Customer Reviews

500 Days: The War in Eastern Europe, 1944-1945

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As described, this book covers the last year and a half, give or take, of the war on the Eastern Front. It is true that this period of activities is greatly lacking literary coverage when compared to the the battles throughout 1941: the Moscow Counter-Offensive, the battle for Stalingrad, 1942, and Kursk, summer of 1943. I can only commend the author for trying to put together a text that deals with 1944 and 1945, and more so, from both sides. But in the end, too many Cold War myths are propagated and his narrative, in general, is lacking. Perhaps a step in the right direction for those new to the topic and who have an interest in some of the details that the author highlights, but the reader would do well to remember that this is a dated analysis with dated commentary. While the author would probably like to think of himself as an 'objective historian,' in this case that is certainly not true.

This is not an academic work and thus the bibliography and the endnotes are not up to academic standards. This then greatly takes away from trying to figure out where certain information is coming from, aside from this, much of the information offered does not even come with endnotes. For example, the small section of Slavic and Germanic history is interesting, but contains no endnotes. The sources themselves are lacking. There is a large dearth of materials, from both English and Russian sources, that have been released in the past two decades and rely on formerly closed Soviet archival data (the battle of Berlin, for instance, has been documented in great detail by Alexei Isaev in his "Berlin 45-vo"). Many, at times too many, sources are from the cold war era and are outdated today. It seems this book was begun in the mid to late 1980s and, for the most part, stayed glued to the sources of that time period (aside from a few ventures into later publications like Glantz's recent book dealing with the failed first Red Army offensive into the Balkans and Beevor's ever-controversial book on the Battle for Berlin). There are also no maps in this text, which massively takes away from trying to keep up with the narrative.

Aside from the errors and typos the author himself has commented on (not very sporting to give yourself a five star review), the reader will find quite a few more throughout the text. For instance, on p. 121 the author writes, in regards to the 4th Ukrainian front, at the moment it opposed German forces in the Crimea, as having "11 rifle divisions and a reinforced tank corps, 328,000 men" in reality the 4th Ukrainian Front contained 18 rifle divisions on the first of April 1944. Sapun hill is called 'Samun hill' (p. 126 and 127). Lev Mekhlis is transformed into Levrentti Mekhlis. Aside from listing the various tanks operating in the Red Army the author also makes mention of 'assault guns' and 'self-propelled artillery' (p. 7), within the Red Army they were one and the same, specifically, self-propelled artillery. The author also manages to misspell both Pokryshkin and Kozhedub (Pokryshin and Kojedub respectively, although the j in Kozhedub might be forgiven if the original source was German (p. 29)). Novorossysk becomes Novorissyk (p.30). Page 68 Fedyuninsky's name is misspelled as Fedyunsky. On p. 81 the author claims Malinovsky commanded a 'border guard corps.' I've personally never seen such a reference. Border guards were NKVD commanded units, Army formations close to the border were not known as 'border guard' units.

General statements abound in this book, for instance, the statement 'Despite the awful German occupation policies, it remains that internal repression resulted in more deaths among the Soviet population' is presented and linked to a few works in the bibliography, but no numbers are provided nor are specific pages where one can see or even compare the information the author is working with. A huge exaggeration is located on p. 45 when the author claims the famine in Ukraine in 1932-33 killed a 'quarter' of the population. The author gives too much credit to the German campaign against Tukhachevsky, especially since to date there is no evidence that German planted documents were even used against Tukhachevsky (how can one take seriously an espionage charge against Tukhachevsky, specifically that he is working for the Germans, when they themselves are giving him up to Stalin?). When listing 'anti-Russian minorities' the author deems fit to include Belorussians and Armenians, not exactly anti-Russian from what I can remember. As mentioned above, Cold War era propaganda enters the picture as well, the description of 'punishment battalions' encompasses the following '...unarmed first wave assault units who would be loaded with vodka before death-charging the enemy lines' (p. 5). I'd recommend the author read "Penalty Strike" by Alexander Pyl'cyn to learn what penal formations were like (there are also a number of works in Russian, half a dozen, by those in Penal formations and outlining the history of penal formations). Page 21 mentions that 'reserve security troops' had 'instructions to shoot down their own men if running', a bit of an ambiguous statement. Blocking detachments were created in order to gather those who initiated in an unauthorized retreat and, depending on the situation, to send them back to their respective units or, in severe cases, send them to penal formations or execute them (the majority were returned to their units). The author also harks back to battles in 1941 as being composed of Red Army riflemen 'link arms and charge across fields of death, shouting and cheering as they were cut down, row by row" (p. 381).

Quite a bit of literary license is taken throughout the text, for example, on p. 81 we're detailed the fate of Major-General Khomenko, commander of the 44th Army, who after accidentally driving into German positions and being killed by German fire was then used by the Germans in a propaganda ploy which claimed he defected to their side. The author claims "Stalin, in a flash of uncalculating rage' disbanded the 44th army when he heard of the 'desertion.' In fact, at least one source points out that Khomenko was traveling with the details of the 44th Army's positions, so while his desertion might have played a role in some of the other commanders from the 44th army being reassigned, the disbanding of the army (which rarely happened by 1944) might have been the result of of the 44th army's positions falling into the hands of the Germans (see "Fallen Soviet Generals" by Maslov).

Initial coverage of Warsaw uprising is lacking, the author skips over too many details to make the point that Stalin 'wanted' the Home Army to perish in the streets of Warsaw. Later coverage of the Warsaw uprising is also lacking, the author would like to make clear that the efforts on the part of the 1st Polish army to cross the Vistula were conducted "contrary to STAVKA's wishes...without their knowledge, approval, or support" p. 242. The author would do well to familiarize himself with orders coming down to the 1st Belorussian front which forecast a beginning of operations on August 25th against Warsaw with the 1st Polish Army moving along the western bank of the Vistula with their right wing and center assigned the object of Warsaw itself (see "Myfi Velikoi Otechestvennoi 2", p. 196, the article by M. Meltukhov "V Avgusti 1944"). Sadly, nothing came of these plans due to the German counterattacks against the 1st Belorussian front that followed. The atrocities that took lace in Germany when the Red Army crossed the frontier are blown out of proportion, in my opinion. The author, once again, takes too many liberties with how he stylizes what happened without adequate research to serve as a foundation. There is also little, if any, mention of the executions and arrests that followed Red Army soldiers when they wantonly raped or pillaged, of which there are more than enough recorded instances.

Lastly, what I found oddly annoying is the author's constant aversion to so-called 'frontal assaults' by the Red Army. Even when they are trying to 'outflank' the Germans they are still attacking 'frontally', the two are, in fact, mutually exclusive. Also annoying is the author dictating what and how the Wehrmacht should have waged war while on the defense in the Balkans, reminiscent of German memoirs and their 'what if/if only' scenarios. In the end, I can't say I was impressed with the text. While there are a few interesting anecdotes and episodes that I'll be sure to remember (although many do not have a source behind them), the obvious lack of knowledge about current literature on the subject is a huge minus. There is nothing ground-breaking presented here, just a lot of secondary and primary (mainly memoirs, worse is that the author does not use the newly released memoirs of such figures as Zhukov, Vasilevsky, and Rokossovsky, which have had much of what was then censored put back into their reminiscences) literature coming together. But a problem remains, said literature has been used in a variety of other monographs and narratives on the war as well.

Mr McAteer, a lawyer by trade, is a fellow enthusiast who has invested many hours of his free time in studying the many aspects of the war. You can tell he has read extensively by the amount of information accumulated and presented in this book. This estimate is further confirmed by reading his expansive Bibliography. I've also enjoyed reading "Absolute War" and the recent "Ostkrieg" and as a comparison Mr McAteer has packed more info into his book than the other two authors have for the corresponding time period. In addition to the historical facts, the author adds analysis and opinion to the narrative. Much of this commentary is welcomed but a small amount of this personal commentary is arguable, debatable.
Another aspect to consider is that since this book is a synthesis of the efforts of many earlier authors, a well read individual may appreciate this study but may not find a lot of new material to discover. Though I would debate a number of issues with the author, I learned some new things and is one of the reasons four stars was given.

The book begins as the clock rolls over into the new year, 1944, with a description of the military and political circumstances of the battlefield as well as on the home front. This introduction is deliberate and gives the reader a good background as to how the war had been prosecuted to get the current results and conditions of both sides. By now the Soviets had turned the war and were pushing the Germans out of Russia and into eastern Europe. The Soviet Ukraine campaign to cross the Dnepr River, entrap Manstein at Korsun and then push into Romania begins the battle events. The author then works his way north along the front to Leningrad. Once in eastern Europe, the author does a good job of covering not only the military aspects but also the political and diplomatic nuances as well. As the new year evolves Romania, Poland, Carpathian Mts , the Baltics and especially Hungary are discussed. Yugoslavia, Greece and Slovakia are also mentioned but to a lesser degree. I would have liked a little more material on Prussia and the battle for Berlin but it was adequate. Many key people are also discussed as well as the human condition in cities like Warsaw, Budapest and the atrocities committed.

For a summary there is a lot of specific information on the operational aspects like key dates, towns captured, deployments, ground gained and casualties. The author also informs the reader during the narrative that certain statistics is suspect and to be aware of it. (If the author had availed himself of the latest archival info coming out of Russia further confirmation of this data may have been confirmed.)
There is a lot of information presented but its not evenly distributed along the entire front but its not a severe issue. The author is even handed with his coverage, not unduly favoring one side over the other, though there may be a little more material on the German side.

As a summary, maps are probably not as essential as in some books but it would have been nice to have a few key area maps. No photos are included as well. A modest Notes section is included. With as much info packed into this book, one feature that is essential and was missing is an Index. A comprehensive index makes research so much easier; if you want to find a particular event or person, you'll probably have to invest a lot time finding it.

Though having some minor criticism of this book, I recommend reading it for the many facts that can be found in a single volume of a period that is somewhat neglected. The book presents a good overview of the last third of the war and its ideal for new students and casual readers who prefer having only a few books on the war.

This book was as meticulously detailed as an academic text, yet so well written that it was a very entertaining read. McAteer gave insight into the strategists' tactics and their struggles within their command. He also brought the brutal and bone-chilling battlefields to life with vivid descriptions. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in World War II.

Americans tend to see the war in Europe from the perspective that it was won by Americans in France after D-Day. The truth is that the Russians bore the brunt of the fighting and fought and won battles on a much larger scale in Eastern Europe. This is the story of those battles that crushed the German army in 1944-45. This is not a dry study - well researched and written. An enjoyable read that moves along well.

Amazing book. Takes one back to relive the fascination and horror of a time when brutality and savagery reigned in a bleak and cold existence. Bone chilling and thougth provoking, this book brings darkness to light and raises the awareness of events rarely spoken of. Every human should read this book as a requirement for life itself. Only fools will ignore this!!

For the Eastern Front buff, this book is a necessary addition to your collection. McAteer's detailed account of this titantic struggle from January 1944 to April 1945 is outstanding. He seamlessly weaves through multiple events and keeps the reader engaged. The players come to life in detailed descriptions of their background, philosophies and idiosyncracies. How the German Army held on through this period is beyond me.

McAteer's book is thorougly researched and very well written about this little known and little discussed time frame on the front that essentially won the war for the Allies. To have it come from an American author is especially refreshing.

I highly recommend it to anyone with even a passive interest in Eastern front history.

An Erudite Work of Love

I am not an historian and usually do not delve in the minutiae of true historical work: my historical reading diet consists mostly of biographies, autobiographies, and correspondence.
Yet I read with great pleasure and interest '500 Days: The War In Eastern Europe, 1944-1945' by Sean M. McAteer.

Even to an amateur like me, the available literature about the later period of WWII always seems to offer much more about the American-English-French role, and not do justice to the Soviet contribution, which one could argue was the lion's share.

Sean M. McAteer managed to correct the balance in a very complete way with this lively narrative.

The reader will enjoy a detailed view of a particular unit's action at a given time, down to the biographical vignette of its commander,
yet simultaneously never loose track of its place in the big political, military, social and diplomatic picture.
Figures and facts are artfully presented, never bore or puzzle you, and do not impede the progression of the expose: as if Mr. McAteer was merely
turning the stones encountered while giving you a tour of the fronts.
The author crunched all this very well and offers the reader an exhaustive panoramic window where zooming on points of interest is done effortlessly.

The bibliography is extensive and will satisfy those who wish to dig deeper.
Hopefully the publisher will include a few maps in a second edition.

In the meantime, download a few maps, sit, and enjoy this excellent work.

The retreat of the Germans from their nearly-successful occupation of Russia, ended in May of 1945 with the collapse of the 3rd Reich. The pivotal "Last 500 days" is detailed by Mr. McAteer with great detail and with just the proper objectivity - one is astonished at the level of violence achieved on this front during this period, and yet the text proceeds objectively and inexorably to the end.

Great scholarship, great writing, great historian, and I recommend it to all.

Unfortunately, despite many re-readings and re-writings, this author must announce that the following typos/errors appear in the work.

1) Forward, page ix, line 1 "to gates" should be "to the gates".
2) Page 3, line 27, "were fist" should be "were first".
3) Page 19, line 3, "prepare" should be "prepared".
4) Page 26, line 21, "in how" should be "by how".
5) Page 28, fourth full paragraph should be indented.
6) Page 35, line 18 "much" should be "much of".
7) Page 70, line 1, no apostrophe should be there.
8) Page 87, line 1, needs a comma between "melted" and "snow soaked".
9) Page 108, line 16-17, misses a "could".
10) Page 123, line 24, misses a comma after "corps".
11) Page 126, line 25, the extra "artillery" should be omitted.
12) Page 136, line 1-2, improper word seperation.
13) Page 140, bottom, "crawled-over" should be "crawled over-".
14) Page 144, line 6, "75" should be "76".
15) Page 145, line 8, the redundant age reference should be removed.
16) Page 151, line 28, remove "was".
17) Page 151, line 29, "reinforcements" should "replacements".
18) Page 181, line 29, remove "the" before "Harpe".
19) Page 184, line 8, "they" should be "the Soviets".
20) Page 197, line 16, "attempt" should not be italicized.
21) Page 205, line 5, remove "the formation of".
22) Page 210, line 21, "40,000 or so" should be "38,000".
23) Page 218, first full paragraph should be indented.
24) Page 220, line 12, "22" should be "21".
25) Page 236, line 7, remove the age reference.
26) Page 301, line 10, "five to one" should be "four to one".
27) Page 308, line 10, "some 36" should be "36" and line 24, "bombardment" should be "assault".
28) Page 317, line 11, "received" should be "earned".
29) Page 342, Line 14 "has been argues" should be "has been argued".
30) Page 346, line 3, "winding streets" to "narrow streets".
31) Page 352, line 26, "slowly slowly" should be "slowly".
32) Page 392, line 22, remove "the moment of".
33) Page 396, line 3, "the next morning" should be "that afternoon".
34) Page 413, line 12, "that would" should be "that he would".

And all references to 'das Ostheer' or 'der Ostheer' should simply be "the Ostheer".
The author expresses regret for these typos/errors.