Hitler's Rockets: The Story of the V-2s

by Norman Longmate

In Hitler’s Rockets Norman Longmate tells the story of the V-2, the technically brilliant but hated weapon, the ancestor and forerunner of all subsequent ballistic missiles. He reveals the devious power-play within the German armed forces and the Nazi establishment that so influenced the creation of the rockets. He shows through contemporary documents and protagonists’ accounts how the British intelligence skillfully pieced together often contradictory evidence as it sought to establish the true nature of the threat. Finally he recalls in detail the feel and fears of the time from the viewpoint of those who suffered, and those who were all too conscious tat they were the target.

Genres: History, World War II

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently not all Nazis were bad. The German scientists that we brought back to America after WWII had their US citizenship fast tracked, were given parades, and in some cases given “Keys to the City”. These were the people responsible for killing thousands of British civilians during the V2 rein of terror just a few years earlier. Had they contributed to the Holocaust and not been scientists they would have been convicted of war crimes and hung.

[Tom Sells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extreme nightmares

V-2 rockets were not part of my history classes. A very horrifying weapon with no defense. It is good they were developed late in the war. You can only take so much.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Longmate's study is actually the second part of a larger study of the V-1 and V-2 attacks, but stands well on its own. He covers the development of the A-4 (aka V-2) by the Germans and the efforts of the British to uncover (or ignore) the potential threat of rockets in mainly alternating chapters, then turns to a largely geographic survey of the impacts in and around London and the southeast of England. The great strength of the work is as a social history of the rockets' impact on Britain, which Longmate assesses as harder to endure than either aerial bombardment of the V-1s, largely due to the inability of the British to detect launches and incoming missiles. The attacks on Belgium receive little mention, and the Germans somewhat drop out of the picture once the actual launches begin, but overall an excellent read.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book appears to be well researched and I'm sure has its place in war literature as the author has meticulously recorded and detailed as much information as can be found (and there is apparently a significant amount) on each rocket strike that occurred. But for me, while the overall story of the rockets was interesting and the impact (truly) upon the English citizens was overwhelmingly heartwrenching, hearing the exact details on each and every strike was just too much to absorb. I began feeling rather numb.

[Crystal Toller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books details the Germans development of the V2 rockets and the damage they did during World War II. This was a fascinating read with lots of details on the destruction in different areas of England, and briefly other areas. Enjoyed this book because I had no idea of the amount of destruction the rockets left and how it affected the populace. Lots of detail, even though author notes government records were sometimes hard to find. Thoroughly researched book and interesting read on topic not discussed much, then or now.

[Beth/Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas gift from Matt & Keri. Good coverage from both sides. Explains why British government suppressed reporting damage caused by the V2's. Almost had too much detail in all of the incidents of the results of the damage. Lord Cherwell, Churchill's scientific adviser, kept saying the rockets were not possible despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Back cover describes the rockets best, ...........technically brilliant but morally detestable...................

[Ray Savarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story primarily of the V2 rocket and its effects during the war; the struggle to make it operational, the chaos it caused in England. It is scary to think of the impact had it been available a year earlier, before the allies had Germany on the ropes, and the end in sight; it was a powerfully effective weapon on the populace of England.