The fighting around the town of Demyansk was one of the longest encirclement battles on the Eastern Front during the Second World War; stretching from February 1942 to February 1943. Originally; the German 16. Armee occupied Demyansk in the fall of 1941 because it was key terrain - a crossroads located on high ground amidst a sea of swampy terrain - that would be used as a springboard for an eventual offensive into the Valdai Hills. Instead; the Soviet winter counteroffensive in February 1942 encircled the German II Armeekorps and other units; totalling about 100;000 troops; inside the Demyansk Pocket. Another pocket was also created around Kholm; with another 5;000 Germans inside. Yet despite severe pounding from five Soviet armies; the embattled German troops held the pocket and the Luftwaffe organized a major aerial resupply effort to sustain the defenders. For the first time in military history; an army was supplied entirely by air.After stopping the Soviet winter counteroffensive; the German 16. Armee mounted two major relief efforts to rescue their trapped forces in the Demyansk and Kholm pockets; which were finally relieved in April-May 1942. During the siege; the crack 3. SS-Division 'Totenkopf' was virtually destroyed; suffering 80 per cent casualties. However; Hitler demanded that the 12 divisions of II Armeekorps remain in the narrow Demyansk salient; whose base was only 6km wide. Throughout the summer and autumn of 1942; the Soviets pounded the salient from all sides; inflicting heavy casualties on the defenders. In February 1943; Marshal Timoshenko was ordered to launch an offensive to cut off the base of the salient and annihilate the 12 divisions. At the same time; Hitler finally came to his senses after the Stalingrad debacle and authorized the 16. Armee to withdraw from the pocket. Thus; the Germans began to withdraw just as Timoshenko opened his grand offensive to cut them off and destroy almost 100;000 German troops. This volume will conclude with the drama of a German army-size withdrawal under fire in winter; under attack from three sides.
#1826613 in Books Pen and Sword 2010-06-19 2010-07-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.20 x .90 x 6.20l; 1.10 #File Name: 1848840616208 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. must have for Napoleonic studyBy david l. porembaA companion piece to the author's Nelson's Trafalgar Captains and Their Battles; Wellington's Peninsular War Generals Their Battles covers the lives of forty-one of the best known divisional commanders; heads of supporting arms and services (i.e. artillery; cavalry and supply); and principal staff officers of Wellington's Army in Spain from 1808 to 1812.The book is divided into two distinct sections; the first consisting of the biographies conveniently arranged alphabetically; and the second consisting of the battles these men fought in; arranged chronologically; beginning with the Low Countries in 1793 and ending with Waterloo in 1815. At the end of each battle entry is a list of generals in the book who participated in each. There is an Introduction wherein the author discusses the promotion system; the purchase of commissions and the importance of patronage in Georgian England.As any reputation would pale when next to Wellington's (not to mention his own low opinion of practically everybody); a close look at these men and their careers reveals extensive active service both before and often after the war against Napoleon. Also revelatory are the facts that most of them came from or married into titled families; almost half of them were of Scottish descent; and two were Germans.All in all; this book is informative; well written and an essential reference tool for those interested in the period.
