The Anvil of War

German Generalship in Defense of the Eastern Front

By: Erhard Rauss, Oldwig von Natzmer, Peter G. Tsouras - editor

Narrated by: Mikael Naramore

An unprecedented look at German operations on the Russian Front during World War II.

The Anvil of War collects US Army - commissioned reports by two highly ranked German officers who served on the disastrous Russian Front: Military Improvisations During the Russian Campaign, German Defense Tactics Against Russian Breakthroughs by Erhard Raus, and Operations of Encircled Forces by Oldwig von Natzmer. The reports show how the Germans adapted techniques to cope with their enemy's great numerical superiority and managed to delay and sometimes drive back the steamroller Russian forces during the German retreat. The significance of the material detailing the Germans' vast experience on the Russian Front was emphasized with the onset of the Cold War and the perceived Soviet threat to Europe.

Written as part of a US Army program instigated after World War II by Colonel S. L. A. Marshall of the Army Historical Division, who was convinced that no record of the war could be complete without the input of the German commanding officers and their main staff officers, these reports offer an invaluable record of German operations for historians and general audiences. Compiled, edited, and introduced by renowned military historian Peter G. Tsouras, The Anvil of War stands as one of the great historical records of one of the largest military confrontations in history.

©2016 Lionel Leventhal Limited; Introduction copyright 2016 by Peter Tsouras/Lionel Leventhal Limited (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

STUDY YOUR EASTERN EUROPEAN GEOGRAPHY

Would you try another book from the authors and/or Mikael Naramore?

Yes.

Would you be willing to try another book from the authors? Why or why not?

Yes. Really informative

Which character – as performed by Mikael Naramore – was your favorite?

n/a

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes. If they can display the struggles from the individual soldier's perspective.

Any additional comments?

You need a really solid understanding of Eastern European Geography to fully appreciate this book and visualize all the maneuvers in the locations the author describes. Without a clear map in my head it was tough to focus on what the author was telling.

While there is no denying the atrocities committed by the NAZI's this book really makes you cringe at some of the strategic blunders made by Hitler. I was expecting more of description of the individual struggles and innovations implemented by small unit leaders and the individual soldiers as a result of supply and manpower shortages but this book is describes innovations and adaptations made at the general grade officer echelon of command.

Not bad though

German’s AAR vs Russian victory

WW2 Germany’s loss in the East is oft forgotten by western military historians. The vast quantity of valuable lessons on maneuver warfare and its application against a numerically superior force strikes a cord for todays military professionals. HOWEVER, if you knew where to find the CARL website and use an app like SPEECHIFY you need not spend credits on this fantastic book.

Good book

Very good audio book which flows well while going over the military situation on the eastern front.

WW2 from the German perspective

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

It was kind of interesting for a while, but it seemed like I kept getting an impression like the Germans were smarter and better soldiers, the only reason they lost the war was because they were overwhelmed by numbers. After a while I got tired of that recurring theme.

Any additional comments?

No apologies for the fact that they senselessly and violently invaded other countries and were responsible for the slaughter of millions of lives, many of them innocent civilians.