Книга для западного читателя из серии "Всё, что не хотели знать о Второй Мировой, потому что просто не знали, что что-то подобное могло быть".
Первым доставил раздел про Восточный фронт. Афтары одарили западного читателя сокровенным знанием - первая женщина, сбившая самолет в воздушном бою (Ju-88 над Саратовом, 1942 г, 586-й ИАП на Як-1) была Ms. Valeria Khomyakov.
Ms. Khomyakov was one of several hundred "girl" combat fliers in the Red Air Force. The Soviets made a big deal out of having the world's only allfemale aircraft units. There were three aircraft regiments (with thirty to forty aircraft each) with women pilots. One was a fighter regiment with Yak-1 s that was used for air defense (and claimed thirty-eight German aircraft shot down). Another was a Pe-2 light bomber and the third Po-2 night bombers. The last unit, called the Night Witches, was most propagandized. The units were a mixed success. Most women pilots had a hard time handling the Pe-2, which required a fair amount of muscle power to fly. The Yak-1 was obsolete by 1942 and the Po-2 was a biplane which couldn't do much but nighttime harassment bombing.
Так вот вы какие, "Ночные ведьмы".
Ну и из реалий Западного фронта тоже некоторые вещи порадовали. Особенно история про любимого персонажа
sirjonesа - Оди Мэрфи, "просто американского парня из глубинки", который стал "самым награжденным американским солдатом" и после войны сделал себе карьеру в Голливуде, снявшись, помимо прочего, и в фильме о своих военных похождениях - "To hell and back".In November 1942 the 3rd Infantry Division went ashore in North Africa. Over the next thirty months the division fought in Tunisia, Sicily, central Italy, Anzio, southern France, Alsace, and Germany. This experience made the 3rd one of the five hardest hit U.S. divisions (3rd, 4th, 9th, 36th, and 45th) in the war, which collectively ran through an average of 176 percent of their personnel during the European campaign. As a result, by the end of January 1945 one company in the division had just 2 men left of the 235 who had come ashore at Casablanca. One of them was Audie Murphy, who had risen from private to lieutenant while accumulating twenty-four decorations, including a Medal of Honor. The other man was a supply sergeant.
Короче, к январю 1945 года в роте Оди Мэрфи от 235 человек, высадившихся на Касабланке в ноябре 1942 года осталось в строю два человека. Сам герой, произведенный в лейтенанты, и сержант-снабженец.
Кто сказал "трупами завалили"?