(Download) The Oder Front 1945. Volume 1: Gotthard Heinrici, Heeresgruppe Weichsel and Germany's Final Defense in the East, 20 March-4 May 1945 The Oder Front 1945. Volume 1: Generaloberst Gotthard Heinrici, Heeresgruppe Weichsel and Germany's Final Defense in the East, 20 March-4 May 1945

EINGuyrCZ The Oder Front 1945. Volume 1: Generaloberst Gotthard AeRGwtzV8 Heinrici, Heeresgruppe Weichsel and Germany's Final 6RmE3RFCO Defense in the East, 20 March-4 May 1945 Gy4JZXoYf SD-96138 Rz2D80vOK US/Data/History OUtXKAy2D 5/5 From 601 Reviews TkZuDXVoU A. Stephan Hamilton E5ugopxiQ audiobook | *ebooks | Download PDF | ePub | DOC rYXAcX1lO ixzjgHtDA xLvBfAC4p Y6KbylR46 FssMizMMx EY0NFhmGo 0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy H. D. D.I really IDZyzY4PE enjoyed reading this book. I found lots of information inside.0 of 0 people found K3BrSlrR6 the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Thomas P. WollamVery detailed j7nRRkPMv coverage of soviet attack towards berlin17 of 19 people found the following LuMVelwqr review helpful. Heinrici had to fight the Soviets and the Nazi regimeBy Dave 0iCZhOkbK SchranckMr Hamilton sets himself with three objectives in writing this large ehzMY6tPA book containing 334 pages. First is to provide an in-depth look and analysis of WcqhUz0Zo General Gotthard Heinrici, a reputed specialist on defense, as CO of the PEU4pO067 Oderfront. Secondly, using primary information like diary entries from all levels pJM8IgB60 of the army, phone logs and other documentation to reconstruct the battle vs2B1MQ83 events of the Soviets crossing the Oder, taking Seelow Heights and pocketing bAmKUqQ0N . The exploits of 12th Army west of and 3rd PzA on the lower U2uGHWoB6 Oder are also provided. The actual capturing of Berlin is not included and 3F3Wfxvzf you'll have to read the author's "Bloody Streets" for that. The author's final xGnYD5v2h book will provide additional information on von Manteuffel's 3rd PzA.The last objective ties the first two together and is as intriguing as the first two. The author argues that the battle for the Oder and the battle for Berlin is not part of the same homogeneous battle to prevent the defeat of Germany. Rather it was two separate battles with two separate commanders with different ideologies and agendas. Hitler saw Berlin as the ultimate Fortress City that should be defended to the last bullet and saw the Oder line as secondary and would defend Berlin at the expanse of Heinrici and his defense of the eastern border. Knowing the retribution the Soviets would levy on Germany, Heinrici wanted to delay Zhukov at the river as long as possible and delay him from getting anywhere near Berlin in order for the Western Allies to cross the Elbe against Operation Eclipse and reach the capital first. This idea of a fair post war solution to a weary Army and country runs throughout the book.This story is not only about Heinrici's attempts at fighting the Soviets but also about his failed attempts of convincing Hitler of changing his strategy. It goes beyond that for Heinrici and a few key officers wanted to disavow Hitler and run the final battle as they saw fit. In the end Heinrici subjugated to Hitler and lost his chance to improve Germany's post war chances.The author begins his book by describing the key events of the last half of 1944 that will impact the military aspects of the last months of the war as well as forming the psychological instability of Hitler and his command structure. Some of these events include Operation Overlord, , the assassination attempt on Hitler and the failed Ardennes Offensive. Included in this first section is a profile of General Heinrici which goes a long way in explaining his motives and actions during the battle. The whole book is greatly influeced by Heinrici's thoughts and actions but Wenck, von Trippelskirch, Jodl, Keitel, Busse and others are frequently mentioned.Following this discussion, the preparation for battle and disposition of troops of both sides is explained. This section is 55 pages long, is pretty deliberate but not exhausting.Besides planning, preparation and Army status, preliminary fighting begins in the later half of this section that includes the important siege of Kustrin and the several attempts to relieve it. The Germans watched helplessly as the Soviets defeat their allies in Eastern Europe while concentrating forces at the border for the final assault. This book generally excludes the actual capture of Berlin, leaving the reader to follow that action in the author's first book.Among many other things, it also includes German intelligence failings and German underestimating their enemy even at this late date.The third section, starting in mid April and lasting until the first week of May, is the daily chronicle of the battle for control of the Oder, the capture of Seelow Heights, encircling 9th Army and their subsequent breakout attempt. It also includes the exploits of 12th Army west of Berlin and the fighting of 3rd PzA on the lower Oder and so much more. The last book in this trilogy will have additional info on von Manteuffel's 3rd PzA and other supporting documents.While there is some mention of Zhukov, Konev and Rokossovsky and a few of their key divisions, much of material covered is German oriented. The author deliberately wanted to bring out the German perspective in not only the fighting but also because of the importance of the poor relationship of Hitler and Heinrici and the fragile condition the Germans were in at this time. The four distinct components of this complicated battle (excludes Berlin) is clearly explained. Some may be disappointed in the lack of depth of the Soviet side but the author does clarify the German perspective, one which I fully didn't understand.Most of the data in this chronology is based on primary sources: war diaries from division, corps, army level. Personal comments, phone logs and other official documents are also used but the centerpiece of the information is the manuscript written by General Heinrici during his post war custody. In addition to that the author adds his considerable knowledge to the daily summaries and analysis.The author blends diary entries and phone conversations with his narrative to make it more interesting and informative; much of the information is operational in nature but reading the phone logs and situation reports you will also feel the rising desperation and despair of the German soldier/officer.There are a total of 85 maps: 26 are BW while the remaining 59 maps are colored. The BW maps are a mixture of hand drawn and computer generated. The hand drawn maps, some drawn by Heinrici, provides insight as to what the officer is considering as well as the tactical aspects of battle.The color maps are authentic battle maps that have been overlaid with hand written dispositions and axes of attack. Most of these maps are full page and because the pages are large and the pages are heavy glossy white stock, the reproduction of these maps is very good but there are still instances where its difficult to read the hand writing and except for major cities and significant land features you can't read the small print or decipher the many villages and highways. While I enjoyed these color maps and appreciated the effort it took in publishing them, the computer generated BW maps were also helpful. Mr Hamilton also uses pointers to direct the reader to the correct map that corresponds to what is currently being read. With so many maps, this feature is really helpful.The author also provides some interesting photos of the battlefield as well as a few of civilians trying to stay alive. There is also a 64 page Appendix that includes many different features including several post war studies, career profiles of key German officers, an OB and much more.The author also provides many Notes, an Extensive Bibliography and a useful Index.While this work is definitely noteworthy and is a standalone book in itself, I sense from the author's comments that Volume 2, which is coming out shortly, will have important new and supporting data and that all serious students should be prepared to have both books if the ultimate experience is to be achieved of this milestone event. I also suspect that some material was left out of this book in order to bolster and enhance the next volume. When you add "Bloody Streets", you will have an awesome collection for this critical period.

Nazi Germany's fall is regularly depicted through the dual images of directing the final battle for Berlin from his claustrophobic Fhrerbunker, and the subsequent Soviet victory immortalized by the flying of the 'Hammer and Sickle' over the burnt-out Reichstag. This popular view, that Germany's last battle of World War II was a deliberate, yet fatalistic, defense of Berlin planned and conducted by Hitler, is largely a historically inaccurate depiction that fits a popularized charac ...