Duel for the Golan: The 100-Hour Battle That Saved Israel [Paperback]

Jerry Asher (Author), Eric M. Hammel (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0935553525 | ISBN-13: 978-0935553529 | Publication Date: December 1, 1987

The story behind the victory in the Yom Kippur War.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This is the story of the largest tank battle since World War II: Syria and its Iraqi and Jordanian allies lost some 1450 tanks in the struggle for the Golan Heights in October 1973. The Israelis lost 250 and won the battle in four days. The combat scenes are well done, but the most interesting aspect of the book is the description of the emergency mobilization of the Israeli army amidst Yom Kippur observances and the improvisations necessary as the high command thrust units helter-skelter into battle. There is new information here about the Syrian buildup and the uneasy alliance between President Assad and Egyptian President Sadat. Asher (an Israeli) and Hammel (author of several military books) argue that despite Assad's assumption that his forces would be able to roll over Israeli positions before significant reinforcements arrived, the Syrian grand strategy was doomed from the start because of the planners' fears of possible political repercussions. Photos.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

A riproaring story of the role of the Israeli defenders on the Golan Heights during the Arab-Israeli war of 1983. Rich in detail of battles, units, and weapons, the book is a treasure trove for the military historian. It also provides a new political perspective, giving more weight to Syrian influence in the decision to initiate a combined effort with Egypt against Israel in 1973. A theme that may cause dispute is that the Golan was saved essentially because of the efforts of the Israeli armor, rather than the air force or the infantry. A good guide to be read along with Avigdor Kahalani's The Heights of Courage ( LJ 11/1/84). Well suited for a wide range of readers. Sanford R. Silverburg, Political Science Department, Catawba College, Salisbury, N.C.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Pacifica Press (CA) (December 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0935553525
• ISBN-13: 978-0935553529
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,122,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent study of often ignored battle during 1973 war., November 23, 2002

By 

M. D Roberts (Gwent, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duel for the Golan: The 100-Hour Battle That Saved Israel (Paperback)

Little is heard about the fighting on the Golan Heights between Israeli & Syrian forces during the Yom Kippur war, but those familiar with the terrain & environs of the Golan Heights & the Galilee region as a whole, can have little doubt as to the difficulties facing the combatants on both sides and the very harshness of the campaign.

This excellent book is about the conflict here during the 1973 war, where the Syrian Army massed on the Golan Heights, attempted to strike in a lighting offensive drive towards the Mediterranean Sea, thereby cutting Israel in two during the most Holy period in the Jewish calendar, with the Israeli military at it's most vulnerable.

This outstanding study details the make-up of the Syrian forces which consisted of a vast amount of new Soviet equipment/weaponry & comprising of some 1,200 main battle tanks, 1,000 armoured personnel carriers & some 1,000 artillery pieces, not to mention the vast numbers of infantry.

The book presents a number of interviews taken over a five year period from participants of both sides during the fighting and covers one of the greatest tank battles fought anywhere since World War 2, even detailing many intimate' accounts of tank against tank' battles during the combat.

We are provided with remarkable accounts of incredible courage and an analysis of how an inferior number of Israeli troops inflicted one of the greatest defeats in military history upon considerably greater Arab armoured forces. Notably, every single Israeli tank engaged in combat, being numerically inferior, was hit by hostile fire.

An exploration is provided into how the end of this conflict resulted in the Syrian Army being virtually destroyed in the field (including largely ignored or forgotten Iraqi & Jordanian contingents) and with Israeli artillery within range of striking Damascus, the Syrian capital.

A highly recommended, excellent account of yet another pivotal battle in this turbulent region.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Kindle buyers beware!, April 22, 2011

By 

Abby (Louisiana) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Duel for the Golan: The 100-Hour Battle That Saved Israel (Kindle Edition)

I am only about 10% of the way through this book (according to my Kindle meter), and have already found seventy (70) typos. It looks like whatever program they used to turn the book into an e-book randomly cut words in half (about 3 per Kindle page, sometimes more, sometimes less).

I haven't read enough to give a full review of the content, but so far the author has impressed me with details and history of the region. I will come back and edit this review when I finish the book.