August 2023 MBR The Military Shelf

The Military Shelf

The Winter War 1939-40
Philip Jowett
Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781636242385, $28.95, PB, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/Winter-War-1939-40-Casemate-Illustrated/dp/1636242383

Synopsis: When the Soviet Union invaded Finland in late 1939, what transpired was a true "David and Goliath" conflict. When Finland refused a number of Soviet demands, including the ceding of substantial border territories ostensibly to enable the Soviets to protect Leningrad, the Soviets responded by launching an invasion. The invasion involved a large Soviet army, with several thousand tanks, and a large air force.

But to the world's surprise the Finnish Army (many of them reservists without proper uniforms and limited ammunition) and Air Force battled overwhelming odds, and managed to resist Russian attacks for over two months, inflicting serious losses.

Geography played its part as much of the Finnish-Soviet border was impassable, meaning that Soviet numerical superiority was of less import. Operating in the winter, with temperatures ranging as low as -43F, the Finns' determined resistance won them international reputation.

Although hostilities finally ended in a peace treaty that saw Finland cede 9% of its territory, Soviet losses had been heavy, and Finland retained its sovereignty.

Critique: "The Winter War 1939-40" by Philip Jowett is a fully illustrated text that covers all the forces involved and all stages of what is now known to military historians as the Winter War. A part of the simply outstanding Casemate Illustrated series, "The Winter War 1939-40" is an invaluable and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and acdemic library 20th Century European Military History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, historians, and military history buffs that "The Winter War 1939-40" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.95).

Editorial Note: Philip Jowett (https://www.usni.org/people/philip-jowett) has been interested in military history from an early age, published many books over the last twenty-five years, specializing in the armies of Asia in the first half of the twentieth century, the Russo-Japanese War, and the armies of the Second World War.

The First Bridge Too Far
Mark Saliger
Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781636243757, $24.95, PB, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/First-Bridge-Too-Far-Primosole/dp/1636243754

Synopsis: Originally published by Casemate in August 2018, and now released in a paperback edition, the World War II conflict known as the Battle of Primosole Bridge is brought to life in Mark Saliger's "The First Bridge Too Far: The Battle of Primosole Bridge 1943", a well-researched narrative solely dedicated to one of the bloodiest and hardest fought battles for British airborne troops of World War Two.

Primosole Bridge in Sicily (13-16 July 1943) provided the stage for the first instance of opposing elite paratroopers parachuting into battle and then fighting each other in a see-saw battle raging under the blazing Mediterranean sky. It's a story of courage and determination. A story of legendary military units and their commanders. A story that now, on the eve of its 75th Anniversary, finally needs to be told.

The British paratroopers of the famed Parachute Regiment's 1st Parachute Brigade, known as the 'Red Devils,' fought their equally esteemed German paratrooper opponents, known as the 'Green Devils,' in a battle of attrition central to the entire success of the Allies' first invasion of Hitler's Fortress Europe. These two sets of elite Devils fought each other to a standstill in Hellish conditions.

The paratroopers found themselves cut off behind enemy lines with dwindling ammunition and ever-growing enemy forces encircling. Their courage and determination in standing up to overwhelming odds allowed the ground forces to arrive and capture the bridge in the nick of time before it was destroyed.

The hard-won experience gained by the 1st Parachute Brigade was again tested only a year later at the Battle of Arnhem, the battle christened "a bridge too far." It was in fact an almost identical battle, but on a larger scale, to the ferocious fight that the British paratroopers had faced only months previously.

The Battle of Arnhem is well documented. The Battle of Primosole Bridge, which provided the foundations for the men and planning for the legendary events at Arnhem, is virtually unheard of and needs to be told at last in order to honor the sacrifice of the Britain's unsung war heroes.

Critique: Also available for in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99), with the publication of "The First Bridge Too Far: The Battle of Primosole Bridge 1943", author and veteran Mark Saliger rescues from an undeserved obscurity the World War II story that will prove to be an enduringly appreciated acquisition for the personal reading lists of World War II military history buffs, as well as professional, community, college, and university library World War II history collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Mark Saliger served in the 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment for over six years including tours of duty in global theatres of operations such as Iraq, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan where he experienced combat situations on a regular basis. He has experienced first-hand both the planning of operations and then being part of those same operations behind enemy lines and is uniquely qualified to paint a soldier's eye view of the battle.

Retreat through the Rhone Valley
Jorg Staiger, author
Matthais Strohn, editor
Linden Lyons, translator
Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781636242309, $32.95, HC, 168pp

https://www.amazon.com/Retreat-through-Rhone-Valley-August-September/dp/1636242308

Synopsis: The Dragoon offensive in August 1944 was preceded by bombings and sabotage that hit hard at the German forces located in the South of France -- damaging communications, railroads and bridges. The landings were then overwhelmingly successful, despite localized German resistance.

The following morning a German force the size of around four infantry battalions was able to launch a counterattack, but by the end of the day von Schwerin ordered a retreat under cover of night. What ensued was a race to retreat to the Burgundian Gate, or Belfort Gap, before they were cut off by the advancing Allied troops.

The Allies had all the means for a successful pursuit, while most of the German troops, with the notable exception of the 11th Panzer Division, were largely incapable of undertaking an orderly retreat. Some units, including the LXII Corps headquarters, were surrounded and captured.

With the publication of "Retreat through the Rhone Valley: Defensive battles of the Nineteenth Army, August-September 1944", Jorg Staiger, recounts the German retreat and explains how the 19th Army sacrificed divisions to enable its retreat through the Rhone Valley.

Critique: Ably written by Jorg Staiger, deftly edited by Matthais Strohn, occasionally illustrated with line drawn maps, and professionally translated into English by Linden Lyons, "Retreat through the Rhone Valley: Defensive battles of the Nineteenth Army, August-September 1944" is an eyewitness German account of the German army's retreat following the Allied Dragoon landings of World War II. Also available for personal reading lists of students, academia, military buffs in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) "Retreat through the Rhone Valley" a singular and key addition to community, college, and university library World War II History/Biography/Memoir collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: There is a listing of military histories by German author Jorg Staiger on the www.Bookshop.org website at https://bookshop.org/contributors/jorg-staiger

Editorial Note #2: Matthias Strohn (https://www.buckingham.ac.uk/research/hri/fellows/strohn) is head of historical analysis at the Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research and the British Army's strategic think tank, visiting professor of military studies at the University of Buckingham, and a member of the academic faculty at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He holds a commission in the German Army and is a member of the military attache reserve. He was awarded the highest German military decoration, the 'Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in Gold,' and has published widely on 20th-century German and European military history. He has authored and edited over 20 books and numerous articles.

Editorial Note #3: Linden Lyons holds a master's degree in history from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He studied German at the University of Freiburg and librarianship at the University of Canberra. He is the translator of several titles in the Die Wehrmacht im Kampf series, most recently Counter-Strike Operations, Normandy, and Rome to the Po River.

Headhunter
Peter C. Svoboda
Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781636243214, $24.95, PB, 228pp

https://www.amazon.com/Headhunter-Their-Fight-Diyala-Valley/dp/1636243215

Synopsis: Selected in 2005 by the Army to be the first airborne reconnaissance squadron, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, better known as 5-73 CAV, was formed from 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The members of the squadron were hand-selected by the squadron command team, Lieutenant Colonel Poppas and Command Sergeant Major Edgar. With just more than 400 paratroopers, they were half the size of a full-strength battalion and the smallest unit in the Panther Brigade.

The squadron deployed to eastern Diyala in August, 2006. Despite their size, they were tasked with an enormous mission and were given the largest area of operations within the brigade. Appropriately for a unit known by the call sign of its CO - Headhunter - 5-73 would go on to pursue various terrorist factions including Al Qaeda in Iraq. They got results, and 5-73 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for launching the Turki Bowl campaign from November 2006 to January 2007 against insurgent groups in Diyala Province. However the toll would be heavy -- the squadron lost twenty-two paratroopers during the deployment.

With the publication of "Headhunter: 5-73 CAV and Their Fight for Iraq's Diyala River Valley", military historian Peter C. Svoboda provides a unique account of the war against Al Qaed in Iraq.

This is also a soldier's story, told by those very paratroopers who gallantly fought to tame Diyala. Based on dozens of interviews conducted by the author, the narrative describes the danger of combat, the loss of comrades and the struggles of returning from a deployment. The voice of the families left behind are also included, describing the challenges they faced, including the ultimate challenge -- grappling with the death of a loved one.

This military history of the war in Iraq explores the human dimensions of loss and struggle and illustrates the sacrifices our service members and their loved ones make.

Critique: Originally published in hardcover in October 2020, "Headhunter: 5-73 CAV and Their Fight for Iraq's Diyala River Valley", (and featuring an informative Foreword by Lt. General William B. Caldwell (Ret.), former commander, 82nd Airborne Division ) by Peter C. Svoboda is now available for personal reading lists and community/academic library 21st Century American Military History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists in a paperback edition (9781636243214, $24.95), in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798200153589, $39.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Peter C. Svoboda (https://petercsvoboda.com) divides his time between writing and working as a healthcare emergency management planner. He was previously a firefighter for twenty-five years. He volunteers as a museum docent at the National Museum of the United States Army. Pete Svoboda's dad is the reason he wrote Headhunter. He was inspired by his dad's World War II service in the airborne forces along with a desire to tell the story of this current generation of paratroopers.

Storm Clouds Over the Pacific, 1931-1941
Peter Harmsen
Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781636243016, $24.95, PB, 234pp

https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Clouds-Over-Pacific-1931-1941/dp/1636243010

Synopsis: 'War in the Far East' is a trilogy of books by Peter Harmsen and comprise a general history of the war against Japan. Unlike other histories this three volume series expands the narrative beginning long before Pearl Harbor and encompasses a much wider group of actors to produce the most complete narrative yet written and the first truly international treatment of the epic conflict.

Author and military historian Peter Harmsen uses his impressive ability to weave together complex events into an entertaining and revealing narrative, including facets of the war that may be unknown to many readers of WWII history, such as the war in Subarctic conditions on the Aleutians, or the mass starvations that cost the lives of millions in China, Indochina, and India, and offering a range of perspectives to reflect what war was like both at the top and at the bottom, from the Oval Office to the blistering sands of Peleliu.

"Storm Clouds Over the Pacific: 1931-1941" begins the story long before Pearl Harbor, showing how the war can only be understood if ancient hatreds and long-standing geopolitics are taken into account. Peter Harmsen demonstrates how Japan and China's ancient enmity grew in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries leading to increased tensions in the 1930s which exploded into conflict in 1937.

The battles of Shanghai and Nanjing were followed by the battle of Taierzhuang in 1938, China's only major victory. A war of attrition continued up to 1941, the year when Japan made the momentous decision for all-out war; the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor catapulted the United States into the war, and the Japanese also overran British and Dutch territories throughout the western Pacific.

Critique: Originally published in December 2018 and now newly available from Casemate Publishers in a paperback edition (9781636243016, $24.95), in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book from Blackstone Audio (9798200842094, $41.99), "Storm Clouds Over the Pacific, 1931-1941" is enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a fourteen page Bibliography, thirty pages of Notes, and an eleven page Index. Exceptionally well written for both academia and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in World War II history, "Storm Clouds Over the Pacific, 1931-1941" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal reading lists and community/academic library collections.

Editorial Note: Peter Harmsen, PhD, is the author of "Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze" and "Nanjing 1937: Battle for a Doomed City", as well as the War in the Far East trilogy. He studied history at National Taiwan University and has been a foreign correspondent in East Asia for more than two decades. He has focused mainly on the Chinese-speaking societies but has reported from nearly every corner of the region, including Mongolia and North Korea. His books have been translated into Chinese, Danish and Romanian.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review