{"product_id":"the-first-pathfinders-the-operational-history-of-kampfgruppe100-1939-1941","title":"The First Pathfinders — The Operational History of Kampfgruppe100 1939-1941","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left; background-color: #f7f8f9; padding: 20px; border-left: 4px solid #647382;\"\u003eA detailed operational history of Kampfgruppe 100, Germany's elite pathfinder unit from 1939-1941. Chronicles their nocturnal bombing missions over Britain and the pioneering techniques they developed for target illumination during the Blitz.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin-bottom: 13px;\"\u003eCharacteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"table table-striped\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 187px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eISBN-10\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 331px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e0-7183-0318-0\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 187px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook cover finish(es)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 331px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHardcover ( rounded spine binding )\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 187px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecial Features\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 331px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 187px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 331px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLike NEW\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 187px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor(s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 331px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKenneth Wakefield\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 187px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 331px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWilliam Kimber \u0026amp; Co. Limited\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 187px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumber of pages\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 331px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e256\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 187px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished date\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 331px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1981\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 187px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguage(s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 331px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnglish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 187px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 331px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e15.5 x 24 x 2 cm \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 187px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCategorie(s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 331px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• AVIATION MILITAIRE\u003cbr\u003e• SECONDE GUERRE MONDIALE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin-bottom: 13px;\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the British air defence system supreme by day, the Luftwaffe turned to concentrate their attention towards nocturnal bombing missions on major cities and ports. For this purpose they perfected the technique that came to be known as \u003cem\u003epathfinding\u003c\/em\u003e — the illumination of the target area by a special force acting as a forerunner to an intense bombing raid. This vital role was to be played by Germany’s best-known bomber unit, \u003cem\u003eKampfgruppe 100\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithin a detailed and full history of this unit from 1939 until 1941 emerges a fascinating account of its operations over Britain, as night after night German bombers carried out the systematic destruction of the country’s major cities. Much of the Luftwaffe’s success in many of these attacks was due to \u003cem\u003eKampfgruppe 100\u003c\/em\u003e’s ability to drop incendiary bombs and start fires in the target area without falling victim to anti-aircraft guns or night-fighters, aided by specialised navigation and targeting apparatus such as the \u003cem\u003eX-Gerät\u003c\/em\u003e and the \u003cem\u003eKnickebein\u003c\/em\u003e radio-navigation system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet high praise must also go to the many civilians who acted as fire watchers, dousing the fires as soon as they took hold, and to the fire services who fought tirelessly through the nights. Together they formed an effective team that helped frustrate the German onslaught and limit the devastation caused by these bombing raids.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough \u003cem\u003eKampfgruppe 100\u003c\/em\u003e remained operational for less than two years in carrying out this crucial and highly specialised task, the Gruppe secured a lasting place in the annals of military history. They were the first true pathfinders. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kenneth Wakefield","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53738053501274,"sku":null,"price":20.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0270\/3015\/9446\/files\/image1_bb38efcb-bb2e-4310-9e69-11a647530b1d.jpeg?v=1772704168","url":"https:\/\/aviation.brussels\/products\/the-first-pathfinders-the-operational-history-of-kampfgruppe100-1939-1941","provider":"aviation.brussels","version":"1.0","type":"link"}