Download or read book The Battle for Kharkov 1941 1943 written by Anthony Tucker-Jones and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2016-06-30 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A pictorial history of a series of World War II battles between the Soviet Red Army and the Nazi Wehrmacht around a city in present-day Ukraine. The four battles fought for Kharkov during the Second World War are often overshadowed by the battles for Moscow, Leningrad, and Stalingrad, yet they were critical stages in the struggle between the Wehrmacht and the Red Army for control of the southern Soviet Union. Anthony Tucker-Jones, in this volume in the Images of War series, offers a visual record of the dramatic and bloody conflict that took place there, showing every grim aspect of the fighting. Kharkov became one of the most bitterly contested cities during the war on the Eastern Front, and this book presents a graphic overview of the atrocious conditions the soldiers on both sides had to endure. In 1941 Kharkov fell to Hitler’s Army Group South. In 1942 the Soviets tried and failed to retake it, losing 240,000 men in the Barvenkovo Bulge. Then, in 1943, the control of the battered city changed hands twice before the Soviets liberated it for good. The fate of Kharkov during the war reflects the history of the wider struggle between Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union. Praise for Battle for Kharkov “The collection of original un-published Scott Pick photos are exceptional with such quality and topic coverage that the material visually jumps off the pages. . . . Presents a hard hitting and furious review of the period. . . . The ability of the author to cover the lengthy period in a concise review is very solid, and creates a substantial quality of information versus time of reading commitment.” —Richard Wade, military historian

Download or read book Kharkov 1943 written by Philippe Naud and published by Histoire & Collections. This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the story of the fierce struggle between the Red Army and Axis troops between February and March 1943. By the end, although the situation had changed in favor of the Allies, the Eastern Front now had new protagonists; the Waffen-SS armored units on whom Hitler was counting to work some miracles and defeat his mortal enemy.

Download or read book Last Victory in Russia written by George M. Nipe and published by Schiffer Publishing. This book was released on 2000 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the first detailed and comprehensive account of the Kharkov counteroffensive, the operations of the SS divisions and the supporting actions of Armeeabteilung Fretter-Pico and 1. Panzerarmee, and is supported by over 210 photographs and maps. By the end of January of 1943, Hitler's armies had been dealt a series of defeats by the Russians, beginning with the disaster at Stalingrad. Successive Soviet offensives had destroyed the German 6. Armee and annihilated the armies of Germany's Axis allies, Italy, Rumania and Hungary. Germany teetered on the brink of defeat in World War II because the Soviet advance threatened to drive to the Dnepr River and encircle the remaining Germans armies in southern Russia. Stalin and the Russian high command believed that the war could be won with just one more great effort. Accordingly, they planned and launched two offensives, designated Operations "Star" and "Gallop." The focal points of the two offensives included the recapture of Kharkov, the industrial heart of the Ukraine and the destruction of Armeeabteilung Hollidt, 4. Panzerarmee and 2. Armee. Feldmarschall Erich von Manstein entered the picture in late 1942 when he was appointed commander of Heeresgruppe Don. Beginning in February he engineered a remarkable operation that changed the course of the war in Russia. Manstein's counteroffensive destroyed or severely damaged four Russian armies and regained much of the territory lost in January. The troops that played the most important role in the offensive were three divisions of the Waffen-SS. "Leibstandarte," "Das Reich" and "Totenkopf" were combined for the first time into a corps, which was commanded by SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Paul Hausser, the senior commander of the Waffen-SS. "Leibstandarte" and "Das Reich" participated in the defense of Kharkov, along with the elite Army division "Grossdeutschland" supported by three weak infantry divisions. This handful of divisions was attacked by four Soviet armies, but under command of Armeeabteilung Lanz, was able to hold the city for two weeks. On 14 February, 1943 the SS-Panzerkorps and the rest of Armeeabteilung Lanz withdrew from Kharkov under disputed circumstances that involved Hausser and his violation of a direct order from Hitler. Almost exactly a month later, the Germans had recaptured Kharkov and destroyed or crippled the four Soviet armies that had driven them out of the city in February. The divisions that played the key role in Manstein's counteroffensive were the three divisions of the Waffen-SS. While "Leibstandarte" defended the supply base of the SS-Panzerkorps from the entire Soviet 3rd Tank Army, "Das Reich" and "Totenkopf" conducted a complex series of operations that began with a 100 kilometer thrust to the south which saved the Dnepr bridges, thus securing supply lines for the armies of Heeresgruppe Don/Sud. Subsequent operations by the SS divisions drove the Russians away from the rail net south of Kharkov and wrested Kharkov from the Russians once again. During the recapture of the city, there was controversy regarding Hausser's command decisions. Hausser has been accused of disregarding his instructions from superior officers and throwing his divisions into costly combat in the city for reasons of personal and SS prestige, in order to regain Hitler's favor. This study has found that the records of the SS-Panzerkorps and 4. Panzerarmee provide a different explanation for Hausser's actions.

Download or read book Battle of Kharkov written by Jean Restayn and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 456 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Photo coverage of the German recapture of Kharkov in early 1943 ... Most of the exceptional photos have never been published before or are rare. They showcase the German armor, uniforms or other equipment and many are full page. They take the reader through the many small actions across the Russian countryside and small villages, culminating in the street fighting for Kharkov in March of 1943. The 32 pages of artwork from Mr. Restayn reflect ... the various German and Russian vehicles and aircraft which were employed in the fighting"--Page 4 of cover

Download or read book The End of the Gallop written by Alexei Isaev and published by Helion. This book was released on 2023-07-28 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based heavily on inaccessible Soviet records, this book presents a lively account of a pivotal battle on the Eastern Front, illustrated with photographs and maps. In the history of war there are not that many battles that changed one side's strategy over a considerable period of time, becoming not only a material, but also a psychological factor in decision making. A classic example of this is the Battle of Smolensk in 1941, which forced the German leadership to change their strategy for 'Barbarossa' and to deploy their troops towards the northern, and eastern flanks of the Soviet-German front. We can however find another example on the other side of the front line: this was the battle in the area around Kharkov in the winter of 1943, which had even more of an impact. Following the simultaneous defeat of several of the shock troops on the two fronts and the loss of a large tract of territory the vector of Soviet strategy changed. A passive expectation of the enemy's actions replaced the attacking momentum that was traditional for Soviet command. To begin with there were objective prerequisites: Red Army units were exhausted and had incurred heavy losses in the German counterattacks during February-March. By May 1943 however, when the troops had recuperated and reserves had been drawn up, the psychological factor continued to play a role. Recalling their bitter experience during the winter battles outside Kharkov the Supreme Soviet Command decided not to go on the offensive, but await the start of German offensive operations. Up until the very last day before the start of Operation 'Citadel' the Commander of the Voronezh front N.F. Vatutin was pleading, he demanded that precious summer days not be spent waiting for the enemy to attack but for the Red Army to take up the offensive themselves. All these proposals distracted supreme command, as they remembered Vatutin's failures outside Kharkov a few months previously. From a military historian's point of view the battles outside Kharkov between February-March 1943 were dramatic maneuvering battles and the success of both sides hung in the balance on a daily basis. Operations such as these are always much more interesting than the tedious, meat grinding positioning for a 'house in the forest', that is abundant in the histories of both world wars. Maneuvering, the deployment of corps and divisions around an area to attack an enemy where they are most vulnerable, played a much more important role than the arithmetic of the numbers of tanks and guns. The steady equalization of both Soviet and German sides added spice to this menu of a classic maneuvering battle. During the course of the battle for Kharkov Soviet forces encountered a new, powerful enemy in the shape of the Panzer divisions of the SS. These were elite mechanized formations equipped with the latest technology, which were soon to become leading participants in decisive battles in the East and the West in the second half of the war.

Download or read book Bloody Kharkov II written by Andrew McGregor and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-12-16 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Less than two months after the devastating fall of Stalingrad, the German Wehrmacht is once again attacking, the prize of retaking Kharkov and Belgorod beyond enticing the forward units in their advance. With virtually catastrophic losses in the fall of the city that holds Stalin's name, the new Tiger tanks and Panzer IVs begin to near their goals, hope beginning to once again to rise in their crews' chests. Catching the Russian armies completely by surprise, the counter offensive is led by fresh SS units in the north supported by the Gross Deutschland division on the flanks, weakened Wehrmacht units driving up from the south. The few available fresh Russian divisions are rushed to meet them, numerous scattered divisions running short of fuel and destroyed in the might of the German advance. But a grim brutal reality is beginning to filter into the minds of the German and their allied ground units...that the Russian bear is far from beaten...with better tactics and weaponry than ever before. A deep fear and dread is gradually spreading that the bitter war in the east may now never end, that both countries of such opposing ideologies will fight each other to the brink of complete destruction and extinction. The air war is beginning to even, the Luftwaffe flying almost continuously in efforts suppress the Red Air Force, a bomber war over central Europe and the Reich beginning to menacingly shift in the allies' favour...soon the fighters and young pilots may have to be recalled to protect Germany and her industry against almost overwhelming streams of American and British raids. Attrition of experienced personnel has almost become critical, the experienced soldiers and pilots that advanced to the east almost two years earlier now depleted with basic grave markings stretching from the Polish border to the banks of the Volga River. Replacements are young and inexperienced, easy pickings for the highly trained and armed Red Army soldiers, motivated by revenge and spurred on by ruthless political commissars. With the hope of finally throwing the invaders from their lands, partisan raids are becoming far more widespread, the Germans having to use more and more troops to guard their supplies and rear areas. Thousands of cut off Russian soldiers and civilians are rising to fight the invaders, equipped from supply drops and becoming highly organized by officers. Leutnant Hausser and his depleted squad return, driving north towards the two objectives, attached to the Gross Deutschland division and providing updates on the advance, their future far from certain. With fictional characters placed amongst historically accurate events, the bitter war of attrition and annihilation will continue... Authors Note: This book was originally on pre-order and withdrawn. My apologies for any inconvenience or frustration caused. Due to a technical issue, the final format of the book was not downloaded and readers would have received a previous draft omitting two key chapters. I deemed this unacceptable and came to the reluctant conclusion to withdraw the book and re-issue the completed version which is this one. I hope this meets with your approval. The author aims to provide a thoroughly enjoyable and imaginative reading experience at an affordable price for the reader. All three works from the author's World War 2 Series concentrating on Stalingrad have achieved Best Seller status on Amazon in the UK and many more stories are outlined. Imagination is personal, free and to be cherished.

Download or read book The End of the Gallop written by Alexei Isaev and published by Helion. This book was released on 2018-01-19 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based heavily on inaccessible Soviet records, this book presents a lively account of a pivotal battle on the Eastern Front, heavily illustrated with rare photographs. In the history of war there are not that many battles that changed one side's strategy over a considerable period of time, becoming not only a material, but also a psychological factor in decision making. A classic example of this is the Battle of Smolensk in 1941, which forced the German leadership to change their strategy for 'Barbarossa' and to deploy their troops towards the northern, and eastern flanks of the Soviet-German front. We can however find another example on the other side of the front line: this was the battle in the area around Kharkov in the winter of 1943, which had even more of an impact. Following the simultaneous defeat of several of the shock troops on the two fronts and the loss of a large tract of territory the vector of Soviet strategy changed. A passive expectation of the enemy's actions replaced the attacking momentum that was traditional for Soviet command. To begin with there were objective prerequisites: Red Army units were exhausted and had incurred heavy losses in the German counterattacks during February-March. By May 1943 however, when the troops had recuperated and reserves had been drawn up, the psychological factor continued to play a role. Recalling their bitter experience during the winter battles outside Kharkov the Supreme Soviet Command decided not to go on the offensive, but await the start of German offensive operations. Up until the very last day before the start of Operation 'Citadel' the Commander of the Voronezh front N.F. Vatutin was pleading, he demanded that precious summer days not be spent waiting for the enemy to attack but for the Red Army to take up the offensive themselves. All these proposals distracted supreme command, as they remembered Vatutin's failures outside Kharkov a few months previously. From a military historian's point of view the battles outside Kharkov between February-March 1943 were dramatic maneuvering battles and the success of both sides hung in the balance on a daily basis. Operations such as these are always much more interesting than the tedious, meat grinding positioning for a 'house in the forest', that is abundant in the histories of both world wars. Maneuvering, the deployment of corps and divisions around an area to attack an enemy where they are most vulnerable, played a much more important role than the arithmetic of the numbers of tanks and guns. The steady equalization of both Soviet and German sides added spice to this menu of a classic maneuvering battle. During the course of the battle for Kharkov Soviet forces encountered a new, powerful enemy in the shape of the Panzer divisions of the SS. These were elite mechanized formations equipped with the latest technology, which were soon to become leading participants in decisive battles in the East and the West in the second half of the war.

Download or read book Military Improvisations During the Russian Campaign written by and published by . This book was released on 1986 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Rise of the Bloodied Phoenix written by Andrew McGregor and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-12-16 with total page 552 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Two books in one: Bloody Kharkov I Bloody Kharkov II As the tide of war in Russia begins to turn, Leutnant Hausser returns with his depleted and demoralised squad...in the bitter snow, cold and ice that is becoming their home. The battle for survival continues...to Kharkov. With the final collapse of Stalingrad on the Volga River...the strained railheads along the southern Russian coast and to the immediate north fill with any available grim faced soldiers and equipment that can be spared. Hundreds of thousands of prisoners trudge into captivity, their starving and lice ridden bodies forced to march across exposed and bitter winter terrain towards prisoner of war camps...most will not return, dying en-route or in the inhospitable conditions of the Soviet gulags. The greatest defeat ever inflicted upon the German Wehrmacht has been completed, removing nearly 600,000 soldiers from the Axis order of battle. The loss of equipment and tanks has been immense, exceeding the entire production of the German Reich for a year. Russian casualties have proved even greater across the campaign...however Stalin is buoyant, pushing his commanders further, keen to see the collapse of the German southern wing and an early end to the war. The world draws breath...the seemingly invincible and unstoppable German Army has been finally and brutally defeated for the first decisive time. The German allies in Russia have virtually ceased to exist, their surviving manpower and strength scattered across the southern section of the front in the form of shattered units and obsolete equipment, their leaders realizing the sheer power of the Russian forces now far exceeds previous estimates. In Berlin, the slick Nazi propaganda machine is unable to conceal or diminish the scale of the defeat, the German High Command just awakening to the idea that the Russian campaign could now last for years...that defeat is actually a possibility. The German High Command were united in one thought...the need for a victory...a defeat of Russian forces that would once again show the world that the Wehrmacht was far from beaten. Field Marshall Von Manstein, commander of Army Group South, a charismatic leader with the confidence of his men and even Hitler himself, is given 'Freedom of Action' to his ambitious plans...plans that could see a change in fortune for the southern front. With eager Russian forces over-running the reach of their supply lines, the German commander sees an opportunity...the chance to once again strike fear into the Russian soldier's heart. Glancing across a map of the southern front, an opportunity presents itself...the ultimate chance to turn momentum and propaganda back into the Germans hands...the city of Kharkov has been recently taken and behind it, Belgorod. Now is the time...the opportunity...Von Manstein has the chance to show the German people and the world that the Wehrmacht is still the ultimate fighting force...that victory can be grasped from the jaws of devastating defeat. The stage is set, battle plans drawn up...within three weeks of the fall of Stalingrad, the Germans would once again advance. With 70,000 men at his disposal, Field Marshall Erich Von Manstein is to attack...facing 346,000 Russian soldiers, their morale high and a belief in victory over Nazi Germany beginning to formulate in their minds. The author aims to provide a thoroughly enjoyable and imaginative reading experience at an affordable price for the reader. The WW2 series is historically accurate, placing fictional characters in the maelstrom of war amongst accurate equipment and units. All three works from the author's World War 2 Stalingrad Series have achieved Best Seller status on Amazon in the UK and many more stories are outlined. Imagination is personal, free and to be cherished.

Download or read book Bloody Kharkov I written by Andrew McGregor and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-05-11 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the tide of war in Russia begins to turn, Leutnant Hausser returns with his depleted and demoralised squad...in the bitter snow, cold and ice that is becoming their home. The battle for survival continues...to Kharkov. With the final collapse of Stalingrad on the Volga River...the strained railheads along the southern Russian coast and to the immediate north fill with any available grim faced soldiers and equipment that can be spared. Hundreds of thousands of prisoners trudge into captivity, their starving and lice ridden bodies forced to march across exposed and bitter winter terrain towards prisoner of war camps...most will not return, dying en-route or in the inhospitable conditions of the Soviet gulags. The greatest defeat ever inflicted upon the German Wehrmacht has been completed, removing nearly 600,000 soldiers from the Axis order of battle. The loss of equipment and tanks has been immense, exceeding the entire production of the German Reich for a year. Russian casualties have proved even greater across the campaign...however Stalin is buoyant, pushing his commanders further, keen to see the collapse of the German southern wing and an early end to the war. The world draws breath...the seemingly invincible and unstoppable German Army has been finally and brutally defeated for the first decisive time. The German allies in Russia have virtually ceased to exist, their surviving manpower and strength scattered across the southern section of the front in the form of shattered units and obsolete equipment, their leaders realizing the sheer power of the Russian forces now far exceeds previous estimates. In Berlin, the slick Nazi propaganda machine is unable to conceal or diminish the scale of the defeat, the German High Command just awakening to the idea that the Russian campaign could now last for years...that defeat is actually a possibility. The German High Command were united in one thought...the need for a victory...a defeat of Russian forces that would once again show the world that the Wehrmacht was far from beaten. Field Marshall Von Manstein, commander of Army Group South, a charismatic leader with the confidence of his men and even Hitler himself, is given 'Freedom of Action' to his ambitious plans...plans that could see a change in fortune for the southern front. With eager Russian forces over-running the reach of their supply lines, the German commander sees an opportunity...the chance to once again strike fear into the Russian soldier's heart. Glancing across a map of the southern front, an opportunity presents itself...the ultimate chance to turn momentum and propaganda back into the Germans hands...the city of Kharkov has been recently taken and behind it, Belgorod. Now is the time...the opportunity...Von Manstein has the chance to show the German people and the world that the Wehrmacht is still the ultimate fighting force...that victory can be grasped from the jaws of devastating defeat. The stage is set, battle plans drawn up...within three weeks of the fall of Stalingrad, the Germans would once again advance. With 70,000 men at his disposal, Field Marshall Erich Von Manstein is to attack...facing 346,000 Russian soldiers, their morale high and a belief in victory over Nazi Germany beginning to formulate in their minds. The author aims to provide a thoroughly enjoyable and imaginative reading experience at an affordable price for the reader. All three works from the author's World War 2 Series concentrating on Stalingrad have achieved Best Seller status on Amazon in the UK and many more stories are outlined.

Download or read book Smolensk 1943 written by Robert Forczyk and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2019-01-24 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the German defeat at Kursk, the Soviet Stavka (high command) ordered the Western and Kalinin Fronts to launch Operation Suvorov in order to liberate the city of Smolensk. The Germans had held this city for two years and Heeresgruppe Mitte's (Army Group Centre) 4. Armee had heavily fortified the region. The Soviet offensive began in August 1943 and they quickly realized that the German defences were exceedingly tough and that the Western Front had not prepared adequately for an extended offensive. Consequently, the Soviets were forced to pause their offensive after only two weeks, in order to replenish their combat forces and then begin again. The German 4. Armee was commanded by Generaloberst Gotthard Heinrici, one of the Wehrmacht's top defensive experts. Although badly outnumbered, Heinrici's army gamely held off two Soviet fronts for seven weeks. Eventually, the 4. Armee's front was finally broken and Smolensk was liberated on 25 September 1943. However, the Western Front was too exhausted to pursue Heinrici's defeated army, which retreated to the fortified cities of Vitebsk, Orsha and Mogilev; the 4. Armee would hold these cities until the destruction of Army Group Centre in June 1944. Operation Suvorov focuses on a major offensive that is virtually unknown in the West and which set the stage for the decisive defeat of Heeresgruppe Mitte in the next summer offensive.

Download or read book The German Campaign in Russia written by George E. Blau and published by . This book was released on 1955 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book From the Don to the Dnepr written by David M. Glantz and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-02-04 with total page 447 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides an in-depth study of the Soviet Army during the offensive operations that started with Battle of Stalingrad in December 1942 and went until Spring 1943. The lessons learned by the Soviet Army from these experiences helped design the military steamroller that decimated the German panzer divisions at Kursk in the Summer of 1943.

Download or read book Soviet Night Operations in World War II written by Claude R. Sasso and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 1982 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Kharkov 1942 written by David Glantz and published by Ian Allan Publishing. This book was released on 2010 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: America's foremost expert on Russian military history has written the first book in English on one of the great battles on the Eastern front during World War II. Illustrations & maps.

Download or read book Kursk written by Walter S. Dunn Jr. and published by Stackpole Books. This book was released on 2008-07-21 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The story of history's largest armored battle Descriptions of Tigers, Panthers, and T-34s in combat Based on declassified Russian documents and captured German records A significant turning point of World War II, the battle of Kursk in the summer of 1943 was the Germans' last major offensive on the Eastern Front. Marked by pitched clashes between German Tiger tanks and Soviet T-34s, the engagement began well enough for the Germans, but the Soviets delayed them long enough to bring their reserves forward, counterattack, and force Hitler to call off the attack. Hundreds of thousands lay dead or wounded on both sides, but the Soviets won the battle and seized the initiative for the rest of the war.

Download or read book Kharkov written by and published by . This book was released on 1943 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: