'Aussie Rick'’s Comments (group member since Jun 12, 2009)

'Aussie Rick'’s comments from the THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP group.

Second Marc's recommendation of "The Last Battle".

"Opening the Gates of Hell: Operation Barbarossa, June–July 1941" - More hard fighting as the German armoured units advance:

"4th Panzer was still following in 3rd Panzer's wake - and it had been a spectacularly successful day for the Berliners. By dusk, their spearhead was across the River Szczara, outside the town of Bereza Kartuska. In two days, the division had advanced nearly 90 miles. Whatever counter-attacks XIV Mechanised Corps had been able to mount were smashed; 36 t-26s were finished off in a single action by 6th Panzer Regiment in the mid-afternoon, 12 of them dispatched by just one company in a matter of minutes. By the time a small bridgehead had been forged over the Szczara, the main road all the way back to Kobrin was littered with the burned-out and abandoned hulks of more than 100 tanks and other armoured vehicles."

Opening the Gates of Hell: Operation Barbarossa, June–July 1941 by Richard Hargreaves

"Opening the Gates of Hell: Operation Barbarossa, June–July 1941" - Fort VII at Kaunas:

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-s...

https://www.yadvashem.org/holocaust/t...

Jerome wrote: "An April 2026 release:

by Krzysztof Janowicz
Description:
K..."

That could be a future purchase for my library!

Richard wrote: "Finished the Beevor book, lots of great if depressing insights. Lots of discussion of the r*pe culture, as well as some great political decision examinations of the “allies”. Surprising how long it..."

I heard that after finishing his book on Berlin Antony Beevor was considering writing about the siege of Leningrad, but he was so depressed after writing about Berlin that he shelved that idea.

More good books at excellent prices!

"Opening the Gates of Hell: Operation Barbarossa, June–July 1941" - Another Soviet counterattack during the early stages of Operation Barbarossa:

"At first light on 28 June, 46th Tank Division thundered down the highway to Leningrad, the vanguard of Dmitri Lelyushenko's under-strength and ill-prepared XXI Mechanized Corps. Despite its weaknesses, the corps smashed its way into Daugavpil's eastern suburbs, where its armour engaged panzers at point-blank range and, when low on ammunition, Red Army crews resorted to attempting to crush and ram their foe. One Soviet soldier, Ivan Sereda, jumped on to a panzer and hacked its crew to death with an axe before using an anti-tank mine to destroy a second tank. He would be named a Hero of the Soviet Union for his actions."

Ivan Pavlovich Sereda:
https://www.grunge.com/1012788/a-germ...

Very true Mike!

Jerome wrote: "An October release:

by Diana Thorp
Description:
As World War II climbed to its crescendo in the Asi..."

Another interesting title to keep a watch out for!

Mike wrote: "Currently reading The Last Great Victory: The End of World War II, July/August 1945 by [author:St..."

Very interesting Mike! Thaks for posting that link as well.

Richard wrote: "I had a library built into my house even though I read most books now on my kindle… still plenty of physical books. I am reading Beevors The Fall of Berlin 1945. The throwaway comments about Eisenh..."

I really enjoyed Beevor's book on Berlin. I am using my Kindle more and more and quite enjoy it, but nothing can replace the feeling of walking into your own library!

"Opening the Gates of Hell: Operation Barbarossa, June–July 1941" - A number of German soldiers reckoned that the Battle of Raseiniai was one of the hardest fought battles on the Eastern Front:

http://www.avalanchepress.com/Raseini...

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

"Opening the Gates of Hell: Operation Barbarossa, June–July 1941" - A Russian armoured counterattack with some of the new KV tanks:

"When the Red armour came into view, Sander's platoon opened fire, 'sending one salvo after another over'. Several T-26s went up in flames. But not the KVs. 'From time to time all of us cheer: hit! And then: crap! Despite very clear hits, the tank continues to calmly, slowly, and stubbornly roll.' Wilhem Sander reckoned every third round which left the barrel of his 3.7cm gun hit its target - but simply ricocheted off the Soviet tank 'in a wonderful curve'."

One another part of the front:

"1st Panzer Division reported that one KV-2 was hit 70 times - yet not a single shell penetrated its armour. Only at point-blank range - 100ft - did armour piercing shells seem to have any effect on the Soviets' 'big old lumps'."

Kliment Voroshilov tank:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kliment...

Some excellent books there Mike! Thanks for the notification.

Glad to hear you enjoyed the book Jonny. I reckon all three volumes of his WW2 trilogy are excellent reads!

"Opening the Gates of Hell: Operation Barbarossa, June–July 1941" - On some of the losses sustained by the Luftwaffe on the first day:

"At least some of these losses had been inflicted by Soviet pilots taking desperate measures. Lieutenant Ivan Ivanov failed to stop a raid by Heinkel 111s of Kampfgeschwader 55 on the airfield at Dubno in Ukraine, but his Rata succeeded in catching up with Werner Bahringer's bomber as it returned to base. When his guns ran out of ammunition - or jammed - Ivanov crashed his fighter into the bomber, sending both tumbling towards to ground, killing all the occupants. Ivan Ivanov's deed would enter Soviet folklore as the taran ('battering ram'). It would earn him, posthumously, his nation's highest honour: Hero of the Soviet Union. And it would be repeated several time this day. Mid-morning, Dmitri Kokorev's formation of MiG-3s and Ratas intercepted Messerschmitt Me110s near Zambrow. In the ensuring dogfights, three Soviet and two German fighters were shot down. Out of ammunition, Kokorev used the propeller of his MiG-3 to smash the rudder of an Me110, causing it to crash, while the Soviet pilot succeeded in bringing his damaged fighter back to his airfield. Lieutenant Leonid Butelin lost his life when he drove his propeller into the rudder of one of several Ju88s which had attacked his airfield at Stanislav in Ukraine."

The Taran: Ramming in the Soviet Air Force by J.T. Quinlivan:
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand...

Looks good Dimitri! I assume you will be attending?

Three weeks until the new bookcases can be built but I think I can survive that long :)

Great review Marc! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with the rest of the group.

Nice that they found that stolen artwork. Thanks for posting those links Liz!