Big Week
The Biggest Air Battle of World War Two
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Big Week
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Narrated by:
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Charles Armstrong
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By:
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James Holland
About this listen
During the third week of February 1944, the combined Allied air forces launched their first-ever round-the-clock bomber offensive against Germany.
The aim was to smash the main factories and production centres of the Luftwaffe and draw the German fighter force up into the air and into battle. Officially called Operation ARGUMENT, this monumental air assault very quickly became known simply as Big Week.
Following the fortunes of pilots, aircrew and civilians from both sides, Big Week is a blistering narrative of one of the most critical periods of the entire war, one that culminated in the largest air battle ever witnessed.
©2018 James Holland (P)2019 SoundingsListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Big Week
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hb
- 26-08-24
Incredible account of wartime aviation bravery and innovation
Loved this historical account of the work of the RAF and USAAF during WWII. The levels of bravery were incredible and difficult for anyone born with the benefit of personal and social freedoms to comprehend. The accounts of allied crews are carefully balanced with those of their German counterparts to create a detailed and very often personal narrative of life in air combat during the war years. Highly recommended!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robert Hood
- 03-03-19
Full and informative
Have enjoyed the authors previous works and this is just as explorative, informative and places the listener in the era.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Matt & family
- 05-10-23
Movingly brilliant and humbling
My great uncle died on the 24 Feb 1944 in a Lancaster during Big Week. I visited his grave in France this summer. Wow. What a book. It bring to life the sacrifices on those young men who gave so much. TYVM James Holland.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nick Shoubridge
- 24-03-19
A good focus on the air war
Adrenaline fuelled first hand accounts and tragic stories, views from both sides, great account of a very important moment in WW2.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Antony
- 06-03-20
Superb account
As usual James Holland delivers. What makes his books better than others is that they are written in a story telling way - it’s not stuffy nor full of fact after mind numbing fact. The characters are brought to life.
The only bug bear for me is the narrator. He reads well, but his pronunciation of certain words make me want to tear the few remaining flecks of hair I have left on my head. For example, his continual pronunciation of “Fock Wulf” as opposed to Fokker, over and over, is ridiculous! Surely someone was on hand to correct him? And pronouncing the Dutch town of Twente as “Twent” sent me over the edge! Poor skills.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ghostgrey51
- 18-03-23
A vivid account
Holland produces a work which as manages to successfully cover the decisions taken in strategic warfare along with the individual human costs. The former in the stark fearful logic of war, the latter with painful clarity of the ordeals suffered on both sides.
There are many worthy books on the WWII air war over the skies of Europe, this one stands with the better ones, and I would recommend for anyone wishing to learn of the motivations at all levels.
There have been some reviews dealing with pronunciation and delivery, I would suggest you simply concentrate on the facts unfolded here; the facts that war is not romantic nor clinical, there is a human costs, then these little niggling criticisms will fade away. (pronunciation of a word here and there....who cares?)
This is an account of the Reality of War. Remember that.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andy Fairnie
- 31-10-23
A Gripping Narrative
A thoroughly well researched and fresh look at the air war over Europe in 1943-44.
The author brings together personal accounts and historical information to build a vast panorama of this terrific and terrifying endeavour.
It highlights also how, despite the tide of the war turning in this period, many more sacrifices had to be made by those young airmen of both sides. Thoroughly recommended to anyone interested in this period, both students and casual readers alike.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ciderman
- 27-11-20
A great story, well told.
A well written book expertly narrated. Tying it to individual stories kept me interested. A very enjoyable listen!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jon
- 09-02-22
good story but poor narration
why oh why didn't somebody tell the narrator how to pronounce the German fighter Fokker properly. it's not fock! really grated ever time he said it incorrectly and spoilt a good story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Garsham Robertson
- 05-09-20
Thoroughly enjoyable
Great book and well read. Lots of fascinating details, very typical of James Holland books.
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