Featured battle : Tannenberg

Part of First World War

Date : 26 August 1914 - 30 August 1914

Leaving a small cavalry div. to slow down the Russian 1st Army under Rennenkampf, the rest of the German 8th moved against Samsonov's 2nd. After intercepting Russian radio messages, Hindenberg knew where each unit was and resolved to encircle them. The German XVII Corps and I Reserve Corps hit the Russian right while von Francois' I Corps hit the left. The XX counter-attacked the centre. Successfully turning both flanks, the Germans caused the Russian to fall back in dissarray, further confused by poor communication and lack of appreciation of the situation. The trap was closed when von Below's 1st Reserve and von Francois' 1st Corps extended to complete the encirclement and the Russian 2nd was effectively destroyed. Samsonov, after ordering the retreat on the 29th dissappeared, thought to have committed suicide. Rennenkampf's 1st Army made no move to assist.

D-Day, Arnhem and The Rhine.

Robert F. Ashby Ed. Jonathan Walker
A superb memoir of one man’s war. Robert Ashby was a glider pilot who survived landings at D-Day, Arnhem and the Rhine crossing. Jonathan Walker has done the job of editing so that he does not interfere with the original memoirs but adds sufficient notes, in italics, to provide both context and a little additional information. To highlight any part of the book would be to do a disservice to the whole. The text is supported by a set of very special, many personal, photographs.
For anyone with even a passing interest in the Second World war this is a must read. We cannot recommend it too highly.

Pen & Sword Military, 2022