Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain
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Review
‘The best single-volume history to be published in over a decade’ (Andrew Roberts )
‘The most exhaustive and detailed account of the Battle of Britain that has yet appeared’ (Noble Frankland Times Literary Supplement )
‘The most exhaustive and detailed account of the Battle of Britain that has yet appeared’ (Noble Frankland Times Literary Supplement )
Times Literary Supplement
'This is the most exhaustive and detailed account of the Battle of Britain that has yet appeared. The author has read prodigiously and produced some interestin g observations on the basis of original research...it puts between two covers th e gist of all there is to know and, one may suspect, remains discoverable about the Battle of Britain...this is an important achievement...for anyone coming new to the subject, this book is made to measure.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
124 of 126 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There are so many books available on the Battle of Britain, but this is the best I've read. A healthy and fascinating mix of anecdote, opinion, and solid research give this book so many dimensions missing in others that cover this important historical event.
Other authors have emphasised how close-run this event was - how Britain avoided defeat at the hands of the Luftwaffe by a hair's-breadth. I've never been entirely convinced by this. I could never put my finger on why, which is why I probably read so many books on this subject. But thankfully Bungay hits the nail on the head with a view that is contrary to the consensus: the British war machine was far more efficient than the Germans'; that the Germans didn't have the industrial capacity to replace the aircraft lost over England. And, crucially, the genius of Park and Dowding's organisation of the defence was such that the Luftwaffe was far from achieving a certain victory.
Everything is brilliantly explained: the tactics, the aircraft, the pilots, the politics, and much that has been neglected in the past such as the role of Bomber Command, and a decent explanation of why the famous "Big Wing" was such a bad idea.
Stick with the book to the end and you will be amused by Bungay's ironic quips, and moved when he delves deeper into the lives of some of the pilots. He rightly laments the sorry status this battle has in WWII history, pointing out that it's the world, not just Britain, that owes a debt of gratitude to the pilots.
What is profoundly sad is the knowledge that this breed is dying out - an example is the story of the retired Spitfire pilot who didn't mention his role in the battle, quietly working in his garage, content to be anonymous. One day, his secret is out, and the reaction is very moving.
Buy this - it's the best history of the most important air battle, ever.
Other authors have emphasised how close-run this event was - how Britain avoided defeat at the hands of the Luftwaffe by a hair's-breadth. I've never been entirely convinced by this. I could never put my finger on why, which is why I probably read so many books on this subject. But thankfully Bungay hits the nail on the head with a view that is contrary to the consensus: the British war machine was far more efficient than the Germans'; that the Germans didn't have the industrial capacity to replace the aircraft lost over England. And, crucially, the genius of Park and Dowding's organisation of the defence was such that the Luftwaffe was far from achieving a certain victory.
Everything is brilliantly explained: the tactics, the aircraft, the pilots, the politics, and much that has been neglected in the past such as the role of Bomber Command, and a decent explanation of why the famous "Big Wing" was such a bad idea.
Stick with the book to the end and you will be amused by Bungay's ironic quips, and moved when he delves deeper into the lives of some of the pilots. He rightly laments the sorry status this battle has in WWII history, pointing out that it's the world, not just Britain, that owes a debt of gratitude to the pilots.
What is profoundly sad is the knowledge that this breed is dying out - an example is the story of the retired Spitfire pilot who didn't mention his role in the battle, quietly working in his garage, content to be anonymous. One day, his secret is out, and the reaction is very moving.
Buy this - it's the best history of the most important air battle, ever.
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a Rolls-Royce nut - the firm not the car; and knowing that 75% RAF aircraft flew with Merlin engines shows just how much depended on PV-12 and Royce and Hives; for a company which had to be ordered by the Government to enter the aero-engine business in 1915 !
I enjoyed this book, it straightened out a few myths and built a few more. I recall seeing a family grave with the name of a son, an RAF pilot KIA in September 1939, shot down over the Channel in "friendly fire" - reading Bungay's book shows how close contact killing did not avoid mistakes, the rapidity of decision-making with that gunsight and burst of firing meant you killed your own occasionally.
I ike the way he gives details of the aircraft, both sides, and lets you see where these JG and KG planes were coming from.....and when you think of a man with 8-Brownings and limited ammunition, it is a remarkable achievement to survive such close encounters.
I wish there had been more on #.303 Krakowski Polish Squadron - the highest scoring; and a bit more about #.310 Czechs, and the amazing Josef Frantisek who fled Czechoslovakia in 1938 to fly with the Poles; then with the Poles in France; and then in PAF in England.
I really liked this book...it reads well, and is beautifully written with good turns of phrase and a light touch. I shall haul out my old Battle of Britain video now to watch Terevor Howard in his role as Keith Park and Lawrence Olivier as Dowding.........
.........and I shall feel a sense of shame......at how miserably these men were treated after the War.....how Park especially failed to be honoured sufficiently in this country; and I shall think also of the shameful way Harris was treated after the War; and how the sacrifices of Bomber Command which lost 75% crews killed in action, were largely ignored by governments which had no further use for their sacrifice and did little to honour it.
So, I read the book with relish, and enjoyed every word, but I feel shame that those nearest to events failed to show full gratitude at a time when full sacrifice left raw wounds and empty homes; ie. immediately after the War.........it took a very long time for Dowding to get a statue, or Harris.....and Park is still waiting.....
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Most Dangerous Enemy is a very appealing book, telling the stories of the front-line airmen on both sides, and the figures in command, fitting genuine human interest into the over-all picture of the battle. This makes the book a very exciting read, and brings the history to life. Stephen Bungay has evidently done very thorough research for this book, and there is a great deal of information woven through the individual stories.
I felt that this book got exactly the right balance between factual detail of the battle, and a gripping read about the people who actually fought it. A considerable achievement, equally of interest to the general public and historians.
I felt that this book got exactly the right balance between factual detail of the battle, and a gripping read about the people who actually fought it. A considerable achievement, equally of interest to the general public and historians.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very revealing
A most interesting and very revealing re-think over the attitudes and tactics employed by both sides during The Battle of Britain.
A damned good read.
A damned good read.
Published 1 day ago by oldscrote
Top Book
Very interesting book. Details the thoughts of the Germans and how Great Britain responded to the air invasion in World War Two.
Published 22 days ago by Mr. J. Poole
Outstanding and highly readable !
I haven't read the other reviews yet so these are my own impressions. This is an outstanding piece of work. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Lou
History at it's best!
I read this book some years ago, and have read other books based around this period in history since, but this still remains the best one I have read by some way. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Simon Devon
great book with new information
bought this book for my husband who is a great militery history reader ,he is very pleased with it and has found out lots of information new to him , which is hard because I... Read more
Published 4 months ago by lemondog
Superb
This is, without doubt, one of the best written, most well researched and most exhaustive accounts of the Battle of Britain. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Man-O-War1977
A terrific read
This is probably the only book on the Battle of Britain you will ever need. Informative without bogging you down in excessive detail. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ewan
Superb
A compelling history of the battle of Britain, from both the human and technical perspective. Outstanding. One of the best books I have read in a long, long time.
Published 8 months ago by W Innes
Definitive
I've read many a history of the Battle of Britain; this is easily the best. Why? Bungay's objectivity is such that he concentrates on what the German Command THOUGHT was going on,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Trevor Stafford
Excellent account - well balanced and informative
Fully endorse the other feedback summaries. The book is very well written and gives a well balanced account of both the Allies and German activities during the Battle of Britain. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Aligirlbear
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