Kharkov 1942 Book Review
By Rachel E. Veres
| Date of Review | June 2013 | Title | Kharkov 1942 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Robert Forczyk | Publisher | Osprey Publishing |
| Published | 2013 | ISBN | 9781780961576 |
| Format | 96 pages, softbound | MSRP (USD) | $21.95 |
Review
Subtitled "The Wehrmacht strikes back", Osprey's Kharkov 1942 highlights the disastrous Soviet offensive – after failing to rout Germany during the 1941-42 Winter Counteroffensive – in northeastern Ukraine.
The first half reads like an Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB). Author Robert Forczyk begins his narrative detailing campaign origins and chronology. Successive portions provide overviews of opposing commanders, forces and plans.
Forcyzk concisely but amply explores each side's strengths and limitations during the Kharkov campaign in the second half. Here, the author ably recaps Soviet and German actions and counteractions from 12 to 29 May.
An aftermath chapter summarizes Soviet and Axis personnel and equipment losses. Soviet casualties totaled almost 300,000 with Axis casualties numbering nearly 30,000 – a 10:1 ratio!
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, subject of my August 2012 Cybermodeler review.
Highly recommended.
My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review sample!