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

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

"The Death of East Prussia: War and Revenge in Germany's Easternmost Province" - More on the Fall of Königsberg:

"Königsberg fell on April 9, 1945, but German forces were still in the Samland, the last remaining corner of East Prussia which had not surrendered. Six ill-equipped divisions were all that survived of Army Group North (by now renamed Armee Ostpreußen). They were now commanded by General Dietrich von Saucken, as General Müller had been relieved of his command by Hitler because of the capitulation of his subordinate, General Lasch. General von Saucken was a native of Fischhausen on the Frisches Haff in East Prussia and had gone to school in Königsberg. Intimately familiar with the Samland terrain, he was determined to use the six divisions under his command to put up stiff resistance in order to enable as many East Prussian civilians and troops as possible to escape from Pillau. General von Sauken and his soldiers were up against the entire Third Belorussian Front with an overpowering advantage in troops, tanks, assault weapons, ammunition, and some Lend-Lease military supplies delivered to Russia by the United States. The outcome of the ensuing final battle was never in doubt."

The Death of East Prussia: War and Revenge in Germany's Easternmost Province by Peter B. Clark

"The Death of East Prussia: War and Revenge in Germany's Easternmost Province" - The Fall of Königsberg:

"During the second breakout attempt, Major Lewinski and a few of his men were able to fight their way out of Königsberg, and looking back at the city, he described Königsberg’s final hours:

During the day we saw behind us the dying city enveloped in a coat of smoke and fire into which the streaks of fire of heavy artillery shells ate their way through. At 5 p.m. the fire gradually died down. In some places a few machine guns still sputtered until finally these last signs of battle also died down. In the darkness of evening the sinister red-tinged black clouds caused by the many continuing blazes vaulted over the dead city. The fortress of Königsberg had perished…. "

The Battle of Königsberg:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_...

Tony wrote: "I finished The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914 - 5 stars!

If anyone’s (still) looking to read about the origins of WW1 I’d definitely recommend this, alongside the other us..."

Glad to hear you enjoyed the book, totally agree its a 5 star read!

Liz V. wrote: "A short review of F.R. Tallis’s The Passenger

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Nice review Liz, thanks for sharing.

Marc wrote: "Got an ARC of this one from NetGalley, started it last night:

1942: When World War II Engulfed the Globe"

I've got a copy of that to read as well. I hope it's a great account!

happy wrote: "I just started H.W. Brand's

"

Something different Happy, I hope it's a good read!

carl wrote: "on my way to Bucharest tomorrow, never thought I'd be saying that. Staying for a time at the Athene Palace hotel.


The intro describes an author as fascinating as the story itself.

Romania 1940,..."

That's pretty cool! Have a great time and soak up the history :)

"The Death of East Prussia: War and Revenge in Germany's Easternmost Province" - The author mentioned the end of the German Fourth Army in the Heiligenbeil Cauldron (Kessel von Heiligenbeil):

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

"The Death of East Prussia: War and Revenge in Germany's Easternmost Province" - 1945 and the Russians are closing in on the old WWI battlefield of Tannenberg:

"While the German front was collapsing in the north, in southern East Prussia the Russians were rapidly advancing in the area near Tannenberg, the site of the memorial to General Field Marshal von Hindenburg commemorating his victory over the Russians in World War I. The commander of the military district that encompassed East Prussia (Befehlshaber des Wehrkreises I), General Otto Lasch, called the OKH to seek approval for the removal of the caskets containing the remains of Hindenburg and his wife to the safety of the western part of Germany known as the Reich. Hitler responded, “East Prussia will be defended and therefore the Tannenberg Memorial does not have to be removed.” (“Ostpreußen wird gehalten and somit braucht auch das Tannenbergdenkmal nicht geräumt zu werden.”) However, Hitler had second thoughts and an hour later the order came from his headquarters to carry out Lasch’s plan. Lasch assigned the task of transporting the caskets to Hindenburg’s son, Lieutenant General Oskar von Hindenburg, who took them to Pillau from whence they were sent west by ship. After the caskets had been removed, the Germans dynamited the memorial on January 22."

Tannenberg Memorial:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannenb...

Dimitri, that must be an amazing experience to read of these events and live in the area where history took place! To walk the same streets and to gaze out upon the same (or nearly the same after development) views as the German and Belgium armies would be vert interesting.

Tony wrote: "I’m making my way through The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914 which is excellent, possibly up there with Massie’s [book:Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the G..."

It's a great read so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Who doesn't get lost around the Balkans :)

Jerome wrote: "A May 2026 release:

by Prit Buttar
Description:
This sweeping saga takes us from the banks of the River Oder as the Red Army begins it r..."

Another good book on my list!

Nice souvenir!

Rory wrote: "Just received in po box two books from osprey Publishing's July sale: Desert Armour: Tank Warfare in North Africa: Beda Fomm to Operation Crusader, 1940–41 and [book:Desert Armour: ..."

I have been checking those two books out, but they have been a bit pricey here in Australia.

Doreen wrote: "I just ordered The War An Intimate History 1941-1945 by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns."

Nice purchase Doreen, I hope you enjoy reading it!

Marc wrote: " Hitler's Lost State: The Fall of Prussia and the Wilhelm Gustloff Tragedy

So, I finis..."

Hopefully "Panzers in Berlin 1945" will be a much better read!

Sounds like a pretty interesting book, Bill. Thanks for providing those details as I am sure a few group members will be keen to check this novel out.

Great post Jonny, very decent action by the Black Watch!

Thanks Mike, just to be sure I have deleted that post.

Doubledf99.99 wrote: "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkor...

Have been the battlefield museum a few times, ..."

Thanks for that link. Andrew Salmon has written two excellent books on the Commonwealth forces in the Korean War.