This particular volume covers the last year and a half of the war against the Soviet Union. Much to my surprise, I found out that not only did the Germans expend much of their efforts in this front, but the Soviets were not the push-overs that have been long imagined. There are several cases of units that had spent most of their time in Reich Defense duties being sent to the Eastern Front and being soundly trounced by Soviet pilots. Yet there were German experten who were able to amass huge scores against what was a steadily improving and dangerous Soviet air force.

These huge scores were continued right until the very last day of the war. The first priority in the late war was the war against the Soviet Union, and in the last months of the conflict, moved all their assets to the east. When RAF and USAAF units were unable to find any opposition, such was not the case with the VVS. Tens of thousands of sorties were flown by the Luftwaffe in their efforts to stem the tide, an effort that was, in the end, insufficient to stop the final collapse.

Throughout this book there are pilot stories, histories of aces, rare photos and a lot of superbly done profiles. I know I've mentioned this before, but what makes this series so useful is that the profiles are based on photographs and not just the speculation of the artist. We can see for ourselves what these aircraft looked like and use our own judgment as to accept these interpretations or not.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every edition of this series. It is a collection of books that is a 'Must Have' for any enthusiast of the period.

May 2005

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