Russia 1941/42: (v.3 Blitzkrieg S.)

In the third of the series the author examines Operation Barbarossa - the German invasion of Russia in 1942 and the campaign during the following year when the Axis forces renewed their offensive after the winter. The invasion of June 1941 was the largest operation undertaken by German forces during the war, comprising more than 100 army divisions and some 17 Panzer divisions along with 3,000 aircraft. Facing these forces were more than 150 Russian divisions along with 54 tank brigades. Despite the size of the Russian forces, which were expanded within six months by a further 300 divisions. The German and Axis forces swept eastwards at an unprecedented rate, capturing more than 3.3 million prisoners by December 1941.

Table of Contents:
World War 2 witnessed the triumph of offence over defence, with the awesome power of tank armies and air forces deployed to devastating effect. Whilst the French may have perceived their Maginot Line as impregnable; its rapid breaching in the spring of 1940 emphasised how far German military thinking had developed as opposed to that amongst its potential opponents. The theory of Blitzkrleg - lightning war - had developed during the interwar years, but its true potential was only to be revealed in the autumn of 1939 when the German forces swept into Poland. For the next three years, in all theatres of the war, the German forces proved supreme, as their superiority of equipment, training and strategy resulted in a rapid series of victories that culminated in them reaching the gates of both Moscow and Cairo; victory in either of these theatres would, probably, have resulted in the ultimate German triumph. Hindsight, however, now enables us to see that, at the moment of these triumphs, the might of the German military machine was so overstretched that final victory eluded them. In the third of this new series the author examines Operation Barbarossa - the German invasion of Russia in 1942 and the campaign during the following year when the Axis forces renewed their offensive after the winter. The invasion of June 1941 was the largest operation undertaken by German forces during the war, comprising more than 100 army divisions and some 17 Panzer divisions along with 3,000 aircraft. Facing these forces were more than 150 Russian divisions along with 54 tank brigades. Despite the size of the Russian forces, which were expanded within six months by a further 300 divisions, the German and Axis forces swept eastwards at an unprecedented rate, capturing more than 3.3 million prisoners by December 1941. Although the winter saw German forces fall to take their ultimate objectives, 1942 was to see further Axis advances as German forces moved towards Stalingrad. Using contemporary photographs, allied with line drawings and detailed analysis, the author explores how the strategy evolved during this epic campaign. For all military historians, the new 'Blitzkrieg' series will be an essential addition to their library, explaining as it does how the various stages by which the strategy evolved during the war.

About the Author :
Will Fowler has specialised in military history and defence technology since 1972. He was Army editor of Defence magazine and has written a large number of books covering military equipment and conflicts. A former member of the Territorial Army, he served in the Gulf War and was decorated with the Joint Service Commendation Medal by the US Central Command. He is the author of all the volumes in the 'Blitzkrieg' series. He lives in Hampshire.