream and pursuit of the concept of precision bombing and the use of air power, is instructive to see the different tactics being argued over.
Chastise: The Dambusters Story 1943 by Max Hastings is another one.
On my to-read list because,
"He [MH] argues that what modern Germans call the Mohnenkatastrophe imposed on the Nazi war machine temporary disruption, rather than a crippling blow. Ironically, Air Marshal Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris gained much of the public credit, though he bitterly opposed Chastise as a distraction from his city-burning blitz. Harris also made perhaps the operation's biggest mistake - failure to launch a conventional attack on the huge post-raid repair operation which could have transformed the impact of the dam breaches on Ruhr industry.
https://www.waterstones.com/book/chastise/9780008280529
Also, was “Bomber” the inspiration behind your user name? Bit of a coincidence otherwise!
It was indeed! You're the only person that's ever made the link. Congrats (cheque's in the post!). 😉
Cracking book btw, good suggestion.
Slaughterhouse 5
“Enemy Coast Ahead” by Guy Gibson. Written in 1943/44, so he didn’t know for certain what the outcome would be.
I read it and “Dambusters” by James Holland, one after the other.
Gibson give a great insight in to what it was like to be taking part in the bomber offensive up to and including the dams raid, Holland looks more into the men taking part and the colossal strain that they were under.
“Dual Under The Stars” by Wilhem Johnen is good too, as it gives an often terrifying account of what it was like as a German Night Fighter trying to stop them.
“He [MH] argues that what modern Germans call the Mohnenkatastrophe imposed on the Nazi war machine temporary disruption, rather than a crippling blow.
There are others that make the point that the dambuster raid had long lasting effects that are often overlooked by the largely UK based historical view we have of it. It's often argued that both the war on the eastern front, and D-Day were helped by the raid, and the effect on moral in Germany is often overlooked.
It also diverted a lot of construction workers away from the Atlantic Wall defenses.
Another vote for Don Charlwood's No Moon Tonight. One of the finest books written about life in Bomber Command and a fitting tribute to their bravery.
Hmm, that Max Hastings one seemed a good shout but reading the reviews suggests it is a bit of a 'Bomber Harris Bashing' exercise – is that the case (I really don't want to read anything seeking to have an opinion on whether the campaign was justified or not).
I think you'll find It's hard to find an historic look at the bombing campaign without straying into the depths of the justification of it, and Harris is such an interesting figure historically. And after all, the bombing campaign happened the way that it did largely as a result of his forceful support of it. It's worth understanding that aspect of it, and the politics behind it IMO
^ Yeah I get that (and would want to understand the political aspect of it naturally) but I don't want to read something that just bashes him because the author thought the whole campaign was immoral.
When Hastings wrote the book, lots of WW2 records were still classified. Hastings didn't know for instance that Harris didn't have clearance for Ultra, and was only obliquely handed intelligence gained through decoded enigma use and that because he was unclear of it's provenance; often disregarded it. The effect of the bombing of fuel supplies is the oft quoted example. Because Harris wasn't cleared to know what effect it was having on Wehrmacht activity, he was reluctant to divert efforts away from area bombing and towards this sort of strategic work.
If nothing else Hastings book is instructive to see how the view of history moves on.
Hmm, that Max Hastings one seemed a good shout but reading the reviews suggests it is a bit of a ‘Bomber Harris Bashing’ exercise – is that the case (I really don’t want to read anything seeking to have an opinion on whether the campaign was justified or not).
You're going to struggle to find any worthwhile history of the bombing campaign that makes no judgement on its efficacy or the character and judgement of the major players like Harris. Leaving aside any judgement about the morality of area bombing, the RAF campaign cost 50000+ aircrew and a huge portion of the UK and Allied industrial capacity, and the rationale behind the decision to channel those resources in that way should be examined. Hastings is certainly no fan of Harris but tbh you'll be pushed to find anyone who is and if you wanted someone who'd unflinchingly send young men out night after night to kill Germans he was most definitely your man.
I don’t want to read something that just bashes him because the author thought the whole campaign was immoral
I don't think you need worry about Hastings on that score. It's a fair few years since I read Nemesis (his book about the end stages of the war on Japan) but I seem to remember he was very keen on the use of the A bombs.
Although it’s fiction, Bomber by Len Deighton is also worth a read. It’s very well researched and full of fascinating little nuggets of information.
I was going to post the same. A few pages in I was ready to give up, felt all a bits Boy's Own but I'm very glad I didn't, it's an excellent book and in the end maybe what it felt to be a human being on either side involved is of more importance than anything else.
For the same reason Slaughterhouse 5 as also mentioned above
but I seem to remember he was very keen on the use of the A bombs.
TBF to him, I think much of the Allied senior staff in all branches were keen on the A-bomb after 6 years of pretty brutal war in the far east.
When discussing the effect of the bombing campaign on the Germans war effort, you have consider what their defences cost them. They had over 1 million men and over 4000 guns defending against air attack.
A significant proportion of the available man power, particularly in 1994/45.
It's also worth watching this:
The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress
A 1944 documentary film which provides an account of the final mission of the crew of the Memphis Belle, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
https://www.loc.gov/item/mbrs00009301/
Bomber by Len Deighton was broadcast as a four part radio drama “in real time” throughout one day in the late 1990s.
While it has to skip much of the fascinating details of the book, it gives a fantastic appreciation of what the whole thing meant for people on both sides. Perhaps it is still available somewhere on Y Tube?
I think Harris also appeared in the ITV series about WW2 narrated by Laurence Olivier. Very interesting to hear his own views on it.
It also diverted a lot of construction workers away from the Atlantic Wall defenses.
Not to mention all the defences subsequently placed on dams.
effect on moral in Germany is often overlooked.
Strange that the Luftwaffe bombing UK cities leads to the the "Blitz Spirit" & a stiffening of resolve for us but when we do the same to them we're sapping their morale?
Wasn't Harris following Churchill's "reap the whirlwind they sowed" mantra? I'm sure if the top didn't want carpet bombing they would have stopped him. After the war he was probably a convenient scapegoat for a discredited policy.
Maybe to cover up the breaking of Enigma codes they allowed Harris' bombing so that the occasional strategic hit as a result of Enigma intelligence could be put down to a "lucky" strike.
but I seem to remember he was very keen on the use of the A bombs.
TBF to him, I think much of the Allied senior staff in all branches were keen on the A-bomb after 6 years of pretty brutal war in the far east.
I only mention it to point out that MH is no bleeding heart with a propensity to come down on the side of kindness! I'm just finishing Ian W Toll's excellent trilogy about the war in the Pacific and the intransigence and dysfunction of the senior Japanese leadership is such that without their use an invasion may well have been necessary to end the war.
When discussing the effect of the bombing campaign on the Germans war effort, you have consider what their defences cost them.
I heard someone claim something like 30% of armament production and 50% of electronics was being put into the air defence of the Reich in 44/45. I've not seen a good source yet but as you say the cost was doubtless considerable.
Check out the bombing of France while you are at it. Royan for example, though the futile masacre of 800 civilians with no damage to military targets is somewhat underreported in British sources.
Strange that the Luftwaffe bombing UK cities leads to the the “Blitz Spirit” & a stiffening of resolve for us but when we do the same to them we’re sapping their morale?
The internal memos after the Dams Raid throughout the Nazi party were revealing. They genuinely believed that the Allied forces had made a breakthrough with regards to navigation, tactics, weaponry, aircraft, all sorts. they couldn't get their heads around the idea that single aircraft could have such a devastating effect on such large scale targets as dams. It genuinely had a massive impact on their understanding of the capabilities of Allied forces.
I haven't read this one yet but it's well reviewed. American not British though.
It's being made into a mini series by Hanks and Spielberg. Should be worth a watch.
@johnners, without a doubt. When the firebombing of Tokyo was clearly not going to make them stop, the use of the A-bomb was almost inevitable. Also very interesting to look at the conversations going on about the use of Chinese and Russian "allied" forces to invade Japan rather than UK/US should it have come to it, and the difference that would've made to the immediate post war politics of the region
internal memos
But would they declare it publically?
I'm referring to how the narrative was applied to the citizens. Why would the UK populace show fortitude & the German public be expected to roll over in the face of bombing? Surely they'd show resiliance in the face of attack?
Lancaster by John Nichol is pretty decent, albeit focused on the aircraft in the title.
But there is much coverage of wider policy, strategy and impact on those in the front line.
He also co-wrote Tail End Charlies which is very good.
Both rely heavily on first hand accounts. Highly recommended.
Also very interesting to look at the conversations going on about the use of Chinese and Russian “allied” forces to invade Japan rather than UK/US should it have come to it, and the difference that would’ve made to the immediate post war politics of the region
@nickc Just finished the very chapter covering that last night! The Russians were already racing through Manchuria in early August and Truman et al were desperate for an end to the war before Stalin could shore up a claim to a share in the occupation and governance of post-war Japan. A marked switch from a few months earlier when the Americans had been desperate for the Soviet Union to attack Japan so they'd commit their manpower to being part of the invasion then seen as inevitable.
I’m referring to how the narrative was applied to the citizens. Why would the UK populace show fortitude & the German public be expected to roll over in the face of bombing? Surely they’d show resiliance in the face of attack?
The bombing of Germany was far in excess of what the UK suffered.
After the raid on Hamburg in July 1943, the German government, thought they could not take another 2 or 3 similar raids and preserve civilian morale. It killed a similar number in 1 night, what the London Blitz did in 8 months. However, the Allies, didn't have enough resource to follow up quickly on that raid.
I’m referring to how the narrative was applied to the citizens
The Germans held the dams that were raided with a national pride that sort of equivalent to say IK Brunel's ships and bridges and trains have with folks in the UK. They weren't heavily defended as they were thought to be literally indestructible. The way they were destroyed was certainly a turning point for the Germans as a whole, One night, One squadron of 10 airplanes dropping a few bombs, when normally it takes 1000's of airplanes over weeks and most of the bombs miss their targets by miles. Afterwards you get the Total war speech made by Goebbels in Berlin. German civilians "understood" that Germany was to be utterly destroyed.
The effect of the dams raid in Germany and the turning point it had is under reported and misunderstood in UK sources still.
@nickc- thanks for the info
@gobuchol- I think the Hamburg raid was covered by a BBC reporter in one of the aircraft and was re--aired a few years ago. One of the sobering things was the use & order of particular bombs.
I'd always assume they'd drop "bombs". On the broadcast they were talking to someone and they said that they'd researched the construction of the city (lots of tightly packed timber framed buildings) so would first drop massive bombs to damage gas (to aid fire) & water (to disrupt putting out) mains then smaller incendiaries that would lodge in the timber roofs and start lots of fires that would spread.
It's chilling to see how thought out it was over just loading a few 1,000lb on the aircraft. My grandad was in the Civil Defence in South London (& was awarded the GC for one particular rescue). Despite seeing & dealing with what had been dropped on the UK he actually had sympathy with the German citizens as he felt that ordinary people should not be subjected to what he'd seen no matter what side.
Also, good 'documentary' on Amazon Prime (sorry) originally made in 1943.
Absolutely fascinating - particularly coverage of @FB-ATB 's point on bomb planning and loading.
Serenade to the Big Bird by Bert Stiles is one that I read - it's the personal account of an American Bomber Pilot.
Lancaster by Leo McKinstrey covers a lot about the bombing and uses dozens of sources for information. Interesting and sobering reading at the same time.
Why would the UK populace show fortitude & the German public be expected to roll over in the face of bombing? Surely they’d show resiliance in the face of attack?
From what I am reading (first hand accounts taken from diaries and letters of Germans living throughout the war), there appears that there was lots of feeling of it being justice, that they deserved it, for the mass-murder of Jews (although it was never publicly announced by the Nazis, it was widely-known by the general population that it was going on).
andrewreay
Lancaster by John Nichol is pretty decent, albeit focused on the aircraft in the title.
+1. I've just finished reading it. Also agree with the recommendation for Tail-end Charlie.
If you have a general interest in WWII definitely check out the "We have ways of making you talk" podcast.
I started from the beginning of it during lockdown and it is brilliant.
‘Among the dead cities’ is also good. It’s a difficult subject to find real balance on. I think the key thing is to read from a number of different sources. I find that the best way to get a more balanced viewpoint…
johndoh
Free MemberHmm, that Max Hastings one seemed a good shout but reading the reviews suggests it is a bit of a ‘Bomber Harris Bashing’ exercise – is that the case (I really don’t want to read anything seeking to have an opinion on whether the campaign was justified or not).
It does have a bit more focus on Harris than I think you want. I wouldn't personally call it Harris Bashing- it's highly critical yes and some of that's since been proved to be a little unfair due to further declassification but I never got the feeling he was unfairly bashing. Leaving the morality of the bombing aside completely, some of his decisions and practices were pretty indefensible, not least his willingness to deceive superiors and allies.
It's still a very good read despite its aging, you just have to read it with that in mind a little.