The Sword Behind The Shield: A Combat History of the German Efforts to Relieve Budapest 1945 - Operation 'Konrad' I, III, III

The author jumped around somewhat, but when you have a massive front with continuous combat happening simultaneously the author did a very good job, and I immensely enjoyed this book. He was very detailed about the ongoing action from start to finish. I read this book prior to purchasing it; which I try to do so I won't be disappointed. The main issue I have when purchasing a book from Amazon is the condition I receive it in. To date, I have only been disappointed twice, but they took care of me.

Book goes into great detail covering why each operation was conducted and the units participating each offensive from a historical perspective. Detail Russian and German formation are mentioned plus causalities from both sides is covered. Easy to read with many unit details and movements.

Book is a must own but the author goes into the minutia which could have been eliminated in favor of painting a clearer picture of the overall situation. Maps are poor. Service was excellent.

good

A fine detailed combat history of the German efforts to relieve Budapest in early 1945.There are Good maps and orders of battle.

The author did a huge research of academic level, but he was not able to put on paper all the collected material. There is a lot of confusion with many repetitions. Syntax is poor. There are also inconsistencies with data, so the reader doesn't know which are the correct ones. Maps are well made, but again not a map showing the overall situation with front lines.The main problem: the author makes large use of data coming from Soviet after-action reports in which German losses are exaggerated. Why give historical credibility to this world of lies? So the whole book became questionable.There are many misprints, this is unacceptable for a leading specialist publisher.Strangely the book doesn't have photos. One can go to the few Deutsche Wochenschau of january-february. Also on youtube one can find a 2 minutes film footage showing men of the Wiking Division in Konrad III (lesser possibility, men of the 6th SS-Panzer Army in Fruhlingserwachen). [This youtube video: Karl Hoeffkes - Kampfeinsatz in Ungarn].

A thoroughly researched and documented study, the author brilliantly illuminates the heavy fighting that ensued when IV. SS-Pz.Korps carried out its three relief attempts of Bundapest, followed by the Soviet counteroffensive that followed in the wake of the Germans’ failure. As much a study in tactics, technology and command & control as it is a history of the fighting, Számvéber masterfully displays his knowledge of German, Soviet and Hungarian source material, which he puts to good use in telling his story. Though not a unit history of the IV. SS-Pz.Korps per se, it is a must-have for anyone seriously attempting to study the operations that unfolded during the first six weeks of 1945.

Excellent operational-grand tactical account of the Konrad operations to relieve Budapest. Maps are very good too,as they will help the reader follow the flow of unit movements/fighting locations in each chapter.

Helion seem to have done it again putting into print a author who reallyknows his stuff on Konrad 1,2,3.These books are really opening up thistheatre of ww2 for the general public, If you have read other books on this subjectyou will know how good this book is, highly recommended.

Incredibly well researched with a lot of detail within, this book is certainly not for the casual reader! However if you persist and keep reading through this there's an incredible wealth of knowledge on Operation Konrad and the relief efforts around Budapest. I would say the book could use more maps per chapter for reference, but apart from that a fine effort from Norbert Szamveber

raccontato bene, pur essendo un resoconto di azioni militari l'autore riesce, accedendo anche a fonti diverse a dare un quadro abbastanza preciso dei combattimenti intorno a Budapest.

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