Number 189 in the 'Campaign' series covers the German advances into the Crimea during 1942 and the subsequent battles to capture the major city in the are, Sevastopol. This campaign could rightly be considered one of the most artillery intensive battles of the war. Not only did the Soviets have large, turreted gun emplacements (originally designed for coastal defense, but able to be swung around landward), but it is here that the huge siege guns, the Karl mortars and Dora rail gun, were used, though not quite with the effect that was expected.

Sevastopol had to be overtaken if the Germans were ever to reach the oil fields of the Caucus mountains and Von Manstein was sure he could take it. However, he had a couple of problems. One was that he had what he had and there would be no German troop reinforcements so he had to be cautious about their use. Secondly, the Luftwaffe was spread very thinly everywhere and no more so as in Russia, where units were frequently called upon to stop operations in one area and move several hundred miles to another location to help out in battle.

A considerable portion of Von Manstein's success was because the Luftwaffe was there to maintain air superiority while his troops moved. Once that was gone, the way became much more difficult.

Then there were the Russians, who were fighting for their homeland. However, the actions of most Soviet commanders were based on set, pre-war plans and field commanders did not enjoy as much freedom of thought as did the Germans. This resulted in a rather high number of troops that were killed/wounded/captured. In the end, the Soviets were down to an 'every man for himself' scenario with leaders scampering away at the earliest opportunity.

Robert Forczyk covers the preparations, and all the various battles in and around Sevastopol in a manner that is both interesting and easy to read. This is all superbly illustrated by Howard Gerrard and with an excellent choice of maps, diagrams, and period photographs to lead us through what could have been a confusing set of operations.

It is an excellent book on a part of WWII that rarely gets any sort of press. One that I know you will enjoy reading as much as I did.

February 2008.

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