In the spring of 1941, having abandoned his plans to invade Great Britain, Hitler turned the might of his military forces on to Stalin's soviet Russia. The German army quickly advanced far into Russia as the Soviet forces suffered defeat after defeat. With brutality and savagery displayed on both sides, the Eastern front was literally a campaign in which no prisoners were taken and no quarter was given.Although Hitler's decision to launch 'Barbarossa' was one of the crucial turning points of the war, at first the early successes of the German army pointed to the continuing triumph of the Nazi state. As time wore on, however, the Eastern front became a byword for death for the Germans - to be transferred to the front was the fate feared most by any member of Germany's armed forces.In "War without Garlands", Robert Kershaw examines the campaign largely through the eyes of the German forces who were sent to fight and die for Hitler's grandiose plans. He draws on German war diaries, post-combat reports and secret SS files, monitoring and serving German home-front perceptions and reactions to the course of the campaign, to provide an enthralling account of the campaign from the perspective of the ordinary soldier or junior officer.This original material, much of which has never before been published in English, sheds new light on operation 'Barbarossa', including the extent to which the German soldiers were genuinely surprised at the decision to attack Russia, given the well publicised non-aggression pact. The author also reveals hitherto unappreciated factors influencing the campaign's eventual outcome, including an analysis of the extent to which the Russian refusal to surrender if surrounded or out-manoeuvred broke the tempo of the German Blitzkrieg, mitigating the surprise tactics and the greater experience of the German forces. With interest in the Eastern Front at a new height, "War without Garlands" is a seminal account of the battle. It will be required reading for all historians of World War 2 and all those interested in the course of recent history.
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About the Author
Robert Kershaw joined the Parachute Regiment in 1972 after graduating in History at Reading University, reaching the rank of Colonel. In between Regimental service he attended the Fuhrungsakademie - the German Staff College - at Hamburg and later spent a number of years with NATO and the Bundeswehr. He has seen active service during a number of tours of Northern Ireland, with the US VII Corps during the Gulf War and in Bosnia.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
94 of 95 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
How do I start this review ?
I guess the first thing would be the recommendation to buy it. The read is easy and flowing. Easy, in that it is gripping and holds you, flowing in that as a history piece, it never becomes stodgy or bogged down.I would also say that I found this book to be tremendous value at the price as well. 580 pages for a few pounds in paperback.
The book provides an account of the opening months of Barborossa and does not, unlike other books on 'Barborossa' then file off to the years after. This book sticks with the opening operation, and the German attempt to knock out the Soviet Union quickly and in a series of co-ordinated hammer blows. Where the book or Mr Kershaw differs from other titles is that, not only is there the strategic overview, but we also get accounts of selected tactical encounters (rather than the strategic), and many letters and diary entries from soldiers serving. Most of these eye witness accounts are German, but Soviet offerings are included as well. Mr Kershaw does not then fall into the trap of "Well Corporal so and so who was there said this, so this must be true". He keeps these entries purely as embellishment, and as colouring of the subject he is trying to impart.
Despite having read many books on the subject matter, this was the first I have seen to concentrate on one of the first German obstacles, Brest-Litovsk. I was surprised to find out just how tough a nut this was to crack. But the main thrust of the book for me was the highlighting of the German Army's massive and quite frankly, unprecedented victories that kept bleeding themselves dry, or as Mr Kershaw put it from the translated German "Victoring itself to death".
and this seemed to be the main problem. Despite inflicting 2.... Read more ›
I guess the first thing would be the recommendation to buy it. The read is easy and flowing. Easy, in that it is gripping and holds you, flowing in that as a history piece, it never becomes stodgy or bogged down.I would also say that I found this book to be tremendous value at the price as well. 580 pages for a few pounds in paperback.
The book provides an account of the opening months of Barborossa and does not, unlike other books on 'Barborossa' then file off to the years after. This book sticks with the opening operation, and the German attempt to knock out the Soviet Union quickly and in a series of co-ordinated hammer blows. Where the book or Mr Kershaw differs from other titles is that, not only is there the strategic overview, but we also get accounts of selected tactical encounters (rather than the strategic), and many letters and diary entries from soldiers serving. Most of these eye witness accounts are German, but Soviet offerings are included as well. Mr Kershaw does not then fall into the trap of "Well Corporal so and so who was there said this, so this must be true". He keeps these entries purely as embellishment, and as colouring of the subject he is trying to impart.
Despite having read many books on the subject matter, this was the first I have seen to concentrate on one of the first German obstacles, Brest-Litovsk. I was surprised to find out just how tough a nut this was to crack. But the main thrust of the book for me was the highlighting of the German Army's massive and quite frankly, unprecedented victories that kept bleeding themselves dry, or as Mr Kershaw put it from the translated German "Victoring itself to death".
and this seemed to be the main problem. Despite inflicting 2.... Read more ›
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Detailed combat history combined with an excellent read - unputdownable!
3 Feb 2009
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
An outstanding account of the first six months of the Russo-German war from June 1941 onwards which I would heartily recommend to anyone interested in World War II and the Eastern Front campaign.
This book combines text on strategy and operations of Operation Barbarossa with an enormous amount of 'worm's-eye' view experiences of German soldiers, with a good balance of coverage.
I read this very readable book, over 550 pages, in only two sittings. Particularly interesting to me were the experiences conveyed in the text of the German army, firstly, in the period immediately preceding June 22nd 1941, the moment of invasion into Russia, and, secondly, of the German army infantry's progressive discomfort during its long distance march further and further into the Soviet Union. I am sure there are many other individual battle experiences that others will find interesting to read.
There are some very useful maps of strategic and tactical operations.
An index to these maps somewhere in the book would have been useful but this omission did not detract from my reading experience.
This book combines text on strategy and operations of Operation Barbarossa with an enormous amount of 'worm's-eye' view experiences of German soldiers, with a good balance of coverage.
I read this very readable book, over 550 pages, in only two sittings. Particularly interesting to me were the experiences conveyed in the text of the German army, firstly, in the period immediately preceding June 22nd 1941, the moment of invasion into Russia, and, secondly, of the German army infantry's progressive discomfort during its long distance march further and further into the Soviet Union. I am sure there are many other individual battle experiences that others will find interesting to read.
There are some very useful maps of strategic and tactical operations.
An index to these maps somewhere in the book would have been useful but this omission did not detract from my reading experience.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have studied the Second World War for the last fifty years and in that time, there have been some dramatic shifts in perception. In the early days,the German Army, via Blitzkreig,was seen as all conquering. Only the mud then snow before Moscow stopped the Wermacht from defeating Russia. In his book, Mr Kershaw goes a long way to rectifying this falacy. Far from being the mechanised route march to round up hapless Russian prisoners,portrayed by earlier authors, Barbarossa was a titanic struggle from the off. The Wermacht began to suffer serious casualties from day one and despite being far more oganised than their Russian foe, could not afford the casualty rates involved. Indivdual soldiers in their letters home began to express grave doubts about the outcome. Despite massive encirclements at Kiev,Minsk & Smolensk,capturing almost one and three quarter million Russian prisoners in the process,the cost to the German Army was unexpectedly horrendous. Mr Kershaw's forte is his ability to combine grand strategy with a selection of personel letters that reflect the serious doubts of the individual Landser. Whilst the Nazi Party apparatus trumpeted colossal victories,these letters tell of Divisons down to twenty tanks and Companies down to single figures with little or no prospect of immediate reinforcement and all this in the first six months. I cannot recall any other book that demonstrates more starkly the absolute folly of the German invasion of Russia. A superb book.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a staggeringly good book, and a vital piece of the jigsaw when it comes to understanding the Eastern Front in the Second World War.
I have read widely on this subject, from war diaries to accounts of individual battles and to more general overviews. They are, of course, all bits of the jigsaw, and some are more vital than others. Despite its focus on both the initial Barbarossa end of the Eastern Front, and a heavy emphasis on the German experience, this book transformed my understanding.
Nowhere else did I gain such a vivid picture of the size of Russia. It's not just a simple case of maps, war diaries or figures for re-supply - it's the glueing together of all of this into a narrative that suddenly makes the great pushes and the kessels come alive - the strain on the German soldiers and the simple human scale of involvement in these actions.
In other accounts, of course, these first weeks and months seem to be a golden period for the Wehrmacht, as they plunge deeper and deeper into the Soviet Union, gaining stunning success after stunning success. The strain on and misery of the soldiers enjoying this apparent success comes out through Kershaw's knitting together of the narratives at various levels. This then helps feed into the reasons why the campaign spluttered out at the gates of Moscow, and provide a real, tangible picture of the overstretch that is often talked about in other accounts, without ever fully coming alive.
So, again, a piece in the jigsaw, but the most vital that I have read to date. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I have read widely on this subject, from war diaries to accounts of individual battles and to more general overviews. They are, of course, all bits of the jigsaw, and some are more vital than others. Despite its focus on both the initial Barbarossa end of the Eastern Front, and a heavy emphasis on the German experience, this book transformed my understanding.
Nowhere else did I gain such a vivid picture of the size of Russia. It's not just a simple case of maps, war diaries or figures for re-supply - it's the glueing together of all of this into a narrative that suddenly makes the great pushes and the kessels come alive - the strain on the German soldiers and the simple human scale of involvement in these actions.
In other accounts, of course, these first weeks and months seem to be a golden period for the Wehrmacht, as they plunge deeper and deeper into the Soviet Union, gaining stunning success after stunning success. The strain on and misery of the soldiers enjoying this apparent success comes out through Kershaw's knitting together of the narratives at various levels. This then helps feed into the reasons why the campaign spluttered out at the gates of Moscow, and provide a real, tangible picture of the overstretch that is often talked about in other accounts, without ever fully coming alive.
So, again, a piece in the jigsaw, but the most vital that I have read to date. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
operation Barbarossa 1941-42 from the point of view of the German...
Using German war diaries, post-combat reports and SS secret files, the author tells you the Operation Barbarossa (until the end of the Soviet Winter Counteroffensive) as seen by... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Carrosio Roberto
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the experience of the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front during Operation Barbarossa. Read more
Published 3 months ago by nilgirip
4.0 out of 5 stars
well worth a look
I enjoy' d this book. Well written and paints a good visual image of the Germans perspective of OP BARBAROSA.
Published 4 months ago by Mr. R. Fitzpatrick
5.0 out of 5 stars
An emotional rollercoaster
An exhausting and emotionally draining account of the first year of the German invasion of Russia. Although I thought I knew a bit about this period, I had no idea of the scale of... Read more
Published 5 months ago by steve wigley
5.0 out of 5 stars
A war history book that reads like almost like a novel
This is a history book about a certain part of the war. It is so well researched and packed with details that it almost appears to be a memoir or a novel. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mark Barker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book about the Ostfront
This is a superb book. I've read all the general works about the Russian/German front, and this is the best. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Andrew Lale
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best book I've read on Operation Barbarossa!
I seldom let a book about WW2 slip through my fingers and this is especially true of biographies, autobiographies and personal accounts of that period. Read more
Published 9 months ago by C. C. Giannakenas
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a pleasant surprise!
I picked this book off a shelf in a bookstore without knowing anything about the author. I am glad I did.
This is an informative, interesting, and well-written book. Read more
This is an informative, interesting, and well-written book. Read more
Published 13 months ago by An American Reader in New Zealand
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended
Others have praised this book and explained what it covers so I won't repeat. I simply wanted to say I found it an easy to read focussed account of the German advance on Moscow. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Crystal Vision
4.0 out of 5 stars
Kein kindergarten krieg
A commendable book: well written and unputdownable. It will give you great insight in the immensity of operation Barbarossa from the perspective of the ordinary soldier. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Clovix
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