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The Red Line: The Gripping Story of the RAF’s Bloodiest Raid on Hitler’s Germany
- Narrated by: Andrew Wincott
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
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The Red Line: The Gripping Story of the RAF’s Bloodiest Raid on Hitler’s Germany
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Summary
From best-selling author of Tail-End Charlie and Tornado Down comes this powerful and deeply moving account of Bomber Command’s 1944 Nuremberg Raid – the RAF’s bloodiest night of the Second World War. More men from Royal Air Force Bomber Command died on one single night of the Second World War than the total RAF aircrew losses during the whole of the four-month-long Battle of Britain.
This is the story of the air raid intended to be the climax of Sir Arthur ‘Bomber’ Harris’s relentless campaign to defeat Nazi Germany. The target was Nuremberg: 795 aircraft set out, nearly 700 men did not return. In The Red Line, we meet the young aircrew who flew on the night of 30 March 1944. John Nichol has interviewed the few surviving veterans, British and German, in the air and on the ground, to record the voices of a diminishing generation.
While the airmen of Bomber Command were among the greatest heroes of the conflict, their contribution and sacrifice has, until recently, been sidelined in the face of post-war criticism of Bomber Command’s tactics. Yet they were among the best of their generation. John Nichol’s dramatic tribute to the men who flew on the RAF’s bloodiest raid has provided the surviving veterans with the chance to tell the story of that terrible night – the night they flew to Nuremberg.
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What listeners say about The Red Line: The Gripping Story of the RAF’s Bloodiest Raid on Hitler’s Germany
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Martin Scoley
- 29-04-22
Hindsight
Retrospective historical books, such as John Nichol's bring much clarity to the fog of war. But at the same time many different emotions. Mine was mostly anger at the stupidity and incompetence of staff officers planning raids such as this one. Hindsight IS a luxury we enjoy which they did not, at the time, have. However, why there was no disciplinary action taken by the Air Ministry I do not understand. Totally unnecessary deaths of so many young men was avoidable even by 1944's standards and Harris should have been taken to task or even suspended from command for approving this operation. Butcher a well earned nickname.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A. DONALDSON
- 19-02-19
Great Story Good Narration Terrible Accents
Having recent listened and read several other books about Bomber Command recently I decided this would be an interesting listen. The story is good although lacks the detail of 'Lancaster' or 'Bomber boys' but still gives some good first accounts.. The Narrator has a good tone but unfortunately as soon as the story switches to the personal accounts the voice actor appears to switch to 'officer crabtree' mode whether its geordie, scouse, German or Winston Churchill they're all quite painful to listen to and take you away from what would be an otherwise gripping or poignant story. So in summary a good book spoiled by accents. If given a choice I would choose 'Lancaster' as more detail and better narration
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Eric
- 18-01-14
One of the best books I have ever bought
This book grabbed me from start to finish. My Interest in this particular period of aviation has always fascinated me, especially the Bomber War and I have now found a book that not only puts you in the aircraft, it also puts you underneath them as they dropped their bomb load. Vitally, it shows how politicians (one in particular) demanded the sacrifice of so many young lives and then disgustingly washed their hands of these brave men when the bombing became politically unpopular. However, it also shows the more unsavoury side of the RAF in its' cruel and spiteful treatment of those who had given their all and had nothing left to give, by stigmatising them with the dreaded, "LMF" label. As an ex member of the RAF, and seeing some of the bases where I served, mentioned, I could not help but feel the goose-bumps and the hairs on the back of my neck and arm raise as I placed myself "airside" and imagined an older type of aircraft to the ones I was more used to seeing, leave the runway. Even more poignant for me as a Ryhope, lad was how Cy Barton, won his VC. I was aware of it from a very young age but had never had it relayed in such a vivid and detailed manner. This is one of those books that I will re-visit again and again. Truly, History as it should be told. Well done, John Nichol
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chris
- 13-01-17
Great
My first all 5 stars. With vivid detail from both sides, this book really brings ww2 to life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tom
- 23-02-18
Gripping
One of the most gripping books I’ve ever read. How these crews did 30 or more trips i don’t know. The stress must have been damaging.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Jason Rimmer
- 05-05-18
Must listen/read
I have a rather large WW1 and WW2 collection of books but this is the first Non Fiction book I've consumed focusing on Bomber Crews.
A disgrace it took so long for them to be recognised, not their fault they had to bomb cities like Dresden, yet they took the blame not even getting a campaign medal!!
Anyway either read or listen to this book, keep their memories and sacrifice alive like the soldiers in land and fighter pilots are through books and films etc.
Highly recommend it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J. S. Anderson
- 17-04-20
Excellent !
Strong in both story telling and also the historic events I thouthly enjoyed this audiobook.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- YM
- 22-04-20
A great book from an excellent author
The story of the Nuremberg raid told throughout the stories of the men who flew on it. Another excellent John Nicol book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J
- 06-04-14
Right On Target!
A fantastic audiobook looking at RAF Bomber Command during World War 2 with the main focus being on the costly Nuremberg raid in 1944. An incredibly informative book with just the right balance of personal stories whilst still presenting an excellent overview of the raid itself. the narration is fantastic and If I was unsure of buying an audiobook then if Andrew Wincott was the narrator it would result in me buying it with out hesitation.
Would love to see more military history books by John Nicoll made into audiobooks with Andrew Wincott as the narrator - but for now for anyone with an interest in military history or aviation then this has to be the number one choice!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Burt Contador
- 07-10-23
Very moving
Fascinating account, well written, read, and gripping. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the history of bomber command.
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