The most dangerous enemy : a history of the Battle of Britain

Summary: Stephen Bungay's magisterial history is acclaimed as the account of the Battle of Britain. Unrivalled for its synthesis of all previous historical accounts, for the quality of its strategic analysis and its truly compulsive narrative, this is a book ultimately distinguished by its conclusions - that it was the British in the Battle who displayed all the virtues of efficiency, organisation and even ruthlessness we habitually attribute to the Germans, and they who fell short in their amateurism, ill-preparedness, poor engineering and even in their old-fashioned notions of gallantry. An engrossing read for the military scholar and the general reader alike, this is a classic of military history that looks beyond the mythology, to explore all the tragedy and comedy; the brutality and compassion of war.

Record details

ISBN: 1781314950
ISBN: 9781781314951
Physical Description: print
xiv, 492 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm
Publisher: London : Aurum Press, 2015.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 433-440) and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

pt. 1. Build-up -- The reason why -- The threat -- The assailant -- Air defence -- The fighters -- The bombers -- Strength for battle -- Sealion -- Eagle -- The defenders -- pt. 2. Battle -- The enemy at the gate -- The Channel : July -- The men -- The Channel : August -- The numbers game -- Eagle Day -- The greatest day -- The hardest day -- Thinking again -- Hunters and hunted -- Tactics -- Summer's lease -- The airfields -- The pilots -- London -- Battle of Britain Day -- Bluffing -- pt. 3. Aftermath -- Feuding -- The spoils of war -- Appraisal -- Meanings.