VERGELTUNGSWAFFEN: THE THIRD REICH'S V-MISSILES

VERGELTUNGSWAFFEN:
THE THIRD REICH'S V-MISSILES 
(THEN AND NOW)
by Jean Paul Pallud. 


The publisher has amalgamated several previous publications and articles from the popular 'After The Battle' magazine series. Edited and further enhanced with over 200 new photos, the result is this high quality hardback book.

Close to the Baltic coastline, a small fishing village and nature reserve would become forever synonymous with the start of the Third Reich's V-Weapons projects.
Peenemünde was not only perfect being so remote, it's coastal location looked out to over 100 miles of German-held sea. 
With the local population moved on there would be virtually no prying eyes. 
Large scale construction of research and launch facilities began at Peenemünde as early as 1936, yet despite the outbreak of the second world war, it would be 1943 before Allied Intelligence realised what was taking place. Their response was to send for Bomber Command. 

Those years of testing had eventually brought both improving results and the capacity to build a huge stock of missiles and the vital fuel required.
Germany's occupation of Western Europe provided locations for both launching and storing the missiles much nearer to Britain. 
As the first missiles were launched in the June of 1944, the British people now faced a new danger from the skies above. Not only fast and indiscriminate, but in the final moments, deathly silent.

This book is packed with lots of information on the testing and development of the various prototypes of Germany's 'revenge' weapons through the late 1930's and early 1940's.
Once information reached Allied Intelligence, we learn how the Allies responded through Bomber Command raids that firstly attacked Peenemünde, before eventually many of the known sites across France. This number alone totalled nearly 100!

Throughout the book, as readers of any After The Battle (Then and Now) publication will know, the narrative is accompanied by many photos and what incredible photos they are!
Readers will not only see the designs of the various V-Weapons, but witness the results of their devastating attacks.
Photographs taken on the continent include many of the launch sites and bunkers as liberating Allied forces explore them. Equally incredible are those showing the damage from heavy Allied bomber raids.

This is another high quality book in the publisher's new series. One that I have thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend. 
I'm very much looking forward to reading more from this series when they become available. 

The hardback edition is available now, published by Pen and Sword Books. 
I thank P&S for this review copy. 



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