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"[Michael] McNally's informative account of the campaign is complemented by historical images of the legions, archaeological battlefield surveys and brilliant color illustrations by Peter Dennis. This 96-page paperback book is an excellent summation of a key turning point in history that has inspired legions of toy soldiers and model figures."
- "Toy Soldier & Model Figure "(June 2011)
- "Toy Soldier & Model Figure "(June 2011)
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Events such as the Varian or Kalkriese disaster did not happen to the Roman Empire very often. Indeed few battles in Rome's entire 750 year history can be compared to the battle of the Teutoberg forest in AD 9. Most would agree that Hannibal's unparalleled victory at Cannae and Carrhae in 53 BC are of similar importance, but the Kalkriese disaster seems to have a special resonance even today. Perhaps it is because the battle took place in the middle of Europe, and the victors are still a recognisable nation (whereas the other victors, the Carthaginians and Parthians, are not)?
This Osprey title is a most welcome addition to the other texts on the subject, not least because of its well-written text and its excellent pictures (by Peter Dennis). In typical Osprey style, it lays out the background to the battle for Germania Magna (the lands to the east of the River Rhine) in the years previous to Kalkriese, the generals who led the opposing armies - Varus and the Cheruscan leader Arminius - the details of their armies and so on, before moving to what is known of the battle itself. Here it should be noted that the descriptions of combat events in the book are NOT historical fact - in fact almost nothing is known of what happened during the real battle. In my mind, this should have been prominently acknowledged. Last of all, the book considers the aftermath - the punitive campaigns to recover lost eagles and honour, and the fact that from AD 9, Rome's policy towards Germania Magna was one of containment, rather than offense.
It doesn't mention, however, the 3rd Century AD battlefield deep inside Germania Magna that proves that Rome continued to launch attacks into the area for hundreds of years after Kalkriese (i.e. it wasn't all about containment; see relevant threads on romanarmy dot com.) Nor does it mention the fact that there is NO conclusive proof that the site at Kalkriese is THE battlefield where Varus and his men were annihilated. Many many pointers suggest that it is, but frustratingly, there is nothing concrete to prove absolutely that it is.
Interested readers would undoubtedly enjoy the Ancient Warfare (AW) special edition about the Varian Disaster. Find it at ancient hyphen warfare dot com. In my mind,the AW magazine pips this Osprey edition by a good margin. Another text well worth reading is Rome's Greatest Defeat: Massacre in the Teutoburg Forest.
Ben Kane, author of The Forgotten Legion.
This Osprey title is a most welcome addition to the other texts on the subject, not least because of its well-written text and its excellent pictures (by Peter Dennis). In typical Osprey style, it lays out the background to the battle for Germania Magna (the lands to the east of the River Rhine) in the years previous to Kalkriese, the generals who led the opposing armies - Varus and the Cheruscan leader Arminius - the details of their armies and so on, before moving to what is known of the battle itself. Here it should be noted that the descriptions of combat events in the book are NOT historical fact - in fact almost nothing is known of what happened during the real battle. In my mind, this should have been prominently acknowledged. Last of all, the book considers the aftermath - the punitive campaigns to recover lost eagles and honour, and the fact that from AD 9, Rome's policy towards Germania Magna was one of containment, rather than offense.
It doesn't mention, however, the 3rd Century AD battlefield deep inside Germania Magna that proves that Rome continued to launch attacks into the area for hundreds of years after Kalkriese (i.e. it wasn't all about containment; see relevant threads on romanarmy dot com.) Nor does it mention the fact that there is NO conclusive proof that the site at Kalkriese is THE battlefield where Varus and his men were annihilated. Many many pointers suggest that it is, but frustratingly, there is nothing concrete to prove absolutely that it is.
Interested readers would undoubtedly enjoy the Ancient Warfare (AW) special edition about the Varian Disaster. Find it at ancient hyphen warfare dot com. In my mind,the AW magazine pips this Osprey edition by a good margin. Another text well worth reading is Rome's Greatest Defeat: Massacre in the Teutoburg Forest.
Ben Kane, author of The Forgotten Legion.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you have any interest in Roman military history and would like to know about an incident that surpasses anything portrayed in modern day stories or horror films then I would highly recommend this book. The only reason I haven't given it five stars is because its short, just less than a hundred pages.
The book based on finds and what historians say about the incident concerns the complete destruction of three Roman legions estimated by some to be over twenty five thousand men, including baggage carts etc by Germainc tribes in the Forest of Teutoburg.
General Varus led his army into what he believed was relatively friendly terrority with the aid of Arminius a Germanic Prince who had been incarcerated in Rome from an early age and brought up on their traditions, education and even served in the legions.
Arminius however, obviously haboured a deep hatred for Rome and led Varus into a trap in the forest. The book tells the story of how the army was trapped in an isolated area and initially attacked by skirmishers and forced to stop and fortify their positions.
Varus realising that being cut off and isolated, he and his men couldn't survive, tried to march his army out of the forest but was slowly but surely cut and worn down. What followed was the complete destruction of three legions and their attempts to survive, that failed.
An excellent but small book on the story which is beautifully illustrated with artist impressions, photographs of the parties involved and finds from the site, highly recommended!
The book based on finds and what historians say about the incident concerns the complete destruction of three Roman legions estimated by some to be over twenty five thousand men, including baggage carts etc by Germainc tribes in the Forest of Teutoburg.
General Varus led his army into what he believed was relatively friendly terrority with the aid of Arminius a Germanic Prince who had been incarcerated in Rome from an early age and brought up on their traditions, education and even served in the legions.
Arminius however, obviously haboured a deep hatred for Rome and led Varus into a trap in the forest. The book tells the story of how the army was trapped in an isolated area and initially attacked by skirmishers and forced to stop and fortify their positions.
Varus realising that being cut off and isolated, he and his men couldn't survive, tried to march his army out of the forest but was slowly but surely cut and worn down. What followed was the complete destruction of three legions and their attempts to survive, that failed.
An excellent but small book on the story which is beautifully illustrated with artist impressions, photographs of the parties involved and finds from the site, highly recommended!
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a well-written and excellently-illustrated volume. The author is up-to-date with research on the subject, and is a good writer. The colour plates are excellent - at last Osprey are providing the number and quality of colour plates these volumes require in order to be taken seriously. Highly recommended.
The Contents are -
P05: Introduction
.Rome and the Germans
P14: Chronology
P16: Opposing Commanders
.Publius Quinctillius Varus (c.46BC-AD9); Arminius (c.18BC-c.AD21)
P18: Opposing Armies
. The Romans; The Germans; Orders of Battle
P27: The Opposing Plans
.Varus in Germania; Arminius
P32: The Campaign
.The march to the Weser; Summer manoeuvres; To divide and rule; The troops move out, 7 September; The anabasis, 8 September; Mudbound, 9 September; The Via Dolorosa, 10 September; The final march, 11 September; Gotterdammerung, 11 September
P86: The Aftermath
P92: The Battlefield Today
P93: Bibliography
P95: Index
The Colour Plates -
P04: Map - The Roman Empire under Augustus, c.AD 9
P28: ½-page Map - The pacification of Germania Magna
P35: ½-page Map - The Rhine Frontier, AD 9
P38: ½-page Map - Varus' progress through Germany, AD 9
P46-47: 2-page Colour Plate - Betrayal: "here we see a unit of legionaries having encountered a patrol of Cheruscan cavalry whilst they themselves are engaged in repairing a ford across a stream".
We see five mounted figures intermixed with five foot figures, with more figures in the background, at the moment the cavalry turn on the Romans.
P55-56: 2-page Colour Plate -Death i the Forest: "Strung out along the forest paths, units have now devolved into small groups of men all of whom are simply pushing forwards in an attempt to reach the relative safetyof the next marching camp."
On the left of the plate we see seven German warriors, two already cut down by the Roman centurion facing them, who is trying to protect the wounded comrades behind him, while in the background is a milling crowd of Romans and Germans.
P58-59: ¾-view Plan - An Army at Bay - afternoon, 10 September to morning 11 September
P62-63: ¾-view Plan - A Desperate Situation - morning 11 September
P74-75: 2-page Colour Plate - Gotterdammerung: "In this scene, one of the centuries, having approached the rampart in testudo, has now expanded its formation to allow the legionaries to bombard the enemy with missiles."
I count eleven legionaries, plus another nine under the testudo, attacking a wattle fence defended by a horde of Germans.
P78-79: ¾-view Plan - Death in the Forest - afternoon 11 September
P86: ½-page Map - the Roman response, AD 9
P87: ½-page Map - the Roman response, AD 14-16
There are numerous colour and monochrome photographs and illustrations supporting the text.
The Contents are -
P05: Introduction
.Rome and the Germans
P14: Chronology
P16: Opposing Commanders
.Publius Quinctillius Varus (c.46BC-AD9); Arminius (c.18BC-c.AD21)
P18: Opposing Armies
. The Romans; The Germans; Orders of Battle
P27: The Opposing Plans
.Varus in Germania; Arminius
P32: The Campaign
.The march to the Weser; Summer manoeuvres; To divide and rule; The troops move out, 7 September; The anabasis, 8 September; Mudbound, 9 September; The Via Dolorosa, 10 September; The final march, 11 September; Gotterdammerung, 11 September
P86: The Aftermath
P92: The Battlefield Today
P93: Bibliography
P95: Index
The Colour Plates -
P04: Map - The Roman Empire under Augustus, c.AD 9
P28: ½-page Map - The pacification of Germania Magna
P35: ½-page Map - The Rhine Frontier, AD 9
P38: ½-page Map - Varus' progress through Germany, AD 9
P46-47: 2-page Colour Plate - Betrayal: "here we see a unit of legionaries having encountered a patrol of Cheruscan cavalry whilst they themselves are engaged in repairing a ford across a stream".
We see five mounted figures intermixed with five foot figures, with more figures in the background, at the moment the cavalry turn on the Romans.
P55-56: 2-page Colour Plate -Death i the Forest: "Strung out along the forest paths, units have now devolved into small groups of men all of whom are simply pushing forwards in an attempt to reach the relative safetyof the next marching camp."
On the left of the plate we see seven German warriors, two already cut down by the Roman centurion facing them, who is trying to protect the wounded comrades behind him, while in the background is a milling crowd of Romans and Germans.
P58-59: ¾-view Plan - An Army at Bay - afternoon, 10 September to morning 11 September
P62-63: ¾-view Plan - A Desperate Situation - morning 11 September
P74-75: 2-page Colour Plate - Gotterdammerung: "In this scene, one of the centuries, having approached the rampart in testudo, has now expanded its formation to allow the legionaries to bombard the enemy with missiles."
I count eleven legionaries, plus another nine under the testudo, attacking a wattle fence defended by a horde of Germans.
P78-79: ¾-view Plan - Death in the Forest - afternoon 11 September
P86: ½-page Map - the Roman response, AD 9
P87: ½-page Map - the Roman response, AD 14-16
There are numerous colour and monochrome photographs and illustrations supporting the text.
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HISTORY
THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ FOR THOSE WHO LIKE THE NITTY GRITTY AND INDEPTH STORIES THE AUTHOR IS SUPERB AT RELATING THE LOST LEGIONS
Published 12 months ago by Mr. Nigel Stanbridge
Teutorburg Forest AD 9
Quite a comprehensive account of the Varus massacre in the Teutoberg Forest, Germany in AD9 for the Osprey format. The illustrations are also excellent.
Published 13 months ago by Steve
Varus last stand
In a modern world where we have documented evidence of the errors of the past its always interesting to read what caused some of the calamities to the powers of the day. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
informative
Its brief and to the point. You want to learn about the battle and history fast? Its the book to read.
Published 14 months ago by Pharaoh
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