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Title: Hitler's Sky Warriors: German Paratroopers in Action, 1939-1945 by Christopher Ailsby ISBN: 1-57488-501-4 Publisher: Brasseys, Inc. Pub. Date: April, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Very informative & interesting, but unexceptional
Comment: HITLER'S SKY WARRIORS is a very informative and well documented review of the Fallschirmjager (parachute hunters, literally) during the second world war. There are more than 250 excellent black and white photos with detailed descriptions about any peculiarities associated with them, such as uniform or weapons variations. This is one of the highlights of the book.
The exploits of these paratroopers are examined from their inception and training through all the major campaigns until their eventual demise in May 1945.
Where the book lets down, from my view, is not what it says, but what it excludes. It is a rather detached, textbook style approach to the subject matter. Many readers contemplating this book would be aware of much of the basic subject matter Mr. Ailsby (the author) rehashes. He goes to great lengths to describe which particular officer was commanding a particular element during a particular battle even at the platoon level.
I'm not inferring that this is not interesting particularly to historians, but there are very little first person accounts or individual exploits covered. The Fallshirm were an elite and very effective fighting unit, yet this book does little to leave you with that impression.
We are told little of how effective they were in combat or how respected they were by their enemies. For example, we are told they were stubborn in the hedgerows of France but are given no clue as to how they were effective, how they were deployed, how they used their weapons, or the casualties they inflicted. More time is spent instead describing their defeats and casualties.
Ailsby is quite right in stating that German units in general were defeated primarily due to overwhelming allied superiority in air power and material resources, rather than allied military superiority.
Inspite of the books weaknesses, I still recommend it because it is still informative and has many interesting and heretofore unpublished photos. And I did learn that Max Schmelling (you remember him) was a Fallschirmjager volunteer and served during the Crete campaign.
Rating: 5
Summary: Pictures tell a story
Comment: I thought I understood what WWII was about and what the soldiers on both side must have gone through. But I was wrong. This book showed me a group of elite soldiers I knew nothing about, and I was amazed by their dedication and performance. Somehow we always want to think of the "enemy" as a group of uneducated rabble, but after reading this book, I'm amazed that the Allies did as well against this elite force as they did. Thank you Mr. Ailsby for continuing my education!
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Title: German Paratroopers: The Illustrated History of the Fallschirmjager in World War II by Chris McNab ISBN: 0760309329 Publisher: MBI Publishing Pub. Date: December, 2000 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: 7th Flieger Division: Student's Fallschirmjager Elite (Spearhead Series) by Bruce Quarrie ISBN: 0711028559 Publisher: Ian Allan Pub Pub. Date: March, 2002 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Fallschirmjager: German Paratrooper 1935-45 (Warrior, 38) by Bruce Quarrie, Velimir Vuksic, Osprey Publishing ISBN: 1841763268 Publisher: Osprey Pub Co Pub. Date: October, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Cassell Military Classics: Storming Eagles: German Airborne Forces in World War II by James Lucas ISBN: 0304358541 Publisher: Cassell Pub. Date: 31 December, 2001 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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Title: Hunters from the Sky by Charles Whiting ISBN: 0815411456 Publisher: Cooper Square Press Pub. Date: 01 July, 2001 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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