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The Rise of the Wehrmacht [Two Volumes] The German Armed Forces and World War II
Samuel W. Mitcham, Jr.
ISBN: 0-275-99641-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-275-99641-3
768 pages
Praeger Publishers
Publication: 6/30/2008
List Price: $125.00 (UK Sterling Price: £86.95)
Availability: In Stock
Media Type: Hardcover
Also Available: Ebook
Trim Size: 6 1/8 x 9 1/4
Subjects: Reviews:
  • "The Rise of the Wehrmacht: The German Armed Forces and World War II is the first comprehensive work to deal with the German war effort in World War II from this point of view. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it covers the entire war effort from the point of view of the German military that actually conducted and fought the war, something that has never been done before on this scale."
    —Lt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn, Florida Guard     4/9/2009
  • "This volume will be an excellent addition to all collections dealing with WW II. In this reviewer's opinion, however, it is regrettable that Mitcham concludes this excellent history with the battle of Stalingrad and does not follow the history of the conflict on to the final surrender. A very readable book for all WW II collections. Summing Up: Highly recommended."
    —CHOICE     6/1/2009
Description: The Rise of the Wehrmacht is the first comprehensive work to deal with the German war effort in World War II from this point of view. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it covers the entire war effort from the point of view of the German military that actually conducted and fought the war, something that has never been done before on this scale. Excellent books have been written about the German Army, Navy, the Luftwaffe, and the SS, as well as about the Panzer branch, the parachute arm, the U-Boat forces, etc., but this is the first to cover them all in depth.

Mitcham also covers the German Wehrkreise (roughly translated as military district) system in depth and recognizes its importance, both in the formation and expansion of the German Army before the war and in its continuing importance throughout the conflict. He deals with the German rearmament in greater depth and detail than has been done before, points out the importance of the police in the development of Germany's reserves before and during World War II, and offers new insights into the evolution and development of the German military doctrine of Kesselschlact (the decisive battle of encirclement and annihilation). In addition, The Rise of the Wehrmacht explains the problems the Wehrmacht faced because of its too rapid expansion. This expansion was far more rapid than the German generals intended and resulted in many problems, especially in terms of equipment shortages and a shortage of qualified officers. Finally, Mitcham addresses the contributions of the Hitler Youth to the war effort, where their work on farms, fire and rescue crews, in nursing, and as postal workers, for example, provided essential services to German infrastructure.
Table of Contents:
  • Introduction
    Preface
    I.The Reichsheer
    II. Enter Adolf Hitler
    III. The Secret Rearmament
    IV. Diplomatic Successes and Panzer Divisions
    V. The Rhineland Crisis
    VI. Expansion and Training
    VII. The Luftwaffe Takes the Wrong Path
    VIII. Expansion and Purges
    IX. The Anschluss
    X. The Sudetenland Crisis
    XI. The Wehrmacht Expands Too Rapidly
    XII. The Fall of Czechoslovakia
    XIII. Over the Edge
    XIV. Mobilization and Deployment
    XV. First Blood: Poland, 1939
    XVI. Sitzkrieg 28
    XVII. Denmark and Norway
    XVIII. The Manstein Plan
    XIX. The Conquest of Holland
    XX. The Drive to the Channel
    XXI. The Battle of the Dunkirk Pocket
    XXII. The Fall of France
    XXIII. The Battle of Britain
    XXIV. The Winter of Frustration, 1940-1941
    XXV. Hitler Comes to the Aid of His Ally
    XXVI. The Balkans Campaign
    XXVII. The Invasion of Crete
    XXVIII. The Siege of Britain, Late 1940 to May 1941 21
    XXIX. The North African Sideshow
    XXX. Prelude to Barbarossa
    XXXI. Operation Barbarossa: The Invasion
    XXXII. Stalins Winter Offensive, 1941-1942
    XXXIII. The Holocaust Begins
    XXXIV. The Desert War
    XXXVI. Crisis in the Desert
    XXXVI. The Battle of El Alamein
    XXXVII. The Holocaust Continues
    XXXVIII. The Battle of the North Atlantic, 1941-42
    XXXIX. The Bombings Begin (1942)
    XL. Hitlers Summer Offensive, 1942
    XLI. The Battle of Stalingrad
    Appendix 1 Table of Comparative Ranks
    Appendix 2 German Staff Positions
    Appendix 3 German Units, Ranks and Strengths
    Appendix 4 Characteristics of Selected Tanks
    Appendix 5 Luftwaffe Aviation Units, Strengths and Ranks of Commanders
    Bibliography
About the Author: Samuel W. Mitcham, Jr., is an internationally recognized authority on Nazi Germany and the Second World War and is the author of over thirty books on the subject, including Panzers in Winter (Praeger Security International, 2006), Rommel's Lieutenants (Praeger Security International, 2006), Crumbling Empire (Praeger, 2001), Retreat to the Reich (Praeger, 2000), and The Desert Fox in Normandy (Praeger, 1997). A former Army helicopter pilot and company commander, he is a graduate of the U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College. He has appeared on the History Channel and National Public Radio, among other media outlets.
LCC Class: D757
PDF Catalogs:
PSI Reference Spring 2008.pdf
PSI Catalog Fall 2008.pdf
PSI Public Library Spring 2008.pdf
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