Hermann Graf & Alfred Grislawski, by Christer Bergström & Vlad Antipov - 3

[Richard T Eger]

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

Christer Bergström
Re: Excellent books already published..
Thu Jul 31 19:11:42 2003
81.224.233.247

"there is a certain tome called "Everything for Stalingrad !" in-process which should make a nice companion volume to my BCRS I and II .... any news of the same ?"

Oh yes, there are some news:

1. Black Cross/Red Star Vol. 3: "Everything for Stalingrad" is completed, with photos, color profiles, maps and everything, ready to be shipped to the publisher.

2. Eagle Editions has contracted it.

3. I spoke to the Crandalls (at Eagle Editions) about it only a few days ago, and they say that it looks as though they can start working on the production by October this year. At least that's when they need to have the last bits of the book.

4. It deals with the air war on the Eastern Front between June 28, 1942 and November 18, 1942. The size is a bit more than Vol. 2, but approximately the same as Vol. 1.

5. Printing quality - looks as though it's going to be of at least Vol. 2's standard, in other words just excellent (IMHO).

6. But before this, the Graf&Grislawski book will be out - next month. In the case many people here have missed that. ;-)

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Christer Bergström
News regarding the publication of the Graf&Grislawski book
Thu Aug 7 16:51:54 2003
81.224.233.199

News regarding the publication of the Graf&Grislawski book from the publisher: The first two copies of the book--one of the standard edition and one of the leather-bound De Luxe Edition, signed by Alfred Grislawski--have arrived ahead of the batch of the whole edition. Publisher's impression is that they look absolutely great. The book will be available for all readers within the next few days. Orders can be taken now for the book.

Updates here:

http://www.graf-grislawski.elknet.pl/index.htm

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Christer Bergström
The book "Graf & Grislawski: A Pair of Aces" is published!
Thu Aug 28 20:16:42 2003
81.224.232.204

The book "Graf & Grislawski: A Pair of Aces" is out, and ready for immediate delivery! First impression by Mr Alfred Grislawski and his wife, Mrs. Alfred Grislawski, who saw the printed book for the first time today: It is "ganz toll" in German - or, in English, "just great." Just hope that everyone else will think so too... (I haven't seen it myself yet.)

"Graf & Grislawski: A Pair of Aces" is the dual biography on the two Luftwaffe fighter aces Hermann Graf and Alfred Grislawski. It has been written in cooperation with Alfred Grislawski. Large U.S. format, 312 pages, high-quality printing on glossy paper, a. 300 photos, 25 color profiles by Claes Sundin.


http://www.graf-grislawski.elknet.pl/

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Christer Bergström
New article on the Graf & Grislawski website
Sat Aug 30 14:20:55 2003
81.224.232.204

There's a new article on my Graf & Grislawski website - a biographical article on the "Mustang killer" Ludwig-Wilhelm Burckhardt, who served together with Alfred Grislawski in the Home Defense and over Normandie in 1944.

http://www.graf-grislawski.elknet.pl/

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Sergio Luis dos Santos
Burckhardt article is very interesting. Luck man! (nm)
Sun Aug 31 02:13:28 2003
200.216.157.105

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Mike Crosman
Re: Graf & Grislawski book
Sat Sep 13 18:19:43 2003
68.48.164.168

I am a daily visitor to this site but don't check in much. However I do want to congratulate Christer Bergstrom (and his assistants) on a tremendous addition to my Luftwaffe library! I received the book Graf & Grislawski yesterday, and am very impressed. I am amazed at how fortunate all of us Luftwaffe enthusiasts are to be able to have these types of books at our disposal. Books like Assi Hahn and Graf & Grislawski take aviation history to a new level. I for one, appreciate the level of expertise such authors as Christer, Claus Sundin, and others have brought to the table in "raising the bar" on what we can expect on future WWII aviation subjects. Now that this format has been so well received, I'd like to see a book like these on Gunther Rall! I have met him twice and with his personality and his ability to remember minute details, he has got to be a publisher's dream. I hope his wealth of knowledge and expertise can be put together in a definitive volume before he too, passes on. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication in making WWII history come alive, and at the same time, injecting the human element.

Mike Crosman

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Christer Bergström
Re: Graf & Grislawski book
Sat Sep 13 20:34:07 2003
81.224.233.216

"I'd like to see a book like these on Gunther Rall"

Yeah... and on Walter Schuck! ;-)

Anyway, thanks a lot for your most kind words! I promise to do whatever possible to fulfill the expectations in the future.

I took the liberty to post your nice comments to the Graf & Grislawski site, together with another First reader's first impression of the Graf & Grislawski book.

There are a couple of other new updates on the Graf & Grislawski site:

http://www.graf-grislawski.elknet.pl/index.htm

All best,

Christer Bergström

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Ruy Horta
Re: Graf & Grislawski book
Sat Sep 13 22:14:41 2003
194.109.243.112

Any european distributors?

Regards,

Ruy

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Judy Crandall
European Distributor
Sat Sep 13 23:24:11 2003
66.109.135.2

Hi Ruy;
Our distributor for all of Europe is Helion & Company, 26 Willow Road Solihull, West Midlands B91 17e England. Tel 0044 121 705 3393 or www.helion.co.uk or email books@helion.co.uk
They should be able to take care of any and all orders from book stores and hobby shops as well.
Cheers,
Judy

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Ruy Horta
Re: European Distributor
Sun Sep 14 08:44:03 2003
194.109.243.112

Thanks, although they don't have the title listed I'll keep an eye on it and once it hits I'll do a price comparison (currency conversion and S&H). Maybe I'll still end up ordering direct from Eagle!

Regards,

Ruy

[Richard T Eger]

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

Christer Bergström
Alfred Grislawski & "Bubi" Hartmann
Sat Sep 20 10:24:07 2003
81.224.233.216


We have received the sad news that our friend Alfred Grislawski is no longer among us. On 19 September 2003 Alfred Grislawski passed away.

I am only grateful that Mr Grislawski lived to see his biography, for which he had waited so long. When I spoke with him on the phone only a few days ago, he was so joyful over the biography. Our thoughts are with his family.

http://www.graf-grislawski.elknet.pl/

Incidentally, Alfred Grislawski's old student and friend, Erich "Bubi" Hartmann, passed away to the day 10 years earlier.

Alfred Grislawski & "Bubi" Hartmann:

http://www.graf-grislawski.elknet.pl/hartmann.htm

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Floyd S. Werner, Jr.
fwernerjr@comcast.net
Review of Graf & Grislawski book (long)
Mon Sep 22 15:35:14 2003
68.34.41.209

Graf & Grislawski: A Pair of Aces
ISBN 0-9721060-4-9
Reviewed by
Floyd S. Werner, Jr.
IPMS# 26266

With the passing of Alfred Grislawski on 19th September, 2003, I felt compelled to write a review of the new Eagle Editions book: “Graf & Grislawski: A Pair of Aces”. Alfred passed away less than a month after this book was published. His story is told the way he wanted and for generations to come. God speed.

When this book was announced on the Eagle Editions website last year I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Finally someone would tell the story of Hermann Graf and Alfred Grislawski. For years after the war Graf was ostracized from the Luftwaffe pilots for what was determined to be his “defection” to the communists, hence very little was mentioned of his exploits. Well time and good research heals all wounds and Graf and Grislawski’s story is told in a new book by Christer Bergstrom.

When I read a book about a pilot or a unit I don’t want to hear rote dates and aircraft shot down. That is very boring. What I want to know is the person and the story. I want to know what made the man. I want know how a particular fight developed. I want to know some of the words spoken and the feelings felt. Air combat is not an impersonal endeavor. With this book I was not disappointed. With the help of Alfred Grislawski, this book tells the pilots story. While there is plenty of air to air action, it is more the small personal stories that make this book a must have.

The book is a 312 page hardcover labor of love. The stories of the two men are so intertwined that it would have been impossible to tell one without the other. From the first meeting in May 1940 until Graf’s death in 1987, these two men fought the savage air battles on both fronts.

For the modeler, this book is a treasure trove of new an interesting aircraft. There are 13 pages of color drawings by Claes Sundin. All the aircraft are beautiful renderings of Bf-109s in every version from the E-1 to the K-4 and the FW-190. I’ve talked to Jerry and Judy Crandall of Eagle Editions who informed me that there will be no less than four decal sheets. Some of the profiles provide new interpretations (Graf’s FW-190A-5 and Bf-109K-4). As we all know, Luftwaffe colors are just too open to interpretation in photos to be conclusive. This in no ways detracts from the profiles as they are first rate and excellent. The pictures are in the book to draw your on conclusions.

For the historian, this book has many previously unpublished photos. Some exceptionally colorful Bf-109s, including another tulip nosed Bf-109G-6 “Red or Green 2” on page 251, which unfortunately is not a color profile. There is also proof that Graf’s Bf-109 in JG 50 had main wheel doors on a G-6. Also explained is the meaning behind the pierced heart with women’s names in them.

For the person looking for a good book, this book is well written and easy to read. Once you start you will find it hard to put down. The thing that makes it fascinating is that the events actually happened.

Is this book worth the price? You bet. I highly recommend this book as it is one of the easiest and fun reads I’ve had in quite some time. It gives an unbiased and non-judgmental look at these two heroes. It gives an insight into the men and the events that shaped their time.

Thanks go to Christer for writing such a good book and to Claes Sundin for the exceptional profiles. I’m sure when Grislawski died, he died in the knowledge that his story did not die with him.

Review book provided by my wallet. The book is available through Eagle Editions at http://www.eagle-editions.com or by phone at 1-800-255-1830 for $54.95 plus s/h. or an autographed, leather bound edition for $115.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Rob
Availability
Mon Sep 22 19:23:59 2003
65.34.98.225

Is this book availible just from the publisher or will it show up in general bookstores like B&N or Borders?

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Floyd S. Werner, Jr.
I think it is only available from Eagle Editions(nt) (nm)
Mon Sep 22 22:59:27 2003
68.34.41.209

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Mike Crosman
Re: I think it is only available from Eagle Editions(nt)
Tue Sep 23 00:49:11 2003
68.48.164.168

I agree totally with Floyd as my comments indicate on the Graf-Grislawski website! I just finished reading my copy last night (by candlelight thanks to Hurricane Isabel) and it really was a thorough account of the trials and tribulations of being a Luftwaffe airman as the war trudged on to a close. You wonder how in the world any Luftwaffe pilots made it through. It makes you feel good to know that Alfred Grislawski passed away knowing this book has "set the record straight" on Graf's Russian confinement and Grislawski's insistence on not affililating in any way with the Nazi party. May he rest in peace.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Judy Crandall
G&G book availability
Tue Sep 23 01:04:30 2003
66.109.135.139

Hi;
The Graf and Grislawski book is available just about everywhere, Barnes and Noble, Baker and Taylor, Amazon dot com and hobby shops and book stores.
Let me know if you can't find it. You can also go on our site and order secure at http://www.eagle-editions.com/order.htm
Cheers,
Judy

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

indianer
Unfortunately, not yet available in online stores...
Wed Sep 24 07:55:19 2003
202.52.251.143

amazon.com, b&n.com do not show it as available in searches ; amazon.co.uk currently has it on order (lead time 4-6 weeks) and amazon.de shows it as "not yet available."


Regds,

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Judy Crandall
G&G availability
Wed Sep 24 16:06:40 2003
66.109.136.71

Hi again;
Since we began shipping the book on 2 September, it is quite possible that European dealers do not yet have the books. You may also contact Helion & Co. in the U.K. our distributor in Europe who might be able to help as well. Their books were shipped around the 12th of September so it is possible of delivery this week.
Sometimes the online stores take time to list the titles. Publishers cannot submit a title to be listed on Amazon.com, for instance, until it is in our warehouse and then Amazon.com tells us they take 4 to 6 weeks to list it, so keep on checking back,
Let me know how it goes,
Judy

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Christer Bergström
Updates on the Graf & Grislawski website
Wed Oct 1 15:44:21 2003
81.224.233.216

There are some new updates on the Graf & Grislawski website.

http://www.graf-grislawski.elknet.pl/index.htm

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Christer Bergström
Graf & Grislawski: New Photos
Sun Oct 5 21:36:14 2003
81.224.233.216

There are some new updates on the Graf & Grislawski site. I found some very interesting links to some of the Reichsverteidigung airfields from where Graf & Grislawski operated during the war - with both information and several photos and maps. I also posted some new photos to the site.

From now on, the site will function as a supplement to the Graf & Grislawski book. It will continue to be regularly updated. Hope you will enjoy it.

Next, I plan to post some information that will serve as a background to what is written in the book's first chapter about Alfred Grislawski's early years.


http://www.graf-grislawski.elknet.pl/index.htm