Air Battles over Hungary 1944-45 Volume 1: From Summer Skies to Autumn Firestorms: The Air War Over Hungary, 1944

[edwest2]

Scheduled for 15 April.

https://www.amazon.com/Air-Battles-o...s%2C263&sr=1-7

Usual disclaimer,
Ed

[Peter Kassak]

72 pages book claims to be detailed about air war over Hungary.... LOL. and that all including profiles photos and tables... megaLOL

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Peter Kassak

72 pages book claims to be detailed about air war over Hungary.... LOL. and that all including profiles photos and tables... megaLOL

Does this require a new acronym, TSDR (Too Short, Didn't Read)?

[Peter Kassak]

Nick,

Hungary is very close to my area of interest. I have detailed loss lists for USAAF as well as for other air forces. Some time ago I just compiled a text from Intops summaries about air raids towards targets in Hungary and this has only 60 pages...
If one is aiming to read a book that is detailed about the topic, the 72 pages would not ANYHOW serve the purpose - else you wanna read overall info which you find on google and Wikipedia

And to clarify your acronym sugestion...NO, short book may be very well written and addressed, with a lot of interesting info... But could not cover topic of such scale, like this one announces....

[Edward]

No indication that there is any new material here compared to Khazanov's 2021 book - which I had purchased upon its release

I have to assume that Helion is taking the same content and simply repackaging it into two less expensive volumes. There are plenty of worse things out there (plagiarism, lack of citations, poor research, terrible photo reproduction, "not enough maps") in the WWII aviation publishing world.

Air Battles over Hungary 1944-45
(Helion and Company 2021)
by Dmitriy Khazanov
166 pages w/ 277 b&w photos, 2 b&w maps, 48 colour profiles and 11 tables - paperback (8.5" x 12")
£29.95

"This work is dedicated for the most part to the fighting over Hungary during the course of the Debrecen (6 October – 27 October 1944) and Budapest (29 October 1944 – 13 February 1945) offensives, as well as the Balaton Defensive Operation (6 – 15 March 1945), which the Red Army carried out from autumn 1944 until the spring of 1945. The conduct of these operations preceded an attempt by the Regent of Budapest, Miklos Horthy, to pull his country out of the war. This attempt however was unsuccessful – Vice Admiral Horthy was replaced under Hitler's orders by the pro-Hitlerite henchman Szalasi, after which fierce and desperate battles broke out both on the ground and in the air. Moreover the Wehrmacht were constantly augmenting their forces, first and foremost their panzers."

https://www.helion.co.uk/military-hi...y-1944-45-.php

Air Battles over Hungary 1944-45
Volume 1: From Summer Skies to Autumn Firestorms
Series: Europe@War
(Helion and Company – April 15, 2026)
by Dmitriy Khazanov
72 pages w/ 125 b&w photos, 25 colour profiles, 3 b&w maps and 6 tables - paperback (8.2" x 11.7")
£19.95
$29.95 US

"In the summer of 1944, Hungary found itself at the centre of a rapidly shifting front as Soviet forces surged westward and Allied bombing intensified. Air Battles over Hungary 1944–45 – Volume 1 offers a comprehensive, richly illustrated account of the escalating air war during this pivotal year, when the skies over Hungary became a deadly arena for fighters, bombers, and ground-attack aircraft from multiple nations.

This volume traces the development of the campaign from its early stages through to the final weeks of 1944. It explores in detail the operations and experiences of the Royal Hungarian Air Force, the Luftwaffe, the Red Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Drawing from a wealth of archival material, combat reports, memoirs, and previously unpublished photographs, the book reconstructs a dynamic and often chaotic picture of aerial combat as Hungary's strategic importance grew.

Chapters examine not only key air battles and bombing raids but also the evolving tactics, shifting force structures, and logistical challenges faced by all combatants. From the defence of Hungarian oilfields to the Soviet air assaults supporting the Red Army’s encirclement manoeuvres, the narrative balances technical detail with human experience, offering insight into the everyday realities of pilots, crews, and commanders on both sides.

Volume 1 also places the Hungarian campaign within the broader strategic context of the Eastern Front and the Allied bombing offensive. The Luftwaffe's diminishing resources, the Royal Hungarian Air Force’s struggle to remain operational, and the Red Air Force’s growing effectiveness all receive detailed attention. Meanwhile, the increasing presence of the USAAF over Hungarian targets adds a further layer of complexity and destruction.

Accompanied by rare wartime images, colour aircraft profiles, and detailed maps, this volume is an essential resource for readers interested in the final phase of the air war in Europe, and for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the role played by Hungary in the climactic battles of 1944.

Volume 2 Siege and Breakout will continue the story through the siege of Budapest, the German relief attempts, and the final collapse of Axis resistance in Hungary during early 1945."

https://www.helion.co.uk/military-hi...ngary-1944.php

Air Battles over Hungary 1944-45
Volume 2: Siege and Breakout
(Helion and Company - Spring 2026)
by Dmitriy Khazanov
72 pages w/ 153 b&w photos, 23 colour profiles, 3 b&w maps and 5 tables - paperback (8.2" x 11.7")

"As the Second World War entered its final phase in Central Europe, Hungary became the focus of some of the most intense urban and operational fighting on the Eastern Front. Volume 2 Siege and Breakout picks up the story in January 1945, as Soviet forces encircled Budapest and launched the siege that would decide the fate of the Axis in Hungary. Against this backdrop of collapsing fronts and desperate resistance, the skies above the Hungarian capital and surrounding plains remained a critical battleground.

This volume provides a detailed and richly illustrated account of the final five months of aerial operations over Hungary. It examines the role of the Royal Hungarian Air Force and the Luftwaffe as they attempted to stem the Soviet tide, as well as the growing might and tactical sophistication of the Red Air Force. With access to wartime diaries, combat records, and personal accounts, the book brings to life the dogfights, bombing missions, and close air support that accompanied some of the bloodiest ground fighting in Europe.

Special attention is given to Operation Konrad — the series of German attempts to relieve the siege of Budapest — and to the air support that accompanied those offensives. The volume also covers the final Soviet push westward, including operations in western Hungary and into Austria, as well as the last actions of the Hungarian and German air units before the Axis surrender.

Beyond operations, Volume 2 explores the logistical strain, attrition, and morale collapse that affected all sides, and offers insight into the strategic decisions that shaped the final outcome of the campaign. Rare photographs, colour profiles, and detailed maps help illustrate the evolution and destruction of Hungary’s air war during the last brutal months of the conflict.

This second volume completes the first comprehensive English-language history of the air war over Hungary in 1944–45. Together with Volume 1 From Summer Skies to Autumn Firestorms, it provides a definitive narrative for military historians, aviation enthusiasts, and all those interested in the final struggles of the Eastern Front."

https://www.helion.co.uk/military-hi...ngary-1945.php

[edwest2]

And this is another reason I look askance at Helion. Granted, book prices have gone up and will continue to go up. The books on my 'must have' list range from $50 to $60 USD.

Last week, I received a number of quotes from U.S. printers. Even short run, print on demand titles are expensive.

Has anyone considered the possibility that the listed page count is in error?

My company is developing a closer working relationship with Amazon. We hope to have a dedicated space to showcase our titles, but we have to jump through a number of hoops to get there. This includes being aware that everything has to be triple-checked to avoid listing errors.

[Jukka Juutinen]

Originally Posted by Peter Kassak

Nick,

Hungary is very close to my area of interest. I have detailed loss lists for USAAF as well as for other air forces. Some time ago I just compiled a text from Intops summaries about air raids towards targets in Hungary and this has only 60 pages...
If one is aiming to read a book that is detailed about the topic, the 72 pages would not ANYHOW serve the purpose - else you wanna read overall info which you find on google and Wikipedia

And to clarify your acronym sugestion...NO, short book may be very well written and addressed, with a lot of interesting info... But could not cover topic of such scale, like this one announces....

A page count an sich is a meaningless indicator. Based on actual observed evidence, I have seen A4 pages with character count (per page) ranging from roughly 2500 to approximately 13 000. That's roughly a 5-fold difference. A huge difference.

[edwest2]

Really? At what point size and at what leading? Another common complaint is 'the maps are too small.' This is usually followed by 'the photos are too small to see the details.'