Fully illustrated account of how the Third Reich’s Army Group South was defeated in 1944–45 by the Red Army.
Following the destruction of Sixth Army at Stalingrad in February 1943, Army Group South slowly withdrew westwards, using the Dnieper as a fortified position. In late 1943, the Soviet 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Ukrainian Front launched a strategic offensive against the German Army Group South A—one of the largest operations of the war. In May 1944, Red Army troops defeated Army Group South and Army Group A on the Dnieper. Many thousands of German troops evacuated across the Black Sea. In July, troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front launched an operation into the Crimea. The offensive coincided with other Red Army operations further north, including the Lublin-Brest Offensive—part of Operation Bagration. Slowly and inexorably, the powerful Russian attacks forced the tattered German army group to retreat hundreds of miles west, into Eastern Poland and Romania. Here German forces defended their positions and built defenses in Hungary and Austria to try to slow down the overwhelming might of the Red Army. There, the Germans would fight a series of desperate battles until the remnants surrendered in early May 1945.
Drawing on rare and previously unpublished images accompanied by detailed captions and text, the book gives a fascinating analysis of the destruction of Army Group South in southern Russia between 1944 and 1945.
Introduction Prelude to Disaster Situation on the Eastern Front in early 1944 The Dnieper–Carpathian offensive Battle of the Crimea The Lwow–Sanomierz Offensive Defeat Further Reading Index
Ian Baxter is a military historian who specialises in German twentieth-century military history. He has written more than fifty books. He has also reviewed numerous military studies for publication, supplied thousands of photographs and important documents to various publishers and film production companies worldwide, and lectures to various schools, colleges and universities throughout the United Kingdom and Southern Ireland.
"Full of photographs, color drawings and good maps, this new book explains the Soviet offensives against Nazi Germany's southern arm with extensive visual detail. Many of the images are rare or previously unpublished. The text is well written and provides good detail on the major actions and course of the various campaigns."
~WWII History Magazine
"...a good, concise overview of the southern Soviet offensive that cleared the Germans out of the Soviet Union."
~Historical Miniatures Gaming Society
"This book will be of great interest to modelers and military historians alike."
~AMPS Indianapolis
"...[a] detailed account of one of the largest operations of WWII involving almost 4,000,000 troops stretched along a 900-mile front for months."
~ARGunners.com
"...well worth picking up."
~ModelingMadness.Com
"Highly recommended for anyone interested in these late-war Eastern Front offensives."
~AMPS
“I am impressed with this title and intend to acquire more. As a historian, I think it's well worth the price and the space on the bookshelf. As a modeler, almost every page inspires me to crack open a kit and start gluing and painting. ”
~Armorama
“The author manages to convey all that in just 123 pages, by using fine text which is supported by a selection of illustrations, maps, and artwork, which will satisfy modellers and war gamers, as well as being a fine general read at the same time.”
~Gun Mart
“I found the book interesting and informative. I learned much more than I knew about these events.”
~IPMS
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