Cajus Bekker (1924–1975)

A competent history of the service during the WWII. Perhaps his translator is a little flat?

Published in 1955, this history is a careful document, trying to minimize the unrestricted submarine warfare waged by the Kreigsmarine in 1940 -45. The prose is clear, and established several of the memes for German naval writers about WWII. There's an interesting "Let's blame Hitler" tone.
The book hits the high points, and encouraged Bekker to continue his writing career.

Mr. Bekker is a reasonably skilfull writer, or his translator is. The book very strongly emphasizes the actions of the surface fleet, rather than the submarine forces, and one drops a tear for the beautiful ships, never given a chance to fight in one-on-one actions. But the war came too soon for the surface fleet, and the combination of naval and air forces deployed against the Germans soon rendered it of marginal importance. I read it with interest, and it is competent within its limitations.

The book is partisan to the German side but nevertheless gives a good overview of the Luftwaffe throughout WWII. It highlights the effectiveness of British radar and the lack of a German heavy bomber in the Battle of Britain + the serious lack of trained pilots towards the end of the war. Bekker also accepts the decisive role of the long range Mustang in engaging German fighters over Germany. He covers the technological triumph and lost opportunity of the ME 262 jet and has some good show more sections on the successful use of anti-tank aircraft and night-fighter operations. show less