Wodin Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Comes out in April... "Stalin's Favorite: the Combat History of the 2nd Guards Tank Army from Kursk to Berlin: January 1943-June 1944 v. 1" This is the first detailed combat history of any Soviet unit available in the English language known to the author. The 2nd Tank Army was not an ordinary force; by 1945 it was an elite Guards formation which played a decisive role in the Soviet offensive operations of that year and whose tanks were the first to enter Berlin's streets. The Army commander, Colonel-General Semen Bogdanov, became a Marshal of Armored Troops and was promoted to the position of Chief Commander of all armored and tank units of the USSR shortly after the war, and remained in this position until 1953. 2nd Guards Tank Army remained in Germany until 1993, a period of 48 years. It is the only Soviet Tank Army of the war that still exists today, now named 2nd Guards Army. This study is based on the rarely available operational documents of the Army from the Central Archives of the Russian Defense Ministry and provides an analysis of every battle it fought in World War II. This includes Operation Citadel North (Kursk), Sevsk, Cherkassy, Tyrgul-Frumos and Jassy, Warsaw, Vistula-Oder, Pomerania (including Sonnenwende) and Berlin. What also differentiates this book is that it was created in cooperation with the senior army general (Anatoly Shvebig) who was an active participant in all the Army's engagements. Another unique point is that the combat operations are covered from both sides in a scope and scale that has never previously been attempted. The day by day coverage of events, honest views of the Army's commanders, full statistical data (including unit strengths, movements, and casualties for each operation from both Russian and German points of view), and the 'human element' based on the exciting first-hand reminiscences of Soviet tank officers all make this study an incredibly valuable source of information on tank battles fought on the Eastern Front 1943-1945. According to Major-General Anatoly Svebig, deputy commander of 12th Guards Tank Corps within the 2nd Guards Tank Army, this is the best study on any Soviet unit he has ever seen in his long life! Volume 1 focuses on the first half of the Army's service in the Great Patriotic War. 2nd Tank Army was created in January 1943. In spring and summer of 1943 it was engaged in the fierce battles at Sevsk and Kursk. Combat experience was heavily paid for in blood. The Army played a critical role in containing a strike of the German III. Panzerkorps in February 1944, aimed at rescuing units in the Cherkassy pocket. In March-April 1944 2nd GTA carried out a deep raid to Uman and was amongst the first Russian units that crossed the Romanian border. In May-June 1944 Army was engaged in combats at Tyrgul Frumos and Jassy against strong German armoured forces belonging to 'Grossdeutschland' and 24. Panzer-Division. The text is fully supported by specially-commissioned colour maps and an extensive selection of photographs, many from private collections in Russia. Volume 2 will provide a detailed record of the Army for the remainder of World War II, including its elevation to Guards status later in 1944. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1909982156/ref=s9_newr_co_d2_g14_i8?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=typ-top-left-1&pf_rd_r=1918N78C3VB3BEY2XS0N&pf_rd_t=3201&pf_rd_p=468183967&pf_rd_i=typ01 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grisha Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Thanks for the heads up, Wodin. Also, check out "Red Army Tank Commanders": https://www.schifferbooks.com/red-army-tank-commanders-the-armored-guards-2270.html 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verulam Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Looks good, but don't hold your breath. Helion can take their time. I'm currently on a 3 year wait for a book on the Austrian Army of 1866! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wodin Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 Waited awhile for Other side of the Wire Vol 2 aswell..still their books are great quality. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vark Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I'll second Armstrong's book, excellent view from the other side of the hill. It certainly shows how far the Soviets developed their operational art, also fascinating to see how a commanders personality quickly made an impression on the capability of his command. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collingwood Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Thanks for the heads-up Wodin, my amazon wish-list continues to grow. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wodin Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 @Grisha thanks for the link.. @Collingwood..mine is fairly big..about 100 or so books in it!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Looks good, but don't hold your breath. Helion can take their time. I'm currently on a 3 year wait for a book on the Austrian Army of 1866! I can tell you how that one ended. The Austrians lost! Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Wodin, I saw that writeup on Amazon, and it's definitely something I want to get, or at least read. Shall be most interested to see how Russian military history handles both sides of the story. Besides, 2 GTA was one of my Cold War nemeses! Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verulam Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 I can tell you how that one ended. The Austrians lost! Michael Well thanks for that spoiler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsf Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Comes out in April... "Stalin's Favorite: the Combat History of the 2nd Guards Tank Army from Kursk to Berlin: January 1943-June 1944 v. 1" You might also enjoy this: Tomb of the Panzerwaffe. The authors are both highly regarded among contemporary Russian historians. I have many of their books in Russian, including this one. Regards Scott Fraser 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 I can tell you how that one ended. The Austrians lost! You should know. You were there! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 dsf, Have tried the link over several days. Shows gray but doesn't load. No other Net issues. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
76mm Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 John the book is on Amazon... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wodin Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Blimey John..for someone who loves his googling I'm surprised you've been clicking a dead link for days and not thought about doing a quick copy and paste of the title and then search Amazon.. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tomb-Panzerwaffe-Defeat-Panzer-Hungary/dp/1909982164/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393567453&sr=8-1&keywords=Tomb+of+the+Panzerwaffe. dsf, Have tried the link over several days. Shows gray but doesn't load. No other Net issues. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsf Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 dsf, Have tried the link over several days. Shows gray but doesn't load. No other Net issues. Regards, John Kettler My bad. The forum software makes linking difficult. Regards Scott Fraser 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sburke Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 The last part of Glantz's series on Stalingrad just went up for pre order http://www.amazon.com/dp/0700619550/ref=dra_a_roS_mr_ho_it_C1250_1000?tag=displayrec-20 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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