Black Cross / Red Star News

[EAF19_Marsh]

That is a very kind gesture. I have both and they are great works so whoever receives will undoubtedly enjoy.

[Dauntless]

Good Luck! 

[MajorMagee]

Sorry, I don't live near Maxwell AFB, but would definitely read them if I had them. (I've have >6,500 books in my library, and have read over 9,000 books in my lifetime.)

[Avimimus]

I honestly don't want to dissuade from encouraging research assistance - so I'm hoping there are plenty of volunteers for that.

 

As for me - I became a bit obsessed by the GPW/WWII in Eastern Europe after getting a copy of the SWOTL mod... and this meant I was really excited in 1999 to hear about what Oleg Maddox planned... so I've been consistently interested in this area for a long time - but there is a shortage of references. Even just figuring out what types of aircraft were flying in various theatres is really tricky (e.g. Su-2 and SB are reported in Kuban by some German kill claims - but were any of them really there? I still haven't been able to confirm). So, well, these books would be useful for filling in a lot of gaps.

 

But I'm still hoping they go to a researcher instead of me! Filling in yet more gaps for the community as a whole.

 

P.S. If anyone needs research in Ottawa - let me know. We have some interesting aircraft here in the museum etc.

[Vishnu]

Oooooo man!!  I would love to read those books!!!! 

 

I love everything to do with the eastern front.   Haven’t heard of those until now!

[NiiranenVR]

Hej - de bøger kunne jeg virkelig godt tænke mig at have .... Og læse 

 

Og det vil så heller ikke blive så dyrt i porto .... Som jeg nu gerne skal betale ??

 

Vh Poul Niiranen - Århus 

[Freycinet]

BTW, I will of course cover postage and packing myself!

 

But, yeah, if anybody live around here (see pic) and wouldn't mind popping by Maxwell AFB then that would be great:

[EAF19_Marsh]

If you cover the airfare, dude, I will totes go.

[Freycinet]

The happy winner has been notified by PM!

[kestrel79]

What's the best way to purchase the latest version of these books? I'd love to see if our local library can get them.

[Freycinet]

https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/black-cross-red-star-air-war-eastern-front-volume-1-operation-barbarossa/

 

Email the author at vaktelforlag@gmail.com

 

- He will then tell you how to pay (I transferred to an IBAN account number) and will mail you the book(s) when he received the payment.

[robbiec]

S!

 

Christer Bergström has reached out to let us know that BC/RS Vol 2 is almost ready for publishing. 

 

https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/black-cross-red-star-air-war-over-the-eastern-front-volume-2-two-turning-points-december-1941-may-1942/

 

Covers what we simulate quite nicely.

 

FYI

[Freycinet]

Got this mail from Christer Bergström. definitely a project I am supporting! :

 

----------

 

Dear friend and supporter,

The manuscript of the new edition of ”Black Cross Red Star, Vol. 2, Air War over the Eastern Front” is soon finished.

However, I would need more pre-orders to finance the publication.

With 384 pages in A 4 size, hundreds of unique photos on high-quality gloss paper, many high-qualitative maps, and aircraft color profiles by Jim Laurier, the production of this book will cost me a lot.

Since I am publishing this book by myself, in order to safeguard quality, I am depending on pre-orders.

If you are interested, please consider to pre-order this volume.

This new Black Cross/Red Star, Volume 2 exceeds the 2001 edition regarding the quality of the material to the point that the new edition actually is a completely new book. The first edition contained a maximum of 100,000 words. This second edition has much higher quality as far as the research is concerned and contains twice that word count, a very large number of absolutely new photos (many of which are from pilot veterans’ photo albums and have never been published before). See:

https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/black-cross-red-star-air-war-over-the-eastern-front-volume-2-two-turning-points-december-1941-may-1942/


Would you like to support it with a crowdfunding of USD$ 120? That will help to maintain the high graphic quality of the book series, the photos, etc. All crowdfunders will receive a signed and individually numbered copy. Or would you like to pre-order a copy at the ordinary price USD$ 85?  

Please email me at: vaktelforlag@gmail.com 

(NOTE! Only that email address is valid.)

I attach a sample of the raw and unedited manuscript of ”Black Cross Red Star, Vol. 2, Air War over the Eastern Front.”

You can see the other new editions (Vols. 1, 4 & 5) of the book here:

https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt-kategori/english/

It would be a great favor if you could help by spreading the word about these books. Since I publish them by myself to have full control over the printing quality, I don't really have any budget for marketing, so I am quite dependent on help from my readers.

If so, please forward this link to an excerpt from Black Cross Red Star Vol. 1:

https://bergstrombooks.se/extractblackcross1.pdf

I hope that you can support this new volume of the only detailed historical account of the air war on the Eastern Front, the greatest and most dramatic air war in history.


All the best,

Christer Bergström
vaktelforlag@gmail.com

 

----------

[sevenless]

That´s good. Excellent books. Then he has only Part 3 (All for Stalingrad) to do before he can get to the new stuff for Part 6 (1943-1944) and 7 (1944-1945). I hope he can get this through to the end.

[Charon]

Here's hoping this volume comes with an index. ?

[kestrel79]

I checked out Vol. 1 from 2001 from the library and it was awesome, but couldn't finish it in time. I'd love to buy the revamped volume one. Is there a good place to buy it in the US?

 

This looks great too maybe I'll preorder vol. 2.

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, kestrel79 said:

I checked out Vol. 1 from 2001 from the library and it was awesome, but couldn't finish it in time. I'd love to buy the revamped volume one. Is there a good place to buy it in the US?

 

Amazon has it right now for about $65.00

 

9 hours ago, I./JG3_Charon said:

Here's hoping this volume comes with an index. ?

 

Agreed - there have been a few times when I have wanted to find something I'd read earlier, but that online index Bergstrom promised never materialized. 

[kestrel79]

Thanks Luke got it!

[Trooper117]

I've got them all... first series and his second series.

Just waiting to get my hands on this latest one... hopefully in a few years when they are out of print I can sell them for a nice profit!

[Indigene]

I know this's an old post...but I just got Volume 4 a couple of weeks ago...and what an amazing work! Beautifully done! I now have Volume 5 coming my way, and it can't get here soon enough! It's super fun reading the book and then flying a Career in IL-2, and lately it's been the Kuban. Such a lovely map. I had to write something here just to say how much I appreciate how wonderful the books are.?

[TAIPAN_]

On 5/14/2023 at 2:55 PM, Indigene said:

I know this's an old post...but I just got Volume 4 a couple of weeks ago...and what an amazing work! Beautifully done! I now have Volume 5 coming my way, and it can't get here soon enough! It's super fun reading the book and then flying a Career in IL-2, and lately it's been the Kuban. Such a lovely map. I had to write something here just to say how much I appreciate how wonderful the books are.?

 

There's a new volume 1 now, and volume 2 is underway for publishing soon I think.

I just need 2 & 3 for the complete set.

[Indigene]

Excellent, thank you! I'll get volume 1 then since it's new, and then wait for 2, as you said, when it gets published. Is volume 3 the new edition with the green dust-jacket?

Edited May 16, 2023 by Indigene

[von_Tom]

2 hours ago, Indigene said:

Excellent, thank you! I'll get volume 1 then since it's new, and then wait for 2, as you said, when it gets published. Is volume 3 the new edition with the green dust-jacket?

 

No - that's the original.

 

von Tom

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, Indigene said:

Excellent, thank you! I'll get volume 1 then since it's new, and then wait for 2, as you said, when it gets published. Is volume 3 the new edition with the green dust-jacket?

 

1 minute ago, von_Tom said:

 

No - that's the original.

 

von Tom

 

Yes, that's the edition published by Eagle Editions.

[ST_Catchov]

So volume 3 is the old one and volume 1 is the new one with the green jacket? Or is that the old one? And volume 2 is not out yet right? Will that be by Eagle?

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, ST_Catchov said:

So volume 3 is the old one and volume 1 is the new one with the green jacket? Or is that the old one? And volume 2 is not out yet right? Will that be by Eagle?

 

Volume 3 with the green jacket is the old edition published by Eagle Editions. They no longer have anything to do with publishing the series - it's all published in-house by Vaktel Books. 

 

And finally, the new Volume 2 is yet to be published.

[Indigene]

Cool, thank y'all! I might get the Eagle Editions, eventually.

[von_Tom]

11 minutes ago, Indigene said:

Cool, thank y'all! I might get the Eagle Editions, eventually.

 

I wouldn't bother unless you simply want them to form part of a collection.

 

The new releases contain more information and pictures, and you won't pay the inflated second hand market price for an old version.

 

The only downside to getting the new releases is the wait.

 

von Tom

[Trooper117]

1 hour ago, Indigene said:

Cool, thank y'all! I might get the Eagle Editions, eventually.

 

The original vol 1 is anything from £180 to over £200 or even more... original vol 2 around £160 - £180.

original vol 3 the cheapest I've seen it is £143...

[ZachariasX]

I just preordered Vol.2. It is an amazing series and I surely hope that Christer can complete the series.

 

For the ones interested and don't have the books yet, I have an excerpt from Vol.1:

https://bergstrombooks.se/extractblackcross1.pdf

[Indigene]

4 hours ago, von_Tom said:

 

I wouldn't bother unless you simply want them to form part of a collection.

 

The new releases contain more information and pictures, and you won't pay the inflated second hand market price for an old version.

 

The only downside to getting the new releases is the wait.

 

von Tom

Thank you! I think I'll heed your warning and wait for the new release. If I'm going to spend the steep prices I'd rather get the new editions.

[Indigene]

1 hour ago, ZachariasX said:

I just preordered Vol.2. It is an amazing series and I surely hope that Christer can complete the series.

 

For the ones interested and don't have the books yet, I have an excerpt from Vol.1:

https://bergstrombooks.se/extractblackcross1.pdf

Thank you for the excerpt, definitely the next is volume 1. I hope, as well, that Christer finishes this amazing series!

[J37_Spyboy]

At the original date of publishing, late 90s, this series was an excellent history in 5 volumes. The author, Christer Bergstrom, has undertaken more research reflecting resource discoveries that were not originally available, and is republishing what are in effect new volumes. This will become the definitive account. Spoiler alert, Germany still loses! 

So far Vol 1, 4, & 5 have benefitted from this work: https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt-kategori/english/

Here is an extract from Vol 1: https://bergstrombooks.se/extractblackcross1.pdf

Similarly extract from Vol 2:https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/black-cross-red-star-air-war-over-the-eastern-front-volume-2-two-turning-points-december-1941-may-1942/ 

He is crowd funding $120 to sponsor autographed dedicated copy or, ordinary preorder price $87.

E mail him if you are interested : vaktelforlag@gmail.com. You wont regret it!

[kestrel79]

I just got the reworked vol. 1 it’s great so far!

[von_Tom]

 

Just a heads up that the revised book 2 is going through the normal motions before publication etc.

 

I'm not privy to when it will be released (maybe 3 or 4 months away but that's a complete guess) but it is superior to the original.

 

von Tom

Edited August 26, 2023 by von_Tom

[ZachariasX]

Latest updates from Christer:

 

 

Dear friend and supporter,

The manuscript of the new edition of ”Black Cross Red Star, Vol. 2, Air War over the Eastern Front” is completed and is now being laid out by the graphic designer, and then I will send it to the printer. So it will be published soon.

However, unfortunately, the book project is facing some financial problems. The interest for this volume has not been as great as expected. With 384 pages in A 4 size, hundreds of unique photos on high-quality gloss paper, many high-qualitative maps, and aircraft color profiles by Jim Laurier, the production of this book will cost me a lot. You who have previous volumes published between 2019 and 2021 know the high quality of the printing, binding and paper.

 

I now see myself forced to print just a limited edition of a couple of hundred copies in the usual high quality in hard cover with excellent glossy paper and color profiles. When those are sold out, I will have to settle with a print-on-demand softcover edition with a lower printing quality and no aircraft color profiles, no dustjacket.

 

I understand that this is because of the difficult economic situation, but I really would need more pre-orders to finance the publication.

Since I am publishing this book by myself, in order to safeguard quality, I am depending on pre-orders.

If you have not already made a pre-order, and if you are interested, please consider to pre-order this volume. (This email also goes to those who have previously pre-ordered the book.)

This new Black Cross/Red Star, Volume 2 exceeds the 2001 edition regarding the quality of the material to the point that the new edition actually is a completely new book. The first edition contained a maximum of 100,000 words. This second edition has much higher quality as far as the research is concerned and contains twice that word count, a very large number of absolutely new photos (many of which are from pilot veterans’ photo albums and have never been published before). See:

https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/black-cross-red-star-air-war-over-the-eastern-front-volume-2-two-turning-points-december-1941-may-1942/

Would you like to support it with a crowdfunding of USD$ 120? That will help to maintain the high graphic quality of the book series, the photos, etc. All crowdfunders will receive a signed and individually numbered copy. Or would you like to pre-order a copy at the ordinary price USD$ 85?  

Please email me at: vaktelforlag@gmail.com 

(NOTE! Only that email address is valid.)

I attach a sample of the word manuscript of ”Black Cross Red Star, Vol. 2, Air War over the Eastern Front.”

You can see the other new editions (Vols. 1, 4 & 5) of the book here:

https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt-kategori/english/

It would be a great favor if you could help by spreading the word about these books. Since I publish them by myself to have full control over the printing quality, I don't really have any budget for marketing, so I am quite dependent on help from my readers.

If so, please forward this link to an excerpt from the printed book Black Cross Red Star Vol. 1:

https://bergstrombooks.se/extractblackcross1.pdf

I hope that you can support this new volume of the only detailed historical account of the air war on the Eastern Front, the greatest and most dramatic air war in history.

 By the way, I also consider starting a ”Patreon support” of my work, so that I will be able to continue to work full-time on what I regard as a quite important work to write the history of the air war on the Eastern Front in detail, and based on sources from both sides. I plan to make a unique pdf magazine with articles and unique photographs on World War II in general and the air war in particular with will be exclusive for my Patreon supporters. My idea is for Patreon support in three levels:

a)    20 USD per month, and in return you will receive that magazine every third month.

b)    b) 50 USD per month, and in return you will receive that magazine every month.

c)    100 USD per month or more, and in return I will regard you as a VIP contact, you will get the magazine once a month, plus some extra material, plus that I will count you as a crowdfunder of all my future books, which you will never have to order or pay anything for, plus that you will have my phone number and will be welcome to give me a call any time you like to chat or ask questions related to WW II and my writing.

Of course, I will send a sample fo such a magazine when I ask for Patreons. But right now, I would like to ask you what you think of this idea, and if you have any suggestions.

 

You can read more about Patreon here:

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patreon

 I will return on that issue.

All the best,

 Christer Bergström

vaktelforlag@gmail.com

[JG27_Steini]

Anyone interessted in good books covering the eastern front, i highly recommend this series.

[LukeFF]

54 minutes ago, JG27_Steini said:

Anyone interessted in good books covering the eastern front, i highly recommend this series.

 

It's the gold standard and they have proven very helpful in improving some details of career mode. ??

[EAF19_Marsh]

Great books, but pricey.

 

I disagree with his assessment in the BoB work, though. He seems to get confused as to the difference between prosecuting an air campaign and a strategy to win it.

[Trooper117]

I've bought all his books for Black Cross Red Star, but the current price he wants now prices me out of his market... No longer working and on a pension, so I'll just stick with the original vol 2...