The Battle of Britain has acquired near-legendary status as one of the
most iconic events of the 20th century. This new history, based on an
exhaustive study of German records, explores the battle through the eyes
of the Luftwaffe.
Over the past 77 years, histories of the Battle of Britain have
consistently portrayed the feats of "The Few" (as they were immortalized
in Churchill's famous speech) as being responsible for the RAF's victory
in the epic battle. However, this is only part of the story. The results
of an air campaign cannot be measured in terms of territory captured,
cities occupied, or armies defeated, routed, or annihilated. Successful
air campaigns are those that achieve their intended aims or stated
objectives. Victory in the Battle of Britain was determined by whether
the Luftwaffe achieved its objectives.
The Luftwaffe, of course, did not, and this detailed and rigorous study
explains why. Analyzing the battle in its entirety in the context of
what it was--history's first independent offensive counter-air campaign
against the world's first integrated air defense system--Douglas C.
Dildy and Paul F. Crickmore set out to re-examine this remarkable
conflict. Presenting the events of the Battle of Britain in the context
of the Luftwaffe's campaign and RAF Fighter Command's battles against
it, this title is a new and innovative history of the battle that kept
alive the Allies' chances of defeating Nazi Germany.
