Review

Another title from Osprey's master Luftwaffe historian, John Weal. Weal gives a great depiction of Germany's ground attack arm in the Second World War. The book starts out by covering the very beginnings with Ernst Udet, of World War One fame, and tales of the American Curtis Hawk II. This led Germany's first attempt at a dive bomber, the He 50. Weal then moves to the Condor Legion's He 51's of the Spanish Civil War and the development of the Hs 123.

He then moves on to the Blitzkrieg of Poland and France with the use of the Ju 87 "Stuka". Next comes the action in Russia from 1941-43 with the use of the Hs 129 "Panzerjager" and the Fw190 fighter geared for ground attack missions. This section also describes the further development of the "Stuka" with the fitting of twin 3.7cm underwing cannons, used to great effect against enemy armor. The book concludes with the fall of Germany and its Schlachtgruppen.

Not only does this book cover the aircraft and units, but it also does a wonderful job in covering the pilots. The legendary Hans Ulrich Rudel and his 519 tank kills are covered, along with others such as Anton Hubsch, Alois Wosnitz and August Lambert. John Weal has hit another homer.