The Night the Dams Burst

The Night the Dams Burst

By David Irving | First published 1973 | Hardcover edition

Historical Significance

Operation Chastise—the RAF's May 1943 attack on the Ruhr dams—became one of the most celebrated bombing raids of the war. This study examines the operation from both British and German perspectives, drawing upon official records and interviews with survivors from both sides.

Scope and Content

The work documents the development of Barnes Wallis's bouncing bomb, the formation and training of 617 Squadron, the execution of the raid, and its aftermath in the flooded Ruhr valleys. German civil defence records and survivor testimony document the impact on the ground.

Archival Foundation

Research conducted in RAF operational records, British Air Ministry files, and German civil defence archives. Interviews with surviving aircrew and German civilians provide first-hand accounts from both perspectives.

For Researchers and Collectors

Essential for RAF Bomber Command historians, precision bombing researchers, and scholars examining the Ruhr industrial campaign. The dual-perspective approach makes this a distinctive contribution to the literature.

Edition Details

Hardcover binding with archival-quality paper stock. Photographic plates and operational maps. Built for specialist library and private collection use.

About This Edition

Limited modern collector printing from Focal Point Publications. Complete documentary apparatus preserved.

Related Works from Irving Books

• Apocalypse 1945: Dresden — Strategic bombing study
• The Destruction of Convoy PQ-17 — Another dual-perspective study
• The Rise and Fall of the Luftwaffe — German air power