OPERATION CITADEL Vol 2 THE NORTH

A photograph chronicle of the fighting in the north of the Kursk salient, which has received scant coverage in the literature to date, and a superb follow-on volume to their terrific first book concerning the southern portion of the epic Kursk battlefield. The northern sector saw 9.Armee under its Generaloberst Walter Model seeking to link up with the forces attacking from the south. On the northern flank of this operation the German forces only penetrated the Russian defences to a maximum of fifteen kilometres. However, the fighting in this sector was particularly fierce. Although primarily an infantry battle, a number of Panzer Divisions were involved, including the 2., 4., 9., 12., 18., and 20. In addition, schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505, which fielded Tiger Is, was involved, as were a number of independent assault gun and tank destroyer units, including schwere Panzerjager-Regiment 656 which consisted of ninety of the massive 65 ton Ferdinand tank hunters. The reasons for the failure of the northern offensive are discussed in detail and, as with Volume 1, many of the myths surrounding the offensive are dispelled with the aid of numerous detailed tables and an authoritative text. This is particularly the case in regard to German losses that are proven to be far less than is generally accepted, particularly as recounted in Soviet sources. After years of combing archives in Europe, Jean Restayn and Nicole Moller have succeeded in assembling more than 540 photographs of this sector of the battlefield. Most of the photographs are either previously unpublished or rarely seen, and identified correctly for the first time. In addition to providing the reader with a fantastic visual representation of the fighting, the authors have also provided an in-depth text that covers the build-up and the fighting on a day-by-day basis. Twenty-four pages of four-colour artwork illustrate the major vehicles used by the Germans. Four full-colour maps of various stages of the battle and two colour pages depict the insignia of the German units subordinated to the 9.Armee. There are also a number of appendices covering the experiences of some of the units involved in the fighting, as well as personal accounts. Tables illustrate Orders of Battle for both sides as well as vehicle counts and losses for the Germans. Rarely has a battle been so thoroughly researched and rarely have so many myths concerning a battle been laid to rest. A quality Fedorowicz publication.