<Literature Log> Hitler's Terror Weapons： The Price of Vengeance

https://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-Terror-Weapons-Price-Vengeance-ebook-dp-B00GQV14VG/dp/B00GQV14VG/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=

• From the Wikipedia page:

  • At the time, Adolf Hitler was not particularly impressed by the V-2; he pointed out that it was merely an artillery shell with a longer range and much higher cost.

  • Hitler was sufficiently impressed by the enthusiasm of its developers, and needed a “wonder weapon” to maintain German morale, so he authorized its deployment in large numbers.

• From an Amazon review:

  • The central concept in this book is that Hitler saw these weapons as a way of keeping the German people’s hopes alive while the battle became hopeless. As long as the V1s and V2s flew, the German people could think that they were striking back.

• Compared to other books about the V2, this one seems to focus on Hitler’s intentions.

  • It’s called “Hitler’s” after all.

• It is recommended by the famous historian Richard Overy.

  • Who is he?

  • Overy argued against Mason’s thesis, maintaining that though Germany was faced with economic problems in 1939, the extent of these problems cannot explain aggression against Poland, and that the reasons for the outbreak of war were due to the choices made by the Nazi leadership. (Wikipedia)

• Part 1

  • The seed of vengeance in the V2 can be traced back to the bitterness of World War I.
  • It originated from the modernism and space travel of the Weimar era.
    • Ironically, the weapon most associated with Nazi retaliation has its roots in the Weimar modernism that the Nazis despised.
  • Some people even thought that it would be better to load the rockets with poison gas.
  • Accuracy: Only a 2-3 meter deviation per kilometer.
    • It can fly 160 miles and hit within a radius of 650 meters.
    • However, if the goal is to achieve devastation in a specific area, the cost can be quite high due to overlapping impact points.
      • The higher the desired level of devastation, the steeper the increase in cost.
  • The rocket developers didn’t consider the tactics for actual rocket usage.
    • Despite meeting artillerymen like Dornberger.
    • Dornberger’s book talks about the scientific aspects of how the V2 is superior to conventional artillery, but it doesn’t mention the strategic plans that the military would have expected.
  • According to later British analysis, it was meant to impress those in the highest places as a “super gun” rather than for well-thought-out strategies like precision bombing.
  • Hitler: “If we had the V2 in 1939, we might have avoided the war.
    • It could have been a deterrent against the Allies.
    • Ironically, due to the secretive nature of its development, it didn’t fulfill that role (or rather, it wasn’t actually developed).
  • As Germany became increasingly disadvantaged in World War II, the V2 seemed more and more promising, not as a battlefield weapon, but as a bringer of retaliatory terror.

• Part 2

  • Chapter 3
    • Hitler’s desire for vengeance against the Allies is evident in his actions during the occupation of France and in various other instances.
    • It was a mutual retaliation in the bombing of capitals (Battle of Britain -> Berlin bombing -> V2).
    • In the early stages of World War II, Britain primarily relied on bombing as its means of attack, and it heavily bombed Germany.
      • It was costly, but extremely irritating for the Germans.
    • Around 1941-1942, the Luftwaffe was also weakened.
      • Meanwhile, the Allies (Britain, the US, and Russia) were increasing their number of aircraft, but Germany underestimated this.
    • However, Russia was quite dangerous during that time.
    • Britain was unable to create a new front in Europe and was limited to aerial bombing.
      • They abandoned precision bombing and resorted to carpet bombing industrial areas (causing significant civilian casualties).
    • The German army was also struggling on the Eastern Front, but Hitler didn’t realize it until the recapture of Stalingrad.
    • In summary, by April 1942, efficient production had become a matter of life and death.
  • Chapter 4
    • How did the rocket development program survive three years of resource scarcity?
      • Some unfinished projects were shut down in 1940-1942.
      • However, it survived due to the political power of the military and Dornberger’s enthusiasm.
    • Within the Nazi regime, there was a power struggle under Hitler.
      • Speaking about things that pleased Hitler could lead to promotion.
    • Hitler strongly pushed for the early practical use of new weapons.
      • Before the enemy could copy and use them.