ZHITOMIR-BERDICHEV: GERMAN
OPERATIONS WEST OF KIEV
24 DECEMBER, 1943-31 JANUARY, 1944. VOLUME 2
by Stephen Barratt
This is the second volume of a two-volume set which
comprise a detailed history of the important operation that
was the beginning of the liberation of western Ukraine. On
24 December 1943, the Red Army launched the first of a
series of winter offensives against the German Army Group
South under von Manstein, the overall object of which was to
liberate western Ukraine from occupation. Based on the
unpublished records of the German 1st and 4th Panzer Armies,
and supplemented by comprehensive mapping and order of
battle data, this book provides a detailed, day-by-day
account of German operations as they developed in response
to the Soviet offensive. It also provides a vivid insight
into the planning and decision-making of the German Army
field commands in conducting a mobile defence plus a series
of counterattacks which could do little more than provide a
temporary respite. This volume describes events from 10 to
31 January 1944 and details the counterattacks undertaken by
the Germans as they tried desperately to stabilise the
situation. By the time the last of these was drawing to a
close, the conditions had already been established for the
next major Soviet offensive in the region: the Korsun'
pocket. The book includes appendices which provide order of
battle detail for both sides, and comes with a separately
bound book of 254 daily situation maps in colour.
New in d/w, Maps volume in card cover -
344pp incl. 3 tables + 265pp colour map volume
