Military Model Scene

Title: The Soviet Baltic Offensive , 1944-45
Author: Ian Baxter
Publisher: Casemate
ISBN: 978-1-63624-106-7

An addition to the Casemate Illustrated series, covering the German defence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. A 128-page soft-cover book, and highly illustrated with archive photos plus maps and artwork as is usual for this series.
The book opens with a timeline of events, with the open Battle of Narva, when a new Soviet offensive opened to retake the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania before getting down into East Prussia. Following the Timeline there are chapters setting out the detail of the opposing forces, firstly the Germans of Army Group North and then the large concentration of Soviet forces which were set to face them. Starting then with the Battle for Narva. Hitler, as ever, ordered his forces to hold their ground so the story takes us through what happened to the various 'Fortress' areas which the Soviets gradually overcame. There are other elements that affect the story, including weather, and that other huge Soviet offensive against Army Group Centre, Operation Bagration. which drew off some German units to help prop up the flank of that other Army Group. There were some evacuations by Sea but a huge number of German troops and civilians faced capture and a very uncertain future once they were captured by the advancing Soviets. The book tells us the story of what happened in the Baltic States in the closing stage of the war, with not only the text but also the large collection of photos which illustrate the equipment and the people that were caught up in this story. Amongst the text are tables giving the Order of Battle for both sides, and details of the elements of both German and Soviet divisions.
I found this an interesting read, as in my view, we are often distracted by the events of Bagration, which smashed into Army Group Centre. The text plus the photos and their captions, the artwork profiles and plenty of maps all fit nicely together to explain the story of the events in the Baltic States in the closing stages of WW2.
Thanks to Casemate for the review copy.

Robin