Pajeka

Guys, just a quick update from Christer regarding “Black Cross/Red Star Volume 5” plus other information - received this evening. “Hi,Hope everyone stays healthy and cool! Here follows some entertainment and self-educational tips in these self-quarantine times - documentaries, book tips, and more.The manuscript of ”Black Cross/Red Star, Volume 5” is soon completed. So for those of you who have pre-ordered or promised crowdfunding, I would like you now to send in your payment, if you haven’t done it yet. Please transfer your payment to my Paypal account: vaktelforlag@gmail.comWith canceled (postponed) lectures and battlefield tours this spring, I have time like never before to write my book "Black Cross / Red Star", Volume 5. See:https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/black-cross-red-star-air-war-eastern-front-volume-5-great-air-battles-kuban-kursk-april-july-1943/All the chapters that deal with the events during the air war have now been written. What remains to be done is to edit those chapters, write the introduction chapter and the ”conclusions” chapter, and then select photos and write the photo captions.In ”Black Cross/Red Star, Volume 5”, I describe the dramatic turning point in the Eastern Front air war, how it became much tougher the Luftwaffe pilots in the encounters with Soviet pilots. But there are also depictions of incredible successes for the German fighter pilots - where, for example, the fighter group III./JG 52 achieved 126 air victories without a single loss in April 1943. Although the Germans overestimated their success by close to 200%, it testifies to a huge superiority in the air battles.And then the turn came suddenly. The chapter where I describe this is not without reason called "The Russian Air Force is doing whatever it wants over Krymskaya" – which is a quotation from a German report.When Alfred Grislawski found out that an old recruit buddy had retrained himself into a fighter pilots and came to JG 52 at the Kuban Bridgehead in April 1943, he was very concerned. “You stand with one leg in the grave, Helmut!” he said to him. A few weeks later, Helmut Kabisch was dead.In the first chapters of "Black Cross / Red Star", Volume 5 I describe the well-known but hitherto completely undocumented air battle over the Kuban Bridgehead in April-May 1943 as detailed as the best books on the Battle of Britain. I have full access to all German AND all Soviet primary sources on that air battle, and I have interviewed many of the pilots from both sides who survived the air battle.If you haven’t done it yet, you can pre-order a personally signed copy of the book for USD 60 or crowdfund it with USD 100.If you do not have "Black Cross / Red Star", Volume 4, it can be ordered here:https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/black-cross-red-star-air-war-eastern-front-volume-4-stalingrad-kuban-1942-1943/Would you like to order a personally signed copy of Vol. 4, so send me an email at:forlag@vaktelforlag.seFor those of you who have it, I have index in pdf that I can email if you wish. Just email me at forlag@vaktelforlag.se and I will send. Vol. 4 was published last fall, vol. 5 is coming this summer, and this winter will follow the very updated new edition of Vol. 1. Then comes much updated new editions of Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 in 2021, so that we are "catching up". Then the series continues. I expect it to be eight volumes.Please check out my other books in English here: https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt-kategori/english/Have you noticed my book ”Operation Barbarossa 1941 : Hitler against Stalin”, for instance? See:https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/operation-barbarossa-1941/To order the book:For a personally signed copy of the hardcover edition:Transfer US $ 59 (or 53 EUR) to my Paypal account vaktelforlag@gmail.comand send your address to Christer at vaktelforlag@gmail.comPlus postage:25 USD or 23 EURFinally, I have put together links to some documentaries about World War II on Youtube. Fill a glass with beer (or similar), sink down in your sofa, and watch the documentaries on your flat screen TV and enjoy:Unique archival Video of Russian Air Forces WW2 1939 - 1945https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRC6yUFcoPYIlyushin IL-2 Sturmovik - Soviet ground-attack aircrafthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbZkVjdTTEAThe Battle of Kurskhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXSh0JFwDq06th Army’s Rations at Stalingradhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=occOOTk6OKYSoviet Defensive Tactics - Kursk 43https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxGKhGLUpNI91st BG B-17F Miss Ouachita shot down by Heinz Bär & Dame Satanhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS7SU0MXuDgFritz Ungar, JG 54, JG 26 shot down B-17 Flying Fortresshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUbC99Tik88Fritz Ungar, Fw 190 D-9 vs. Typhoon IBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8adflxejGkFlying Fortress Crash Landing (1944)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fHPFQffwmYAir Force Aerial Combat Footagehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJooYDwvWw0Get Going - The US Mission to Capture Hitler's No. 2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkC7fTVbWck2 SS Panthers vs. 21 US Shermanshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86K0ncTkAkAThe Monster of Raseiniaihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zxNg-81m_QRussian WW2 Women Snipershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_qnd839mQsNuremberg Executions 1946 - What Happened to the Bodies?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At7IA19fXHc12 Most Amazing Unexpected Military Findshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRSZplGKaMcOperation Mincemeat WWII deception prior to invading Italyby Ian Fleming Fullhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBk3sSUB5X4Sex And The Swastika (World War 2 Documentary)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNCIGl1OpMsThe REAL Reason why Hitler HAD to start WW2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQGMjDQ-TJ8&t=43sThe MAIN Reason Why Germany Lost WW2 - OILhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVo5I0xNRhgTake care, everyone!All the best,” Christer Bergström Vaktel Förlag Box 3027 S-630 03 Eskilstuna Sweden

Brilliant! Many thanks to the team for all their efforts at this difficult time....

Very generous gesture Tzigy..... Top Man!!

Lovely gesture, very generous...... Top man!!

Likewise - crowdfunded vol 4 and 5. Just gotta support Christer and his incredible work!

For your information, further update just received from Christer...... ”Hello,I am turning to all of you who pre-ordered Black Cross/Red Star, Vol. 4. There is something that worries me about this book series.I am now working full time on Black Cross/Red Star, Volume 5, and am making great progress. On 12 January, I am going to research the Bundesarchiv for a week for this book. If you are happy with Volume 4, I think you will find Volume 5 even better. There is so much really sensational material there. My plan is to have this volume published in the summer of this year, 2020.As mentioned previously, this book series is, in fact, living from hand to mouth, and each subsequent volume is totally dependant on the success of the previous volume, and its crowdfunding.My goal is to get just 125 crowdfunders to contribute at least USD $100 each for Volume 5 (plus postage). Then it can be published within a couple of months. And the crowdfunders will also have their names printed as an acknowledgment in the book.I also need as many ordinary pre-orders as possible for USD 60 (plus postage) for a signed hardcover copy.However, I am beginning to worry about Black Cross/Red Star, Vol. 5. So far, I have no more than 33 pre-orders, including crowdfunders. What is even more worrying is that sales of Volume 4 have more or less stopped. No more than nine (9) copies were sold world-wide the past month.So Black Cross/Red Star, Volume 5 is in a desperate need of crowdfunders and more pre-orders. In order to calculate whether a publication and continued priority work on that book are realistic, I would like to ask every one of you who considers making a pre-order or an offer for crowdfunding to do so now.Please note:YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING NOW (BUT OF COURSE IT IS WELCOME IF YOU DO), BUT EVEN A PROMISE FOR A PREORDER OR A CROWDFUNDING WHERE YOU PAY LATER THIS YEAR WOULD HELP VERY MUCH.(If it will be economically impossible to publish the Black Cross/Red Star series, I will of course re-pay those of you who have paid to my PayPal account; I haven't touched that account, all the money will remain there until I either use them to publish the book, or I return the money to the payers.) Anyone who can find a new crowdfunder (someone who has not crowdfunded Vol. 4), willing to order a hardcover copy of Volume 5 at the crowdfunder price of at least USD$ 100, gets a 10 % discount off my price of USD$ 60 from me on that volume. Please ask any new crowdfunder (or anyone who wishes to order a signed hardcopy Volume 5 at my regular price of USD$ 60) to e-mail me at vaktelforlag@gmail.com. Please note: Only to vaktelforlag@gmail.com Please also help me to spread the word! All help and support with this will be received with the utmost gratitude. You can read more about Black Cross/Red Star, Volume 5 here: https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/black-cross-red-star-air-war-eastern-front-volume-5-great-air-battles-kuban-kursk-april-july-1943/ All the best & a Happy New Year! Christer Bergström”

Hi guys, Mail recently received from Christer, thought you would like to be kept up to date.... "Hello dear friends, I am now working full time on Black Cross/Red Star, Volume 5, and am making great progress. If you are happy with Volume 4, I think you will find Volume 5 even better. There is so much really sensational material there. My plan is to have this volume published in the summer of 2020. I attach a small excerpt from the raw and unedited manuscript, dealing with one of the days during the famous Air Battle over Kuban (which nevertheless so far has not been covered in any history writing). I would like to turn to you, my friends, and ask you for support for this volume, either by crowdfunding (100 USD or above) or by ordering a copy at the ordinary price of 60 USD. In both cases, it is for a hard cover copy with aircraft color profiles. If so, please send me an e-mail to vaktelforlag@gmail.com and transfer the amount to my PayPal account: vaktelforlag@gmail.com If PayPal is inconvenient, please let me know and I can send an ordinary invoice with bank details. Those who support this book through crowdfunding will receive a personally signed and numbered hardcover copy with aircraft color profiles, and with a special dedication that will probably make it attractive for collectors. As mentioned, this book series is, in fact, living from hand to mouth, and each subsequent volume is totally dependant on the success of the previous volume, and its crowdfunding. My goal is to get just 125 crowdfunders to contribute at least $100 each for Volume 5 (plus postage), it can be published within a couple of months. And the crowdfunders will also have their names printed as an acknowledgment in the book. Anyone who can find a new crowdfunder (someone who has not crowdfunded Vol. 4), willing to order a copy of Volume 5 at the crowdfunder price of at least USD$ 100, gets a 10 % discount off my price of USD$ 60 from me on that volume. Please ask any new crowdfunder (or anyone who wishes to order a signed hardcopy Volume 5 at my regular price of USD$ 60) to e-mail me at vaktelforlag@gmail.com. I will e-mail all of you regular updates on the progress of the book, and the crowdfunders will also receive regular excerpts from the manuscript etc. Anyone who has not ordered a personally signed hardcover copy of Volume 4 (with color profiles), is of course welcome to do so at vaktelforlag@gmail.com Please help me to spread the word! All help and support with this will be received with the utmost gratitude. You can read more about Black Cross/Red Star, Volume 5 here: https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/black-cross-red-star-air-war-eastern-front-volume-5-great-air-battles-kuban-kursk-april-july-1943/ All the best,"

Absolutely - interesting reading....possible future missions? https://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/aircraft/de-havilland-dh98-mosquito-fb-mk-vi/

Fantastic news! Great plane set, no hesitation - pre-ordered!!

Hi Guys, Some additional information recently received from Christer regarding his book “LUFTWAFFE PILOTS IN WORLD WAR II: The Veterans’ Stories Volume 1” “Hello, my dear friends and supporters,Good news and bad news:The good news first: My book ”LUFTWAFFE PILOTS IN WORLD WAR II: The Veterans’ Stories Volume 1” has now been translated into English and can be published within a couple of weeks!The bad news is this: Is there no demand for this book in English? I have sold fifteen hundred copies of the Swedish edition, but so far I have only had exactly nine (9) pre-orders of the English edition. I haven’t heard that any bookstore has ordered it. (I publish it by myself in order to maintain control of the quality.)”LUFTWAFFE PILOTS IN WORLD WAR II: The Veterans’ Stories Volume 1”contains absolutely unique and hitherto unknown – except for the Swedish readers – facts and personal accounts by Luftwaffe veterans themselves.The price for each copy is £25.99 / US$ 31.99 / 47.69 AU$ and postage for one copy is US$ 10.00, for two copies US$ 18.00.But with the situation regarding demand for the book looking as bleak as it doesn, I am now asking for helpful friends and enthusiasts to help out with crowdfunding.A crowdfunding of US$ 60 will render the supporter a special crowdfunder edition's numbered book, the crowdfunder's name in a honorary section in the book, and a never previously photograph of the "Karaya Quartet" Hermann Graf - Alfred Grislawski - Ernst Süss - Heinrich Füllgrabe.Please e-mail me your order/crowdfunding promise, and please transfer the payment to my PayPal account:vaktelforlag@gmail.comI would like to ask you, dear friends, if you could place your orders before Friday 11 October, so that I can have the book published as soon as possible.Any help in getting a book retailer interested is also most welcome!In this book, I try to give the answer to this question: What was it like to be a pilot in Hitler’s Luftwaffe during World War II? I allow the veterans themselves to provide the answer. Since 1974, when I (at the age of only 16) was a guest at Adolf Galland’s home in Oberwinter for two days, I have met hundreds of Luftwaffe pilot veterans. Over the years, I made between one and three tours a year to meet and interview as many of the aging Luftwaffe veterans as possible.I am now putting all of this together in a book series. Here you will find things that often don’t usually appear in ordinary books about the war. This first volume contains headlines such as: What was it like to be a pilot in Hitler’s Luftwaffe during World War II? What did the veterans say? * ”Assi” Hahn tells his story * The terrible ”Jochen” Marseille * ”Let’s not talk about that”: Uncomfortable Luftwaffe facts * The Luftwaffe’s real results beyond the claims– facts and figures.From the Swedish Library Service’s review of German pilots Vol 1:“Well written and engaging… richly illustrated with, among other things, photos from the veterans’ private photo albums. It is also packed with facts and statistics in several appendices. Christer Bergström is an internationally leading expert on the Luftwaffe during World War II. He has been studying the subject for decades and has written several excellent books on the subject. ”– Tord Rönnholm, BTJ Booklet no. 24, 2018.Read more about the book here:https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/luftwaffe-pilots-world-war-ii-veterans-stories-volume-1/Please help me to spread this to more people.”

Hi guys, received this morning.....hopefully the final update! “Dear friends and supporters! This is the mail that perhaps one or two of you has been waiting for: Black Cross/Red Star, Volume 4 arrived here from the printer today! And it looks absolutely great! The printing company has made a great work! I have been signing books all day long and I have posted the first batch of books today. I will continue to post books tomorrow, and I hope I will have finished before the post office closes tomorrow. I attach a couple of photos. One is me signing (perhaps your book). One is me holding the book. No, it isn't that huge - it just looks that way in the photo. But it is big. I also attach a photo where Volume 4 is compared to Volume 4. Now I am really keen to hear what you think of the book once you've received it and started reading. And please, please spread the word everywhere! I really need all the help I can get, because I am publishing this book by myself, and I really donät have any marketing budget.” All the best, Christer Bergström Further pictures.....

Just for information, 3x volumes of 2nd Tactical Air Force (June 43 - May 45) by Christopher Shores and Chris Thomas Volumes 2&3 cover the dates and events of 2nd Tactical Air Force during the periods Jason is particularly interested in. These books provide in detail, each day, a breakdown of the activities of 2nd TAF pilots, listing all pilots (active on that date), ranks, Squadrons, aircraft type/serial no, targets, kills etc and all 2nd TAF activities as they occurred on that date. There is also limited details of the Luftwaffe activity over this period. If “Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the ..., Volume 2” does not fulfil your requirements, it may be worth reviewing the volumes noted above. I note that Christopher Shores was also joint author of “Aces High”, so I presume he is an authority on this subject.

Jason I have mailed you directly with download link. I think it may provide you with the information are searching for..

Hi Guys, further update, message received this morning from Christer. Hope this is OK to post, if not, Moderator please remove. "Hi my dear friends and supporters! Please make sure to read this e-mail in its entirety. Good news about Black Cross/Red Star, Volume 4. https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/black-cross-red-star-air-war-eastern-front-volume-4-stalingrad-kuban-1942-1943/ The book has been sent to the printer! The hardcover edition with aircraft color profiles etc will arrive here on September 25, according to the printer. Then I will post all the pre-ordered books immediately, without any delay! Yes, everyone who has ordered a signed copy from me at vaktelforlag@gmail.com will receive a hardcover copy with aircraft color profiles etc. I am publishing this entirely by myself, and have no economic means for marketing etc. Also, I have not been able to get a book distributor in the United States. That is the reason why in the United States there is only a soft-cover edition without any aircraft color profiles available via Ingram Spark. But io course, people living in the United States who order the book from me, will receive the hardcover edition with aircraft color profiles etc. All help to spread the word about the book on the Internet, etc, and to ask book stores and museums etc to purchase the book will be received with the greatest gratitude. This book series is, in fact, living from hand to mouth, and each subsequent volume is totally dependant on the success of the previous volume, and its crowdfunding. Anyone who can find a new crowdfunder (who has not crowdfunded Vol. 4), willing to order a copy of Volume 5 at the crowdfunder price of USD$ 100, gets a 10 % discount off my price of USD$ 60 from me on that volume. Please ask any new crowdfunder (or anyone who wishes to order a signed hardcopy Volume 5 at my regular price of USD$ 60) to e-mail me at vaktelforlag@gmail.com. I will e-mail all of you when the book is here. Anyone of you who has not ordered a personally signed copy of Volume 4, is welcome to do so at vaktelforlag@gmail.com The price is USD$ 60 - or USD$ 100 in crowdfunding - plus USD$ 25 in shipping. Please continue reading. I would be most grateful if you could also spread the word about these two books by me - also published entirely by myself: Arnhem 1944 – An Epic Battle Revisited, two volumes: https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/arnhem-1944-epic-battle-revisited-vol-1-tanks-paratroopers/ – Andy Nunez, editor of Against the Odds Magazine, wrote this review: "Volume One of Arnhem 1944 is a solid hit. Christer Bergström gets high marks for original research, comprehensive orders of battle, and interactive QR codes that immerse the reader into the heat of battle. This puts a whole new face on Market-Garden.” LUFTWAFFE PILOTS IN WORLD WAR II: The Veterans’ Stories Volume 1 https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/luftwaffe-pilots-world-war-ii-veterans-stories-volume-1/ You are of course welcome to order personally signed hard-cover copies of those books too from me, at vaktelforlag@gmail.com The price for both volumes of Arnhem plus Luftwaffe Pilots Vol. 1 is altogether USD$96 plus USD$ 25 in postage."

Great team effort guys! Stunning result - Congratulations to all involved...