Artillery Warfare, 1939-1945

Artillery played a crucial role in the Second World War for the Allies, wearing down German forces on the Eastern Front, and was a major reason for the success of Allied forces in North Africa, Italy, and Normandy. This illustrated history by Simon and Jonathan Forty emphasizes the importance of artillery on every front and analyzes how artillery equipment, training, and tactical techniques developed during the conflict. The selection of wartime photographs and extensive quotations from contemporary documents give a graphic impression of how the guns were used on all sides.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2020
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

It is often claimed that artillery played a crucial role in winning the Second World War for the Allies. The Soviet Union's guns, it is said, wore down German forces on the Eastern Front, negating their superior tactics and fighting ability. The accuracy and intensity of British and American artillery were particularly significant in the success of Allied forces in North Africa from El Alamein, Italy, and Normandy. It also played a vital role in the battles of 1944 and 1945.

However, the range of weapons used in the war is often overlooked or taken for granted. This highly illustrated history by Simon and Jonathan Forty is of immense value, as it emphasizes the importance of artillery on every front and analyses how artillery equipment, training, and tactical techniques developed during the conflict.

The selection of wartime photographs, many from East European sources, and the extensive quotations from contemporary documents give a graphic impression of how the guns were used on all sides. The photographs highlight the wide range of pieces employed as field, anti-aircraft, and anti-tank artillery, without forgetting self-propelled guns, coastal and other heavyweights, and the development of rockets.

The authors offer a fascinating insight into the weapons that served in the artillery over seventy years ago. They shed light on the technological advancements, the strategies employed, and the human cost of the war. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in military history, artillery, or the Second World War.

Weight: 746g
Dimension: 182 x 252 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526776785