Description
Book SynopsisBy 1943, the war was lost, and most German officers knew it. What kept the German army going in an increasingly hopeless situation? Robert Citino, the world's leading scholar on the subject, posits a straightforward solution:
Bewegungskrieg, the way of war cultivated by the Germans over the course of history.
Trade ReviewAn account and analysis of German military operations in the last year of World War II that is sure to enlighten anyone who wants some insight into the way that war ended and how the German military tried to cope with a multi-front conflict. Balanced and thoughtful reviews of plans and events on both sides of the fronts, careful utilization of an enormous literature, and shrewd judgments characterize a book that will receive and merit attention for many years." —Gerhard L. Weinberg, author of
A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II "Written with his customary verve and lively prose, Citino also displays his typically penetrating insight, formidable research, and depth of knowledge in describing German operations in the often overlooked last year and a half of the war. He shows a keen understanding of the German dilemma, a propensity for sharp observations, and, as always, a knack for challenging conventional wisdom. This is a compelling and thought-provoking book brimming with insight that forces the reader to reflect on the personalities and operations —both a product of a distinctive military culture —that continued to fuel the Nazi war machine until the bitter end of this most destructive war. A worthy successor to his earlier works on the Wehrmacht." —Stephen G. Fritz, author of
Ostkrieg: Hitler's War of Extermination in the East "Citino combines accuracy, balance, and brilliant writing. Along with
Death of the Wehrmacht: The German Campaigns of 1942 and
The Wehrmacht Retreats: Fighting a Lost War, 1943, this book is a must for anyone who wants to understand the Wehrmacht." —Geoffrey Megargee, author of
Inside Hitler's High Command"The key question of
The Wehrmacht's Last Stand: what kept the German armed forces fighting a hopeless war? Citino describes a synergy of leadership, ideology and method enabling reconfiguration from an offensive institution based on economy of force to an instrument of defense sustained by desperation. Comprehensive and persuasive, this capstone of Citino's series on the German way of war merits wide circulation and careful consideration." —Dennis Showalter, author of
Hitler's Panzers: The Lightning Attacks That Revolutionized WarfareTable of Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1. In the Cauldron: The Battle of the Korsun Pocket
- 2. In the Mountains: The Battle for Italy
- 3. On the Beach: Normandy and Beyond
- 4. In the Middle: The Smashing of the Central Front
- 5. In the West: The Campaign in France
- 6. On the Run: The East
- 7. On the Run: The West
- 8. The Last Battle
- 9. Five Minutes Past Midnight
- 10. The Last Stand
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
