Overview

The Crimea has been the scene of conflict throughout its history. First occupied by the Russians in the 18th century it was the scene of the Crimean War, and was drawn into the Russian Civil War, as well as World War II. Today it remains a much disputed region with the Crimea at the center of ongoing tensions between East and West. Throughout World War II the Crimea was a microcosm of the more general war on the Eastern Front, reflecting the ebb and flow of fortunes of that conflict. It was a crucible that saw first Soviet and then German armies surrounded, overwhelmed, and then destroyed. The nature of the fighting in the Crimea was unusual for the Eastern Front, with naval forces playing an important role, as the Crimea's position in the Black Sea gave rise to a major role for naval supply, amphibious landings, and, ultimately, evacuation. However, in other ways it was more characteristic of the Eastern Front, and the fighting for and occupation of the region saw the same level of atrocity and ethnic cleansing commonplace throughout the war in the East, with each side reaching the depths of barbarity in their treatment of the civilian population. Based on extensive new archival research, this incredible narrative history by acclaimed historian Robert Forczyk sheds new light on this vital aspect of the Eastern Front that has not been covered in English before.

Full Product Details

Author:   Robert Forczyk
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint:   Osprey Publishing
ISBN:  

9781782009764

ISBN 10:   1782009760
Pages:   368
Publication Date:   20 September 2014
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Electronic book text
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

I. Soviet defense preparations in the Crimea and Black Sea, 1919-1941 * Legacy of Whites in the Russian Civil War, Baron Pyotr Wrangel's army evacuated in November 1920. * Mikhail Frunze's forces retake the Crimea. Surprise crossing of the Sivash * Soviet collectivization efforts and famine * Stalin's repression of Crimean Tartars II. The Crimea in Axis Planning, 1940-41 a. The threat to Ploesti (the unsinkable aircraft carrier ) b. Generalplan Ost III. The German effort to break into the Crimea (Battles of Perekop and Ishun), 1941 a. NKVD executes prisoners in Simferopol, October 1941 IV. The Siege of Sevastopol, 1941-42 V. Soviet efforts to retake the Crimea, 1942 VI. The Crimea as a Springboard to the Caucasus, 1942-43 VII. German occupation policies and colonization in the Crimea, 1942-44 a. Sevastopol becomes Theodorichhafen and Simferopol becomes Gotenburg VIII. Bandenkrieg: Partisan operations in the Crimea, 1942-44, * Heroic Defense of the Adzhimushkai Quarry * 15-20,000 Crimean Tartars join German Schuma police units to hunt down partisans IX. Soviet returns to the Crimea, 1943 * Crossing the Taman Straight * Romanian victory at Eltigen * Soviet engineers breach the Sivash X. German defeat in the Crimea, 1944 * Last stand of Mountain Regiment Krim * The evacuation * Annihilation in the Kersonnes Peninsula XI. Aftermath: Soviet ethnic cleansing

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Author Information

Robert Forczyk has a PhD in International Relations and National Security from the University of Maryland and a strong background in European and Asian military history. He retired as a lieutenant colonel from the US Army Reserves having served 18 years as an armour officer in the US 2nd and 4th infantry divisions and as an intelligence officer in the 29th Infantry Division (Light).

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