Kharkov, 1942

After failing to finish off the German Army in the 1941/42 Winter Counter offensive Stalin directed the Red Army to conduct a powerful blow in one sector of the Eastern Front in order to disrupt German plans. The sector chosen was Kharkov. Under Marshal Semyon Timoshenko, the Stavka's remaining reserves were assembled and prepared to conduct a breakthrough attack intended to encircle the German Sixth Army near Kharkov. However, Stalin was unaware that the Germans were planning their own riposte at Kharkov, known as Operation Fredericus. When Timoshenko began his offensive in May 1942, he did not realize the limitations of his own forces or the agility of the Germans to recover from setbacks, all of which contributed to one of the Red Army greatest defeats of World War II. This volume will pay particular attention to intelligence and logistics issues, as well as how this campaign served as a prelude to the battle of Stalingrad. It will also focus on the nascent development of the Red Army's tank corps and 'deep battle' tactics, as well as the revival of the German Panzertruppen after Barbarossa. "Photographs, battle maps and charts complement this excellent account. Howard Gerrard's artwork captures the intensity of Kharkov fighting. And a bibliography and index conclude this little book. Readers wanting more need only look on the inside back cover for related Osprey titles - including "Demyansk 1942 - 43". Highly recommended."- Rachel E. Veres, www.cybermodeler.com (June 2013)"Author Robert Forczyk does a masterful job of telling the tale of hope, incompetence and eventual defeat. This is all enhanced by some great period photos from both sides and the art work of Howard Gerrard. As is typical of the series, we are provided with some great campaign maps and information on visiting this area today. Overall, it is a fascinating read of this important operation and one that I can easily recommend to you."- Scott Van Aken, www.modelingmadness.com (June 2013)Origins of the campaign /Chronology /Opposing commanders /Opposing forces /Opposing plans /The Soviet offensive, 12-16 May 1942 /The German counteroffensive, 17-23 May 1942 /The end game, 24-29 May 1942 /Aftermath /The battlefield today /Further reading /Index