{"product_id":"the-oder-front-1945-volume-1-generaloberst-gotthard-heinrici-heeresgruppe-weichsel-and-germanys-final-defense-in-the-east-20-march4-may-1945-9781906033873","title":"The Oder Front 1945: Volume 1 - Generaloberst Gotthard Heinrici  Heeresgruppe Weichsel and Germany's Final Defense in the East  20 March-4 May 1945","description":"\u003cp\u003eNazi Germanys fall is regularly depicted through the dual images of Adolf Hitler directing the final battle for Berlin from his claustrophobic Fhrerbunker  and the subsequent Soviet victory immortalized by the flying of the Hammer and Sickle over the burnt-out Reichstag. This popular view  that Germanys last battle of World War II was a deliberate  yet fatalistic  defense of Berlin planned and conducted by Hitler  is largely a historically inaccurate depiction that fits a popularized characterization of the Third Reichs end.  Germanys final battle began when Generaloberst Gotthard Heinrici took command of Heeresgruppe Weichsel (Army Group Vistula) on 20 March 1945  not when the massive Soviet offensive intended to capture Berlin was launched on 16 April. Heinrici  not Hitler  decided that there was only one strategic course left for Germany-hold the Soviets back along the Oder Front long enough to entice the Western Allies across the Elbe River. Heinrici knew two things: the war was lost and what remained of Germany was destined for postwar Soviet occupation. His intent was that a protracted defense along the Oder Front would force General Eisenhower to order the Western Allies into the postwar Soviet Zone of Occupation outlined in the Top Secret Allied Plan known as Eclipse  thereby sparing millions of Germans in the east the dismal fate of Soviet vengeance everyone knew was at hand. Berlin  Heinrici ordered  would not be defended. The capital of Germany would not become another Stalingrad as Heinrici told his subordinates. A decision by OKW on 23 April to defend Berlin in a final decisive battle forced Heinrici into direct conflict with his superiors over the conduct of operations along the Oder Front -a conflict that undermined his capability to defend against the Soviets and ultimately cost Heinrici his command.  In a companion volume to his successful and highly-regarded study of the Soviet assault on the city of Berlin  Bloody Streets  author A. Stephan Hamilton describes the planning and execution of the defense of the Oder Front  reconstructing it day-by-day using previously unpublished personal diaries  postwar interviews  Heeresgruppe Weichsels war diary and daily command phone logs. Operations of the 3.Panzer Armee  9.Armee  12.Armee  and 21.Armee are covered in detail  with their unit movements depicted on over 60 wartime operational maps. The narrative is supported by an extensive selection of appendices  including translations of postwar narratives relating to Heeresgruppe Weichsel penned by senior German officers  biographical notes on notable officers of the Heeresgruppe  and highly detailed orders of battles. In addition to a number of b\/w photographs  this study features 64 pages of operational maps reproduced in full color.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45666027831349,"sku":"ByrdShop_1906033870","price":125.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781906033873.jpg?v=1782415786","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-oder-front-1945-volume-1-generaloberst-gotthard-heinrici-heeresgruppe-weichsel-and-germanys-final-defense-in-the-east-20-march4-may-1945-9781906033873","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}