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The 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
by Yves Buffetaut
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
The Das Reich Division was the most infamous units of the Waffen-SS. Hitler's Schutzstaffel (SS) units were originally paramilitary formations raised to protect the members of the Nazi party, and the Waffen-SS (the armed SS) was founded in 1934 as the SS-Verfügungstruppe. In 1939 the SS-Verfügungstruppe was placed under the operational command of the OKH. During the invasion of Poland, the unit fought as a mobile infantry regiment. There were doubts about the unit's effectiveness, but Hitler ordered it be allowed to expand and form its own divisions, but under the command of the army. In 1940 the SS-Verfügungs-Division participated in the invasion of the Netherlands and France. After the Battle of France, the SS-VT was officially renamed the Waffen-SS, and in 1941, the Verfügungs-Division was renamed Reich, later Das Reich.
In 1941 Das Reich took part in the invasion of Yugoslavia, where its men accepted the surrender of Belgrade. In Barbarossa, Das Reich fought with Army Group Center, in the spearhead of Operation Typhoon and taking part in the battle of Moscow, by which time it had lost 60 percent of its combat strength. It was pulled off the front in mid-1942 and sent to refit as a panzer-grenadier division. Returning to the Eastern Front, Das Reich took part in the fighting around Kharkov and Kursk. Late in the year it was designated a panzer division.
In 1944, the unit was stationed in southern France when the Allies landed in Normandy. The following days saw the division commit atrocities, hanging 100 local men in the town of Tulles in reprisal for German losses, and massacring 642 French civilians in Oradour-sur-Glane, allegedly in retaliation for partisan activity in the area. Later in the Normandy fighting Das Reich was encircled in the Roncey pocket by US 2nd Armored Division, losing most of their armored equipment. Das Reich surrendered in May 1945.
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The Waffen-SS in Normandy
July 1944, Operations Goodwood and Cobra
by Yves Buffetaut
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
One of the greatest paradoxes of the Battle of Normandy is that the German divisions found it much harder to reach the front line than the Allies, who had to cross the sea and then deploy in a cramped bridgehead until the American breakthrough of late July 1944. The Waffen-SS were no better off than the Heer units were and German high command never quite got on top of operations, as the divisions were thrown into the melee one by one. During the month of June 1944, the Panzer divisions present succeeded in containing the Allies in a small bridgehead. In July, the arrival of more SS divisions should have finally allowed the Germans to counter-attack decisively. This was not the reality. The Allies had also strengthened in number and kept the blows coming, one after another. Each SS-Panzer division had a different experience of the fighting in July. This Casemate Illustrated looks at the divisions one by one throughout Operations Goodwood and Cobra, which saw large tank battles and the collapse of the German front in Normandy. It includes over 100 photographs, alongside biographies of the commanders and color profiles of trucks and tanks, which played a key role in operations as the Americans succeeded in breaking through the German line of defense.
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Allied Armor in Normandy
by Yves Buffetaut
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
Tanks were the beasts of the Second World War, machines designed to destroy anything and anyone in their path. Throughout the summer of 1944, the Allied forces readily employed tanks and armored vehicles to gain ground in the bloody campaign of Normandy. Heavily armed, they provided a kind of support which no number of infantrymen could offer, battling their way through enemy lines with their guns blazing. From the US 2nd Armored Division named 'Hell on Wheels' to the British 'Achilles' tank, the encounters they had in battle were explosive.
This volume of the Casemate Illustrated series explores the Normandy invasion from the perspective of the Allied Armored divisions, looking at how armored vehicles played a central role in the many battles that took place. It includes over 40 profiles of tanks and armored vehicles, from the American Sherman and Stuart tanks to the bulldozers and amphibious vehicles designed for the beach.
With detailed diagrams and many photos illustrating the composition of the Allied armored divisions and tank regiments present at Normandy, this volume explains the crucial part played by tanks in gaining a foothold in Normandy after the D-Day landings, as well as the significance of many other types of armored vehicles.
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The First Day at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863
by James A. Hessler
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
The Battle of Gettysburg's first day featured pivotal decisions amidst fierce fighting and high stakes.
The summer of 1863 started off disastrously for the Army of the Potomac in the Eastern Theater. In early May, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia defeated and humiliated Major General Joseph Hooker's army at the Battle of Chancellorsville. While both armies reorganized in the wake of Chancellorsville's massive losses, Lee then maintained the initiative and launched an invasion of Pennsylvania. Throughout June, Lee's army advanced deeper into Pennsylvania and Northern efforts to stop his progress were ineffective until Major General George Meade replaced Hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac. On July 1, 1863, Meade and Lee's large armies collided outside of the crossroads town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The stakes were never higher for either army as the newly promoted Meade defended Northern soil, while General Lee risked everything by taking the war into enemy territory.
The first day of the Battle of Gettysburg is often overshadowed by fighting on the following days, but July 1 was one of the bloodiest single engagements of the entire Civil War. Many of the decisions leading to and through Gettysburg's first day remain steeped in controversy. Did Meade intend to fight on the Pipe Creek line in Maryland until subordinates such as Major General John Reynolds forced the engagement at Gettysburg? Did the absence of J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry really leave Lee "blind" to his opponent's movements? Was Lee's desire to avoid a general engagement ignored by his own officers? With neither commanding general on the battlefield for much of the day, crucial decisions remained in the hands of subordinates such as John Buford, John Reynolds, A. P. Hill, Richard Ewell, and Oliver Howard.
This Casemate Illustrated volume sets the stage for the Civil War's greatest battle and covers the heroism, decisions, and mistakes made on the first day at Gettysburg.
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Broken Arrow
How the U.S. Navy Lost a Nuclear Bomb
by Jim Winchester
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
On 5 December 1965, the giant American aircraft carrier Ticonderoga was heading to Japan for rest and recreation for its 3,000 crew, following a month on 'Yankee Station' launching missions against targets in Vietnam. Whilst fighting a real conflict and losing men in conventional warfare, Tico's primary mission was Cold War nuclear combat with the Communist bloc. The cruise from the Yankee Station to Japan was used to practice procedures for Armageddon. Douglas Webster was a young pilot from Ohio, newly married and with seventeen combat missions under his belt. On that day in 1965, he strapped into an A-4 Skyhawk bomber for a routine weapons loading drill and simulated mission. After mishandling the maneuver, the plane and its pilot sunk to the bottom of the South China sea, along with a live B43 one-megaton thermonuclear bomb. A cover-up mission began. The crew was ordered to stay quiet; rumors circulate of sabotage, a damaged weapon and a troublesome pilot who needed 'disposing of'. The incident, a 'Broken Arrow' in the parlance of the Pentagon, was kept under wraps until 25 years later. The details that emerged caused a diplomatic incident, revealing that the U.S. had violated agreements not to bring nuclear weapons into Japan. Family members and the public only learnt the truth when researchers discovered archived documents that disclosed the true location of the carrier, hundreds of miles closer to land than admitted. Broken Arrow tells the story of Ticonderoga's sailors and airmen, the dangers of combat missions and shipboard life, and the accident that threatened to wipe her off the map and blow US-Japanese relations apart. For the first time, through previously classified documents, never before published photos of the accident aircraft and the recollections of those who were there, the story of carrier aviation's only 'Broken Arrow' is told in full.
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U.S. Army Ambulances & Medical Vehicles in World War II
by Didier Andres
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A "cool compendium" of photos and information about the vehicles that helped save American troops' lives (Cybermodeler).
Of all the armies involved in World War II, the U.S. Army developed the most sophisticated system for the transport and treatment of injured and sick soldiers, pushing the boundaries of available technology to give their men the best chance of not only survival but a full recovery.
Each infantry regiment had a medical detachment tasked with conserving the strength of the regiment by not only providing medical and dental treatment but also undertaking all possible measures to keep the regiment healthy. In combat they would provide emergency medical treatment on the battlefield, then move casualties to aid stations they had established. At aid stations, casualties would be triaged, stabilized, and treated before being moved on for further treatment. Vehicles formed a crucial part of the Medical Detachment's equipment.
This fully illustrated, comprehensive book covers all types of medical vehicles used both in-theater and in the United States, including ambulances and technical support vehicles. It details vehicle markings modifications, for use in the evacuation of troops from the battlefield, and the other uses these vehicles were adapted for during the war-including their use as "Clubmobiles" and "Chuck Wagons" by the American Red Cross.
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Sherman
The M4 Tank in World War II
by Michel Esteve
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
The Medium Tank, M4, better known to the British as the Sherman, was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and western Allies in World War II. Reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and easy to maintain, thousands were distributed to the British Commonwealth and the Soviet Union by the Lend-Lease program. It first saw combat in North Africa, where it outclassed lighter German and Italian tanks. By 1944, the M4 was outgunned by the German heavy tanks, but it still contributed to the fight, when deployed in numbers and supported by artillery and fighter-bombers.
A detailed insight into the development and deployment of the M4, this book covers the design and construction of the chassis, turret, engine, armaments, and munitions, and differences between the variants of the M4. It covers the difficulties facing the crews who fought in this legendary tank, exploring the training they received and the different combat methods perfected by the Allies, including landing from a landing craft, maneuvering in the bocage of Normandy, and fighting in the snow.
Fully illustrated with hundreds of contemporary and modern photographs and detailed diagrams, this complete account provides all the technical details of the construction of the M4, its maintenance and repair, and the logistics required to support it in combat.
Whether you are a collector, a modeler, or simply passionate about military history, this book will provide you with an unparalleled insight into the M4.
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Kursk 1943
Last German Offensive in the East
by Ian Baxter
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
An illustrated history of World War II's largest tank battle that went down near the Russian city.
In the summer of 1943, Nazi Germany launched Operation Zitadelle (Citadel), aimed at cutting off Soviet forces in the Kursk salient. This offensive resulted in the Battle of Kursk.
Kursk quickly became a fierce contest of attrition, as Wehrmacht and elite Waffen-SS Panzer-Divisions with their powerful Tiger and Panther tanks unsuccessfully tried to hammer their way through the intricate lines of strong Soviet defensive positions. What followed was unabated fighting for two weeks as German units were slowly and systematically ground down in a series of brutal armored battles.
During this ferocious fighting the Red Army savagely contested every foot of ground, finally ending German invincibility forever. For the first time in its short history, the blitzkrieg concept had failed. The reverberations caused by the defeat at Kursk were immense, and never again did the German war machine go on the offensive in the East. Stiff defensive action was now the stratagem placed upon the dwindling Panzerwaffe right to the gates of Berlin.
With comprehensive captions and text, Kursk 1943 tells the story of this dramatic battle using rare and unpublished photographs, maps, and highly detailed artist profiles. The book reveals the events leading up to the battle in the first half of 1943 and the buildup of forces by both sides before their climatic showdown at Kursk.
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British Fighter Aircraft in World War I
Design, Construction, and Innovation
by Mark C. Wilkins
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
World War I witnessed unprecedented growth and innovation in aircraft design, construction, and as the war progressed-mass production. Each country generated its own innovations sometimes in surprising ways-Albatros Fokker, Pfalz, and Junkers in Germany and Nieuport, Spad, Sopwith and Bristol in France and Britain. This book focuses on the British approach to fighter design, construction, and mass production. Initially the French led the way in Allied fighter development with their Bleriot trainers then nimble Nieuport Scouts-culminating with the powerful, fast gun platforms as exemplified by the Spads. The Spads had a major drawback however, in that they were difficult and counter-intuitive to fix in the field. The British developed fighters in a very different way; Tommy Sopwith had a distinctive approach to fighter design that relied on lightly loaded wings and simple functional box-girder fuselages. His Camel was revolutionary as it combined all the weight well forward; enabling the Camel to turn very quickly-but also making it an unforgiving fighter for the inexperienced. The Royal Aircraft Factory's SE5a represented another leap forward with its comfortable cockpit, modern instrumentation, and inline engine-clearly influenced by both Spads and German aircraft. Each manufacturer and design team vied for the upper hand and deftly and quickly appropriated good ideas from other companies-be they friend or foe. Developments in tactics and deployment also influenced design-from the early reconnaissance planes, to turn fighters, finally planes that relied upon formation tactics, speed, and firepower. Advances were so great that the postwar industry seemed bland by comparison.
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The 101st Airborne in Normandy, June 1944
by Yves Buffetaut
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
101st Airborne Division was activated in August 1942 in Louisiana, and its first combat mission was Operation Overlord. On D-Day-June 6, 1944-101st and 82nd Airborne dropped onto the Cotentin peninsula hours before the landings, tasked with capturing bridges and positions, taking out German strongpoints and batteries, and securing the exits from Utah and Omaha Beaches. Things did not initially go smoothly for 101st Airborne, with cloud and antiaircraft fire disrupting the drops resulting in some units landing scattered over a large area outside their designated drop zones and having to waste time assembling-stymied by lost or damaged radio equipment-or trying to achieve their objectives with severely reduced numbers. Casualties were high in some areas due to heavy pre-registered German fire. Nevertheless, the paratroopers fought on and they did manage to secure the crucial beach exits, even if they only achieved a tenuous hold on some other positions. A few days later, 101st Airborne were tasked with attacking the German-held city of Carentan as part of the consolidation of the US beachheads and establishment of a defensive line against the anticipated German counteroffensive. The 101st forced their way into Carentan on 10 and 11 June. The Germans withdrew the following day, and a counteroffensive was put down by elements of the 2nd Armored Division. This fully illustrated book details the planning of the airborne element of D-Day, and the execution of the plans until the troops were withdrawn to prepare for the next big airborne operation, Market Garden.
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The Falaise Pocket
Normandy, August 1944
by Yves Buffetaut
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, in August 1944, was the turning point in the Normandy campaign. By early August the German Army was in turmoil: while it was managing to hold back the Allies, the defense involved resources that could not be replaced, and the Allies ruled the skies above. In late July, American troops broke through the American lines and pushed south and east, while British and Canadian troops pushed south. Although unable to counter these offensives, Hitler refused to permit the commander Army Group B, Field Marshal von Kluge, to withdraw. Instead he was ordered to launch a counteroffensive at Mortain, the result being that the Germans ended up further into the Allied envelopment. On 8 August Montgomery ordered that the Allied armies converge on the Falaise area-by 21 August the Allies had linked up and sealed the pocket, trapping around 50,000 Germans inside. While many soldiers did eventually escape the encirclement, the losses were catastrophic and by the end of the month Army Group B had retreated across the Seine, ending the battle of Normandy. This illustrated account examines the battle from the failed offensive at Mortain, looking at both German and Allied perspectives, using maps, diagrams and profiles to complete the story.
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Left for Dead at Nijmegen
The True Story of an American Paratrooper in World War II
by Marcus A. Nannini
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
Left for Dead at Nijmegen recalls the larger-than-life experiences of an American paratrooper, Gene Metcalfe, who served in the 82nd Airborne during WWII. From his recruitment into the military at Camp Grant to his training with the 501st Paratroop Infantry Regiment at Camp Toccoa, it wasn't until D-Day itself that he first arrived in England to join the 508th PIR. When Metcalfe boarded the C-47 which would drop him at Groesbeek Heights, just outside of Nijmegen, Holland, he was handed a box of twelve dozen condoms by an over-confident British lieutenant. He was to be among the first to jump into what should have been a picture-book meadow, free of German troops. Instead, it was defended by three German anti-aircraft cannon emplacements. As he jumped into a hail of bullets and exploding shells he watched his plane roll over and plummet into the ground. It was at that moment he realized the condoms had either been a bad joke or the planners of Operation Market Garden had seriously underestimated German resistance. Gene was listed as KIA and left for dead by his patrol, who presumed the worst when they saw his injuries from a shell explosion. The rest of his story is equally gripping, as he became a POW held outside Munich, being moved between various camps ridden with disease and a severely undernourished population. Eventually, after making an escape attempt and being captured within sight of the snow-capped Swiss mountains, his camp was liberated by American troops in April 1945. Gene's story is both remarkable for his highly unusual encounter, and his subsequent experiences.
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Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1939–42
by Neil Page
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
Military and aviation history enthusiasts have always been interested in the fighter pilots of Hitler's Luftwaffe. Around five hundred Luftwaffe fighter pilots were awarded the Knight's Cross, accumulating huge numbers of missions flown. A similar number achieved more than forty victories-more than the two leading USAF and RAF fighter pilots. Indeed, some of their stories are extraordinary. Fighting from the Arctic Circle to the North African deserts, from the Caucasus in the East to Normandy in the West, the German fighter pilot flew and fought until he was shot down, "flown out," wounded, or killed in action. A handful survived from "first to last."
This first volume of Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe traces the story of the Luftwaffe's day fighter arm (der Tagjagd) from its inception to 1942. Organized campaign by campaign, this chronological account interweaves brief biographical details, newly translated personal accounts, and key moments in the careers of a host of notable and lesser-known Luftwaffe aces.
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Operation Typhoon
The German Assault on Moscow, 1941
by Philippe Naud
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
The action-packed story of the WWII aviators known as the "362nd Suicide Outfit," including 150 photographs.
During World War II, the Ninth Air Force comprised air-to-ground aviators, charged with destroying the enemy close to the front and below the clouds, often bringing them face to face with their German opponents.
The 362nd Fighter Group, led by two very different leaders-the tough disciplinarian Col. Morton Magoffin and later the beloved motivator Col. Joe Laughlin-had one of the best track records in the Ninth Air Force. It destroyed over 5000 trucks, 350 tanks, 275 artillery pieces, 45 barges, and 600 locomotives. But this score came at a cost, as over the course of 15 months of combat in 1944 and 1945 more than 70 pilots were killed in action and in June 1944 alone 30 of their P-47 Thunderbolts were lost. The other groups jokingly referred to them as the "362nd Suicide Outfit."
Thunderbolts Triumphant provides a narrative history of the group and gives a glimpse at the fascinating men who flew these missions and maintained the aircraft as they navigated Europe. Starting with the D-Day invasion, the group was the aerial artillery support for US ground forces, first in Normandy, then in reducing the defenses around Brest, then in supporting the US Third Army as it drove across France and Germany.
Special emphasis is given to its most spectacular missions, such as the breaching of the Dieuze Dam and its incredible performance during the Battle of the Bulge, where it demolished much of the Sixth Panzer Armee as it tried to escape eastward. Illustrated with 150 black and white photographs and 24 color aircraft profiles, this is a fascinating and detailed history of a group that played a significant part in winning the air war.
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American Armor in the Pacific
by Mike Guardia
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
An illustrated history of the American tanks deployed to the Pacific theater during World War II and the conflicts they faced there.
This volume in the Casemate Illustrated series explores American armor during the Pacific Campaign of the Second World War, from 1942 to 1945. In this period, there were over twenty major tank battles and operations in which tanks provided heavy support to infantry units. These operations included the Battle of Tarawa and the Bougainville Campaign. American Armor in the Pacific also features the strategies and tactics of the opposing forces, relying heavily on first-person accounts.
This book examines the Pacific theater and how American armor was employed with great success in that theater of war. It also offers detailed information on American and Japanese armored forces, including development, equipment, capabilities, organization, and order of battle.
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Air War on the Eastern Front
by Mike Guardia
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A pictorial history of Nazi Germany's entire air campaign against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front in World War II.
The Red Air Force versus the Luftwaffe in the skies over Eastern Europe. June 1941: Having conquered most of Western Europe, Adolf Hitler turned his attention to the vast Soviet Union. Disregarding his Non-Aggression Pact with Joseph Stalin, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, a full-scale invasion of the Soviet homeland... aimed squarely at Moscow.
In the skies over Russia, the battle-hardened airmen of the Luftwaffe made short work of the Red Air Force during opening days of Barbarossa. To make matters worse, Stalin had executed many of his best pilots during the perennial "purges" of the 1930s. Thus, much of the Red Air Force was destroyed on the ground before meeting the Luftwaffe in the skies. By 1944, however, the Soviet airmen had regained the initiative and fervently wrested air superiority from the now-ailing Axis Powers.
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German Mountain Troops, 1939–42
by Yves Béraud
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A pictorial history of the Nazi military's elite Gebirgstruppen during World War II.
Fifteen elite mountain divisions and a multitude of small units fought for the Wehrmacht during World War II. They fought on all fronts, operating in hostile environments ranging from the far north to Libya, the Atlantic to the Caucasus-serving in all the "hot spots." This book, the culmination of some four decades of research and the support of many veterans and collectors, describes the life, operations, and equipment of these specialist units.
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Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1943–45
by Neil Page
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
The second volume of this "excellent" overview of Germany's World War II fighter pilots, filled with photos, maps, and aircraft profiles (Air Power History).
This volume of Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe traces the story of the Luftwaffe's day fighter arm from 1942 through to the end of the war in Europe, covering missions over Russia in 1943, over the West and the Reich, the Eastern Front and the Mediterranean. Organized campaign by campaign, this chronological account interweaves brief biographical details, newly translated personal accounts, and key moments in the careers of a host of notable and lesser known Luftwaffe aces.
Fully illustrated with 200 contemporary photographs, maps, and profiles of the aircraft flown by these aces, this is a visual delight for anyone with an interest in the day fighter aces of the Luftwaffe.
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The 3rd SS Panzer Regiment
3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf
by Pierre Tiquet
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
The 3rd SS Panzer Regiment was part of the Totenkopf Division-one of the thirty-eight Waffen-SS divisions active during World War II. Notorious for its brutality, most notably a mass execution of British prisoners in the Battle of France, Totenkopf had a fearsome reputation. The 3rd SS Panzer Regiment was formed in France in late 1942, and transferred to the Eastern Front in early 1943, where it fought for the rest of the war.
The regiment participated in a number of battles, and would be reduced and rebuilt a number of times. The panzers of 3rd SS Panzer Regiment fought at Kharkov, took part in Operation Citadel, fought in the battle of Krivoi Rog, and the relief of the Korsun Pocket. The regiment then retreated over the Dniester. They fought in Poland against the Russian advance, before being moved to Hungary where they participated in the attempt to relieve Budapest. They eventually surrendered in Czechoslovakia to the 11th US Armored Division.
This book tells the story of the 3rd SS Panzer Regiment through the words of the veterans themselves. Among the veterans whose accounts are included are Walter Weber, a member of a tank crew in 5. Kompanie who recounts their optimism and high spirits at the start of Operation Citadel as the Germans made initial advances, followed by retreat as winter set in and the Russians began to push them back. Unterscharführer Stettner recalls the fierce tank battles and the difficulties advancing across minefields and evading an often well-concealed foe. Corporal Fritz Edelmann records the attempts to relieve Budapest in 1945 that Totenkopf took part in, which ended in encirclement, defeat and surrender to the Americans on May 9, 1945. In addition, it is illustrated with a wealth of contemporary photographs, original documents, and artifacts.
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Luftwaffe Victory Markings 1939–45
by Philippe Saintes
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A fully illustrated overview of Luftwaffe victory markings in World War II.
This book provides an overview of the victory markings painted on the fins and rudders of the planes of the German day fighter and night fighter aircraft between 1939 and 1945, and demonstrates how these were applied in reality through the profiles of nineteen pilots, including some of the most emblematic pilots of the Luftwaffe: Hans Troitzsch, Johannes Gentzen, Frank Liesendahl, Wilhelm Balthasar, Otto Bertram, Joachim Müncheberg, Karl-Heinz Koch, Kurt "Kuddel" Ubben, Felix-Maria Brandis, "Fiffi" Stahlschmidt, Franz-Josef Beerenbrock, Heinrich Setz, Walter "Gulle "Oesau, Max-Hellmuth Ostermann, Heinrich Bartels, "Fritz" Dinger, Martin Drewes, Egmont zur Lippe-Weissenfeld and Ludwig Meister.
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Operation Bagration
The Soviet Destruction of German Army Group Center, 1944
by Ian Baxter
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
This illustrated WII history provides a vivid account of the Red Army's devastating offensive against the invading German army.
In the summer of 1944, the Soviet Army launched Operation Bagration. This massive offensive led to the destruction of the German Army Group Center and was the greatest military defeat ever experienced by the German Army during World War Two. With rare and previously unpublished photographs, this book provides an absorbing insight into one of the most pivotal episodes on the Eastern Front.
With detailed captions and text together with twenty artist profiles and maps, the book shows how German Army Group Center tried to counter the overwhelming assault before it was forced to retreat. But the Russian offensive was so quick that many German units were encircled and destroyed. In a cataclysm bigger than Stalingrad, the Germans lost more than 300,000 men.
Though Operation Bagration was even more devastating to the Germans than the D-Day campaign in Normandy, comparatively little is written about it. This book reveals the lesser-known battle in the East and shows how the German forces fought and lost against overwhelming odds.
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U.S. Army Chevrolet Trucks in World War II
by Didier Andres
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
Between 1940 and 1945, large numbers of trucks of all categories were delivered to the U.S. Army by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors. Over 160,000 of these trucks were the G-506 light four-wheel-drive trucks-which became the standard 1 1/2-ton, 4x4 truck for both the U.S. Army and Army Air Corps during the war. In addition, many more thousands were delivered to Allied forces as part of the Lend-Lease program, including nearly 50,000 delivered to the Soviet Union. Tough, well-built and more agile than the deuce and a half, the Chevy 1½ ton played a part in every theater of operations during the war. Its durability and mechanical reliability made it ideal for a wide range of missions. Not for nothing did Chevy advertise the trucks during the war as "Vehicles of Victory." More than 75 years after it was designed, the small Chevrolet truck is still a favorite with collectors. This fully illustrated book details the different series of trucks and their many uses within the U.S. Army including cargo trucks, panel delivery trucks for the Signal Corps, dump trucks for engineers, telephone trucks, tractors, and bomb service trucks for the air force. It also covers their part in the Lend-Lease program, and their continued use after the war.
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U.S. Army Signal Corps Vehicles 1941–45
by Didier Andres
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
Includes hundreds of period photos covering all the details of the trucks, vans and trailers vital to maintain the communications of the U.S. Army in WWII.
The Signal Corps was at the forefront of the technological development of communications throughout World War II. Tasked with coordinating all American military activities, the Signal Corps initially had to rely on a communications landline network covering some 1 300 000 km. This network together with radio communications provided President Roosevelt with a global overview of military operations down to battalion level updated hourly for nearly five years. Technological evolution was so rapid that radio communications soon took over from the landline network, however adaptation remained a priority within the US Army Signal Corps for when landline networks were unavailable or radio silence had to be observed; signallers also maintained older communications methods including homing pigeons. Almost every large piece of Signal Corps equipment required wheeled transport. Early in the war the Model "K" vehicles, designed for the Signal Corps' needs, quickly proliferated with 84 variants being produced. After that designation was abandoned the Signal Corps would catalogue a further 62 models of vehicles and trailers, most of them were associated with a particular radio or radar installation. This comprehensive and fully illustrated account covers radar, radio vehicles, plus specialized vehicles such as telephone repair trucks, mobile telephone switchboards and homing pigeon units, all described in technical detail and illustrated by hundreds of period photos.
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German Tank Destroyers
by Pierre Tiquet
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
Includes coverage of all the tank destroyers used by the German army including the Hornisse, the Jagdpanzer 38, the Jagdpanzer IV, and the Elefant. From the early days of World War II, it was clear that the Wehrmacht's antitank units would need to be motorized as existing horse- or automobile-drawn units were too slow to be effective. Initially, antitank guns were mounted onto available, usually obsolete, tank chassis, such as the Panzerjäger I and II. However German engineers would soon turn to the heavy chasses of the Panzer IV, the Panther, and the Tiger for their tank hunters. It became apparent during the invasion of France that enemy antitank guns were both more powerful and better armored, and improvement became a priority during Barbarossa as German units faced off against the new Soviet tanks. The appearance of the Soviet T-34 in July 1941 meant that the Germans had to quickly come up with something equally powerful. The result was the motorized panzerjäger, faster and more mobile than the older versions. This was followed in 1942 by the introduction of the 7.5cm gun. Further designs and modifications were informed by reports from the front line. Some of these conversions were very successful and resulted in fearsome tank destroyers deployed to great effect by the Wehrmacht. The lightweight Hetzer, for example, was based on a modified Panzer 38(t) and entered service in 1944. This small tank became Germany's main tank destroyer during the final stages of the war and would continue in use around the world even after 1945. Though they may not have looked that intimidating, the Landser were soon won over, and were comforted to have something reliable to stand between them and the Soviet tanks. This account, illustrated by hundreds of period photos, examines the development and deployment of various models of tank destroyers during World War II.
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U.S. Aircraft Carriers 1939–45
by Ingo Bauernfeind
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A detailed and fully illustrated account of the development of American aircraft carriers up to and during World War II.
This extensively illustrated volume tells the dramatic yet successful story of U.S. aircraft carriers in World War II by class, ranging from early pre-war designs to escort carriers built from destroyer hulls, to the gigantic fleet carriers serving as the predecessors of modern-day super carriers.
Besides covering the famous great carrier battles in the Pacific, this book also tells of the equally important actions of U.S. flat tops hunting and destroying German U-boats in the Atlantic, making an enormous contribution to the elimination of the U-boat dangers and the safe arrival of transatlantic supplies, so desperately needed for the launch of D-Day.
Including profiles and explanatory text boxes, the concise text gives a clear overview of each ship's career, its fate and its significance in American naval history. Moreover, the reader learns about the technical evolution of U.S. carriers throughout the war, and the various aircraft launched from these magnificent vessels to engage their Japanese or German foes. This volume provides an overview of preserved World War II flat tops serving as floating museums for future generations as well as a dive to the sunken U.S.S. Saratoga at Bikini Atoll.
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German Mountain Troops 1942–45
by Yves Béraud
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
When World War II began, the Wehrmacht had fifteen mountain divisions and a multitude of small units, including some Austrian units that had been incorporated into the German army after the Anschluss. These mountain units would operate in hostile environments on all fronts during World War II. Due to their training, equipment and adaptability, the Gebirgstruppen would be deployed to fight in almost every theater. In the last years of the war they would see action in North Africa, Italy, the Balkans, Norway and Finland, and in the West as the Allies pushed German forces back toward Berlin. This book, the culmination of four decades of research and the support of many veterans and collectors, describes the uniform, equipment, and operations of these specialist units during the later years of World War II. The text is complemented by period photographs taken at the front, including many color photographs, and modern photographs of uniform details.
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Dreadnoughts and Super-Dreadnoughts
by Chris McNab
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A heavily illustrated account of the evolution, design and deployment of dreadnought battleships.
When HMS Dreadnought was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1906 this revolutionary new class of big-gun iron-clad warship immediately changed the face of naval warfare, rendering all other battleships worldwide obsolete. The Admiralty realised that as soon as the ship was revealed to the global naval community Britain would be a in race to stay ahead, and so the first dreadnoughts were built in record time. While there were those who regarded the vessel as a triumphant revolution in naval design, the dreadnought initially had its critics, including those who thought its slower, heavier guns left it vulnerable to the secondary armament of other warships. Nevertheless, other countries, notably Germany, and the United States soon began to lay down dreadnoughts. The culmination of this arms race would be the confrontation of the British and German fleets at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916—the greatest clash of naval firepower in history. This book gives detailed insights into the design, operation and combat history of these incredible vessels.
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Luftwaffe Victory Markings 1939–45
by Philippe Saintes
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A fully illustrated overview of Luftwaffe victory markings in World War II.
This book provides an overview of the victory markings painted on the fins and rudders of the planes of the German day fighter and night fighter aircraft between 1939 and 1945, and demonstrates how these were applied in reality through the profiles of nineteen pilots, including some of the most emblematic pilots of the Luftwaffe: Hans Troitzsch, Johannes Gentzen, Frank Liesendahl, Wilhelm Balthasar, Otto Bertram, Joachim Müncheberg, Karl-Heinz Koch, Kurt "Kuddel" Ubben, Felix-Maria Brandis, "Fiffi" Stahlschmidt, Franz-Josef Beerenbrock, Heinrich Setz, Walter "Gulle "Oesau, Max-Hellmuth Ostermann, Heinrich Bartels, "Fritz" Dinger, Martin Drewes, Egmont zur Lippe-Weissenfeld and Ludwig Meister.
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12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
From Formation to the Battle of Caen
by Massimiliano Afiero
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A fully illustrated account of the infamous 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, from their formation through to the fierce battles for Caen.
The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend was formed in 1943 from members of the Hitler Youth who had been born in 1926, primarily as an emergency response force in France to repel the expected Allied invasion from the sea. Training was initially haphazard due to lack of equipment, however in March 1944 it was attached to I SS Panzer Corps and transferred to Normandy. Based around Caen, it was intended to repel a possible and expected invasion from the sea. When the invasion came in June, it was one of the two closest panzer divisions to the landing beaches, engaging Allied paratroopers at dawn. Once the Allied bridgehead was established, Hitlerjugend deployed to Caen. The defensive battles that took place in Normandy, particularly the four battles around the city of Caen, saw the young soldiers of the Hitlerjugend demonstrate determined resistance, conceding only due to being greatly outnumbered. Packed with photographs, maps and profiles, this Casemate Illustrated follows the actions of the 12th SS Panzer Division through formation and training to the four battles for Caen.
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The Soviet Baltic Offensive, 1944–45
German Defense of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
by Ian Baxter
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A fully illustrated account of the Soviet offensive in the Baltics and the desperate German attempts to hold back the Red Army.
This is a compelling account of the German defense of the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Against overwhelming Soviet forces the book shows how the German Army Group North was driven across the Baltics from Leningrad and fought a number isolated battles including the defense of Narva, Memel and the Kurland pocket. The book outlines in dramatic detail how Hitler forbade his troops to withdraw, ordering them to follow his Halt Order Decree and fight to the death. However, exhausted and demoralized by continuous Soviet assaults, Army Group North became cut-off and isolated, fighting fanatically to hold the capital cities of Tallin, Vilnius and Riga. What followed were German forces fighting to the death in the last few small pockets of land surrounding three ports: Libau in Kurland, Pillau in East Prussia and Danzig at the mouth of the River Vistula. In the Kurland, German divisions became surrounded and fought a vicious defense until May 1945. Drawing on a host of rare and unpublished photographs accompanied by in-depth captions and text, the book provides an absorbing read of the Red Army's conquering of the Baltics.
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World War II Snipers
The Men, Their Guns, Their Stories
by Gary Yee
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
"Gary Yee takes what is already a well-researched deep dive into the specifics of sniper training, employment and equipment to a new level." - American Rifleman Magazine
Thousands of volumes have been published about World War II but relatively little attention has been given to the sniper. Drawing from memoirs, government documents and interviews, World War II Snipers incorporates eyewitness accounts to weave a comprehensive narrative of snipers in World War II. While certain common traits were shared among belligerents, each had its unique methodology for selecting and training snipers and, as casualties were high, their replacements. Drawn from hunters, competitive shooters, natural marksmen, outdoorsmen, city dwellers, farmers and veteran soldiers, they fought to assert local battlefield dominance and instill among their enemy a paralyzing fear. Sometimes admired and other times reviled by their own comrades because of the retaliation they drew, they were always too few in number. Their battlefield role, their victories and their defeats are retold here from neglected or forgotten sources. The scope of World War II Snipers is extensive with three chapters each on the major theaters of the war including Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the Pacific. This is supported by a lengthy chapter on the sniper rifles used by the snipers and their equipment.
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U.S. Army Diamond T Vehicles in World War II
by Didier Andres
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A detailed summary of all the types of Diamond T vehicles used by the US Army during World War II, packed full of period photos and diagrams.
Between 1940 and 1945, Diamond T Motor Car Company supplied just over 50,000 vehicles to the US military, and also to the Allies. Of this, just over 30,000 were heavy 4-ton 6x6 trucks of varying types: cargo, tow truck, pontoon carrier, engineer, cartographic, etc. The "Diamond" would serve in all theaters of operations, wherever its robustness and reliability were necessary to complete the mission. Due to its expertise, Diamond T also produced the famous half-track, with more than 10,000 manufactured. All of these models are described in this work by Didier Andres, an expert in the subject. The text is illustrated throughout using archival and period photographs and diagrams.
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12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, Volume 2
From Operation Goodwood to April 1946
by Massimiliano Afiero
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
An account of the infamous 12th SS Panzer Division Hiterjugend, from Operation Goodwood through to the end of the war. Packed with over 150 photographs, maps and diagrams.
Formed in 1943 with the express purpose of blocking the forthcoming Allied invasion in the West, the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend carved out a reputation as one of the Wehrmacht's foremost panzer divisions, as witnessed by its tenacious defense of Caen following the Allied invasion of Normandy. The British Operation Goodwood against Caen in July 1944 was followed by Totalize in August, which bypassed Caen and attacked the Hitlerjugend positions. Within a week thousands of German troops were encircled in the Falaise Pocket. Around ten thousand Hitlerjugend soldiers escaped piecemeal, regrouping to fight in the battles along the Maas and the ill-fated Ardennes offensive of December 1944. Deployed to Hungary in 1945 to stem the Red Army advance, the division fought against overwhelming odds until the final battles in Austria, on Reich soil, in late April 1945. There the soldiers of the Hitlerjugend, despite the desperate situation and the superiority of the enemy, managed to achieve local success and launch desperate counterattacks even into the last weeks of the war. Packed with photographs, maps and profiles, this Casemate Illustrated follows the actions of the 12th SS Panzer Division throughout its existence.
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The Soviet Destruction of Army Group South
Ukraine and Southern Poland 1943–1945
by Ian Baxter
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
Detailed account of one of the largest operations of World War II-involving almost four million troops stretched along a 900-mile front for months.
Following the destruction of Sixth Army at Stalingrad in February 1943, Army Group South slowly withdrew westwards, using the Dnieper as a fortified position. In late 1943, the Soviet 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Ukrainian Front launched a strategic offensive against the German Army Group South A-one of the largest operations of the war. In May 1944, Red Army troops defeated Army Group South and Army Group A on the Dnieper. Many thousands of German troops evacuated across the Black Sea. In July, troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front launched an operation into the Crimea. The offensive coincided with other Red Army operations further north, including the Lublin-Brest Offensive-part of Operation Bagration. Slowly and inexorably, the powerful Russian attacks forced the tattered German army group to retreat hundreds of miles west, into Eastern Poland and Romania. Here German forces defended their positions and built defenses in Hungary and Austria to try to slow down the overwhelming might of the Red Army. There, the Germans would fight a series of desperate battles until the remnants surrendered in early May 1945. Drawing on rare and previously unpublished images accompanied by detailed captions and text, the book gives a fascinating analysis of the destruction of Army Group South in southern Russia between 1944 and 1945.
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The Creek War, 1813–14
by Richard D. Blackmon
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
The Creek War was a civil conflict within the Creek Nation, influencing U.S. expansion and the War of 1812.
The Creek War (1813–1814) was not only a brutal civil war within the Creek Nation but also part of a broader international struggle tied to the War of 1812. It ended with America's victory, a watershed moment that expanded white settlement into Creek territories and influenced the course of the larger war with Great Britain.
Following the American Revolution, tensions had grown between settlers in Georgia and the Creek Nation over contested lands and cultural assimilation. Divisions within the Creek Nation deepened, with the Lower Creeks, many of whom aligned with U.S. policies, opposing the Red Sticks, who resisted white encroachment and sought to restore Indigenous traditions and autonomy. These divisions set the stage for a violent conflict that engulfed the Creek homeland, stretching across Georgia, Alabama, and the Mississippi Territory. The Creek War's pivotal moments included the Fort Mims Massacre, which shocked U.S. settlers and government officials alike, and Andrew Jackson's decisive victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in March 1814. Jackson's campaigns, supported by allied Choctaws, Cherokees, and friendly Creeks, decimated Red Stick forces and led to the Treaty of Fort Jackson, which forced the Creek Nation to cede millions of acres, paving the way for further expansion-and eventual tragedy-with the Indian Removal Act in the 1830s.
This illustrated book chronicles the war's key battles, from the massacre at Fort Mims to the decisive Battle of Horseshoe Bend. It examines the roles of volunteer militias, U.S. Army regulars, and allied Indigenous forces, highlighting their triumphs and struggles as they contended with harsh terrain, logistical challenges, and short enlistments.
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The Campaign of 1812
by Steven J. Rauch
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
The War of 1812 emerged from maritime disputes and British aggression, leading to flawed U.S. invasions of Canada.
The War of 1812 was born out of longstanding tensions between the United States and Great Britain. Centered on maritime disputes, the war arose from British policies that disregarded U.S. sovereignty, including the impressment of American sailors into the Royal Navy and restrictions on American trade. These provocations, coupled with British support for Native American resistance on the western frontier, led President James Madison to advocate for military action.
The book explores the United States' ambitious yet flawed strategy of 1812 to invade Canada as a means to counter British aggression. Despite initial optimism, the U.S. Army faced significant challenges, including insufficient manpower, untrained militias, logistical failures, and inadequate leadership. Disjointed campaigns in Detroit, Queenston Heights, and other key theaters highlighted systemic issues within the War Department and military operations. Meanwhile, British control of waterways and superior coordination allowed their smaller forces to outmaneuver and frustrate American efforts.
This fully illustrated volume examines the realities of early 19th-century warfare, from the fragile logistics of supplying armies to the political tensions shaping military decisions. It offers assessment of the challenges faced by the young republic, and highlights how early setbacks laid the groundwork for eventual reform and resilience in the war's later stages.
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The Waffen-SS in Poland, 1939
by Massimiliano Afiero
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
"Modelers cannot help but have a lot of inspiration for their models, vignettes, and dioramas from this book. The period photographs provide great details for early WWII German Heer units, the nascent Waffen-SS and the Polish army." – IPMS/USA
During the Polish campaign, SS combat units were seconded to various formations of the Heer. Still considered more parade troops than frontline soldiers, they did not prove a decisive factor in the fighting, but the campaign was important for their transformation into real fighting units. They were criticized for their losses, and the officers were blamed, being considered poorly and inadequately trained. The SS officers in turn accused Heer commanders for sacrificing SS troops in suicidal missions. Himmler became convinced that if his units were used autonomously they could have better demonstrated their full potential, leading him to push for the SS to be considered a separate fighting force.
Fully illustrated, this Casemate Illustrated describes the actions of the SS units that fought on the front line in Poland, primarily the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, the SS-Verfügungstruppen and the SS-Heimwehr-Danzig.
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The Canadian Theater, 1814
by Richard V. Barbuto
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
The War of 1814 featured fierce U.S.-Canada battles, strategic shifts, and pivotal victories shaping peace negotiations.
The War of 1812 reached a fever pitch along the American border with Canada during the fighting season of 1814. After eighteen months of war, victory over Great Britain remained an elusive goal for the United States; American attempts to conquer Canada had failed, and Britain had not budged on its assertion that it had the right to impress U.S. sailors of British birth. In the South, fighting with the Red Stick Creeks smoldered, while on the Atlantic seaboard the Royal Navy had tightened its blockade and begun raiding villages and plantations on Chesapeake Bay with impunity. While the United States improved the quality of its armed forces and leadership, flawed strategies and resource shortages hindered its campaign to seize Upper and Lower Canada. Meanwhile, with war in Europe finally over, the British were working to transfer numbers of experienced soldiers and sailors to join the struggle against the United States. Following the battles and campaigns of the year-including the clashes at Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, the siege of Fort Erie, and at Plattsburgh-the United States controlled only a small portion of Upper Canada across from Detroit. Great Britain occupied eastern Maine, Fort Niagara, Fort Mackinac, and the upper Mississippi Valley. The stunning and unlikely victory at Plattsburgh maintained Lake Champlain as a U.S. possession. Meanwhile, Britain was ready for peace and agreed that all occupied territories would be returned to their original owners at the conclusion of the war.
Fully illustrated, this narrative discusses the operations of this pivotal year in detail, explores the fortunes of leaders like Jacob Brown, Gordon Drummond, and Winfield Scott, examines the evolving tactics and resilience of American militias and regular troops, and analyses the strategic miscalculations and hard-fought victories that defined this turning point in the war.
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Military Dogs of World War II
by Susan Bulanda
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
"Military Dogs of World War II examines a heartwarming but serious topic and reminds senior leaders and servicemembers of all ranks of the critical contributions made by every level of the force. It is an illuminating quick read on an often overlooked and ongoing part of the overall military effort." – Parameters
Animals, especially dogs, have served in all the wars of men since time immemorial. During World War II, most combatant nations employed dogs on the battlefield in a number of ways including searching for injured men or downed airmen; detecting mines; carrying messages between units or dragging communications wires, particularly in difficult terrain; transporting supplies; and sentry duty.
This illustrated book is an overview of how dogs were trained and used in WWII by different countries, including the stories of some of the individual animals that served. It also summarizes the various programs established to take care of the animals and send them home after the war.
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The Canadian Theater, 1813
by Richard V. Barbuto
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
America had gone to war in June 1812 confident that the conquest of Canada would be swift and decisive. However, ill-prepared and hindered by inexperienced leaders, untrained troops, and a lack of resources, the United States quickly found itself on the defensive, suffering major setbacks at Detroit, Queenston, and the River Raisin. By the end of the year, British and Canadian forces stood firm, and some American-held territories had even fallen to the British. Recognizing the need for significant change, President James Madison's administration took steps to reform the army and improve recruitment, pay, and supply logistics. In an important shift, the U.S. Navy bolstered its role by appointing Captain Isaac Chauncey to build a fleet on the Great Lakes.
Chauncey's efforts set off a naval arms race that became crucial to American operations in the Northwest. Meanwhile, Congress expanded the army, adding new regiments, reorganizing recruitment, and improving pay. Unfortunately the desperate need for troops on the front line mean that companies were marched off as soon as assembled and a regiment therefore rarely had all its companies assembled.
American forces launched multiple operations in the Canadian theater in 1813, including the raid on York, the capture of Fort George, defensive battles in the Northwest, naval battles on Lake Ontario and the failed Montreal advance but these engagements provided only limited gains. Strategic errors, supply issues, and weak leadership undercut potential victories, leaving the war's outcome uncertain.
This illustrated history provides a clear account of the 1813 campaign, examining key battles, strategic shifts, and the efforts to strengthen American forces amid ongoing setbacks. Despite limited progress, the trials of 1813 allowed Madison to identify rising officers like Brown and Scott, who would bring hard-won experience to the coming year's campaigns.
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The Chesapeake Campaign, 1813–14
by Charles P. Neimeyer
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
In early 1813, Britain launched a campaign on the Chesapeake Bay to try and divert American regulars from the Canadian border and put pressure on the United States to come to terms. Wishing to keep the Regular Army on the northern front, Secretary of War John Armstrong chose to rely on local forces and state militias to protect the Chesapeake Bay region, believing British raids posed more of a distraction than a serious threat. This defensive approach meant that towns, ports, and even the nation's capital were left vulnerable to attack, and the responsibility for protection largely fell to less experienced, hastily organized militia units.
While American forces successfully defended Craney Island near Norfolk, staving off British occupation, British forces routed an American force at Bladenburg, opening the path to Washington, where they set fire to public buildings, including the White House and the Capitol. This symbolic victory was followed by the Battle of North Point and the defense of Fort McHenry, where Americans managed to turn back British forces in Baltimore. Although the British raid on Washington was a symbolic coup, it did not disrupt the U.S. government or significantly affect the war. The failed attempt to capture Baltimore, combined with a decisive American victory at Plattsburgh, New York, underscored American resilience and contributed to Britain's decision to end the war without any territorial concessions.
Illustrated with photographs and maps, The U.S. Army in the Chesapeake Campaign 1813–14 examines this campaign's key engagements.
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The Waffen-SS at Kharkov
by Massimiliano Afiero
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
In 1943, German forces launched a counteroffensive, reclaiming Kharkov during a crucial Eastern Front crisis
At the beginning of 1943, the German armed forces were in crisis on the southern front in Russia. The Soviets had launched a series of offensives from November 1942 that pushed the Germans back hundreds of kilometers. The Germans had no more significant reserves available, and enormous breaches had opened between defensive lines. In early January 1943, the Soviets attacked again, with the aim of reconquering the industrial city of Kharkov and destroying the remaining German and Axis troops in southern Ukraine, including the 4. Panzerarmee, 1. Panzerarmee, Armeeabteilung Hollidt and Armeeabteilung Fretter‐Pico.
After the encirclement of 6. Armee at Stalingrad and the destruction of the Axis forces there, the loss of these four armies would certainly have led to German defeat on the Eastern Front. Believing victory was near, Stalin and his generals decided to launch their new offensives even before the garrison of Stalingrad surrendered. The main effort fell on Army Group Don, newly formed and with little forces available. Facing a massive offensive, Commander Erich von Manstein was ordered to hold the city at any cost, risking the destruction of two divisions of the Waffen‐SS and the "Grossdeutschland" army division. SS Panzer Corps commander Paul Hausser disobeyed Hitler's order and ordered the retreat from Kharkov, saving the two SS divisions. This meant that Manstein had at his disposal forces needed to launch his counteroffensive.
The subsequent battles for Kharkov saw the three divisions of the Waffen‐SS-Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, Das Reich and Totenkopf- fighting together for the first time. In the first phase of the offensive, the SS Das Reich and Totenkopf marched 100 kilometers south of Kharkov, blocking the Soviet army from capturing the bridges over the Dnieper River, while the Leibstandarte successfully defended the corps supply base in Krasnograd. After protecting the bridges over the Dnepr, the Das Reich and Totenkopf units headed north and regained control of the vital railway network south of Kharkov. The Soviet 3rd Tank Army was forced to abandon its attack against Krasnograd to regroup south of Kharkov and protect the city from Hausser's divisions. At that point the Leibstandarte joined the other divisions of the corps SS to eliminate Soviet forces and recapture Kharkov. With its reconquest, Southern Ukraine returned firmly under German control.
This is a fully illustrated account of the decisive victory attained by the SS Panzer Corps divisions at a time of serious crisis for the Axis forces.
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The Shiloh Campaign, 1862
by Sean Michael Chick
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A comprehensive and fully illustrated account of the Shiloh Campaign, with over a hundred photographs and detailed maps.
After taking Forts Henry and Donelson, the Union army prepared to try and take the vital rail hub of Corinth, Mississippi. To facilitate this, Major General H. Halleck planned to combine Grant's Army of West Tennessee with Buell's Army of the Ohio. Meanwhile the newly formed Confederate Army of the Mississippi was placed under the command of General A. S. Johnston. Johnston planned to attack Grant's encampment before Grant and Buell could combine their commands.
The Confederate army left Corinth and marched north into Tennessee. On the morning of April 6, 1862, Johnston attacked at Shiloh, taking Grant's forces by surprise. Grant's troops put up a tenacious defense with their backs against the Tennessee River. Unfortunately for the Confederates, Johnston was killed early that afternoon. Buell's army arrived that night and next morning launched a counterattack along with Grant's semi-organized survivors. The Union forces were too large to be stopped, and after a stout defensive effort Beauregard ordered a withdrawal. The first great bloodbath of the Civil War was over, resulting in up to 30,000 killed, wounded, and captured. Its ramifications would be felt for the rest of the war.
Illustrated with photographs, paintings and maps, this is a full account of the first large set-piece battle of the war, the only time a large Union army was taken by surprise.
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The Vicksburg Campaign, 1863
by Chris Mackowski
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A fully illustrated account of the Vicksburg Campaign, including modern color photography and covering the river war, inland battles, seige operations, and more.
The 14-month campaign to regain the control of Mississippi River by capturing Vicksburg, Mississippi, stands as the prime example of how the Civil War would be fought and won. The Federal government's policy of blockading the southern ports and controlling the inland waterways would only be successful with total control of the country's largest river. Technological advances created by the war itself and used by progressive-thinking Federal and Confederate commanders ensured that this vital Southern supply and logistics base would be the focal point of the war on the western waters.
Ulysses S. Grant, who had risen to fame as one of the North's prominent heroes early in the war, boldly concluded that Vicksburg would be the next nut to crack in the Federal policy for control of the Mississippi River. Understanding that only a strong relationship with US Navy could ensure the success of Vicksburg's surrender, Grant found a man as bold and daring as himself in David Dixon Porter and his Mississippi Squadron of ironclad gunboats and fleet of vessels. These two commanders and their trusted subordinates would frustrate John C. Pemberton's attempts to defend Mississippi and eastern Louisiana for the Confederacy. A lack of experience in commanding such an important assignment, limited resources, poor staffing, and a Confederate government consumed with the war in the east ensured Pemberton's position would be insurmountable as the Confederacy's tenuous hold on the Mississippi River began to fall apart.
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The East Pomeranian Offensive, 1945
Destruction of German Forces in Pomerania and West Prussia
by Ian Baxter
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A fully illustrated account of the East Pomerania Offensive, covering multiple battles and includes previously unpublished photos of late-war Soviet offensives.
In early 1945, the Red Army marched into East Prussia. Having advanced across Poland, relentlessly pushing back German forces, the Red Army built up forces along the Oder River, preparing for the final push towards Berlin. But before that battle could take place, it was necessary to clear and destroy German forces in Pomerania and West Prussia. In February 1945, the 2nd Byelorussian Front was advanced west north of the Vistula River toward Pomerania and the major port city of Danzig, with the primary aim of protecting the right flank of Zhukov's 1st Byelorussian Front, which was pushing towards Berlin. The opening of the offensive saw a series of heavy attacks east of Neustettin against the towns of Kontiz and Koslin. The fighting was bitter, resulting in the entire left wing of the 3rd Panzer Army being cut off.
Forward Soviet tank units reached the Baltic, and the German forces in Pomerania became trapped in a series of encirclements. Russian troops then pushed on to Danzig-strategic location and the last German stronghold in the region-reaching it in early March and putting it under siege. A third stage was the operation to take the Arnswalde and Kolberg areas. Kolberg was one of the key German positions in the "Pomeranian wall," the vital link between Pomerania and Prussia. The German high command had planned to use the port facilities for the logistical supply of nearby German forces, and hoped that the presence of this stronghold would lure Soviet forces away from the main thrust toward Berlin. The ensuing battle was brutal, with Soviet troops eventually seizing Kolberg. Finally, spearheads of the 1st Byelorussian Front advanced against the German Eleventh SS Panzer Army, which was being assembled in Pomerania. What followed was a bitter and bloody battle for the town of Altdamm.
The offensive successfully cleared the remnants of German forces northeast of Berlin, allowing Zhukov's forces to finally launch the battle of Berlin from the Seelow Heights on the Oder on April 16, 1945.
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Such a Clash of Arms
The Maryland Campaign, September 1862
by Kevin R. Pawlak
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A fully illustrated narrative of the Maryland campaign 1862, culminating in Antietam, the bloodiest single day in American military history.
By the late summer of 1862, it appeared as though the United States would be permanently split in two, and by the beginning of September, General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was on the doorstep of Washington, D.C. Panicked and defeated Federal soldiers huddled behind the capital's defenses. Rather than attacking the city, Lee turned his attention north into Maryland, seeking a decisive battlefield victory to influence public opinion at home and diplomatic opinion overseas. Major General George B. McClellan led the reorganized Army of the Potomac into the state to meet Lee.
Over a span of 18 days, the two armies fought four significant battles, including the climactic engagement along Antietam Creek outside Sharpsburg on September 17, 1862. The battle there still holds the distinction as the bloodiest single day in American military history. Forced from Maryland, Lee withdrew into Virginia, leaving President Abraham Lincoln free to follow up this strategic victory with the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, a measure that changed the nature of the American Civil War.
Copious illustrations and maps paired with a detailed text, this account of the Maryland campaign will have wide appeal.
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The Philadelphia Campaign, 1777
by Michael C. Harris
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
Detailed and fully illustrated account of the Philadelphia campaign 1777, with over 150 photographs, maps and contemporary artwork.
The British Army in North America conducted two campaigns in 1777. John Burgoyne led one army south from Canada to seize control of the Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor resulting in the battle of Saratoga. Burgoyne's defeat led to that army's capture. Rather than assist Burgoyne's campaign, William Howe led his army from New York City on the Philadelphia campaign. Although Howe captured Philadelphia, the events of 1777 led to the French Alliance and ultimately American victory in American Revolution.
This fully illustrated account of the Philadelphia campaign puts the battles into context and explains the importance of the campaign to the outcome of the war.
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The Soviet Battle for Berlin, 1945
by Ian Baxter
Part of the Casemate Illustrated series
A fully illustrated account of the Red Army's fierce April 1945 offensive meant to encircle and assault Berlin amidst desperate German resistance.
In the spring of 1945, simultaneously with the battle of the Seelow Heights, powerful Red Army spearheads launched three sub-offensive operations to clear German resistance for the Berlin operation. Between April 13 and 17, 1945, elements of the 2nd Belorussian Front replaced parts of the 1st Belorussian Front and began to prepare their offensive operations. Bitter fighting ensued, as German units desperately tried to hold their positions. Whilst these operations continued with unabated ferocity, Zhukov's 1st Belorussian Front broke through the final line of the Seelow Heights and nothing but broken German formations lay between them and Berlin.
On April 20, Hitler's 56th birthday, Soviet artillery of the 1st Belorussian Front began shelling Berlin in preparation for attacking the city. At the same time the 1st Belorussian Front advanced towards the east and northeast of the Reich capital, whilst the 1st Ukrainian Front smashed through the last formations of the northern wing of the German Army Group Center. What followed was the Soviet battle for Berlin. Russian planners divided the frontal and pincer parts of the battle for Berlin in phases. Once the 1st Belorussian Front and 1st Ukrainian Front completely encircled the city, over one million Russian soldiers began attacking into the suburbs towards the center. They faced some 45,000 soldiers in several severely depleted Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS divisions. These divisions were supplemented by the Berlin Police force, and the Hitlerjugend and Volkssturm, mainly manned by teenaged boys.