Air War Publications
Nachtjagd Over The Eastern Front

Reviewed by Brett Green

Air War Publications
Nachtjagd Over The Eastern Front
Sven Carlsen, Morten Jessen & Adam Thompson
ISBN: 9 788799 335213

84,95 € plus shipping available online from Air War Publications

The night air war over the Eastern Front has received considerably less attention than the better-known struggle between the Luftwaffe and RAF Bomber Command, making Nachtjagd Over The Eastern Front a particularly welcome title. Published by Air War Publications, this substantial 316-page volume by Sven Carlsen, Morten Jessen and Adam Thompson examines German night-fighter operations against the Soviet Union from the opening of Operation Barbarossa through to the final months of the Second World War.

The central theme is one of improvisation. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, not a single dedicated night-fighter unit was assigned to the Eastern Front. The subsequent development of a night defence system was therefore a gradual and frequently improvised response to the growing scale and effectiveness of Soviet nocturnal operations. The authors trace this evolution from individual aircraft and ad hoc Schwärme through to the deployment of dedicated units, mobile radar trains and aircraft equipped with airborne radar.

The story is organised chronologically and geographically, beginning with useful background on the German and Soviet air forces before progressing through early night fighting, mobile radar operations and the northern, central and southern sectors. Later chapters cover the defence of East Prussia and the Baltic States, South-Eastern Europe and the final phase of the war. This structure makes the book considerably easier to navigate than a simple unit history. The extensive appendices add further value, covering aircraft and personnel losses, victory claims, airfields and commanders, camouflage and markings, tactics, 1945 ground-attack missions and Eastern Front night-fighter aces.

One of the book's great strengths is the level of detail devoted to the mechanics of night fighting. The Eastern Front did not possess anything resembling the extensive Kammhuber Line established in the West. Instead, the Germans developed mobile solutions appropriate to the enormous distances involved, including radar trains carrying combinations of Freya and Würzburg sets and associated fighter-control facilities. The explanation of the Helle Nachtjagd and Dunkelnachtjagd methods is particularly useful, showing how radar, searchlights, anti-aircraft artillery and fighter aircraft were integrated into a defensive system that had to operate with extremely limited resources.

The authors also avoid presenting the German night fighters as an unstoppable force. The enormous scale of the Eastern Front, shortages of aircraft and fuel, primitive infrastructure, poor weather and competing demands from other theatres all imposed severe limitations. Soviet nocturnal operations increased dramatically, and even obsolete aircraft such as the Polikarpov U-2 could prove remarkably difficult targets for faster German fighters. By the end of the war, the Eastern Front night-fighter force had achieved significant successes, but it had never possessed the resources required to comprehensively suppress Soviet night operations.

For modellers, there is plenty to savour. Extensive photo coverage is complemented by colour aircraft profiles by Claes Sundin and Thomas Retzbach, while maps and the book's graphic design are by Morten Jessen. The dedicated appendix on camouflage and markings is especially useful, addressing the evolution of Eastern Front night-fighter schemes, fuselage codes and the relatively uncommon application of personal and unit emblems. It also dispels the assumption that these aircraft were generally painted overall black; grey camouflage proved more effective in the night sky.

The research is impressive. The acknowledgements reveal contributions from numerous researchers and archives, including Bundesarchiv and the Archive of Modern Conflict, while the authors specifically acknowledge Andrew Arthy for extensive research and editorial assistance and Andrey Kuznetsov for information from Russian archives. The bibliography, detailed footnotes and comprehensive index further reinforce the impression of a serious reference work rather than a superficial narrative.

Nachtjagd Over The Eastern Front fills an important gap in the history of the Luftwaffe's Second World War operations. It combines operational history, technology, tactics, personalities, aircraft and camouflage into a coherent account of a fascinating and frequently overlooked aspect of the air war.

The wealth of supporting detail means that this is a book to read, but also one to keep close at hand for reference. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Luftwaffe operations, Soviet aviation or the modelling possibilities offered by the often unusual aircraft that fought the nocturnal war in the East.

Highly Recommended

Brett Green

Thanks to Air War Publications for the sample www.airwarpublications.com

Review Copyright © 2026 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 11 August, 2026
Last updated 11 August, 2026

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