bombing of Wiener Neustadt

[Peter Kassak]

Does anyone know this book?
Reisner, Markus: Bomben auf Wiener Neustadt : die Zerstörung eines der wichtigsten Rüstungszentren des Deutschen Reiches ; der Luftkrieg über der "Allzeit Getreuen" von 1943 bis 1945 / Markus Reisner. – Wiener Neustadt : Eigenverl. M. Reisner, 2006. – 1128 S. : zahlr. Ill., Kt. ; 25 cmAdresse d. Verl.: A-2700 Wiener Neustadt, Schneeberggasse 25. – Literaturverz. S. 1108 – 1121. – Linksammlung S. 1122. – ISBN 3-200-00649-8 geb. – ISBN 978-3-200-00649-2


any comments, possibly hints how and where to buy it??

Peter

[Laurent Rizzotti]

With 1128 pages, it should really be the reference book about this town in WWII...

You can buy it online at http://www.thiel.at/main.htm (second of the list on my screen) for 60 euros... or at least that is how I understand it after a quick scan of the site (German is not my best language).

If you buy it, I will be interested in a short review of what is inside this large book.

[Csaba B. Stenge]

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

If you buy it, I will be interested in a short review of what is inside this large book.

Me too

P.S. Peterka, are you interested in the WNF, or the dogfights in this area (or both)?

[Griffon]

I have it and I love it!

I will do a quick review when I am back at home from office.
but only so much for now-this book is worth every single cent it costs!!!
if only the profiles inside would be larger and in color

cheers
phil

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by Griffon

I have it and I love it!

I will do a quick review when I am back at home from office.
but only so much for now-this book is worth every single cent it costs!!!
if only the profiles inside would be larger and in color

cheers
phil

Griffon, if you allow it here my main questions :
_ does the book describe the air battles or only the bombings ?
_ does it cover the town, or also the surrounding area, or also everything that happenend during any raid against WN ?
_ does it also consider the Allied sides (units involved, claims, losses, etc...) ?
_ what is the level of details ? For example, are there crew lists for lost bombers, or list of people killed on the ground ,etc...

Hope it is not too much, short answers will be far enough and deeply appreciated

Best regards

Laurent

[Griffon]

hello Laurent!

thanks for the detailed questions, they do provide a good framework for my mini review

_ does the book describe the air battles or only the bombings ?

the book deals with the history of Wiener Neustadt aviationwise as a whole.
it describes the units that flew from the airfields surrounding WN, and does not start with the bombing campaign, but mainly with 1938, when Austria was annexed by Germany.
you will find description of training units, some ops done by KG-200 that used WN airfields as jump off points etc.
the air battles are described from all sides involved, German fighter pilots, Allied bomber pilots, air gunners, bombardiers, and so on.
the whole bombing campaign against WN is introduced by a great overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the Allied bomber forces, their tactics, formations, planes and so on, and the German LW fighter units are introduced the same way.
but the buck does not stop there.
as the air defense of WN was flown from bases as far away as Linz, units based there are treated as well.
(ME-410 fans will be pleased to read quite a bit about the destroyers, operating from there)
but not only US bombing raids and the associated fights are described, but also the attacks, flown by the VVS once the Russian steamroller reached the Austrian border.

_ does it cover the town, or also the surrounding area, or also everything that happenend during any raid against WN ?

it mainly covers the town, the industry based there, and the things that happened to the people who had to endure those raids, be it the people on the ground or the aircrews high above

_ does it also consider the Allied sides (units involved, claims, losses, etc...) ?
_ what is the level of details ? For example, are there crew lists for lost bombers, or list of people killed on the ground ,etc...

you know the Ethell/PRice book about mission 250? or the Hikoki book about mission 376? - well, expect the same treatmen here, but for each and every raid that hit WN!!!
full loss and claims lists are provided most of the times, and those are even counterchecked, making it possible to compare claims and actual kills from both sides

and you get pilot accounts, accounts from civilian air defense people, flak gunners, industry workers, civilians be it girls or boys or women or old men;
then there are profiles of some of the planes mentioned in the text, although they have been published in other books before and only are in b/w.
but its nice to have them nevertheless.

ok, if you want to know more or want to have the book, just let me know, I can get you copies without any problems
all you need is a paypal account as I accept payment via paypal only

cheers for now
phil