"War on the Eastern Front" Topic

"Dawn on Sunday 22 June 1941 saw the opening onslaughts of Operation Barbarossa as German forces stormed forward into the Soviet Union. Few of them were to survive the five long years of bitter struggle.

A posting to the Eastern Front during the Second World War was rightly regarded with dread by the German soldiers. They were faced by the unremitting hostility of the climate, the people and even, at times, their own leadership. They saw epic battles such as Stalingrad and Kursk, and yet it was a daily war of attrition which ultimately proved fatal for Hitler's ambition and the German military machine.

In this classic account leading military historian James Lucas examines different aspects of the fighting, from war in the trenches to a bicycle-mounted anti-tank unit fighting against the oncoming Russian hordes. Told through the experiences of the German soldiers who endured these nightmarish years of warfare, War on the Eastern Front is a unique record of this cataclysmic campaign."

See here
link

Anyone have read this book?
If the asnwer is yes, comments please?

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

Amicalement
Armand

Lucas was a top historical author in the 70-80's and was a damn good read. However, like many authors back then he had no real access to information from the Soviet perspective and his stuff is VERY western biased. I have read recent criticism that he is "pro-nazi" but from my memories of reading the books, thirty odd years a go….aaaaagh, I think that is a bit harsh. I would say its worth a read, but remember judge it by when was written and not with 20/20 hindsight. ;-)

Fatman

Agreed.

Thanks for the comments boys!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Agree with Fatman. Anyone who writes a book about the Eastern Front and includes this phrase:

"…fighting against the oncoming Russian hordes"

is simplistic, and depending on German generals' memoirs for his sources.

tuscaloosa
As I pointed out back when Lucas was writing the book sources were German or official Soviet Era histories, you know, the ones which described how the Soviet border forces smashed the advancing Fascist hordes as they invaded the Motherland then how other forces smashed the same Fascist hordes 150 miles inside the Motherland?

Remember it was also the height of the Cold War and everybody believed those same Russian were getting ready to come acallin'. I suppose we all wanted to believe the Germans were right and that our smaller, but much better, armies could beat them.

As I said, given what he had available, I think Lucas did well and that the books are worth a read. Mind you I also own a Soviet era "History Of The Soviet Air Force In The Great Patriotic War."! ;-)

Fatman

Very true, Fatman.