Finland's War of Choice: The Troubled German-Finnish Coalition in World War II b

Description: Finland's War of Choice: The Troubled German-Finnish Coalition in World War II by Henrik Lunde This book describes the odd coalition between Germany and Finland in World War II, and their joint military operations from 1941 to 1945. This is a topic often missing in English, though in stark contrast to the numerous books on the shorter and less bloody Winter War. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description A selection of the Military Book Club.This book describes the odd coalition between Germany and Finland in World War II, and their joint military operations from 1941 to 1945. This is a topic often missing in English, though in stark contrast to the numerous books on the shorter and less bloody Winter War. That conflict represented a gallant fight of a democratic "David" against a totalitarian "Goliath" that caught the imagination of the world. The story of Finland fighting alongside a "Goliath" of its own has not brought pride to that nation and was a period many Finns would rather forget.The prologue of this book brings the reader up to speed by briefly examining the difficult history of Finland, from its separation from the Soviet Union in 1917 to its isolation after being bludgeoned in 1939-40. It then examines both Finnish and German motives for forming a coalition against the USSR, and how-as logical as a common enemy would seem-the lack of true planning and preparation would doom the alliance. returncharacterreturncharacterThis book posits that it was mind-boggling how the highly professional German General Staff allowed itself to accept the militarily unsound and shaky coalition that resulted. The war aims were not discussed or harmonized, there were no campaign plans with tasks and missions spelled out past the initial assault, no effective main effort established, inadequate force levels, and an unsound command structure with various headquarters. Practically every rule in the book was broken. The objective of linking up with the Finns in the Leningrad area was an important factor in Hitler opting for three main drives into the Soviet Union rather than an earlier OKH plan that called for only two.returncharacterreturncharacterAfter describing the operations during and after Barbarossa, this book describes how the Finnish theater became a blind ally for the Germans. Their strongest and best army was trapped both operationally and geographically in central and northern Finland, making virtually no contribution to the war effort. The Germans could not bring to bear enough forces to accomplish their objectives without substantial Finnish assistance, and that was not forthcoming.returncharacterreturncharacterThe final chapters deal with the Soviet counteroffensive against the Finns in 1944. The Finns lost all their gains and quickly concluded a separate armistice. This left the German forces in Finland to simply vacate the territory, fighting between the Finns and Soviets alike as they tried to return to the main war. Jointly suffering 291,000 casualties, the only consolation was that the coalition had inflicted some 830,000 on the Soviets.returncharacterreturncharacterIn this book, Henrik Lunde, a former US Special Operations colonel, and the renowned author of Hitler's Pre-emptive War: The Battle for Norway, 1940, once again fills a profound gap in our understanding of World War II. Author Biography HENRIK O. LUNDE, born in Norway, moved to America as a child and thence rose in the U.S. Army to become a Colonel in Special Forces. Highly decorated for bravery in Vietnam, he proceeded to gain advance degrees and assume strategic posts, his last being in the Plans and Policy Branch of Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe.After retirement from the Army he turned to writing, with a focus on his native North, and given his combination of personal tactical knowledge plus objective strategic grasp has authored several groundbreaking works. These include Hitlers Pre-Emptive War, about Norway 1940, Finlands War of Choice, and Hitlers Wave-Breaking Concept, which analyzes the controversial retreat of Germanys Army Group North from the Leningrad front in WWII.In A Warrior Dynasty he re-examines the potential of pure military skill in global affairs. His next, long-awaited work, will examine how America itself has fared in this regard during the last 50 years. Table of Contents Preface And Acknowledgments Prologue 1. From Flirtation To Coalition 2. Plans, Preparations, And Deployments 3. Operation Platinfuchs 4. Operations In Central Finland 5. The Finnish Offensives 6. Coalition Problems And Soviet Counteroffensives 7. Aborted Plans And Dashed Hopes, 1941-42 8. Front Without Combat Activity-- January 1943-June 1944 9. Soviet Summer Offensive--June 9-21, 1944 10. Soviet Offensive Ends--Finland Leaves The War 11. From Friction To Fighting 12. The 20th Mountain Armys Katabasis Epilogue Appendix I: Comparative General Officer Ranks Appendix Ii: Operational Code Names Appendix Iii: Finnish And Russian Geographic Names Bibliography Index Review This is certainly one for the military and political historian and a serious work of scholarship. * Military Modelcraft International * "This is a fascinating look at an important but little known area of fighting during the Second World War. Lunde has produced an excellent history of the crucial fighting in the north, the often confused political and diplomatic background and the troubled relationship between the Finns and their German allies." * Historyofwar.org * An under-examined corner of the Eastern Front: united only by their shared Soviet enemy, this coalitions lack of planning and ill-defined objectives meant the Germans stranded an army and the Finns sued for a separate peace. * World War II Magazine * Filling a gap in our understanding of World War II sums it up neatly for me. Id always thought that Finland, like Switzerland, remained neutral during the conflict, and this present volume therefore comes as something of an eye-opener for me. Lundes research into the politics and negotiations is second to none, and the result is a very readable account of one of the more surprising coalitions, albeit one that didnt survive, of the war. Fascinating. * * A detailed description of the odd coalition between Germany and Finland during WWII, and their joint military operations from 1941-1945 * Military Times * This book explores the unlikely coalition between Germany and Finland in the Second World War... * Britain at War * Overall a very interesting book, which cleanly knits together the different parts of the jigsaw, both military and political, and the different outlooks on the area from Finland, Russia and Germany. * * This book rises above just being a basic history of what was in reality a strategic backwater.... * World War II Re-enactors Magazine * Like the authors previous work on the Norwegian campaign, this is likely to be the definitive book on the subject for some time to come. * Miniature Wargames * Review Quote "...we are used to books that highlight the strains within the Allied Coalition during the war, but Lunde makes clear things were much worse on the other side...Like the authors previous work on the Norwegian campaign, this is likely to become the definitive book on the subject..." Details ISBN1935149482 Author Henrik Lunde Short Title FINLANDS WAR OF CHOICE Language English ISBN-10 1935149482 ISBN-13 9781935149484 Media Book Format Hardcover Country of Publication United States Place of Publication Havertown Pages 432 Subtitle The Troubled German-Finnish Coalition in World War II Publisher Casemate Illustrations 16pp photos DEWEY 940.54094897 Imprint Casemate Publishers Audience General/Trade Year 2011 Publication Date 2011-02-15 AU Release Date 2011-02-15 NZ Release Date 2011-02-15 US Release Date 2011-02-15 UK Release Date 2011-02-15 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:137471678;

Price: 109.32 AUD

Location: Melbourne

End Time: 2024-12-15T02:35:57.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 AUD