Overview

TELEGRAPH HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025 By the summer of 1940, Great Britain watched as France succumbed to the might of Adolf Hitler’s forces. Her forces driven off the continent, many rescued from capture at Dunkirk, only the Royal Air Force, supported by the country’s newly established radar system, now stood in the way of the country being invaded. Herman Goering had promised his Fuhrer his air force would sweep the British skies of all opposition to allow Operation Sea Lion, the invasion of southern England, to commence. The intense aerial combat over the coming months across the English Channel and the countryside of southeast England would not reflect the optimism of Nazi propaganda. Researching and blending a diverse range of primary sources together (Luftwaffe air crews’ personal letters and diaries), with official combat reports, and contemporary German newspapers, Victoria Taylor weaves a rich, multifaceted tapestry of the military, political, social and cultural influences that shaped the German air force’s mentality and morale during the Battle of Britain. Eagle Days transforms the Luftwaffe’s historical role during the RAF’s ‘Finest Hour’ from a cartoonish antagonist to a multidimensional, flawed-yet-formidable opponent. The narrative contains not just the voices of the air crews who conducted the fighting, but uniquely never-before-translated primary source material of other contemporary eyewitnesses, (Luftwaffe’s paratroopers, anti-aircraft gunners and air signalmen). Eagle Days will offer all fans of this period a refreshing, comprehensive and exciting new account of the Luftwaffe’s real experiences during the Battle of Britain.

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9781804542583

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Reviews

Diving in deeper than dogfights, this fantastic study gives us the 1940 Luftwaffe with its varnish stripped away. * Peter Caddick-Adams * By refocusing on the 'Luftschlacht um England’, the 'Battle of Britain’ through a German lens, Victoria Taylor transforms familiar history into a fascinating account of both courage and culpability. Deeply researched, this page-turning history enriches without glorifying. Important and overdue. * Clare Mulley * In this vivid, involving, account Dr Taylor confirms some popular assumptions about both the Luftwaffe and the RAF, and qualifies or demolishes many others. She thereby establishes herself as one of the most promising talents among the younger generation of military historians. * Frederick Taylor * With Eagle Days, Victoria Taylor finds a fresh and compelling way of analysing the landmark battle, and proves herself a historian to watch -- James Holland * The Telegraph * [A] fascinating debut... Eagle Days is essential reading * Unseen Histories * Comprehensive, multi-layered and filled with rich detail and eyewitness accounts... A riveting and timely read from one of our finest young historians * The Express * Taylor has done the historiography of the battle an enormous favour... [and has] skilfully demonstrated the deep-set ideological motivation of the Luftwaffe. * The War Room * Truly unique... [Taylor] has a very distinct way of looking at the Luftwaffe and its men, which is quite different to earlier works on the Battle of Britain * Aerospace Magazine *

Author Information

Dr Victoria Taylor is an award-winning aviation historian. She has published in various mainstream publications including BBC History Extra, Britain at War, and Iron Cross magazines. Victoria has also served as both an on-screen expert and off-screen consultant for a number of historical documentaries for television and radio, including BBC Two, Channel 5, History Hit, Sky History, National Geographic, and BBC Radio 4.

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