Luftwaffe
The Messerschmitt BF-109 fighter, heavily armed yet swift, was Germany's most efective combat aircraft during the early stages of World War II. (Grolier Interactive Inc)
Authorized by German dictator Adolf Hitler in March 1935, despite its prohibition by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919; see Paris Peace Conference), the Luftwaffe became the world's most powerful air force in the late 1930s and early 1940s. It developed dive-bombers and dive-bombing techniques and then honed them to perfection in the Spanish Civil War (1936 –39). The Luftwaffe's dive-bombers and fighters proved highly effective in German blitzkrieg attacks during the early months of World War II, but Hermann Goering, its commander in chief, neglected the development of strategic bombers. As a result the Luftwaffe failed to subdue Great Britain in the Battle of Britain and the ensuing blitz. Further, with much of the Luftwaffe active on the eastern front against the Soviet Union, it was unable to defend Germany against American and British strategic bombing. The Luftwaffe's development of V-1 buzz bombs, guided missiles, and jet-propelled aircraft came too late to affect the outcome of the war.
The air force of the Federal Republic of Germany is also called the Luftwaffe.
Bibliography: Claasen, Adam R. A., Hitler's Northern War: The Luftwaffe's Ill-Fated Campaign, 1940 –1945 (2001); Corum, James S., The Luftwaffe: Creating the Operational Air War 1918 –1940 (1997); Hayward, Joel, Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East (1998); Pimlott, John, ed., Luftwaffe: The Illustrated History of the German Air Force in World War II (1998).
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The Book Thief
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The Book Thief
by Markus ZusakLiesel Meminger, a foster child living outside Munich during World War II, scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist -- books -- in this unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
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books;hardcover books;hardcovers | Ages 12 and Up
Ages 12 and Up $16.95
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Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust
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Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust
These are the true-life accounts of nine Jewish boys and girls whose lives spiraled into danger and fear as the Holocaust overtook Europe. In a time of great horror, these children each found a way to make it through the nightmare of war. Their legacy of courage in the face of hatred will move you, captivate you, and, ultimately, inspire you.
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Paperback Book | Grades 4-7
Grades 4-7 $4.99
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