Book illustrated with photos and cutaways of all types of German aircraft form the Second World War.

As Hitler unleashed his terrifying Blitzkrieg against the nations of Europe, the world was stunned by his air force -- the Luftwaffe -- with its vast array of latest-technology warplanes.And yet, six years earlier the German war machine hardly existed. But from 1933 to the end of World War II, the German aviation industry was at the cutting edge of design excellence and technology, producing a series of high-performance classic designs that would have a dramatic effect on the aircraft of the future.Among the many planes described and illustrated here are such outstanding types as: -- Focke-Wulfe craft -- Heinkel fighters and bombers -- Messerschmidt attack planes and transports -- Revolutionary Junker designs -- Early jet fightersThis book describes these feats of aviation engineering. Every warplane that Hitler's Luftwaffe flew in front line combat is featured, with rare photographs, detailed artwork, and comprehensive descriptions. Here are the planes that form the foundation of modern military flying and weaponry.

One of the most significant innovations in modern warfare has been the appearance and development of air power, a technology which demanded technical and financial investment on a whole new scale and which ultimately changed the fundamental nature of war itself. This book covers the history and development of the German air force from 1935 to 1945, with descriptions and illustrations of almost all of the Luftwaffe's airplanes, including fighters, jet fighters, dive-bombers, ground attackers, medium and heavy bombers, jet bombers, seaplanes, flying boats and carrier planes, transport and gliders, reconnaissance and training aircrafts, helicopters, and many futuristic projects and other rarities.

During World War II, aviation was among the largest industrial branches of the Third Reich. About 40 percent of total German war production, and two million people, were involved in the manufacture of aircraft and air force equipment. Based on German records, Allied intelligence reports, and eyewitness accounts, this study explores the military, political, scientific and social aspects of Germany's wartime aviation industry: production, research and development, Allied attacks, foreign workers and slave labor, and daily life and working conditions in the factories. Testimony from Holocaust survivors who worked in the factories provides a compelling new perspective on the history of the Third Reich.

At the end of World War II, Eric Brown had the extraordinary experience of testing no fewer than 55 captured individual German aircraft types. These ranged from such exotic creations as the prone-pilot Berlin B9 and Horten IV, the push-and-pull Dornier DO335 and the remarkable little Heinkel He 162 Volksjager, to the highly innovative combat types that were entering the inventory of the Luftwaffe shortly before the demise of Germany's Third Reich. Brown also interrogated many of the leading German wartime aviation personalities, such as Willy Messerschmitt, Ernst Heinkel, Kurt Tank and Hanna Reitsch. From this background knowledge of German aviation he has selected those he considers the most important, and presents detailed descriptions of their background and characteristics.

"During the first chaotic months after the fall of the Third Reich, the RAE sent test pilots throughout the British Zone of Occupation to collect examples of the Luftwaffe's standard aircraft and then ferry them to Farnborough. Captain Eric Brown was a pilot in this ferrying operation. Here Brown delivers a detailed assessment of the characteristics of these principal German aircraft: Fw200C; Heinkel He162; Junkers Ju87; Dornier Do217; Messerschmitt Me262, Bf109G, Bf110, Me163, and several others."--Publisher's description.

As Hitler unleashed his terrifying Blitzkrieg against the nations of Europe, the world was stunned by his air force -- the Luftwaffe -- with its vast array of latest-technology warplanes.And yet, six years earlier the German war machine hardly existed. But from 1933 to the end of World War II, the German aviation industry was at the cutting edge of design excellence and technology, producing a series of high-performance classic designs that would have a dramatic effect on the aircraft of the future.Among the many planes described and illustrated here are such outstanding types as: -- Focke-Wulfe craft -- Heinkel fighters and bombers -- Messerschmidt attack planes and transports -- Revolutionary Junker designs -- Early jet fightersThis book describes these feats of aviation engineering. Every warplane that Hitler's Luftwaffe flew in front line combat is featured, with rare photographs, detailed artwork, and comprehensive descriptions. Here are the planes that form the foundation of modern military flying and weaponry.