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Books on the Eastern Front of WW2
Good review Happy, thanks for posting the link.
I think I may have missed mentioning this book:
by Artem DrabkinDescription:
22 June 1941 changed the direction of the Second World War. It also changed the direction of human history. Unleashing a massive, three-pronged assault into Soviet territory, the German army unwittingly created its own nemesis, forging the modern Russian state in the process. Thus, for most Russians, 22 June 1941 was a critical point in their nation's history. After the first day of 'Barbarossa' nothing would be the same again - for anyone. Now, for the first time in English, Russians speak of their experiences on that fatal Sunday. Apparently caught off guard by Hitler's initiative, the Soviets struggled to make sense of a disaster that had seemingly struck from nowhere. Here are generals scrambling to mobilize ill-prepared divisions, pilots defying orders not to grapple with the mighty Luftwaffe, bewildered soldiers showing individual acts of blind courage, and civilians dumbstruck by air raid sirens and radio broadcasts telling of German treachery.
Review:
"This is the vivid eyewitness account of the first day of Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union, using recollections gathered from across Soviet society. The 22nd June 1941 changed the direction of the war as the Germans launched a massive three pronged attack in Soviet territory. Caught off guard, Generals mobilised ill prepared divisions and pilots defied orders to grapple the mighty Luftwaffe. This is their story." - The Great War Magazine
In my current book; The Stalingrad Cauldron, the author mentions that during one stage in the defensive fighting for the Kessel the 94th Infantry Regiment had to use the Road Construction Battalion 501 to plug a gap in their lines and states; " ... at the very least, to get it secured by men in uniform and armed with Dutch rifles."
by Frank Ellis
Another interest fact I read in the combat diary of the 94th Infantry Division in Stalingrad was the details of a special-purpose Luftwaffe battalion under command of Hauptmann Matho. This unit was made up of three companies of air-landing troops and one company of paratroopers (the remnants of a battalion of Luftwaffe Regiment 'Stahel'). Apparently this battalion; “had exceptional firepower at its disposal (among other things 5-cm and 7.5-cm antitank guns); it also had snipers, and every trooper was armed with either an assault rifle or a machine pistol. In the infantry role the firepower was remarkable, especially in close-quarters battle and counterattacks. Morale was very high. The troops consisted of volunteers only. In the rear the battalion had a full complement of the most up-to-date combat vehicles.”
During the retreat back into the Stalingrad pocket and with winter coming on some things were just as important as food and ammunition:“The regiments have left rearguards, who must guard the assembled reserves of wood and straw, in the former accommodations of the supply parties.”
by Frank Ellis
I'm currently reading chapter 4 which covers the war diary of the 76th Berlin-Brandenburg Infantry Division in Stalingrad. In the reference notes to this units war diary is this story of Father Josef Kayser when he surrendered to the Soviets once the Kessel had fallen:“I did not walk away but approached the Russians and suddenly stood face to face with 5 young men. Behind them stood another soldier with a different type of headwear, indicating a higher rank, a lieutenant. The 5 young men raised their weapons. I made a sign of a large cross and shouted at them in Russian: ‘I am a priest: Christ is also arisen in war!’ Then they threw their machine pistols away. To be honest, I thought to myself, ‘If only you had a machine pistol now! With one burst you would be able to finish them off’. But at the sign of my cross they had thrown their weapons down! But I still expected a shot. Then they put their arms round my neck and kissed me on the right cheek, on the left cheek, and on the mouth and said: ‘In truth, he is once again risen!’ ” – Quoted in Loser, Bittere Pflicht.
http://www.gdw-berlin.de/en/recess/bi...
good stories AR. i'm mired in the mud inCherkassy, where the Russians hope for
Stalingrad 2. von Manstein borrowed
the 24th Panzer division from Armee
Group South without permission. it
took 8 days to travel through the mud,
which would normally have taken one
or two. just as it mounted its attack
to relieve the pocket, Hitler found
out about the borrowing and ordered
it back to the Nikopol region, which
was also under attack. the division
lost 1,500 vehicles to mud, never
fired a shot and did not participate
in either battle.
FYI ... don't know if this has already been stated, but there will be a re-release of "Death of the Leaping Horseman" (account of a German armored unit at Stalingrad)
amazon show's it being released in June 2014 ... considering the current editions of the book are currently selling for $1899 ... the new release's $23.31 price might be a relief for all of us. i'm pre-ordering right now.
Dachokie very interesting...i can secure the 23.31 for the new release..however there are only 2 members that i know who can swing the 1900 USD and that would be Aussie Rick & GeeVEE!!!!!
I know they have some gems in their collection that would require second (third?) mortgages for the rest of us to own. now we can get one of them and smile knowing we got a better deal on at least one of those gems :)Hoping for similar releases with Mark's "Island of Fire" and Hamilton's "Bloody Streets". Wouldn't mind a more reasonable price on the following books either:
carl wrote: "good stories AR. i'm mired in the mud inCherkassy, where the Russians hope for
Stalingrad 2. von Manstein borrowed
the 24th Panzer division from Armee
Group South without permission. it
took 8 ..."
I interviewed a few of the German and foreign volunteers, including Leon Degrelle (see Military History, Nov 2006) who were at Cherkassy. Brutal.
message 314:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
Wade wrote: "Dachokie very interesting...i can secure the 23.31 for the new release..however there are only 2 members that i know who can swing the 1900 USD and that would be Aussie Rick & GeeVEE!!!!!"Think I might end up as a single man with a large library and no house if I paid that much guys!
Besides we can just wait for AR's next vacation ...just to borrow of course.
Colin wrote: "Leon Degrelle (see Military History, Nov 2006) who were at Cherkassy. Brutal. ."Brutal indeed. of all things the Russians are actually running out of infantry, they send them so fast into the line to be killed.
Degrelle, a Hitler favorite, since he survived the pocket and wrote memoirs, he and his Wallonians get a fair amount of visibility in the story.
That is good news about the re-release of Death of the Leaping Horseman. I think the US publisher Stackpole picked up the rights to re-print the book. It's one you have to have in your library!
Luckily Carl my signed and numbered limited editons by Jason Mark are all locked away in my secret book safe :)
message 319:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
Along with your 1870s burgundy eh?
carl wrote: "Colin wrote: "Leon Degrelle (see Military History, Nov 2006) who were at Cherkassy. Brutal. ."Brutal indeed. of all things the Russians are actually running out of infantry, they send them so f..."
I was Degrelle's house guest in Spain, and we spoke at great length about the war, and Cherkassy was always the one battle he considered the worst he ever experienced.
Leaping Horseman does look like a good one. Degrelle's house guest? an amazing story Colin.
Currently free ebook "Panzer Warfare on the Eastern Front" 352 pagesVivid narrative of tank combat on the brutal Eastern Front during World War II:
Describes clashes between German Tigers and Soviet T-34s
Covers the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, Stalingrad, Kursk, and more
Contains numerous firsthand accounts
UK link http://amzn.to/16RQ1Dj
US link http://www.amazon.com/Panzer-Warfare-...
Got it, thanks!
I've got a hardback edition I'm yet to read and you guys got it for free!
I prefer hardcover but can't pass up "free".
Dachokie wrote: "FYI ... don't know if this has already been stated, but there will be a re-release of "Death of the Leaping Horseman" (account of a German armored unit at Stalingrad)When will "Death of the Leaping Horseman" be out for $23.31? I just went to Amazon to buy it, but there it is still for $1,899.--.
(My husband's uncle died in Stalingrad or rather he went missing there, which should amount to the same. He was in all likelihood sent to the [most dangerous] Russian front because his father, my husband's grandfather, refused to let my mother-in-law join the BDM [female Hitler Youth], when she was a teenager.)
Wow! So many books I haven't even heard of about topics I love, I have a lot of reading to do! But I guess that's a good thing. I always thought Russia got the short end of the stick when it came to recognition and respect in terms of the real human toll they suffered and inflicted on/by nazi germany. I scrolled through one page of the comments, so sorry if this book was mentioned but absolute war, by Christopher Bellamy is the only historical book I've read about the eastern front, I thought it was great! Lots of huge russian names of generals and locations, but highly informative and hard to put down!
Hi Freakystyley, Glad you have found some books of interest and your comments about Russia not receiving due recognition by many in the west is quite valid although that has been changing over the years. I have a copy of Christopher Bellamy's book which I should try and read soon.
by Christopher Bellamy
message 332:
by
Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
(new)
Freakystyley wrote: "Wow! So many books I haven't even heard of about topics I love, I have a lot of reading to do! But I guess that's a good thing. I always thought Russia got the short end of the stick when it came t..."Like Rick I am pleased you found some items of interest Freakystyley and it is an area of the war that will keep you reading and reading as the subjects and books within the subject is growing all the time. Thanks too for your own recommendation.
Another freebie ebookCitadel: The Battle of Kursk
UK link http://amzn.to/1a75Ap3
US Link www.amazon.com/Citadel-Battle-Kursk-R...
This book is due out in early 2014 and should interest a few members here in the group:
by Mark A. O'NeillDescription:
This book describes the impact of Soviet air power on the battles in and around the Kursk bulge during the summer and fall of 1943. Soviet fighter, ground-attack and bomber pilots contributed dramatically to the success of both the defensive and offensive phases of the Battle of Kursk and the subsequent drive to the Dnepr. After a slow start against initial Luftwaffe attacks on July 5th, the 16th, 2nd and 17th Air Armies adjusted battlefield tactics to resist German bombers as well as provide increasingly effective support to Soviet infantry and armor units. The summer of 1943 saw the Red Air Force complete its return from near annihilation during the first months of Operation Barbarossa. While Soviet pilots were still dramatically short on training and other resources, they would increase in combat effectiveness for the rest of the Great Patriotic War, while their opponents would continue to lose combat effectiveness.
Also posted in the New Release thread.
This February 2014 release is a possible for me, depending on the price at the time:
by Aleksei IsaevDescription:
In March 1945 the German Wehrmacht undertook its final attempt to change the course of the war by launching a counteroffensive in the area of Lake Balaton, Hungary. Here, the best panzer forces of the Third Reich and the elite of the Panzerwaffe were assembled - the panzer divisions SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, Das Reich, Totenkopf, Wiking and others, staffed by ardent believers in Nazism and armed with the most up-to-date combat equipment, including up to 900 tanks and self-propelled guns. At the time, this was considered a secondary axis for the Red Army, and thus the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front had to stop the German counteroffensive with their own forces and could not count upon reinforcements from the Stavka Reserve, which were needed for the decisive storming of Berlin. Relying upon their combat skill and rich combat experience, the Soviet troops carried out this task with honor, stopping the tidal wave of German armor and inflicting a decisive defeat and enormous, irreplaceable losses upon the enemy. The defeat of the Sixth SS Panzer Army became a genuine catastrophe for Germany, and Balaton becamse the tomb of the Panzerwaffe. In this book, penned by two leading Russian military historians, this major defeat suffered by the Wehrmacht has been described and analyzed for the first time using data from both Soviet and German archives. It focuses not only on Operation Spring Awakening, but also describes the preceding Konrad offensives conducted by the Germans in the effort to come to the aid of the encircled and desperate German and fascist Hungarian defenders of Budapest. This edition is lavishly illustrated with over a hundred rare photographs of destroyed or disabled German armor taken shortly after the battle by a Soviet inspection team, besides other photographs and specially-commissioned color maps.
Also posted in the New Release thread.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I might mention some good books on the Winter War in Finland in this thread as well. I have all of these yet to read would you believe it
by William R. Trotter
This February 2014 release is on my wish list and it may interest other members. The author is a pretty well know writer for numerous Osprey titles.
by Robert ForczykDescription:
The German panzer armies that swept into the Soviet Union in 1941 were an undefeated force that had honed their skill in combined arms warfare to a fine edge. The Germans focused their panzers and tactical air support at points on the battlefield defined as Schwerpunkt - main effort - to smash through any defensive line and then advance to envelope their adversaries. Initially, these methods worked well in the early days of Operation Barbarossa and the tank forces of the Red Army suffered defeat after defeat. Although badly mauled in the opening battles, the Red Army's tank forces did not succumb to the German armoured onslaught and German planning and logistical deficiencies led to over-extension and failure in 1941. In the second year of the invasion, the Germans directed their Schwerpunkt toward the Volga and the Caucasus and again achieved some degree of success, but the Red Army had grown much stronger and by November 1942, the Soviets were able to turn the tables at Stalingrad. Robert Forczyk's incisive study offers fresh insight into how the two most powerful mechanized armies of the Second World War developed their tactics and weaponry during the critical early years of the Russo-German War. He uses German, Russian and English sources to provide the first comprehensive overview and analysis of armored warfare from the German and Soviet perspectives. His analysis of the greatest tank war in history is compelling reading.
Also posted in the New Release thread.
This re-release is bound to please a few members since the original hardback edition is getting scarce and costly:
by Gerard R Kleinfeld
For those eagerly awaiting the third and final volume in David Glantz's Stalingrad Trilogy here is some news that may interest you:"Just a short update on the Stalingrad series, about which folks seem to be anxious. Thanks to some help from some German friends, volume three has 'morphed' into a 950-page narrative and 600-page companion volume containing both German and Soviet documents (including Manstein's and Paulus' and Schmidt's and Schulz's (chiefs of staff) correspondence, most key German orders, and Sixth Army's long-lost documents). I am in the process of proofing both, hopefully, to send the two books to the publisher by the end of February. The two volumes are as definitive as I can make them, and they answer most if not all of the controversial questions about the Soviet offensive and Manstein's relief efforts."
The two volumes due to be released in the next few months:
http://www.kansaspress.ku.edu/newbyau...
http://www.kansaspress.ku.edu/glaen2....
For some reason I cannot add the cover of this book to this post, Goodreads appears to be having a minor heart attack. Anyhow this book has jumped to the top of my wish list although it won't be released until mid 2014: The Sword Behind the Shield: A Combat History of the German Efforts to Relieve Budapest 1945 - Operation 'Konrad' I, III, III by Norbert Szamveber.Synopsis:
"The history of the Hungarian theater of war from late August 1944 to the end of March 1945 is a special chapter of the history of the Eastern Front during World War II. The Soviet 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts had encircled Budapest by Christmas 1944, after very heavy combat. However, this was just the first phase of a period of intense combat, as Adolf Hitler and the German High Command planned the relief of the Hungarian capital.
The reinforced IV. SS-Panzerkorps was designated for this task and its units were transferred rapidly from Polish territory to Hungary. Two operational plans were swiftly devised by the Germans, before they chose the code name "Konrad". This was an armored strike from the Komárom region through the mountains south of the river Danube to the Buda side of the Hungarian capital. The first day of Operation "Konrad" was 1 January 1945, and marked the beginning of a series of fierce clashes that lasted for nearly six weeks, a very special period in the history of the Battle for Budapest. Both sides employed significant numbers of armored forces in these battles, including heavy tanks.
The German-Hungarian forces tried to break through to Budapest three times in three different locations, but each time they struck relocated Soviet tank, mechanized, rifle, cavalry, artillery and antitank units from 3rd Ukrainian Front's reserve. In January 1945, furious tank battles developed in the eastern part of Transdanubia in Hungary, especially in the areas of Bajna, Zsámbék, Zámoly, Pettend, Vereb, Dunapentele and Székesfehérvár. After the third and strongest German attempt (code-named "Konrad 3"), which also failed, the Soviet troops launched a counter offensive in late January 1945 to encircle and eliminate the advancing enemy forces. But the German armored Kampfgruppen managed to blunt the Soviet attack, which eventually wound down and fragmented, mirroring the German offensives before it.
This work is based mainly on German, Soviet and Hungarian archival records (e.g. war diaries, daily and after-action reports, etc.). In addition, a number of rare unit histories, contemporary private diaries and reliable personal memoirs, from generals to enlisted men, have also been used by the author. The combat actions are extremely detailed, and provide a day-by-day account. The author analyzes the command and control systems at operational and tactical levels and the losses of both sides. For a better understanding of the events the book includes many photographs and detailed specially commissioned color battle maps."
I can now add those book images for those interested:
by Norbert Szamveber
by David M Glantz
by David M Glantz
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "For some reason I cannot add the cover of this book to this post, Goodreads appears to be having a minor heart attack. Anyhow this book has jumped to the top of my wish list although it won't be re..."yes, need to add these to the TBR list.
When I get home I will find some images for Stalingrad volume 3 (books 1 & 2) and add them to GR's as well.
I came across this review of the book I am currently reading; Demolishing the Myth: The Tank Battle of Prokhorovka, Kursk, July 1943: An Operational Narrative and I figured some members may be interested in reading the full review:Canadian Military Journal:
"With the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, many documents and unit records of Soviet operations during the Second World War became available to scholars. Valeriy Zamulin has taken advantage of this opportunity to draft an outstanding operational history of the Battle of Prokhorovka. Fought on the Southern Front of the Kursk conflict between 2 and 17 July, 1943, this battle represented the zenith of German offensive capability on the Eastern Front. From this point on, German efforts were defensive in nature, while Russian operations transitioned onto the offensive full-time.
Of note in Zamulin’s book is that it is written from the perspective of the Soviet forces. He has taken advantage of numerous first-hand accounts, ranging in perspective from junior soldiers to Front Commanders, and they provide context and depth to the narrative. While the scope of his study is relatively narrow (the Battle of Prokhorovka within the larger Kursk conflict); the breadth of his operational narrative is such that it provides a clear sense of the challenges faced by the Russian commanders controlling the fast-moving and fluid conflict.
Zamulin’s approach to the Russian command performance during the battle is balanced and objective. His use of daily logs, orders, situational reports, and first-hand recollections highlight some of the strengths and weaknesses of Russian command and control. Specifically, the tendency of the Russians to be extremely stratified in their decision making is repeatedly identified. Interestingly, the pressure exerted upon senior commanders to perform effectively was compounded by the implied (and real) threat of consequences, should they fail. This expectation resulted in ‘micro-management,’ and a fear of error that permeated throughout the command structure. Zamulin, by example, refers to a scenario wherein Stalin himself directed that, just prior to the initiation of the Soviet counterattack on 12 July 1943, the senior Front Commanders and their senior staffs spread themselves between each of their individual regional headquarters. Thus, the Front Commander, his Chief of Staff, and other key commanders were physically separated while trying to coordinate a multi-army, combined arms battle.
One of the real strengths of this book is the ability of the author to expose the reader to both the interdependent role under which the various arms operated, and the individual challenges and success that each combat arm faced. This battle revealed a growing confidence in the Russian military leadership in their abilities and equipment. Many errors were committed and these are discussed within the larger narrative of the battle, and weaknesses were highlighted in the senior leadership’s ability/experience level to coordinate effective counterattacks using combined arms assaults. Nevertheless, it is evident from the overall performance of the Russian command and soldiers that morale and competency had improved dramatically.
What I particularly enjoyed about Zamulin’s book is the way that he presents his evaluation of the battle. Thus, while he sets his third-person narrative at the operational level, in order to provide context and depth, he seamlessly transitions to the tactical level and first-person dialogue. This provides the reader with a much greater appreciation of what was going on within the ‘heads’ of the individual commanders and soldiers. Additionally, while this book is primarily a narrative dealing with the Russian experience, he does make a concerted effort to include the German perspective, which adds further context and flavour.
Another strength is Zamulin’s chronological presentation of Prokhorovka. Therefore, despite the complexity of the battle, the reader is easily able to follow as the battle unfolds from the German offensive conducted from 2 to 12 July, to the transition to the Russian counter- offensive running from 12 to 17 July. Zamulin has obviously researched the units involved in great depth. Included within the narratives (in chart format) are breakdowns of unit strengths by vehicle type and personnel, unit replacement rates, and overall loss rates for both the German and Russian combatants.
Zamulin concludes his narrative by addressing the commonly-held beliefs of historians surrounding the Battle of Prokhorovka. Using primary source documentation only recently made available to historians, he refutes, for example, the idea that Prokhorovka involved the largest concentration of armour involved in a single combat operation on the Eastern Front. Additionally, he summarizes very succinctly the strengths and weaknesses of the Russian commanders, from an experience viewpoint,as well as from a doctrinal and quality of equipment perspective.
Rounding off his book is a comprehensive listing of all of the units from both sides involved in the battle. He also provides an in-depth bibliography of his primary and secondary sources. One observation that I would make involves the concentration of the maps into one section of the book. While this is a very small point that in no way takes away from the narrative, strategic placement elsewhere would have made tracking the battle easier for the casual reader.
This is an outstanding historical analysis of a ‘battle within a battle.’ Valeriy Zamulin’s work represents, for both the military professional and the casual military historian, a work of profound depth and scope. There is something here for any branch of the combat arms professions and for operators in a joint environment. The cost in lives and materiel was horrific, but the Russians learned many lessons from their experiences during the Battle of Prokhorovka, and they did not waste time in applying those lessons downstream." - Major Chris Buckham, CD, BA, MA, (Logistics Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force, is presently employed as an ILOC Officer with the multinational branch of EUCOM J4 in Stuttgart, Germany.)
by Valeriy Zamulin
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I came across this review of the book I am currently reading; Demolishing the Myth: The Tank Battle of Prokhorovka, Kursk, July 1943: An Operational Narrative and I figured some members may be inte..."Many thanks for the info Rick.
Just received my copy of The Rzhev Slaughterhouse The Red Army's Forgotten 15-month Campaign against Army Group Center, 1942-1943 and am going to start diving in this week. I am looking forward to learning more about this time as I have read very little about this gigantic campaign.
Hi Kris, I hope you enjoy the book and I will be interested to hear your views once you have finished reading the book.
Here is new title due out in June 2014 that may attract some interest with members in this group:
by Reinhold BuschDescription:
In November 1942 - in a devastating counter-attack from outside the city - Soviet forces smashed the German siege and encircled Stalingrad, trapping some 290,000 soldiers of the 6th Army inside. For almost three months, during the harshest part of the Russian winter, the German troops endured atrocious conditions. Freezing cold and reliant on dwindling food supplies from Luftwaffe air drops, thousands died from starvation, frostbite or infection if not from the fighting itself. This important work reconstructs the grim fate of the 6th Army in full for the first time by examining the little-known story of the field hospitals and central dressing stations. The author has trawled through hundreds of previously unpublished reports, interviews, diaries and newspaper accounts to reveal the experiences of soldiers of all ranks, from simple soldiers to generals. The book includes first-hand accounts of soldiers who were wounded or fell ill and were flown out of the encirclement; as well as those who fought to the bitter end and were taken prisoner by the Soviets. They reflect on the severity of the fighting, and reveal the slowly ebbing hopes for survival. Together they provide an illuminating and tragic portrait of the appalling events at Stalingrad.
Also posted in the New Release thread.
This book is a July 2014 release which I am sure will attract some interest within this group:Hitler's Last Battles: Seelow and the Halbe Encirclement, April-May 1945
by Richard LakowskiDescription:
The battle of the Seelow Heights (16-19 April 1945), marked the last stage of the Soviets' offensive against Nazi Germany and saw the most severe fighting of the crossing of the Oder-Neisse line, between German Ninth Army and Marshal Zhukov's 1st Belorussian Front. After three days and massive losses, the Soviets broke through and the Eastern Front collapsed. The Ninth Army was encircled, and in the ensuing battle of Halbe, attempted to break out to link up with other German forces. This study of the last battles of the Third Reich is drawn from original documents, maps and first-hand accounts. It also features photographs of the battlefields as they are today. This is a fascinating and powerful account of the last cataclysmic battles of the Second World War in Europe.
(Also posted in the New Release thread.)
THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP
Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Richard Hargreaves (other topics)Richard Hargreaves (other topics)
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http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
also posted in the Easter Front Theme read thread