Battle of Berlin 1943–44: Bomber Harris’ gamble to end the war

This illustrated study explores, in detail, the controversial Battle of Berlin -- RAF Bomber Command''s costly, brutal attempt to prove that strategic bombing alone could bring an end to World War II.

Throughout late-1943 into early-1944, an epic struggle raged over the skies of Germany between RAF Bomber Command and the Luftwaffe. This campaign had been undertaken by the Commander-in-Chief Bomber Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, and was baptized “The Battle of Berlin”.

The Berlin campaign was a hard, desperate slog. Struggling against dreadful and bitter winter weather, Bomber Command “went” to Berlin a total of sixteen times, suffering increasingly severe losses throughout the winter of 1943/44 in the face of a revitalized German air-defense. The campaign remains controversial and the jury, even today, is ultimately undecided as to what it realistically achieved. Illustrated throughout with full-color artwork depicting the enormous scale of the campaign, this is the story of the RAF''s much debated attempt to win the war through bombing alone.