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War over the Steppes: The air campaigns on the Eastern Front 1941–45
The air war over the Steppes was more than a brutal clash in which might alone triumphed. It was a conflict that saw tactical and technological innovation as the Soviet air force faced off against Herman Göring's Luftwaffe. As Germany and the Soviet Union battled for victory on the Eastern Front, they had to overcome significant strategic and industrial problems, while fighting against the extreme weather conditions of the East. These factors, combined with the huge array of aircraft used on the Eastern Front, create one of the most compelling conflicts of the war.
Told primarily from the strategic and command perspective, this account offers a detailed analysis of this oft-overlooked air war, tracing the clashes between Germany and the Soviet Union over the course of World War II. Historical photographs complement the examination as author E. R. Hooton explores these epic aerial battles between the Third Reich and the Soviet Union.
Told primarily from the strategic and command perspective, this account offers a detailed analysis of this oft-overlooked air war, tracing the clashes between Germany and the Soviet Union over the course of World War II. Historical photographs complement the examination as author E. R. Hooton explores these epic aerial battles between the Third Reich and the Soviet Union.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2016
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54 people want to read
About the author
E.R. Hooton
31 books6 followersE.R. (Ted) Hooton is a retired defence journalist who worked for Moench and Jane’s before establishing his own successful newsletter. A member of the Royal United Services Institute and the British Commission for Military History since retirement he has focused upon military history.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 6, 2019
A very detailed, extremely thorough analytical history of the aerial campaigns conducted on the Eastern Front between the Soviet Air Force and the Luftwaffe and their various Axis allies.
While highly detailed, it wasn't exactly a thrilling read. Entire pages devoted to fuel consumption, and the materials used in various aircraft construction interface the narrative along with narrative out lines of fighter sweeps, close air support, operational and strategic bombing, and reconnaissance missions.
While it wasn't the most enjoyable read, there was plenty here that was worth the cost of admission.
The Luftwaffe, in 1941, was light years ahead of the Soviets in terms of experience, leadership, training, maintenance, and technology. The opening air strikes of Operation Barbarossa were utterly devastating, so much so that you can make the argument that the Red Air Force never really did fully recover.
In 1945, Russian Intelligence estimates soberly informed the Kremlin that they were not even close to matching the Western Allies in terms of air power on all levels.
This admission had to hurt coming from an air force that, in 1940, was the world's largest. The Germans did such a thorough job of whittling down Soviet numbers that they out numbered the Russians in the air within a few weeks of the invasion!
That said, the Soviet flyers never did give up, and this not only attrited Luftwaffe formations to dangerous levels(especially as the further east the Germans advanced, the harder it was to move forward spare parts for aircraft maintenance, and many Luftwaffe combat air wings were below half strength due to lack of spare parts by the Battle of Kiev), but it also created a hardened core of experienced pilots who revived, albeit slowly, the decimated Red Air Force.
The Germans would retain a definitive advantage in the air well into 1943, with outnumbered Luftwaffe formations often dominating larger, but clumsier, Soviet air groups over the battlefield.
But there was a culmination point.
The attrition of a multi-front war eventually wore down the Germans, and they were forced to reduce training time to put pilots in the seats of ever more machines. Ironically, while the Germans were producing more, and technologically better, aircraft late in the war, they were piloted by predominantly half trained young pilots whose survivability was questionable.
On the obverse side, the Russians had a serious problem with a poorly trained and educated industrial workforce and a lack of quality control in terms of materials and production standards.
While such aircraft as the LaGG-7 and the Yak-9 were excellent fighter craft, lack of raw materials meant that much of the construction in some planes was wood (!), and others were so poorly produced they would fall apart in mid flight. However, when these planes were properly built, they were the equal of any other craft in the world.
The Germans never did develop a true strategic bombing doctrine, or aircraft capable of doing so. The Soviets did, initially. But the Luftwaffe all but annihilated the Soviet bomber fleet in the summer of 1941, and the Russians never bothered with major efforts to rebuild it till after the war.
Both air forces were a mirror of each other in terms of doctrine, with both focusing on the operational level, though Hooten points out that the decline in quality of Luftwaffe pilots consequently meant a devolution of Luftwaffe doctrine towards a purely tactical air force by mid 1944.
The Russians were, by late 1944, clearly superior to the Luftwaffe in every aspect, even being able to inflict higher losses in air to air for the first time. What is striking is how the Germans essentially ignored the Western Front, and focused most of the operational Luftwaffe elements in the East throughout the war. While certainly the defense of the German homeland against Allied bombers did attrit the Luftwaffe badly, Hooten makes fairly clear that the Luftwaffe didn't die in the West, it died in the East.
While this book makes several very keen observations, and is chock full of enough pure data to make a statistician fall madly in love, it simply isn't a joyful read. Hence three stars.
While highly detailed, it wasn't exactly a thrilling read. Entire pages devoted to fuel consumption, and the materials used in various aircraft construction interface the narrative along with narrative out lines of fighter sweeps, close air support, operational and strategic bombing, and reconnaissance missions.
While it wasn't the most enjoyable read, there was plenty here that was worth the cost of admission.
The Luftwaffe, in 1941, was light years ahead of the Soviets in terms of experience, leadership, training, maintenance, and technology. The opening air strikes of Operation Barbarossa were utterly devastating, so much so that you can make the argument that the Red Air Force never really did fully recover.
In 1945, Russian Intelligence estimates soberly informed the Kremlin that they were not even close to matching the Western Allies in terms of air power on all levels.
This admission had to hurt coming from an air force that, in 1940, was the world's largest. The Germans did such a thorough job of whittling down Soviet numbers that they out numbered the Russians in the air within a few weeks of the invasion!
That said, the Soviet flyers never did give up, and this not only attrited Luftwaffe formations to dangerous levels(especially as the further east the Germans advanced, the harder it was to move forward spare parts for aircraft maintenance, and many Luftwaffe combat air wings were below half strength due to lack of spare parts by the Battle of Kiev), but it also created a hardened core of experienced pilots who revived, albeit slowly, the decimated Red Air Force.
The Germans would retain a definitive advantage in the air well into 1943, with outnumbered Luftwaffe formations often dominating larger, but clumsier, Soviet air groups over the battlefield.
But there was a culmination point.
The attrition of a multi-front war eventually wore down the Germans, and they were forced to reduce training time to put pilots in the seats of ever more machines. Ironically, while the Germans were producing more, and technologically better, aircraft late in the war, they were piloted by predominantly half trained young pilots whose survivability was questionable.
On the obverse side, the Russians had a serious problem with a poorly trained and educated industrial workforce and a lack of quality control in terms of materials and production standards.
While such aircraft as the LaGG-7 and the Yak-9 were excellent fighter craft, lack of raw materials meant that much of the construction in some planes was wood (!), and others were so poorly produced they would fall apart in mid flight. However, when these planes were properly built, they were the equal of any other craft in the world.
The Germans never did develop a true strategic bombing doctrine, or aircraft capable of doing so. The Soviets did, initially. But the Luftwaffe all but annihilated the Soviet bomber fleet in the summer of 1941, and the Russians never bothered with major efforts to rebuild it till after the war.
Both air forces were a mirror of each other in terms of doctrine, with both focusing on the operational level, though Hooten points out that the decline in quality of Luftwaffe pilots consequently meant a devolution of Luftwaffe doctrine towards a purely tactical air force by mid 1944.
The Russians were, by late 1944, clearly superior to the Luftwaffe in every aspect, even being able to inflict higher losses in air to air for the first time. What is striking is how the Germans essentially ignored the Western Front, and focused most of the operational Luftwaffe elements in the East throughout the war. While certainly the defense of the German homeland against Allied bombers did attrit the Luftwaffe badly, Hooten makes fairly clear that the Luftwaffe didn't die in the West, it died in the East.
While this book makes several very keen observations, and is chock full of enough pure data to make a statistician fall madly in love, it simply isn't a joyful read. Hence three stars.
April 7, 2017
Book received from NetGalley.
This book was interesting but not really for me. As a history major and someone who would like to teach some day, I would like to learn more about World War II. I especially know very little about the Eastern Front in the war, I focus more on United States, Canadian, and British history. However, it is not an era of history I enjoy reading about. It's to "new" if you will. I think this would be a great reference book, but not something I would get for fun reading.
This book was interesting but not really for me. As a history major and someone who would like to teach some day, I would like to learn more about World War II. I especially know very little about the Eastern Front in the war, I focus more on United States, Canadian, and British history. However, it is not an era of history I enjoy reading about. It's to "new" if you will. I think this would be a great reference book, but not something I would get for fun reading.
May 18, 2017
There was a lot of information packed into this book. I especially enjoyed the side stories about specific units and individuals. I wish there were maps to accompany the text. Given my knowledge of Eastern Front combat operations and geography, it wasn't too much of a negative. The book did come with numerous charts which were very helpful. If I was given a chance to edit this book for a Second Edition, I would have started each campaign section with a chart showing front and total air strength for each side by type, that way the reader could easily follow the ebb and flow of each side's strength over time.
The three sections of photos with captions were outstanding.
I still consider Von Hardesty's Red Phoenix Rising the best book on Eastern Front air operations, but this one was a worthy addition to my collection. I am glad I read it.
The three sections of photos with captions were outstanding.
I still consider Von Hardesty's Red Phoenix Rising the best book on Eastern Front air operations, but this one was a worthy addition to my collection. I am glad I read it.
October 8, 2020
War over the Steppes: The Air Campaigns on the Eastern Front 1941–45 by E. R. Hooton is a study of the air war fought between the Soviets and the Nazis in World War II. Hooton has been a journalist for 40 years and a defense journalist for about 25 years. He has written numerous articles on military history and three highly regarded books on the history of the Luftwaffe - The Luftwaffe: A Study in Air Power 1933-1945, Phoenix Triumphant: The Rise and Rise of the Luftwaffe and Eagle in Flames: The Fall of the Luftwaffe , as well as contributing to several others.
It was the shock that the Soviets knew to expect but pretended it would never happen after the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact. Two different totalitarian regimes would face off in one the most vicious series of battles and sieges in history. Both armies were ordered not to take a step back. The ground war was a series of atrocities and the cities under siege endured suffering beyond belief. The Nazi leadership knew the peace between Germany and the USSR would not last. The USSR consisted of Slavs and communists both of which were held in low esteem by the Nazis. The Soviet Union would also be a much-needed source of petroleum (and food) for German war machine that extended their supply line too far in their conquests.
The Germans, even before the attack, probed the Soviet border traveling deep inside the country on reconnaissance missions and to test the Soviet defenses. When the attack came it was decisive. The German ground and air forces moved in on an unprepared Soviet Union. German technology and experience moved quickly and effectively, stopped by only two things -- winter and outrunning their supply lines. Initial Soviet resistance included the use of biplanes so far out of date they had little, if any, effect. The Soviets were behind in other technology including radar and communication radio. As a result, Soviet industrial production moved east and prepared to rebuild and resist. The Germans remained hurt by the overextended supply lines and logistics. The Soviet railways were a different gauge than the rest of Europe creating a transportation nightmare for the German resupply efforts.
Hooten uses released Russian documents, Nazi archives, and personal accounts to bring together a history of the air war in a theater that has been heavily documented in its ground war. Allied arms helped the Soviets but it was their own factories that turned out the equipment that allowed the Soviets to not only expel the Nazis but march all the way to Berlin. Hooten presents an example of a highly trained and skilled military with superior equipment fighting against a poorly trained military (many of its best leaders were subjected to Stalin’s purges) with an ill-trained peasant factory force and inferior equipment. The numerically superior ill-trained and equipped force was able to overcome the highly trained and prepared force with serious supply problems.
Hooten provides plenty of detail and information on the air units and their equipment. It is as much as a study of logistics and equipment as it is a narrative of the war. Perhaps one of the most important and heroic defenses in history as the Soviets held off the Nazis and denied them the much-needed petroleum that lay beyond Stalingrad. An excellent aviation war history.
It was the shock that the Soviets knew to expect but pretended it would never happen after the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact. Two different totalitarian regimes would face off in one the most vicious series of battles and sieges in history. Both armies were ordered not to take a step back. The ground war was a series of atrocities and the cities under siege endured suffering beyond belief. The Nazi leadership knew the peace between Germany and the USSR would not last. The USSR consisted of Slavs and communists both of which were held in low esteem by the Nazis. The Soviet Union would also be a much-needed source of petroleum (and food) for German war machine that extended their supply line too far in their conquests.
The Germans, even before the attack, probed the Soviet border traveling deep inside the country on reconnaissance missions and to test the Soviet defenses. When the attack came it was decisive. The German ground and air forces moved in on an unprepared Soviet Union. German technology and experience moved quickly and effectively, stopped by only two things -- winter and outrunning their supply lines. Initial Soviet resistance included the use of biplanes so far out of date they had little, if any, effect. The Soviets were behind in other technology including radar and communication radio. As a result, Soviet industrial production moved east and prepared to rebuild and resist. The Germans remained hurt by the overextended supply lines and logistics. The Soviet railways were a different gauge than the rest of Europe creating a transportation nightmare for the German resupply efforts.
Hooten uses released Russian documents, Nazi archives, and personal accounts to bring together a history of the air war in a theater that has been heavily documented in its ground war. Allied arms helped the Soviets but it was their own factories that turned out the equipment that allowed the Soviets to not only expel the Nazis but march all the way to Berlin. Hooten presents an example of a highly trained and skilled military with superior equipment fighting against a poorly trained military (many of its best leaders were subjected to Stalin’s purges) with an ill-trained peasant factory force and inferior equipment. The numerically superior ill-trained and equipped force was able to overcome the highly trained and prepared force with serious supply problems.
Hooten provides plenty of detail and information on the air units and their equipment. It is as much as a study of logistics and equipment as it is a narrative of the war. Perhaps one of the most important and heroic defenses in history as the Soviets held off the Nazis and denied them the much-needed petroleum that lay beyond Stalingrad. An excellent aviation war history.
May 17, 2021
Red so many history books about ww2 and ER Hooton as writer who was a new experience and this title was a book I was longing to read. But, so disappointed; he has obsiously chosen to set a new standard unlike other writers on the topic. Never encountered any historian complicating a text as Hooton done, the established abbrevations has he dismissed and instead introduced firstly abbrevations emanated from complicated Russian terms, eg. VVS (Voyenno Vozdushnye Sily) for Red Army Air Force and secondly applied a method with scaling down the Air Force in the various different namings of the functions within the VVS (Red Army Airforce) and used the abbrevations established from other long and complicated Russian definitions.
I must repeatedly check the glossery. If I could read Russian it would be no problem to quickly learn the abbrevations but that is not the case for me.
The title contains enough information why this style is so annoying.
I must repeatedly check the glossery. If I could read Russian it would be no problem to quickly learn the abbrevations but that is not the case for me.
The title contains enough information why this style is so annoying.
January 12, 2022
Hooton has written an incredibly detailed account of the Soviet-German air war of World War Two. His knowledge of the records is impeccable, and this book adds a lot of depth to a topic that is not so well known in the West as say, the Battle of Britain or the Allied bomber campaigns.
War Over the Steppes gives a very granular history of the front's major figures and the air campaigns carried out from before Barbarosa to war's end in May 1945. He's clearly plumbed the depths of Soviet and German records to bring us this level of detail, and insight into some of the characteristics of the Soviet air arm and its flaws and advantages. Photographs are a plus to the book.
The only real beef I have is that there is an absence of maps, and this means that the reader can struggle in seeing the strategic campaigns over the years and putting them in context.
War Over the Steppes gives a very granular history of the front's major figures and the air campaigns carried out from before Barbarosa to war's end in May 1945. He's clearly plumbed the depths of Soviet and German records to bring us this level of detail, and insight into some of the characteristics of the Soviet air arm and its flaws and advantages. Photographs are a plus to the book.
The only real beef I have is that there is an absence of maps, and this means that the reader can struggle in seeing the strategic campaigns over the years and putting them in context.
February 17, 2022
This is an impressively researched and very detailed account, although perhaps of greatest interest to those with an obsessive interest in the subject. I found some of the volume of technical detail was more than I could profitably digest. I am more interested in the different abilities and personalities of the senior officers on both sides. We do get some of this, but usually just a brief reference which sometimes left me wanting more. Also, Fliegerkorps VIII was generally reckoned to be the outstandingly elite formation on the Axis side, but although there are lots of references to it, the subject of why it was so much better than similar units is not really addressed. Nevertheless, an impressive achievement.
June 6, 2017
Detailed but repetitive
A lot of details about the air war on the eastern front. Very effective as a timeline for the campaign but at times becomes very repetitive with stating the number of sorties flown and tonnes of ordinance dropped without anecdotes to add context.
A lot of details about the air war on the eastern front. Very effective as a timeline for the campaign but at times becomes very repetitive with stating the number of sorties flown and tonnes of ordinance dropped without anecdotes to add context.
February 5, 2017
I received this for free, so I'am under no obligation to lie about it or tell you this book is great if is not, I will always give you the best review I can give about any book I will read, whether I received it for free or bought it with my own money, rest assured you will get my honest and unbiased review. At first I wasn't sure about this book, but,I really enjoyed it, it is filled with so much information on the German and Russian aircraft and pilots, I have always enjoyed learning and reading about the different aircrafts that have been used and are being used , I found this book very interesting, it has a lot information on each plane used. if you love learning about history, war planes and pilots you will enjoy this book. As you read this book you become engrossed with almost living what these pilots went thru. The author added charts to help you understand the abbreviations and info about the planes, also at the end, the author also adds 47 pages of great photos of some aircraft, pilots and etc.....i don't want to give up to much info but if you like war books, aircraft books or history, you will definitely enjoy this read
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews