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Title: Axis Cavalry in World War II (Men-At-Arms, 361) by Jeffrey T., Dr Fowler, Mike Chappell, Osprey Publishing ISBN: 1-84176-323-3 Publisher: Osprey Pub Co Pub. Date: November, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Lots of Information in a Compact Package
Comment: This is not technically a review. I recently read a review on my book by Dr. Robert A. Forczyk and as I am the author of Axis CDavalry in World War II, I would like to point out some facts to Dr. Forczyk.
The Osprey titles in the Men-At-Arms series are not intended as lengthy tomes. They are intended as concise, carefully documented books of limited size encapsulating a wealth of information on uniforms, insignia, equipment, and tactics into a very small package. As such, there is, unfortunately, not room for a large amount of detail.
As far as Dr. Forczyk's claim that I " . . .relied heavily on a few veterans for source material . . .," that is hardly the case. Osprey Publishing requires all authors to provide detailed, reliable, and accurate references for all information provided. The small amount of anecdotal evidence provided in the book is provided purely to provide the reader with a sense of what being a cavalryman or a person associated with cavalry was like at that point in time.
Dr. Forczyk's claim that other cavalry units existed in Europe is certainly true. However, in order to cover the book's main focus, German Cavalry, in sufficient detail, only representative units such as Cossacks, Hungarians, Italians, etc. are discussed. A lengthier examination of any of the various non-German forces involved would detract from the book's main focus - something which seems to be lost on Dr. Forczyk.
To include Japanese Cavalry in the book would have been trulyu redundant!
If Dr. Forczyk had deigned to take more than a casual glance at the book, he would have discovered that there is indeed discussion of tactics. "Theory and practice" provides a fair amount of detail on how German cavalry scouting units operated. Larger operations are included as well. For instance, in the discussion of operations of the 1st Cavalry Division covering the extreme right flanmk of Army Group Center in 1941.
Furthermore, the restricted space requiremenbts of the Men-At-Arms series precludes detailed comparisons of mounted units in terms of tactics, equipment, etc.
Lastly, Dr. Forczyk bemonas the fact that I discussed ". . .equestrian-related issues. . ." I would suggest to him that many of the potential purchasaers of this volume understand, as he obviously does not, the important relationship between horse and rider in cavalry units. Additionally, the importance of replacement depot operations canot be overstressed.
In closing, I agree with Dr. Forczyk that this is not an extremely in-depth look at Axis cavalry. Obviously, he missed the point that it was never intended to be. I can only say that the book was well-received at the book signing at the Comand and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, so obviously, he should first, take the time to carfefully assess a book on its intended purpose and audience and secondly, perhaps engage himself in a more adequate understanding of the crucial role the horse plays in successful cavalry operations.
It is for the aforementioned reasons that I am submitting this review and have marked his review as not of assistance.
Rating: 2
Summary: Not Much New Here
Comment: This volume of the Osprey Men-at-Arms series intends to cover the various Axis cavalry units in the Second World War, but it is a rather half-hearted effort. The author has relied heavily on a few veterans for source material and adds precious little to what was already available in other Osprey volumes. On the plus side, the illustrations are good, as usual and there are several useful tables on German cavalry unit organization.
The volume consists of six sections: German army cavalry in 1939-1941, Cavalry operations in 1939-1941, Continuing role of cavalry in 1942-1945, Waffen SS cavalry, Mounting and supporting German cavalry and a short section on non-German cavalry. Note that 80% of the volume covers German cavalry and much of the remaining 20% covers oddities like the Cossacks and Kalmyks. While ignoring Japanese cavalry is not surprising given the Euro-centrism of the Axis, it is more surprising that the author ignores other German allies. The Finnish army had the 1st Cavalry Brigade, which is not mentioned here, or the Bulgarian cavalry units employed in anti-partisan duties in Macedonia. I believe the Croats and other minor Axis Eastern European allies may also have had some minor cavalry formations. The Romanian, Hungarian and Italian cavalry divisions are covered in less than five pages.
There are two main flaws in this volume. First, there is very little discussion of Axis cavalry tactics used in the Second World War. It would have been useful for the author to include information on a least a troop or squadron size action. Nor does the author discuss Axis methods used in typical cavalry missions, such as reconnaissance, screening force and delay. Given the mixed nature of German cavalry units, with mounted troops, bicycle troops and armored cars, their actual use in various missions requires greater explanation. The second flaw is a failure to compare the various Axis cavalry units and discuss their strengths and weaknesses from an organization viewpoint. Which Axis country had the most effective cavalry units and why? Nor does the author give more than short shrift to discussion of high-level cavalry operations. Instead, too much effort focuses on equestrian-related issues, which are obviously of interest to the author, but less to the military historian.
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Title: The Austro-Hungarian Forces in World War I (2) 1916-18 by Peter Jung, Darko Pavlovic ISBN: 1841765953 Publisher: Osprey Pub Co Pub. Date: December, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: The German Army in World War I, 1914-15 (Men at Arms, 394) by Nigel Thomas, Gerry Embleton ISBN: 1841765651 Publisher: Osprey Pub Co Pub. Date: August, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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