The Bomber War: The Allied Air Offensive Against Nazi Germany

Were the men who planned and flew the Allied bombing missions over Nazi Germany war heroes or war criminals? Did they risk, and frequently give, their lives to rid the world of vile and murderous tyranny? Or were they mass murderers who wantonly destroyed innocent lives in a pointless attempt to undermine enemy morale?

In The Bomber War, acclaimed military historian Robin Neillands tackles this thorny issue head-on. Examining every detail of the campaign, Neillands explores both the "how" and the "why" of the allied air offensive. He reveals the strengths and the flaws in the British and American approaches to strategic bombing, and discloses underlying factors that influenced controversial policy decisions. Discussing the complex moral issues surrounding strategic bombing in the context of "total war," Neillands makes a strong case that not only was the bombing justified, but that failure to bomb would have been indefensible.

Personal accounts from Allied airmen recreate the grueling, often horrifying experiences of crews flying to the limits of endurance and beyond in the face of dense flack, fierce fighter attacks, and the kiss of death-being singled out by enemy searchlights. Complete with dozens of photos and line drawings The Bomber War may be one of the last WWII histories for which many veterans on both sides are still alive to tell future generations what their war was like.

Robin Neillands is a journalist, writer, and former Royal Marines Commando. He has written several acclaimed books on military history, including The Conquest of the Reich: D-Day to VE-Day, In the Combat Zone: Special Forces Since 1945, and Wellington and Napoleon: Clash of Arms. He lectures at the National Army Museum in London and is a member of the British Commission for Military History.


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