War in the Air, 1936
European history, War, World War I
Synthetic audio, Automated braille
Summary
In War in the Air 1936 which was first published in English in 1932 author Robert Knauss fantasizes about a confrontation between England and France Writing under the pseudonym Major Helders … and using detailed descriptions of battles strategies and weaponry Knauss aim is for the reader to realize that air power in general and flying fortress bombers in particular would decide the outcome of the next war In this novel the hero is the English air force commander Brackley a carbon copy of the imaginary German leaders in other right-wing prophecies firm mysterious infallible In times of crisis he surveys the situation with lightning speed His war is one of movement of risk-taking of annihilation Modern airplane technology allows him to carry out a style of warfare that fits his chivalric warrior spirit Only for an instant does he pity the population of Paris as his planes pour bombs over the city in a surprise attack Pity though is not a virtue in the nationalist mind though Vernichtungswille the will to annihilate is