Rating: 
Summary: Who is Paul Carell?
Review: This book one may consider to be the measuring stick against which to judge all other novels on the Eastern Front. Incredibly detailed and researched, I find it hard to believe one man could unearth the details that Carrell did. How he knew that a Pioneer batallion was able to disarm over 2700 landmines in just over 5 hours before the start of a German offensive I will never know! Nevertheless, units are discussed with their origins traced to geographic areas of Germany, and many times unit actions are discussed with individual accomplishments, and tragedy, used as a kind of reference point. The brutal slogs as the battleline shifted West during this year is richly detailed. The author makes no attempt to disguise his Pro-German leanings, but when facing a 6 to 1 disadvantage in manpower, and a 10 to 1 disadvantage in heavy weapons, one cannot help but sympathize with the "underdog", especially one as fearless and skilled as the Landser fighting a hopeless battle under Godforsaken conditions for a detestable and diabolical regime. This book covers the beginning of the end for the Wermacht in the East. Often, entire Army Groups are surrounded and cut-off, and no detail is left out in describing how these groups struggle to break out. It also contains a wealth of information on the interference of Hitler in the plans laid out by Manstein, the brilliant tactician in charge of this Front. This book is an engrossing history lesson come to life. Enjoy.
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