After World War II, when it became clear that continued friendly relations with the Soviet Union would not be possible and that there was a real possibility that war would break out between the United States and the Eastern Bloc, Western military leaders turned to the only source that had extensive experience fighting against the Red Army: the defeated German military. The German Luftwaffe was the only air force with extensive combat experience against the Soviet air forces. Illuminated by a vast collection of original source material, and now revised for brevity and clarity, this fascinating book was originally part of a U.S. Air Force historical project initiated after World War II to obtain a complete picture of Germany"s war in the air. Here General Deichmann, one of the principal leaders of the Luftwaffe, describes the aerial combat, reconnaissance, and support operations that worked against the Russians and, just as important, those that failed. All phases of the Luftwaffe"s organization and maneuvers are included--from its secret rebirth after World War I through its participation in the Spanish Civil War to its massive operations and final defeat in World War II. With eight pages of photographs.