First blitz : the secret German plan to raze London to the ground in 1918

‘Using first-hand witnesses plus government war records, Hanson draws a powerful picture of the impact of these first air raids’ - Time Out Far from the killing fields of France, a little-known battle was fought in the skies over London that nearly altered the course of the First World War and with it, the history of humanity itself. The margin between survival and total destruction came down to less than one hour. In four years, the Luftwaffe’s England squadron had moved from crude canvas-and-wire light aircraft to the four-engined giants as big as anything that flew in the Second World War. This, combined with the development of a revolutionary incendiary bomb, gave Germany the chance to raze London to the ground. It was a chance that they came within an inch of taking... Praise for First Blitz : ‘The 1940s bombing raids over London have taken such a powerful grip upon our imagination that the existence of an earlier Blitz, in the First World War I, will come to many readers as a complete surprise. Yet as Neil Hanson demonstrates in this gripping and well-researched book, it was in many ways more terrifying’ - Daily Mail ‘Clearly and engagingly written, his book puts more academic historians to shame by discovering a big subject, investigating it thoroughly and drawing bold but far-reaching conclusions from it’ - Sunday Telegraph Neil Hanson is the author of four acclaimed works of narrative history: The Custom of the Sea, The Dreadful Judgement, The Confident Hope of a Miracle and The Unknown Soldier . He lives in Yorkshire with his family. A World Away From The Killing Fields Of France Was A Battle That Could Have Changed The Face Of History. Over The Course Of 1917, German Bombers Threatened To Engulf London In Firestorms - A Portent Of The London Blitz And The Battle Of Britain Over Twenty Years Later. They Were Determined To Bring London To Its Knees. The First Blitz Took Place Over Eight Nights In 1917, But It Was The Second Wave Of Attacks In The Summer Of 1918, Following The Development Of The 'elektron' Incendiary Bomb, That Came Within An Ace Of Obliterating London. The Margin Between The Survival Of The World's Greatest Capital City And Its Total Destruction Came Down To Less Than One Hour. The Events And Decisions Taken In The Course Of Those Fateful Days Were As Important As Anything That Happened On The Western Front. With Breathtaking Insight, Compelling Drama And Supreme Narrative Clarity, Neil Hanson Tells The Story Of The Air War That Could Have Altered The Course Of The Conflict, And With It The History Of The Twentieth Century Itself . . . "In the early years of the First World War, London had been subjected to sustained bombing attacks from German Zeppelins, but by late 1916 improvements in British aircraft technology had put paid to the threat they offered. The German air force took up the assault and, over the course of 1917, threatened to engulf London in firestorms - a portrait of the London Blitz and the Battle of Britain over twenty years later." "First Blitz is told in two parts, each detailing the events of a single week: The first part tells the story of the first London Blitz - six raids by German bombers in eight nights in 1917. Part two focuses on the events of August 1918 and the countdown to the incendiary raids that would have destroyed much of London and Paris had they not been called off at the very last minute."--Jacket Over the course of 1917, German bombers threatened to engulf London in firestorms. The events and decisions taken in the course of those fateful days were as important as anything that happened on the Western Front. The author tells the story of the air war that could have altered the course of the conflict.