WITH THE COURAGE OF DESPERATION: Germany's Defence of the Southern Sector of the Eastern Front 1944-45

1-202270

A comprehensive account of events on the central and southern portions of the German Eastern Front from July 1944, in the aftermath of the cataclysmic defeat of Heeresgruppe Mitte, through the Soviet drive to victory. Publication of With the Courage of Desperation completes Hinze's trilogy, and represents a keystone to our understanding of the Soviet-German War 1941-45. 40 b/w photos, 82 maps.

Events covered include the retrograde fighting of 4th Panzer-Armee, the situation on the flanks of Heeresgruppe Nordukraine, operations around Lemberg, and the settling of positions along the line of the Vistula river. The Soviet drive through Rumania against Heeresgruppe Sudukraine is described, leading to the fall of Bucharest before the panorama moves into the Hungarian Puszta, the German attempts to stem the Soviet drive on Budapest, the Gran bridgehead and the last great German offensive of the war, and Operation 'Spring Awakening' are all recounted, as is the steady and inevitable final withdrawal and defeat of the remaining Axis forces as the Soviets penetrate into Austria. The fall of both Budapest and Vienna are related, before Hinze completes his study with the final battles in Austria and the area north of the Danube.