Featured battle : Almeida

Part of The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Date : 04 April 1811 - 11 May 1811

The fortress was garrisoned by 1,400 French troops under General Brennier. The investing force varied but was in the region of 13,000 men. Massena's attempt to lift the siege resulted in his defeat at the battle of Fuentes de Oñoro. The British did not take the fortress because the French garrison threaded its way through the British lines on the night of the 10/11 May leaving fuses burning so that the fortress was blown up. Wellington was extremely angry at the stupidity of the investing forces.

The Zeppelin

Michael Belafi (Trans. Cordula Werschkun)
This is a fascinating study of a fascinating man and his more than life-long obsession with lighter-than-air flight. It primarily covers Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin's life and the early Zeppelins, before the 1st World War. There are copious photographs from the early days covering the main developments and achievements, and I have rarely seen such coverage in a single book. There is a very short chapter on their use as a weapon in WW1, and it is clear that the author thoroughly disapproved of it's militarisation, and gives it very little space, but I think it should be applauded for that. There are plenty of books demonising the Zeppelins, and it's very refreshing to have one that doesn't.
There is also a decent section on what I would call the glory days of the dirigibles, during the 1920's and early 30's but the main focus is still the early years, since the Count himself died in 1917 and I feel that the book is none the less for that. There is even a final chapter that covers the modern airships that are the Count's direct descendants which is valuable to provide a sense of continuity and re-birth.
The text in some places can seem a little unusual to English eyes, since it is quite clearly and unashamedly a translation of a German work. But I found that once I had accustomed myself to that, it read smoothly and enthusiastically. It fills an important gap on my early aviation bookshelf, and I would unhesitatingly recommend it to fill the similar gap on yours.
Pen & Sword Aviation, 2015