.
.
by Albrecht Zimburg.
Hardback (6.5×9.5 inches). 273 pages. 2025.
Subtitle: Fallschirmjager Regiment 1 on the Eastern Front and the Winter Battle for Orel 19 October 1942-31 March 1943
This is an absolute gem of a chronological account of the 1st Fallschirmjager Regiment’s winter battles from 1942-1943.
The tactical details of fighting near Velikye Luki in the 9th Army are superb — from terrain to organization to foxhole-level battle descriptions. Lots of patrols, counter-patrols, and repulsing attacks accentuate the superior training of this paratrooper regiment. It even was shifted to be part of a relief operation, although few Germans escaped a pocket.
You can pull some scenarios from here, although you’ll need to research the Soviet OOB a bit.
One typo: “planed start of operations” (p137) should be “planned start.”
The book contains 170 black and white photos, 21 black and white maps, and 25 period color maps (I believe at 1 km to the square, but not entirely sure as they have no scale).
Despite the author’s protestations that records were hard to find, he’s done a magnificent job presenting the preparations, desperations, and successes of a regiment that generally held the line against overwhelming odds.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
