From the Don to the Dnepr: Soviet Offensive Operations, December 1942 - August 1943 (Soviet Military Experience) | 
|  | | | Title: | From the Don to the Dnepr: Soviet Offensive Operations, December 1942 - August 1943 (Soviet Military Experience) | | Author: | David M. Glantz | | Publisher: | Routledge | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | 31 December, 1991 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0714640646 / 9780714640648 | | List Price: | $59.95 | | You Save: | $6.39 | | Amazon Price: | $53.56 | |
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Product Description
In mid-December 1942, after encircling the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad, Soviet forces in southern Russia began a series of offensive operations which continued unabated into February 1943. In these offensives the Soviet High Command attempted to smash German resistance and encircle the bulk of two German army groups. For two months the German forces struck back. In a well co-ordinated counterstroke they inflicted a major operational defeat on the Soviets and stabilized the front until the summer.
The two-month period of Soviet offensive activity during the winter of 1942-1943 saw the Red Army test new operational and tactical techniques and experiment with forces and methods for conducting mobile armoured warfare. Through victory and defeat the Red Army learnt its lesson well. Out of this period, and the three month period of relative calm that followed, emerged the new Red Army, which would defeat blitzkreig at Kursk and would achieve two years of virtually uninterrupted battlefield success, culminating in their defeat of Nazi Germanu.
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Customer Reviews:
• Interesting But Incomplete 31 May, 2004
unfortunately, this book, with all of its very useful info, tells only the story of russian offesnsive in the south during winter 42/43 and of the rumyantsev operation in the summer of 43. It lacks the info about the southern and southwestern fronts offensive during summer 43, not mentioning the northern part of the theather. also missed the averall race to the dneper. Not an exhausting book. And the price is too high.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AZH8Y6RQ13JCA
• A Balance Of Detail And Readability Unsurpassed 30 September, 2003
Glantz draws extensively, but not exclusively on Soviet sources, and gives detailed strategic and operational overview of the fighting in the Don area after Stalingrad. What I appreciated most was the detail in the perspective of situations facing the Germans and Russians, and where their planning differed in both time scale and flexibility. How Manstein managed to achieve a counteroffensive move whilst STAVKA still interpreted the moves as a withdrawl to the Dnepr is instructive. The style used in this work is slightly less exhaustive than that used in Kursk and the better for it. Best estimates for the ground forces of both sides are given, but it would have been desirable to mention air assets and sortie information also (this is hardly a criticsm as this information is almost never included in WW2 studies).Overall one of the best works on the development of operations on the Eastern Front showing understanding of the problems facing both sides.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AZJYJAGJ9QURI
• Four Soviet Offensives Stemming From The Victory At Stalingrad 27 May, 2009
This book covers four Soviet offensives which were instigated from the stunning victory at Stalingrad. The Soviets were riding high and feeling confident from the encirclement of 6th Army at Stalingrad and these ambitious plans reflect this new pride. On the other hand, the Germans were at their lows and fighting for their lives.
The first operation which started in mid December 1942 is LITTLE SATURN. It had several objectives: Complete the destruction of Rumanian and Italian Armies, Eliminate the resupply of Stalingrad by capturing the airfields at Tatsinskaya and Morozousk, Complete the clearing of the Don-Chir River sector, Block and destroy any relief effort. The Soviets were partially successful by penetrating the Axis defenses and inflicting heavy losses on its allies. The Soviets also stopped the relief attempt but it failed to capture the airfields.
The second operation which started in late January 1943 is GALLOP. Vatutin advanced through Starobelsk toward Mariupol to clear German resistance from Donbas. Initially he he succeeded but Manstein counterattacked, pushing the Russians back beyond their start point.
The third operation which started in early February is STAR. Golikov's Voronezh Front was assigned to capture Kharkov. The battle lasted almost 2 months but due to hasty planning, execution and logistic problems, the operation failed for the Red Army.
The last operation which started in August is RUMYANTSEV. This is a second attempt to take Belgorod- Kharkov. Belgorod fell to the Red Army after 3 days of bitter fighting but Kharkov turned into a battle of attrition. After weeks of fighting, the German defenders could see that winning was not possible so on Aug 22, they evacuated the city falling back to the Dniepr River.
In each of these battles the Germans were outnumbered but continued to put up stiff resistance. The Soviets had the advantage but only won partial victories.
The chapter format is logical and typical Glantz:
Strategic and Operational Context
Area of Operation
Opposing Forces
Army Planning
Conduct of the Offensive
Counterattack Stage
Conclusions.
I gave this book 4 stars from comparing it with the author's latest book "To the Gates of Stalingrad' which has greater detail. In the Appendix Mr Glantz lists the Order of Battle for these operations which can be useful. The book also has 74 black and white maps. The maps are simple but effective and are more user friendly compared to his latest books. The book closes with a Notes section and an Index.
This is an important period in the war and anybody interested in military aspects will like the book.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AXFQ4OGQ8MFOS
• A Very Good And Detailed Account Of Russian Front Operations 05 April, 2000
"From the Don to the Dnepr" is a very detailed operational account, primarily from the Russian point of view, of offensive Soviet operations on the Southern Front in the period after the encirclement of Stalingrad to the post-Kursk offensive to retake Kharkov. As usual in Glantz's books the level of detail is very impressive, especially when one considers that, due to the age of the book, it was written with relatively less access to Soviet sources. The OBs presented, for instance, lack the thoroughness that one has come to expect in his latest books. On the other hand, it is drier and more "professional" in approach, without the somewhat irritating flights of rethoric or use of hackneyed expressions that sometimes afflict his latest work, in special "Operation Mars" and "The Battle for Kursk". Maps are somewhat rudimentary, but much more plentiful and easier to read than in the books mentioned above. The book is esential reading for anyone interested in the history of the Russian Front, especially as it covers in great detail a period that tends to be overshadowed by Stalingrad and Kursk. Incidentally, it is worth mentioning that Operation Rumyantsev, the Soviet counterattack after the defeat of the German offensive at Kursk, is covered in far greater detail in this book than in his subsequent work.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A13B5FGW6XBMNI
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