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 armoured warfare from the German and Soviet perspectives. His analysis of the greatest tank war in history is compelling reading. AUTHOR: Robert Forczyk is a leading expert on the history of armoured warfare, and he has made a particular study of the Second World War on the Eastern Front. His many books include Georgy Zhukov, Demyansk 1942-43, Red Christmas: The Tatsinskaya Airfield Raid 1942, Rescuing Mussolini: Gran Sasso 1943, Sevastopol 1942: Von Manstein's Triumph, Leningrad 1941-44, Model, Erich Von Manstein and Panther Vs T-34: Ukraine 1943. SELLING POINTS: Describes the development of armoured warfare during the first phase of the fighting on the Eastern Front Insight into the opposing tactics and the weaponry as they were tested in battle Eyewitness accounts from participants on both sides First Volume of a two volume history 30 illustrations
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
ISBN-13
9781781590089
eBay Product ID (ePID)
189895335
Product Key Features
Author
Robert Forczyk
Publication Name
Tank Warfare on the Eastern Front 1941-1942: Schwerpunkt: Volume 1
Format
Hardcover
Language
English
Subject
Government, History
Publication Year
2014
Type
Textbook
Number of Pages
304 Pages
Dimensions
Item Height
234mm
Item Width
156mm
Additional Product Features
Title_Author
Robert Forczyk
Country/Region of Manufacture
United Kingdom
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