World War II Data Book: Hitler's Secret Weapons, 1933-1945

World War II Data Book: Hitler's Secret Weapons, 1933-1945

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. For World War II Germany, that was certainly the case. After Operation Barbarossa, the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, ground to a halt and it became apparent that the war could continue for years, Hitler invested enormous resources into the development of new, technologically advanced weaponry in the belief that these “wonder weapons” would tip the balance in his favor. Though it was a case of “too little, too late,” they had the potential to change history. As Nazi Germany’s high-tech war machine revved into action, it cranked out some of the war’s most dreaded weapons—including the powerful Tiger tank series, the Messerschmitt Me 262 (the world’s first operational jet fighter), the V-1 flying bomb (the world’s first cruise missile), and the V2 rocket (the world’s first long-range ballistic missile).

In The World War II Data Book: Hitler’s Secret Weapons, military historian David Porter reveals the full extent of Germany’s high-tech weapons program. Organized by weapon type, the book includes fascinating chapters on marine vessels, armored fighting vehicles, infantry weapons, aircraft, rocket and “vengeance weapons” technology, and nuclear and biological weapons. Discussing the history and capabilities of the various weapons and weapons platforms, the main text is supplemented by a wealth of charts and tables that provide detailed statistical information on topics like: how the various jet fighters fared in combat, the operational ranges of the various V-2 rocket variants, the combat effectiveness of the Hs 293 anti-ship guided missile and more.

As the book progresses, it becomes clear just how far ahead of their time the German scientists and engineers were, and how—had it not been for inter-service rivalry and Hitler’s meddling—these war machines could have turned the tide of war. For instance, the surface-to-air missile program never reached fruition because essential resources were diverted to Hitler’s “vengeance” weapons—the V-1 and V-2 rockets. Had Germany been able to launch SAMs in large enough numbers, it could have devastated the Allied bombers that were wreaking havoc on its industrial base. The same could be said for the Messerschmitt Me 262. The world’s first operational jet fighter, this speed demon also boasted air-to-air missiles, and could have won back the Luftwaffe’s air supremacy, but it just wasn’t produced in enough numbers to make a difference.

Also discussing intriguing creations like the Seehund, a highly successful midget submarine that was almost impossible to detect by sonar; the massive 80cm Gustav super-cannon; and the exotic Mistel composite bomber, The World War II Data Book: Hitler’s Secret Weapons comes fully illustrated with full-color profile illustrations of the various weapons and rare archival photographs. Comprehensive, authoritative and utterly fascinating, it’s the finest book on the subject today.

Hardcover: 192 pages

Publisher: Amber Books ( March 14, 2010 )

Item #: 98-0782

ISBN: 9781906626754

Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 9.5 x 0.48 inches

Product Weight: 29.0 ounces