LAST LAURELS: THE GERMAN DEFENCE OF UPPER SILESIA JANUARY-MAY 1945

(Subject: World War II - Eastern Front) By January 1945, Upper Silesia had become Germany's key industrial region, with its coal mines, blast furnaces, arms factories and hydrogenation plants. Not surprisingly, when the Soviets launched a series of powerful offensives aimed at capturing the region, the German defence was bitter, bordering on the suicidal. Soviet reactions were brutal, the Red Army committing widespread atrocities, which have received little coverage until now. In this readable and fast-paced translation from the German edition, the author presents a penetrating description of the events which occurred in Silesia during the first five months of 1945 - from the massive Soviet offensive on 12th January, through to the final German defensive actions around Ratibor five months later. (Published: 2002) (Publisher: Helion & Co.) (ISBN: 1874622655) (Pagination: Large Format. 309pp illustrations, maps) (Condition: Fine in illustrated boards) UL-XXXXXX