Standing fast : German defensive doctrine on the Russian Front during World War II : prewar to March 1943 / by Timothy A. Wray.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wray, Timothy A. (Timothy Allen), 1949- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Russia (Federation).

World War, 1939-1945.

Defensive (Military science).

Russia (Federation)--History.

Russia (Federation).

Germany. Heer--History--World War, 1939-1945.

Germany.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (301 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

[Potomac, Maryland] : Pickle Partners publishing, [2014]

Summary:

Includes over 50 maps plans and illustrations.In this Research Survey, Major Timothy A. Wray provides an excellent survey of the intricacies of employing defensive tactics against a powerful opponent. Using after-action reports, unit war diaries, and other primary materials, Major Wray analyzes the doctrine and tactics that the Germans used on the Eastern Front during World War II.At the end of World War I, the Germans adopted the elastic defense in depth and continued to use it as their basic doctrine through the end of World War II. However, because of limitations caused by difficult terrain, severe weather, manpower and supply shortages, Soviet tactics, and Hitler's order to stand fast, German commanders were unable to implement the Elastic Defense in its true form. Even so, innovative and resourceful unit commanders were able to adapt to the harsh realities of combat and improvise defensive methods that saved the German armies from complete annihilation.U.S. Army unit commanders on the future battlefield, while battling a motivated and aggressive force, will also face hard battlefield conditions. Therefore, these commanders, in applying the AirLand Battle tenets of initiative, depth, agility, and synchronization, will have to demonstrate the same type of innovativeness and resourcefulness as the Germans did in Russia. To operate on the AirLand Battlefield, U.S. soldiers must depend on sound doctrine and the ability to execute it intelligently. All Army officers will benefit from Major Wray's new and vital assessment of how German doctrine was modified by the test of war.

Contents:

Intro

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

Illustrations

Figures

Maps

Introduction

CHAPTER 1 - The Origins of German Defensive Doctrine

Elastic Defense: Legacy of the Great War

The Final Collapse: Unanswered Questions

German Defensive Doctrine in the Interwar Years

Antitank Defense

Defensive Use of German Tanks

Early Trials: Poland and France

Overview: German Doctrine on the Eve of Barbarossa

CHAPTER 2 - Barbarossa-The German Initiative

The Defensive Aspects of Blitzkrieg

German Strategy Reconsidered

Defense by Army Group Center, July-September 1941

Prelude to Winter

CHAPTER 3 - Winter Battles, 1941-42

Standing Fast

Strongpoint Defense: Origins

Strongpoint Defense: Conduct

The Winter Campaign: Overview and Analysis

German Doctrinal Assessments

CHAPTER 5 - New Victories, New Defeats

Problems on the Defensive Front

The Führer Defense Order of 8 September 1942

Bolstering Combat Manpower

Winter Battles on the Defensive Front

The Offensive Front

CHAPTER 6 - Observations and Conclusions

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

Periodical Articles

Foreign Military Studies, Historical Division, U.S. Army, Europe

Interviews

Documents

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

COMBAT STUDIES INSTITUTE

Mission.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781786251954

1786251957

OCLC:

974591119