Aragorn2002

Okay, just this once then.

Really makes a difference, LS! Let me know what you think.

It's a symbolic gesture, to express one's belief in a speedy release....

I don't think so. Not so shortly after the war.

Not in the Netherlands. Most parts of the country were liberated by the Canadian army. But yes, the Canadians are often overlooked too. I have practically all books by Mark Zuehlke and after reading those you can only admire the Canadian fighting spirit. In both world wars.

Indeed, my friend. War is the most foul activity men ever invented. I often wonder why we feel attracted to it.

Holy cow! Great action. Especially like the way some British soldiers rolled away out the line of fire. Good to see the Brits getting some attention too. The fighting to reach Caen was as bad as Ypres or the Somme. I feel they never got enough credit for that.

Wouldn't mind to see another AAR started, just no urban warfare, but out in the open country.

Interesting character, Degrelle.

Personally I'm bored stiff by such movies. Give me a well made AAR anytime.

No, you're absolutely right. The whole conversation is confusing.

I think they still don't have the foggiest.

Steam has nothing to do with the endless delay of Fire and Rubble. I quite like Steam. Never understood why BF didn't.

And wait.

Fascinating stuff. Looks like Germany mobilized the bulk of it's army rather late in WW1. Never knew that.

I don't share your optimism, but I'm so hoping you're right.

Sounds very interesting. I'm especially interested in the maps of Eastern Prussia. Operation Hannibal. How many people will ever have heard of that?

I must add the book is largely based upon accounts from Russian soldiers and commanders who where scared stiff to report their real losses to their superiors and who grossly exaggerated those of the enemy. Still, interesting reading. And yes, the Germans also exaggerated enemy losses and their number of casualties were enormous too.

In fact there are few battlefields where so many interesting battles took place as the Eastern front in 1944-45. Although a rather neglected history, the fighting there was more fierce and fought with more units and material over a larger space than anywhere else. There are just a few authors, like Douglas E. Nash jr.and Aaron Stephan Hamilton, who write about these battles in detail. Of course many authors write about the Eastern front in general, but authors who really research what happened there are few and far between. The average German infantry division at the Eastern front in 1944/45 saw more action in a month than most Western Allied divisions during the whole of WW2. Only a fraction of that action can be found in books, for the real details one has to read complicated documents such as War diaries (KTB) of regiments, divisions, Corps etc. A very time assuming job, for which most authors don't have the time, energy or knowledge. Most of these documents can only be found in archives in Russia, Germany and other countries. Apart from that there's only a fraction left of all documents, since most of it was destroyed at the end of the war by the units themselves or by Allied bombing. German divisional books are usually suprisingly superficial, although there are exceptions, like the divisional account of the 1. or 4. Panzer Division. Names like Wilkowischken, Goldap, Lauban and Bautzen only ring a bell with hardcore Eastfronters and they are just the tip of the iceberg of battles that raged in the last year of the war in the East. In that respect I can very well understand the Russian frustration when it comes to the question who defeated Germany. On the other hand war is war and the suffering was no less at the Western front or anywhere else of that cursed conflict.

He sure is...

Another interesting book from the Russian side, perhaps already mentioned. Tank Battles in East Prussia and Poland 1944-1945 by Igor Nebolsin. O yes, I do read books from Russian authors too.

It will bring so many interesting possibilities for scenarios. There are few good books about the fighting in 1944-45 at the Eastern front, compared to 1941-43. I'm interested in the whole period, but 1944-45 the most. Desperate fighting with no hope of victory or glory, it's like watching LOTR, but without a ring to cast in the fire.

Beggars can't be chosers.

Haha, well, it will be released one day, I suppose.