Nad ledem a Saharou – Stahl Peter W. (2018)

The book is inspired by the war diary of P. W. Stahl, a member of Kampfgeschwader 30, equipped with Junkers Ju 88 aircraft. His records were processed by Manfred Jäger into a readable autobiographical novel, which is an uncompromising portrayal of the German air war. At a time when Germany is defeating the Netherlands, Stahl is undergoing training on the Ju 88. After the capitulation of Belgium, he becomes a direct participant in the defeat of France. He personally experiences the Battle of Britain and the bombing of London, Liverpool, Coventry... Together with his exhausted unit, he is transferred to Norwegian territory, from where he operates against British convoys bringing war aid to the Soviet Union. Later, he is reassigned to Moscow. From there, he returns north, only to find himself in Sicily shortly thereafter. In the Mediterranean and Africa, he witnesses how Germany desperately defends itself against the growing pressure of Allied forces. The leitmotif of this thrilling story is the helpless resistance of a brave pilot against incompetent command and the simple human desire to survive.