Description
Adolf Hitler considered the Mediterranean an unimportant theater of the war, leaving it to the troops of Benito Mussolini who wanted to dominate the "Mare Nostro." Nevertheless, when the Italian army was defeated on the Libyan-Egyptian border at the beginning of 1941, the Fuhrer was forced to help his ally by sending an air detachment first to Sicily, then Africa.
This latest in the Casemate Illustrated series examines that tiny expeditionary force, solely devoted to protecting Italian possessions in North Africa. When General Erwin Rommel launched his Afrika Korps to the east, the Luftwaffe had to go on the offensive to cover that advance. With over 100 images, this book explores how German and British air forces were quickly reinforced and, in the following months, Germany was forced to engage more and more aerial units on what was initially considered a peripheral arena of the war for the German High Command. Losses in bombers and fighters were high on both sides and when, at the end of 1942, the Allies landed in Morocco and Algeria on the back of the Afrika Korps, the Wehrmacht's fate was sealed. The depleted Luftwaffe did its best but could not change the course of the battle. The last German units capitulated in Tunisia in May 1943.
About the Author
Jean-Louis Roba, who lives in Belgium, is a well-respected World War II aviation historian who has worked on numerous books and magazine articles for the leading French military aviation publisher, Lela Press. He is the co-author of Luftwaffe in Colour Volume 1: The Victory Years 1939-1942.
Reviews
...packed with just enough information to satisfy the drive-by reader but leave the curious wanting more. * Wargames Illustrated *
...this is an interesting and contains some remarkable detail on Luftwaffe operations for such a compact publication, including some enlightening recollections of aircrew involved. * Classic Wings *
All in all an excellent package about one of the less well covered air campaigns. * Scale Aviation Modeller International *
Book Information
ISBN 9781612007458
Author Jean-Louis Roba
Format Paperback
Page Count 128
Imprint Casemate Publishers
Publisher Casemate Publishers
This latest in the Casemate Illustrated series examines that tiny expeditionary force, solely devoted to protecting Italian possessions in North Africa. When General Erwin Rommel launched his Afrika Korps to the east, the Luftwaffe had to go on the offensive to cover that advance. With over 100 images, this book explores how German and British air forces were quickly reinforced and, in the following months, Germany was forced to engage more and more aerial units on what was initially considered a peripheral arena of the war for the German High Command. Losses in bombers and fighters were high on both sides and when, at the end of 1942, the Allies landed in Morocco and Algeria on the back of the Afrika Korps, the Wehrmacht's fate was sealed. The depleted Luftwaffe did its best but could not change the course of the battle. The last German units capitulated in Tunisia in May 1943.
About the Author
Jean-Louis Roba, who lives in Belgium, is a well-respected World War II aviation historian who has worked on numerous books and magazine articles for the leading French military aviation publisher, Lela Press. He is the co-author of Luftwaffe in Colour Volume 1: The Victory Years 1939-1942.
Reviews
...packed with just enough information to satisfy the drive-by reader but leave the curious wanting more. * Wargames Illustrated *
...this is an interesting and contains some remarkable detail on Luftwaffe operations for such a compact publication, including some enlightening recollections of aircrew involved. * Classic Wings *
All in all an excellent package about one of the less well covered air campaigns. * Scale Aviation Modeller International *
Book Information
ISBN 9781612007458
Author Jean-Louis Roba
Format Paperback
Page Count 128
Imprint Casemate Publishers
Publisher Casemate Publishers
