BATTLE GROUP!: German Kampfgruppen Action of World War Two - Softcover

Lucas, James Sidney

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0304354554 ISBN 13: 9780304354559

Publisher: UNKNO, 2000

Synopsis

Out of disparate military units soldiers came together to form single, unified "shock troops," ready to take on a specific operation: those were the battle groups. The Wehrmacht particularly excelled in using mass and aggressive tactics in conjunction with these new formations to achieve success in combat. This is their story, from every theater of the war, from groups large and small, revealing how men of low rank had unusual autonomy--sometimes enough to assure a glorious career later on.

About this title

About the Author

James Lucas fought with the British infantry in the Second World War. He has long since established a reputation as a popular historian with a particular interest in good soldiering. Battle Group! Is one of a number of books about his former enemy.

Review

Not a history of the development of the infamous adhoc battlegroups that the German army and Waffen SS used with such great effect in WW2, but a compilation of articles detailing 17 separate operational level engagements that superbly illustrate the challenges of forming these improvised composite units under stressful conditions and their ability to influence the results of a battle out of proportion to their modest numbers. The articles feature battle group examples from Case White thru final desperate defense of East Prussia against the Red army. Its a concise work overall {173 pages} but Lucas richly endows his articles with vivid imagery of the desperate horror of the battlefield in addition to his solid research. Could probably have used better maps to go along with his detailed expositions on the tactical environments thus presented but this is hardly more than a minor quibble. Definitely recommended for the slightly above casual to serious military history buff. --A Customer

An excellent compilation of various battlegroups (Kampfgruppe) during various phases and fronts during WWII. This is a must for the military enthusiast and would be very useful for wargamers. My only critisism is that I wish there were more chapters!! A very good read. The book relates the operations of 17 different specific battlegroups, including operations in Poland, France, many in Russia and later again on the eastern front as the war was brought right through the Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and Prussia. There is a chapter devoted to a Hitler Youth unit operating in France in 1944. One of the most interesting chapters relates the creation of a Kampfgruppe that was to operate in England during operation "Sealion". Highly recommended --D. Mallory

Given the prevalence by necessity towards the end of the war , this book provides interesting examples throughout the war of adhoc battle groups. Typical easy reading Lucas style makes it accessible to readers without greatly adding to the understanding of this facet of military experience. --A customer

About this edition

• Publisher: UNKNO
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0304354554
• ISBN 13: 9780304354559
• Binding: Paperback