Tank Warfare on the Eastern Front, 1941-1942: Schwerpunkt

The German panzer armies that swept into the Soviet Union in 1941 were an undefeated force that had honed their skill in combined arms warfare to a fine edge. German planning and logistical deficiencies led to over-extension and failure in 1941, but the Red Army had grown much stronger by November 1942, and the Soviets were able to turn the tables at Stalingrad. Robert Forczyk's study offers fresh insight into how the two most powerful mechanized armies of the Second World War developed their tactics and weaponry during the critical early years of the Russo-German War.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 21 May 2020
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The German panzer armies that surged into the Soviet Union in 1941 were an invincible force that had perfected their skill in combined arms warfare to a fine art. The Germans concentrated their panzers and tactical air support at key points on the battlefield known as Schwerpunkt - main effort - to break through any defensive line and then advance to envelop their adversaries. Initially, these methods worked well in the early days of Operation Barbarossa, and the Red Army's tank forces suffered defeat after defeat. Although badly mauled in the opening battles, the Red Army's tank forces did not succumb to the German armored onslaught, and German planning and logistical deficiencies led to over-extension and failure in 1941. In the second year of the invasion, the Germans directed their Schwerpunkt toward the Volga and the Caucasus and achieved some degree of success, but the Red Army had grown much stronger, and by November 1942, the Soviets were able to turn the tables at Stalingrad. Robert Forczyk's insightful study offers fresh insight into how the two most powerful mechanized armies of the Second World War developed their tactics and weaponry during the critical early years of the Russo-German War. He uses German, Russian, and English sources to provide the first comprehensive overview and analysis of armored warfare from the German and Soviet perspectives. His analysis of the greatest tank war in history is compelling reading.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 155 x 231 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526781543