AIR BATTLES OVER THE BALTIC 1941, VOLUME 1: Soviet Military Aviation on the Eve of the Great Patriotic War

Offers a meticulously researched examination of the Soviet Air Forces in the Baltic Special Military District during the critical period leading up to the German invasion. Reconstructs the composition, training, and combat readiness of the Red Army's aviation units as they prepared for the opening phase of the war. Explores both the rapid expansion of Soviet air power and its systemic weaknesses. Examines the deployment of air units into Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia following their incorporation into the Soviet sphere, while analyzing the challenges. Provides an assessment of the organizational reforms of 1938-1940, placing them within a wider strategic and political context. Contains 84 black and white photos, over 32 color profiles, 1 color map, and 6 tables.