Six Months to Oblivion: The Eclipse of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force

£12.99

Six Months to Oblivion: The Eclipse of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force

Name: Six Months to Oblivion: The Eclipse of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5497
Price: 12.99 GBP
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Six Months to Oblivion: The Eclipse of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force, Werner Girbig — Book Club Edition

Publication: London, Purnell Book Services, Limited, 1975

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 140.

Condition Report: Very Good. The volume is tightly bound in its original black boards, with the gilt spine lettering remaining notably bright and unoxidised. Internally, the text block is clean, crisp, and free from foxing or significant reading wear, indicating a well-preserved copy. The hinges are sound, and the binding is square and firm. The accompanying dust jacket is equally well-preserved, retaining its vibrant colours and showing only minor, superficial shelf-wear and light rubbing to the extremities.

Catalogue Note: This copy is a Book Club Edition, issued by Purnell Book Services by arrangement with Ian Allan Limited, who published the true first English edition in the same year. Translated from the original German by Richard Simpkin, the volume is well-illustrated throughout with a suite of black-and-white photographs and sketch-maps by the author.

An interesting bibliographical quirk of this printing is the misprint of the author's surname on the dust jacket, which is printed as "Gerbig", while the book's spine and the title page correctly state "Girbig". While book club editions are generally common on the open market, they remain popular, accessible reading copies for military history enthusiasts.

A detailed and sobering chronicle of the final, desperate months of the Luftwaffe's fighter force during the closing stages of World War II. Spanning from November 1944 to April 1945, Werner Girbig's meticulously researched account captures the devastating reality of a once-formidable air force fighting an unwinnable war against overwhelming Allied air superiority. The narrative culminates in a gripping examination of Operation 'Bodenplatte' on New Year's Day 1945, a catastrophic offensive that cost the Luftwaffe over 230 aircrew in a matter of hours, effectively sealing its ultimate eclipse.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Werner Girbig

Book Publisher: Purnell Book Services, Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: History

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 140

Book Publication Year: 1975

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Trowbridge & Esher, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.