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Informationen zum Autor Stephen Bull, illustrated by Steve Noon Klappentext Although prolonged warfare in subzero temperatures and/or at high altitude had occurred from time to time before 1900, the twentieth century saw an unprecedented emphasis on fighting in all terrains, seasons and weather conditions. Such conditions made even basic survival difficult as subzero temperatures caused weapons to jam, engines to seize up and soldiers to suffer frostbite, snow blindness and hypothermia; even the hardiest, best-equipped troops found defending their positions very difficult, let alone conducting offensive operations. The conditions often favoured small groups of mobile, lightly armed soldiers, rather than the armoured forces or air power that dominated other combat environments. Some European armies developed small numbers of specialist alpine troops before and during World War I, but these proved to be insufficient as nearly all the major combatants of World War II found themselves fighting for extended periods in extremely hostile cold-weather and/or alpine environments. Some, like the German forces invading the USSR in 1941, were - apart from a few specialist formations - poorly equipped and trained for the unique difficulties imposed by such conditions, and were initially forced to improvise. Others, such as the Finns in the Winter War of 1939-40, outclassed their Soviet opponents with their mobility (many soldiers were already competent skiers at the outbreak of war), marksmanship, bold initiative and decisive leadership. Drawing upon manuals, memoirs and unit histories and illustrated with period tactical diagrams and specially commissioned full-colour artwork, this study sheds new light on the winter-warfare tactics and techniques of the US, British, German, Soviet and Finnish armies of World War II. "Any military history collection will find this a solid discussion of the training, equipment and special approaches winter warfare required, with chapters based on both wartime manuals and critiques of what actually happened during combat. A specific 'must'for any military collection!"- "The Midwest Book Review "(July 2013) From the siege of Leningrad to the Battle of the Bulge, many of the most famous and brutal battles of World War II were fought in winter conditions. This book describes and illustrates the tactics used by the men who fought one another in this uniquely demanding environment. Zusammenfassung From the siege of Leningrad to the Battle of the Bulge, many of the most famous and brutal battles of World War II were fought in winter conditions. This book describes and illustrates the tactics used by the men who fought one another in this uniquely demanding environment. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction: strategic and tactical constraints of terrain and climate on military operations Pre-war background work: British Polar Institute - Indian Army - European Alpine troops - transport, sleds and skis Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-40: materials and experience - 'motti' tactics Narvik 1940 - Norwegian experience - establishment of British Commando Schools The Russian Front, 1941: Russian tactics, German inadequacies and improvisation German responses 1942-44: winter warfare and ski-troop manuals US responses: manuals 1941-44 - tactical training - clothing and equipment Italy, 1943-45: mountain warfare - mule transport The West, 1944-45: British in the Netherlands - Battle of the Bulge - snow camouflage Conclusions Bibliography ...
