World War II Winter and Mountain Warfare Tactics

World War II Winter and Mountain Warfare Tactics cover

Description

Although prolonged warfare in subzero temperatures and/or at high altitude had occurred from time to time before 1900, the twentieth century saw an unprecedented emphasis on fighting in all terrains, seasons and weather conditions. Such conditions made even basic survival difficult as subzero temperatures caused weapons to jam, engines to seize up and soldiers to suffer frostbite, snow blindness and hypothermia; even the hardiest, best-equipped troops found defending their positions very difficult, let alone conducting offensive operations. The conditions often favoured small groups of mobile, lightly armed soldiers, rather than the armoured forces or air power that dominated other combat environments.

Some European armies developed small numbers of specialist alpine troops before and during World War I, but these proved to be insufficient as nearly all the major combatants of World War II found themselves fighting for extended periods in extremely hostile cold-weather and/or alpine environments. Some, like the German forces invading the USSR in 1941, were - apart from a few specialist formations - poorly equipped and trained for the unique difficulties imposed by such conditions, and were initially forced to improvise. Others, such as the Finns in the Winter War of 1939-40, outclassed their Soviet opponents with their mobility (many soldiers were already competent skiers at the outbreak of war), marksmanship, bold initiative and decisive leadership.

Drawing upon manuals, memoirs and unit histories and illustrated with period tactical diagrams and specially commissioned full-colour artwork, this study sheds new light on the winter-warfare tactics and techniques of the US, British, German, Soviet and Finnish armies of World War II.

Table of Contents

Introduction: strategic and tactical constraints of terrain and climate on military operations /Pre-war background work: British Polar Institute – Indian Army – European Alpine troops – transport, sleds and skis /Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939–40: materials and experience – 'motti' tactics /Narvik 1940 – Norwegian experience – establishment of British Commando Schools /The Russian Front, 1941: Russian tactics, German inadequacies and improvisation /German responses 1942–44: winter warfare and ski-troop manuals /US responses: manuals 1941–44 – tactical training – clothing and equipment /Italy, 1943–45: mountain warfare – mule transport /The West, 1944–45: British in the Netherlands – Battle of the Bulge – snow camouflage /Conclusions /Bibliography

Product details

Published Apr 23 2013
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 64
ISBN 9781849087124
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 5 b/w
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Elite
Short code ELI 193
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Stephen Bull

Dr Stephen Bull worked for the National Army Museu…

Illustrator

Steve Noon

Steve Noon was born in Kent, UK, and attended art…

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