Downing the ‘red devil’

Fritz Kosmahl, destined to become one of Germany’s most highly decorated two-seater pilots, was born in Leipzig on 5 September 1892. His early interest in aviation led him to undertake pilot training

When Buckingham Palace was hit by bombs on 15 September 1940, it brought the war to the very front door of King George VI and his wife Elizabeth, the Queen consort. Just over two weeks later, the war

When the soldiers of 8. Württembergisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 126 (IR. 126) ‘Großherzog Friedrich von Baden’ left southern Alsace on the night of 14 August 1914, they had already experienced days

This fantastic plan, which led the then Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS), Air Vice-Marshal Arthur T Harris, to remark ‘the story, that appears too fantastic for words, might have a fortunate outco

In 1942, the German war machine was at the height of its power. France, the ‘hereditary enemy’, was defeated and occupied. In the Soviet Union, Army Group South was marching inexorably toward the Cauc

E rich R Döbrich was born in Sonnenberg, Thuringia, on 31 May 1896 – he added ‘-Steglitz’ to his name following his service in the First World War. During that conflict, he had served as an Ulan with