The German Air Force in 1940 was both larger and technically superior to the Royal Air Force. Its pilots were also battle hardened, after a clever deployment of ?assistance' during the recent Spanish Civil War. In Britain, the appointment of Hugh Dowling to head up the RAF's Fighter Command in 1934 led to an urgent modernization of both the structure and aircraft. He had also recognized the potential value of new weaponry, such as Radar. Nevertheless, in June 1940 when the Battle of France ended, the urgent plans for building the UK's defences were still far from complete. Find out how Britain survived and ultimately turned the tables to stop the onslaught of the Nazis in Europe. This six book series looks at the men, the aircraft, the technology and the tactics that enabled victory to be won in the amazing story of The Battle of Britain. Some people are blessed with extraordinary talents. Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill were two such men, and each was to shape the destiny of their nations. One was to become the very symbol of evil, whilst the other is still admired and respected throughout the world. Their names seem to radiate the very worst and the very best of the human spirit. Two men, each from contrasting backgrounds, were by very different paths to rise to positions of extraordinary power. Figures who possessed skills and abilities that they used in different ways, one that brought about mass murder and death, the other who gave hope and inspiration to the Free World. So what was it that made them who they became? History reminds us that in our own lives we face challenges and choices, yet if we ignore the past and fail to learn from it we may end up repeating the same mistakes. The strategic battles of Churchill and Hitler explain why the Twentieth Century casts such a shadow over our own times. This is an epic tale, one that is on the one hand horrifying and on the other uplifting. The names Hitler and Churchill will be forever linked; what follows will seek to explain why. Under their respective commands, two leaders, Hermann Goering and Hugh Dowding implemented tactics and directed air battles that would potentially shape the Western World for the next thousand years. Their genius at a tactical level cannot be underestimated. This book displays how genius can be found in the strategy and tactics, in the big picture and in the day-to-day activities of war. ILLUSTRATIONS b/w Gsome colour *
