{"product_id":"9781472830746","title":"Smolensk 1943 : The Red Army's Relentless Advance","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eSmolensk 1943\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Robert Forczyk\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSmolensk 1943\u003c\/i\u003e focuses on a major offensive that is virtually unknown in the West. With the German defeat at Kursk, the Soviet \u003ci\u003eStavka \u003c\/i\u003e(high command) ordered the Western and Kalinin Fronts to launch Operation \u003ci\u003eSuvorov\u003c\/i\u003e in order to liberate the important city of Smolensk. The Germans had held this city for two years and Heeresgruppe Mitte's (Army Group Centre) \u003ci\u003e4. Armee\u003c\/i\u003e had heavily fortified the region. The Soviet offensive began in August 1943 and quickly realized that the German defenses were exceedingly tough and that the Western Front had not prepared adequately for an extended offensive. Consequently, the Soviets were forced to pause their offensive after only two weeks, replenish their combat forces, and then begin again. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe German \u003ci\u003e4. Armee\u003c\/i\u003e was commanded by Generaloberst Gotthard Heinrici, one of the Wehrmacht's top defensive experts. Although badly outnumbered, Heinrici's army gamely held off two Soviet fronts for seven weeks. Eventually, the \u003ci\u003e4. Armee's\u003c\/i\u003e front was finally broken and Smolensk was liberated on 25 September 1943. However, the Western Front was too exhausted to pursue Heinrici's defeated army, which retreated to the fortified cities of Vitebsk, Orsha, and Mogilev; the \u003ci\u003e4. Armee\u003c\/i\u003e would hold these cities until the destruction of Army Group Centre in June 1944.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Medal of Recommendation\" - \u003ci\u003eMiniature Wargames\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A] quick and interesting read … I'd recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Soviet campaign in Smolensk, which has been largely overlooked due to it being overshadowed by the Kursk campaign.\" - \u003ci\u003eIMPS \/ USA Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781472830746\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Osprey Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40698437566670,"sku":"9781472830746","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_88996965-1c8f-406d-8854-6a67e0b05aac.jpg?v=1640491634","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781472830746","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}