The Berlin Raids: R.A.F. Bomber Command Winter 1943/44

The Battle of Berlin was the longest and most sustained bombing offensive against one target of World War II. 19 major raids between August 1943 and March 1944 and more than 10,000 aircraft sorties dropped over 30,000 tons of bombs on Berlin. The city was not destroyed, however, and the RAF lost over 600 aircraft and their crews. The controversy over whether the battle was a success or failure has continued to this day. The author has interviewed more than 400 people in this study in an attempt to bring together both sides of the story - the tactics of the bombing force and the experiences of ordinary people in the target city. The battle is described month by month, and tactical factors that helped first the bombers and then the night fighters are identified. The experiences of the people of Berlin are also recounted, showing how bombs destroyed homes and families, affected morale and reduced the German war effort. Martin Middlebrook is the author of many books on military history including "The First Day on the Somme", "The Bomber Command War" and "Operation Corporate", a study of the Falklands War.

No other bombing campaign in World War II against a single target was pressed so relentlessly for so long, and at such a cost, as British Bomber Command's seven-month campaign to break the German will by destroying Berlin. More than 10,000 sorties were launched, more than 30,000 tons of bombs dropped. Six hundred and seven British aircraft were lost. Balancing the cost of the campaign against advantages gained, the official Royal Air Force historian concluded early on that the Battle of Berlin "was more than a failure. It was a defeat." Middlebrook ( The First Day on the Somme ) isn't so condemning, although he judges that Luftwaffe night-fighters in combination with ground anti-aircraft defenses hurt Bomber Command more than Bomber Command harmed Berlin. His straightforward narrative covers the 19 major raids, with a detailed description of three in particular, and includes recollections by British and German airmen as well as German civilians who weathered the storm that lasted throughout the winter of 1943-44. Photos.
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