Slaughterhouse: The Handbook of the Eastern Front
by David Glantz, Marc J. Rikmenspoel, Scott R. McMichael, Hugh Foster, Steven Myers, Uri Khonko, Natalya Khonko, Keith E. Bonn
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Book Summary Information
Author: David Glantz, Hugh Foster, Keith E. Bonn, Marc J. Rikmenspoel, Natalya Khonko, Scott R. McMichael, Steven Myers, Uri KhonkoEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-11-07
ISBN: 097176509X
Number of pages: 520
Publisher: The Aberjona Press
Book Reviews of Slaughterhouse: The Handbook of the Eastern Front
Book Review: Want to know about the Eastern Front - Start HERE!
Summary: 5 Stars
The encyclopedic content of Slaughterhouse: The Handbook of the Eastern Front (Keith Bonn, ed.) more than justifies its subtitle. Previously published by the Military Book Club, this updated trade paper version from The Aberjona Press is full of information and will provide neophyte and seasoned students of history alike with plenty of brain-food. Although different sections of the book were written, or information compiled, by several different historians, editor Keith Bonn has fashioned a seamless text that is rare in such multi-authored works. No less surprising is the group of respected historical researchers Bonn has brought together to create Slaughterhouse. Certainly the contributions of David M. Glantz, who is one of the foremost American experts on the Soviet war machine of the Second World War, provide significant clout to this project. Scott McMichael and Yuri and Natalia Khonko provide additional research on the Soviet side, while the German side of the equation is brought to life through the combined efforts of Steve Myers, Hugh Foster, Marc J. Rikmenspoel, and Bonn himself. Rikmenspoel's recently published work, Waffen-SS Encyclopedia, amply demonstrates the talent of this young historian. Slaughterhouse is a serious work worthy of critical praise as a bench-standard of researched history of the Eastern Front.
Slaughterhouse is organized into seven basic sections:
First, an Introduction section by Glantz (pp. 1-14) provides necessary context for one to appreciate, again or for the first time, the importance of the Eastern Front and the Soviet contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany - this latter point being frequently downplayed by Western historians and culture alike. This section should be REQUIRED reading for ALL those interested in WWII history, especially those who feel the Western Front was the "end-all."
Second, Slaughterhouse also provides a chronology of events on the Eastern Front (pp. 15-66) to bring the reader along on the major events from beginning (events before the outbreak of war) to the end (German capitulation and the start of Soviet occupation of eastern Germany). This section includes both bulleted facts (for quick reference) and text to expand and explain the bulleted facts. Amazing work, concise and full at the same time!
Third, short biographical essays of both German (pp. 67-112) and Soviet (pp. 113-146) military commanders are provided. As many of the German commanders also led troops on the Western Front (and sometimes in Africa) many of these personalities are well known to American readers. For this reviewer, the Soviet commanders stand in stark contrast in this regard - most being essentially unknown to us in the West, with a few notable exceptions (Zhukov, Vasilevsky, Konev and Chuikov). These biographies synopsize important facts related to the military accomplishments of these men and their relationships to events on the Eastern Front. This section provides plenty of new material for those not well versed with Eastern Front history and is a great introduction to these personalities.
Fourth, unit organization and action summaries (chronological) are presented for over 1,000 (yes, that's right) German [and German allies'] (pp. 147-298) and Soviet (pp. 299-390) units involved in fighting on the Eastern Front, from the division level and above. This section of the book is by far the most encyclopedic portion. The information is presented clearly in tabular/column format such that one can find units and dates easily. Again, as was the case with the German commanders, many of the German units also served on other fronts and we are not deprived of that information (a real bonus!). Certainly anyone looking for summaries of division-level and above actions on the Eastern Front need not look beyond Slaughterhouse. This is a truly impressive compilation of information.
Fifth, Slaughterhouse provides order of battle information for over 50 different types of major units of all armies that fought on the Eastern Front (pp. 391-437). As not all units were organized the same way at all times, these diagrams represent the authorized, or intended organizational structures. Sufficient textual explanation is provided with each diagram to allow even those less familiar with such charts to follow them. Again, if you desire this type of information for the Eastern Front look nowhere else!
Sixth, tables with extensive performance characteristics of major weapons systems are provided (pp. 439-470). The text is supplemented with numerous photographs of various weapons from tanks and tank destroyers to small arms. This section, like the fourth, is by nature "encyclopedic" but again if you want the information, it's all here!
The seventh and final section (again written by Glantz) presents some examples of "missing" battles - actions not detailed thoroughly or completely in any one previous history. Glantz attempts with this section not to present the full stories, but to provide examples of where much research can still be done. As he points out, much information remains undiscovered and tucked away in the former Soviet Union, but with time hopefully even these sources will be accessible.
In the end the best praise this reviewer can give Slaughterhouse is less specific but likely more impacting: after reading Slaughterhouse, this reviewer wants to read and learn more about events that precipitated on the Eastern Front. If a historical work can pique one's interest and educate at the same time, it has more than done its job. Slaughterhouse is a FIVE star effort that should grace every serious student's bookshelf.
Summary of Slaughterhouse: The Handbook of the Eastern Front
With the opening of long-sealed Soviet archives beginning in the 1990s, English-speaking readers have begun to better comprehend the enormity and decisive nature of the fighting between Germany and her many allies and the Soviet Union. Despite the massive scale of the fighting, much of its history remains obscure and imperfectly understood. Slaughterhouse is the first book of its kind to present a history of the Eastern Front that includes up-to-date information culled from long-sealed archives and synthesized by some of the foremost historians of the Soviet and German militaries. * 2 chapters by famed Sovietologist David Glantz - Chronology of events that occurred on the Eastern Front, with nine detailed maps; Forgotten battles of the Eastern Front * Thumbnail histories of 487 units - army groups, armies, corps, and divisions - that saw combat on the Eastern Front with the German Armed Forces and their allies * Thumbnail histories of 881 Red Army and Air Force units - fronts, armies, corps, and divisions - on the Eastern Front * Biographical sketches of 57 key Axis and Soviet wartime personalities * Highly-detailed organizational diagrams of 55 types of Axis and Red Army divisions that served on the Eastern Front * Comprehensive, meticulously-researched performance data comparisons of hundreds of Axis and Red Army weapons, including small arms, mortars, artillery, tanks, assault guns, combat aircraft, and morePictorials Books
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