Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power, 1941-1945

Modern War Studies

by Von Hardesty

Red The Rise of Soviet Air Power, 1941-1945 [Hardcover]

Genres: History, Military History, World War II, Russian History, Aviation

Hardcover

First published April 17, 1991

About the author

Von Hardesty is currently a curator in the Division of Aeronautics at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. He has written a number of books, and lives in the metropolitan D.C. area.

Reviews

[Sleepy Boy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important, if fairly dry, study on the VVS in WW2 and immediately post war.

[Nate Huston · Rating 2 out of 5]

One thing is clear: This book is comprehensive. Perhaps a bit too comprehensive. This version is a reboot of an earlier version that was published prior to the opening of Soviet archives on the subject. While the authors provide a comprehensive discussion of Soviet air power on the Eastern Front, the book is somewhat workmanlike. Perhaps the bar was set too high having read Bungay's book immediately prior.

Regardless, the point is well made (if made over and over again). Leading into WWII, the Soviets realized they needed to refit, retool, reorganize and modernize their air forces. Oh, and the purges didn't help anything. The Germans hit them before they could get their plans into full motion, though, and they took a pretty huge blow at the beginning. Be that as it may, they "traded space for time" and eventually prevailed. The constant theme, overall as well as in Moscow and Stalingrad, was an initial punch from the Germans, a surprisingly strong, if not altogether effective, counterpunch from the Soviets, a couple more back-and-forths and eventually, an all-out push-back from the Soviets. While most believe the Soviets prevailed due to sheer quantity (and that definitely played a part), the authors argue that the Soviets should be credited with vigorous technological, organizational and tactical improvements made throughout the war, both pre-planned and in response to actual lessons learned on the battlefield.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant rewriting and re-visioning of Hardesty's classic _Red Phoenix_, making this the essential work on the subject.

[Mark Jacobsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book chronicles the resurrection of the Soviet Air Force after its catastrophic first encounter with the Germans during Operation Barbarossa. For a country that had recently purged its most talented and innovative military officers, the Soviet Union did a remarkable job reorganizing its war machine to meet the German challenge. As the Soviet Air Force improved, it played increasingly important roles in devastating the German military at Moscow, Stalingrad, and Kursk--albeit at great cost. The book is an intriguing work of history, as well as a case study of organization learning. It is well-organized and easy to read, despite covering territory unfamiliar to most Western readers.

[Michael Brady]

Very accessible discussion of the rise of Soviet airpower from Hitler's surprise in 1941 to Hitler's demise in 1945. Interesting that Soviets chose tactical air power as part of a combined arms approach over strategic bombing. good read.

[Conner Crowder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Analysis of the Soviet Air Force. Must read for anybody looking for a perspective different than the opinions of the germans and western allies.