Page Up for "Black Cross Red Star: Volume 6, August 1943 – February 1944"

[Edward]

Black Cross Red Star – Air War over the Eastern Front : Volume 6, August 1943 – February 1944
(Vaktel Förlag 2025)
by Christer Bergström
384 pages - hardback (large format A4)

849 kr
$85 US
€79
£68
$130 AU
$116 CA

Crowdfunding
$120 US for a signed and numbered copy

"This is the direct continuation of Volume 5 in the Black Cross Red Star series. This volume covers the hitherto fairly unknown, dramatic air war on the Eastern Front between August 1943 and February 1944.

* The fate of female ace Lidiya Litvyak
* The drive to the Dnepr
* Soviet airborne drop behind the Dnepr
* ”Bully” Lang’s 18 kills in one day examined
* The final air battles over Leningrad
* Air fighting over German convoys in the Far North

Hundreds of photos, many of which have never been published before
Many large and clear maps
Aircraft color profiles

Note: The cover image seen here [link] is only provisional, as the artwork for the cover has not yet been completed."

https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/blac...february-1944/

[messcaster]

At least! Republishing the other volumes was a necessity. But it was a long time waiting to see this forthcoming volume!

[Edward]

The new cover art for volume 6 is now up at the Vaktel Förlag website.

Black Cross Red Star – Air War over the Eastern Front : Volume 6, From Kursk to Kiev July-November 1943
(Vaktel Förlag 2025)
by Christer Bergström

https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/blac...february-1944/

[edwest2]

From the Stone & Stone site:

29 May 2025
Twenty-five years after the first volume was published, it looks like the next title in the Black Cross, Red Star series will be available later this year:
Bergstrom, Christer. Black Cross, Red Star: Air War over the Eastern Front, vol 6: From Kursk to Kiev, July - November 1943. Forthcoming from Vaktel Forlag.

[Christer Bergström]

I am happy to let you know that the time has now come to pre-order Black Cross Red Star Volume 6: Air War Over the Eastern Front, July–November 1943.

This new volume will soon be ready and I warmly invite you to pre-order your copy directly from me now. Publication will probably be about the same time of the year as with the previous volume (around November).

See:
https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/blac...february-1944/

The regular price is 850 SEK, but I would be deeply grateful if you would consider crowdfunding the book with 1,200 SEK (Swedish krona). That will help to maintain the high graphic quality of the book series, the photos, etc. All crowdfunders will receive a signed and individually numbered copy. Or would you like to pre-order a copy at the ordinary price USD$ 85?

Please make your payment via PayPal to:
vaktelforlag@gmail.com

To avoid the 6% PayPal fee, you’re welcome to choose the option “Friends & Family” when sending your payment. If you prefer the standard method, kindly add 6% to cover the fee. I kindly ask that you make two separate payments — one for the book and one for shipping.

To complete your order, please don’t forget to e-mail me your full postal address and phone number (required for international delivery).

Important note: Please reply ONLY to: vaktelforlag@gmail.com

If you’ve appreciated the earlier volumes in the Black Cross / Red Star series, I can honestly say that — in my view — Volume 6 is the very best so far. It contains the most dramatic new material I’ve come across in this research, and I personally find it absolutely gripping. I truly believe readers will be as captivated by it as I’ve been while writing it.

This is a massive undertaking: around 250,000 words, large size (A 4), hardcover, packed with full-color artwork, maps, and hundreds of rare photographs, many of which have never before been published. As with previous volumes, I do not compromise on quality — and since I am publishing this independently and covering all production costs myself, I truly rely on pre-orders and crowdfunding support to make it possible.

If you’re curious about my other WWII books in English, you’re welcome to browse here:
https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt-kategori/english/

Another great help would be to spread the word:
– Share the series with your friends
– Post your thoughts on social media
– Forward this links to anyone interested:

Excerpt from Volume 2:
https://vaktelforlag.se/wp-content/u...rs2extract.pdf

Here also is a complete list of my English titles:
https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt-kategori/english/

Black Cross Red Star is the only book series that thoroughly documents the air war on the Eastern Front in WWII, based on extensive primary sources from both the German and Soviet sides, including veteran interviews. Volume 7 is planned for next year, and the series will continue annually until the story is fully told.

Please share this information with others.

Thank you for your continued support!

[Edward]

Black Cross Red Star – Air War over the Eastern Front : Volume 6, From Kursk to Kiev July-November 1943
(Vaktel Förlag - forthcoming Fall 2025)
by Christer Bergström
384 pages - hardcover

e-mail from Christer Bergström
30 August 2025

"Dear friend,

Great news: Yesterday I finished writing the very last chapter of Black Cross Red Star, Volume 6! It will be published within a couple of months.
With a word count of about 250,000 words, it has the scope of 2-3 “ordinary” books on World War II.

See:
https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/black-cross-red-star-air-war-over-the-eastern-front-volume-6-august-1943-february-1944/

However, I am in a difficult situation: there are still too few pre-orders to cover the costs of production.

If you have already pre-ordered, you have my deepest thanks.

If not, I kindly ask you to consider pre-ordering your copy now.

I personally pay for the entire production — layout, photographs, color profiles, maps, printing on fine glossy paper, hardcover binding, as well as research trips to archives — completely on my own. Because it breaks entirely new historical ground, it deserves detailed and careful treatment and a proper “packaging.”

I will of course publish it no matter what, but it would be nice if the orders would cover the cost. I would also like to print a number of copies so that it will not be sold out very quickly.

Crowdfunding contribution: 1,200 SEK
— for a personally signed and individually numbered copy, and with your name printed in the book. This directly improves the quality of the book (design, photos, profiles, maps).

Regular pre-order book price: 849 SEK.

To pre-order, you can simply email your order and shipping details to: vaktelforlag@gmail.com — I will confirm your reservation.

To complete your payment, please transfer to my PayPal account: vaktelforlag@gmail.com
(To avoid the PayPal fee (6%), please send as “To family and friends”, or add 6%.)
Please include your postal address and phone number.

Thank you very much for your support — it means everything to me, and it is what keeps this history alive!

As you might know, the Black Cross Red Star series is the first and only work that objectively tells the story of the hitherto undocumented air war on the Eastern Front, based on both sides’ primary sources and interviews with numerous veterans.

Volume 6 will be of the same high quality — 384 pages, very detailed maps, hardcover, large A4 format, with color profiles, hundreds of photos, etc."

[Jim Oxley]

Such a brilliant series. Glad to see that it's ongoing.

[James A Pratt III]

Great News! I will buy it when it comes out. My only gripe with the expanded volumes 1, 2, and 3 are the typos. Please have it edited better. Also what periods does vol 6 cover? One has Aug-Nov 43 another has Aug 43 to Feb 44?

[Edward]

Originally Posted by James A Pratt III

Also what periods does vol 6 cover? One has Aug-Nov 43 another has Aug 43 to Feb 44?

I believe that the author initially planned to cover August 1943 - February 1944 in volume six.

However, once writing had progressed the period was altered to July 1943 - November 1943 which is what now appears on the cover of vol. 6. Note that the link to the upcoming volume still utilizes the previous date.

Black Cross Red Star – Air War over the Eastern Front : Volume 6, From Kursk to Kiev July-November 1943

https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/blac...february-1944/

[James A Pratt III]

Thanks for the info.

The trailer of the movie "Litvyak" (2025) is on youtube

One hopes this book has a few pages on the 6 Oct 1943 action where the 3 Soviet Black Sea fleet destroyers were sunk by III/StG 3