Posted on 02/15/2017 9:29:45 AM PST by C19fan
If you are interested in the Eastern Front of WW II, the most brutal war in human history, it appears Amazon has several title in the Kindle format at rock bottom prices. The David Glantz two volume history of the Battle of Smolensk is available in Kindle for $2.99 each. Mr. Glantz has taken advantage of the opening of the Red Army archives after the collapse of the Soviet Union. These are documentary style works filled with orders from the Soviet High Command, Stavka, and below to construct the history of this forgotten battle. He goes into detail about the debate between Hitler and his generals about whether to go for Moscow or divert the panzer forces to the North and South and how events at Smolensk influenced Hitler's ultimate decision. Another Glantz documentary study of the major Soviet offenses in the winter of 1942/43 "After Stalingrad: The Red Army's Winter Offensive, 1942-1943" is available for $2.99. He describes the whole series of offenses the Soviets launched after Operation Uranus from the Leningrad front to the Donbass. Robert Forczyk two volume history of armor warfare on the Eastern Front is available in kindle for under $2 each. I read the first volume describing the armor campaigns and tank battles from the beginning of Barbarossa thru Operation Uranus. The most interesting thing about Mr. Forczyk is his not a big fan of Zhukov.
It’s too bad both sides in that conflict didn’t lose.
Because every child needs to know the grisly facts behind millions of men turning each other into ground chuck.
Thank you very much for this, C19fan...I am extremely interested in this period of history. I’m not sure you are aware of a statistic I heard once (not sure if it is literally true or not) that 90% of all the combat in WWII was between the Bolsheviks and the Nazis. Even if not true it was war on a stupendous scale. Add in the unbelievable brutality on both sides and you have an arresting historical situation. I know lots of people aren’t interested in this but I find it fascinating. I’ve read many first-hand accounts (mostly from the German side) of participants, but it never gets old for me. I will definitely get some of these for my Kindle!
It actually is very instructive and valuable for young people. It graphically illustrates the consequences for individuals living under a totalitarian state.
thanks always looking to increase my World War Two library on line.
Thanks for posting! In return, here’s a free multiformat download of “Tigers In The Mud The Combat Career Of Otto Carius”, an Eastern Front Tank Ace (got 4.3 stars on Amazon).
https://archive.org/details/TigersInTheMudTheCombatCareerOfOttoCarius
archve.org has a lot of interesting things if you spend some time poking around.
Glantz’ is unmatched in detail concerning the Eastern front, but reading that stuff is a _lot_ of detail.
That said, thanks for the tip!
Sorry, kindle ... already read books in their original print and language.
Read ‘Voyna EE Myr’ in high school. (War and peace)
Quote:
“It actually is very instructive and valuable for young people. It graphically illustrates the consequences for individuals living under a totalitarian state.”
Lessons Learned:
#1 Don’t let politicians run your military operations.
#2 Going to war with Russia is a stupid idea.
#3 Communism and Fascism are two sides of the same coin.
Ping for later - thanks!
I found some of the details from Red Army operational reports sort of funny. It was hard to believe higher ups were interested in having daily reports detail the fact that a division captured 5 guns and knocked out one tank.
The hard covers are so big and heavy they are hard to read in bed.
“It was hard to believe higher ups were interested in having daily reports detail the fact that a division captured 5 guns and knocked out one tank.”
We had the same sort of nonsense. Ike had to report that kind of thing back to Marshal from North Africa.
Bfl
I will probably spend the rest of my days making up for the gaps left in my learning by public education and the gutters of what passes for popular culture.
Again, great stuff, and I appreciate it.
I would like to thank you for “Tigers in the Mud”.
I’m on pg 35 right now. It is a fascinating, earthy read; not technical at all.
A related title: Savage Continent. Treats the aftermath of WWII.
It’s a shame you would hold education about WW2 in such low regard. Guess it would be better if we binge watched “Breaking Bad”.
thanks. picked up both Tank Warfare books and After Stalingrad for a grand total of $5.50. i am teaching (facilitating) a class on The Eastern Front in the spring for Osher Live Long Learning Institute(OLLI DU South)
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