Black Cross/Red Star: Air War Over the Eastern Front, by C. Bergström & A. Mikhailov

[Richard T Eger]

To be frank, I had expected this site to simply be an advertisement for the book of the titled name. However, the site is far, far more than that. The URL is:

http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/

To be sure, the new book is prominently displayed, along with guides as to where it may be purchased. There are quite a number of articles related to the general topic. These start off with subjects related to the book, but then quickly expand into interesting and unique topics. Here is a listing of what is there.

Sample Chapter - to "Black Cross/Red Star", vol. 1

Comments and Reviews on "Black Cross/Red Star", vol. 1

German and Soviet Fighter Aces - A Comparison - article

Ivan Kozhedub's Victory List

Victories listed by date and German aircraft destroyed.

Soviet "Night Watches" over the Caucasus - article

Top Scoring Fighter Aces over the Eastern Front

Listed by pilot rank and name and number of victories. Includes pilots from Germany, the Soviet Union, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, France, and Spain.

Naval Yak-1s in the Air over the Crimea - article with glossary and sources

The First Luftwaffe Raid Against Moscow - article with sources

249 IAP versus II./JG 3 - article with sources

Personal Message from Fighter Pilot Lt.Gen. Arkadiv Kovachevich - short note with photo

JG 77 versus Soviet Airacobras - article

Dogfight over the Don - article covers events of Aug. 1942 and includes sources

Lev Shestakov & Hans-Ulrich Rudel - article

JG 54 Loss List

This is a link to Günther Rosipal's JG 54 loss list. Actually, what happens is that you download the list. It can be opened in Microsoft Excel 95.

Boris Safonov's "British Show" - article

Walter Nowotny - article

Petr Pokryshev - article

Soviet Aircraft Losses in WW II - article, but no list

"Fun hunting in the Eastern Europe" by V. Dymich - With Comments

This is an excerpt from and reviews of an article which appeared in the Russian aviation magazine Aviatsiya i kosmonavtika 1/1999.

Recommended Links


Regards,
Richard


[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 07 February 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 05 June 2002).]

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:

Christer Bergström
Excerpt from "Black Cross/Red Star", Vol. II
Sat Jan 20 21:07:06 2001


There's a new update on the Black Cross/Red Star website - an excerpt from "Black Cross/Red Star", vol. II, which will be published in August this year.

Best wishes

Christer Bergström

http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/

(A couple of folks on 12 O'clock High! expressed that there was a problem with the website. I just checked it out and it is functional, but I don't see the sample chapter to volume II listed.

Regards,
Richard)

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 11 February 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 05 June 2002).]

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:


Christer Bergström
Black Cross/Red Star site updated
Sun Jan 28 18:45:45 2001


The Black Cross/Red Star site is being successively re-done (I hope you will say improved). To start with, some new interesting links have been added, and a few photos
have been improved. If anyone has any opinion on the "new" site, I'd be happy to hear it.

Expect some more updates in the next few days.

Best wishes

Christer Bergström

http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 05 June 2002).]

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Troy Molitor
Have you seen this picture?
Sun Jan 28 20:56:21 2001


Christer, I've enjoyed reading your books (Luftwaffe Fighter Aircraft in profile book with Claes Sundin and the Black Cross Red Star vol-1) To date I am patiently waiting on
the next two volumes to come out. I personally can't wait! I have also wanted to write you and ask you by chance if you have ever come across a couple of pictures taken
by a LIFE magazine photographer during WWII depiting an engagement by a VVS pilot named Captain Tarasov being congratulated by Major General of the Air Forces
Eugene Savitsky. The short article claims it's Capt Tarasov's 19th victory and the two are standing next to a downed Bf-109G-2 that is from the JG-52. The a/c has come
down and resting on it's gear but all the propeller blades are bent backwards. There are three pictures in all and one is an air to air shot. The other picture is the Bf-109
smoking on the ground, and the last picture is the two mentioned above shaking hands next to the Bf-109. Let me know if you have ever seen these pictures and if not I
could scan then for you. They appeared in a November 29,1943 LIFE magazine. Thanks again for all the excellant work these past few years. A lot of enjoyment has come
out of reading your books.
Troy Molitor

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Christer Bergström
Grislawski, Hartmann's Bf 109 & Tarasov
Sun Jan 28 21:13:25 2001


Troy,

Thanks a lot for your kind offer.
However, I have not only seen this photo (I have the entire series of those photos), I also have the full story.

Since I just posted an excerpt from my forthcoming "double biography" on the two JG 52 aces Hermann Graf and Alfred Grislawski to my Black Cross/Red Star site, I
might as well post also the following small excerpt from that book - which deals with the aircraft on the photo in question:

"On May 28, 1943 Grislawski participated in four missions with his 'White 9' - three of them to escort Stukas-and on each occasion there was contact with enemy fighters.
He succeeded in knocking down two LaGG fighters; the first one was registered as his personal 104th and the Geschwader's 5,555th victory. It is possible that one of them
was from his old acquaintance 88 IAP, which-now equipped with LaGG-3s-had arrived to the Kuban sector a few days previously. 88 IAP filed six victory claims-against five
Ju 87s and a Bf 109-on May 28, 1943, and lost Starshiy Serzhant Aleksey Kharenko when his LaGG-3 was shot down near Krymskaya. That day, four of JG 52's Bf 109s
were shot down. Leutnant Friedrich Obleser, one of the most promising novice pilots in Rall's Staffel, was injured, and Unteroffizier Herbert Meissler, a young Unteroffizier in
7./JG 52, went missing after a combat with LaGG-3s.

"Meissler's case has been subject of much speculation. On his last mission, Meissler piloted one of the aircraft that normally had been flown by Hartmann - the Bf 109
G-4/R6, call-code 'White 2', decorated with seventeen white victory bars on the side rudder.

"It is a fact that Meissler landed at a Soviet airfield-whereby his aircraft tipped over and stood on its nose. According to Soviet sources he was forced to land on a Soviet
airfield by the Soviet fighter ace Kapitan Pavel Tarasov (twenty-four victories). This Soviet claim however was refuted by Meissler after the war."


Furthermore, a colour profile of the Bf 109 G-4/R6, call-code "White 2", will appear in Claes Sundin's and my forthcoming book "Luftwaffe Fighter Aces in Profile" (vol. 2),
whcih is completed and will be published by Pacifica Military History in September this year.

The "double biography" on the two JG 52 aces Hermann Graf and Alfred Grislawski will be published (also by Pacifica Military History) in September next year.

The latter will be included into the "Black Cross/Red Star" series, but not as volume 2; BC/RS vol. 2 is completed and will be out in August this year.

Best wishes

Christer Bergström

http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 05 June 2002).]

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!

Christer Bergström
Hermann Graf and Alfred Grislawski -a story
Wed Apr 11 00:25:38 2001


Some new updates on my site again.
Including an article from my forthcoming (probably August next year) double-biography on Hermann Graf and Alfred Grislawski.

Best wishes

Christer Bergström

http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 05 June 2002).]

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Christer Bergström
Hermann Graf & Alfred Grislawski book
Sat Apr 14 13:28:00 2001


Another update on the Black Cross/Red Star site - material on the upcoming "double biography" on the two Luftwaffe fighter aces Hermann Graf and Alfred Grislawski, due to be published in August 2002. Plus new links, etc.

http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 05 June 2002).]

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Dick Powers
BCRS Series
Sat Apr 14 19:09:37 2001


Christer,
Can you give an update on the planned volumes in the series? The dust jacket for Volume one says that it's the first of four volumes. But with the second covering only the first six months of 1942, four volumes looks optimistic.

Not that I'm complaining. I prefer complete coverage. I just hope I live long enough to enjoy all the volumes.

Thanks. Looking forward to this August and August 2002 and August 2003....

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Christer Bergström
Re: BCRS Series
Sat Apr 14 21:01:20 2001


"Can you give an update on the planned volumes in the series?"

Not at this stage, unfortunately. But it looks as though there will be more than the four volumes that we planned a year ago.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Dick Powers
Thanks (n/t)
Sat Apr 14 21:03:05 2001

[Richard T Eger]

The following is taken from within a thread on 12 O'Clock High!:

Dénes Bernád
Somewhat off topic: critical view of a Russian article -link
Fri Sep 28 19:03:00 2001


A while ago, Christer Bergström and I were discussing, in details, a lenghty article, published in a Russian aviation magazine, related to a similar topic you are interested in: air combats between aces of JG 54 and their Soviet counterparts. The result of the 'investigation' was published by Christer, on his site: http://www.blackcross-redstar.com/dymich.html
I think the example given is relevant as how the events of the air warfare on the Eastern Front are quite often, but not always, regarded by most Russian historians.

Dénes

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Darryl
Black Cross Red Star
Thu Oct 25 20:24:23 2001


Has anyone read this book and if so how did you like it?

Darryl

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Dick Powers
Bought It
Thu Oct 25 21:33:01 2001


I received my copy about two weeks ago. I haven't had time to read it, but the presentation is MUCH better than Volume 1. Computer generated maps are in color (or colour) and are much more readable than the black and white maps in Volume 1. The paper and printing quality is also greatly improved. It was published "in cooperation with Classic Publications" and is up to their standards. The text is similar in style and ceverage to Volume 1.

The only drawback is the obligitory appendix lisiting Luftwaffe ranks and the soviet equivalents. ("OK...from memory now, feldwebel. oberfeldwebel, leutnant..."). Sometimes I think if i see one more of these, I'm gonna SCREAM.

Hmm...maybe a website. Listing ALL combatant ranks. Charge publishers to include the link in books. They don't waste our time and precious pages and we make a few bucks....

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Darryl
Black Cross Red Star
Fri Nov 30 01:42:14 2001


Has anyone read volume two and if so what did you think of it?

Regards

Darryl

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Charles Metz
I haven't *read* it yet, but ...
Fri Nov 30 03:17:16 2001


Darryl,

I haven't *read* Volume II of 'Black Cross Red Star' yet, but I did purchase it recently and can tell you that the production quality is better than that of the first volume: better paper and better photo reproduction. I suspect that this improvement is related to the fact the Volume II is produced in collaboration with (though not by) Classic Publications in the UK.

Charles Metz

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Darryl
Would you write a review
Fri Nov 30 11:26:19 2001


I emailed Christer Bergström, see below, to see if he was planning on writing any other volumes and I guess he is looking at at least 6 volumes. My wife has purchased both volumes for me as a Christmas gift but of course I won't receive them till 25 December. Anyway, if you are up for it please consider posting a review. It would be nice to see him finish the other volumes as all I've heard is good things about his books.

Regards

Darryl


Dear Darryl,

> Hello,
>
> Could you please tell me if there are only two volumes being released
or > will there be more and if so how many?

I have just sent the manuscript of "Black Cross/Red Star", Vol. 3:
"Everything For Stalingrad!" to the publisher.

I plan to publish at least six volumes. How many there ultimately will
be, depends mainly on if the future volumes continue to sell as good as
Vol. 1. I'll continue writing as long as there is a publisher who wants
to take the risk of publishing my material.

One small thing that you could do to help, would be to write a review of
Vol. 2 and post it to Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Best wishes

Christer Bergström
>
> Regards
>
> Darryl
>

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

RD
Secrecy
Fri Nov 30 14:45:57 2001


Dear Darryl,

No big deal here but usually you better think twice before making public integrally a letter someone wrote you personnaly with trusting words. Hope you will ponder this. There is a way to exchange news on this board especially about authors and forthcoming books while still keeping a certain level of secrecy.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Christer Bergström
Reviews on "Black Cross/Red Star" Vol. 2
Fri Nov 30 15:16:55 2001


No problem at all, Daryll - and thanks for your kind words.

Maybe I'm the last person to speak in this matter, but I have posted all the reviews on "Black Cross/Red Star" Vol. 2 that I've found (so I haven't evaded any "bad ones") at:

http://www.blackcross-redstar.com/review2.htm

Best wishes

Christer Bergström

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Sean Michael Leeman Master Blaster
BC/RS, Vol. 3:Everything for Stalingrad
Fri Nov 30 16:49:59 2001


Christer, Hello again! Is it safe to ASSUME that volume 3 will cover July-Dec. 1942? I hope so because this is the start (Nov/Dec) of Franz Eisenach's success on the Eastern Front. I am VERY much looking forward to future volumes of your series, and if I enjoy volumes 3-5 I will probably go back & buy 1&2! I also wanted to tell you how impressed I was w/ the late Mr. Gunther Rosipal. He told me before he found out how ill he was that he had some Eisenach stuff for me. Well I never heard from him so I dropped him an email. His wife answered, and told me how ill he was. Obviously his health was more important, and I didn't expect anything from him. He STILL sent me a package! Sean

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

John Vasco
Black Cross/Red Star Vol II
Fri Nov 30 11:12:15 2001


I have read it and it is excellent coverage of the air war on the eastern front. The only slight misgiving I have is that it does not cover the Zerstorer operations in as great a depth as the Bf 109 missions, and the Zerstorer missions were considerable, particularly by SKG 210/ZG 1 (but then I am biased.)

However I recommend the work very highly.


John Vasco

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 03 January 2002).]

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Vlad Antipov
New series books
Fri Nov 30 16:22:58 2001


Dear Darryl

I very much also recommend third part of this book. I the representative of Russian group of authors BC/RS-books,
am very glad that the history finds the response at readers. We shall continue to work.

Best regards
Vlad Antipov

[Richard T Eger]

From within a thread on 12 O'Clock High!:

Mark L Tucker
Belated congratulations
Fri Dec 14 04:10:27 2001


Christer,

I just bought your second Volume of Black Cross Red Star.

Congratulations. A very good read and I like the inclusion of the colour map plates and profiles.

keep up the good work.

Mark

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Christer Bergström
Thanks a lot! (n/t)
Sat Dec 15 19:53:45 2001