I have included a brief mention of this book because it will make a superb Christmas present for anyone who served in BAOR during the Cold War. John Russell gives us a detailed, exciting and beautifully mapped and photographed account of the battles fought by the British 2nd Army between the rivers Weser, Leine and Aller in April 1945 - the very places where so many of us exercised for decades to stop the Russians coming the other way.
Many of you will know that this campaign was no re-run of the Great Swan from the Seine to Brussels. From the crossing of the Rhine to the end of the war 21st Army Group suffered over 20,000 casualties and lost over 300 tanks.
John discusses with great insight the strengths and weaknesses both of the 2nd Army and the ragtag of German units and formations that sought, often desperately, to oppose them.
His bibliography even includes links to Army Film clips from the IWM archive. Some excerpts are here to give you a favour.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060015091
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060015036
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060015221
It is of great interest but also a major source of research as it draws together so much contemporary material. I hope to include a full review in Mars & Clio.
You can obtain the book from Helion here.
Theirs the Strife | Military History Book | Helion & Company (outlook.com)
