The Soviet Baltic Offensive 1944-45

The Eastern Front in Russia during WWII was vast, stretching from the Baltic in the north to Sevastopol in the Crimea (1,500 miles). This work focuses on the Baltic theatre of operations and the collapse of the German army in the face of overwhelming Russian forces. When the Russians launched their offensive, the situation quickly became desperate, yet Hitler forbade any withdrawal and ordered his armies to continue fighting to the last. This highly informative volume details the Germans’ resistance while trying to stem the inevitable collapse. Mass evacuation and the moving of 100,000 tons of material was a monumental achievement that kept the Germans fighting. The book features the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustoff and tells how those who left the Courland Pocket were sent to fight in Berlin, leaving over 140,000 to be taken prisoner. The situation was always going to end badly for the Germans as revealed so poignantly in this fascinating book.