THE WEHRMACHT RETREAT

An enthralling account of the German army's fate in one of the most pivotal years of World War II. Delve into the strategic decisions and dramatic struggles that shaped the conflict's course. This book is not just a dry recitation of facts, but a penetrating analysis of causes and effects, providing a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of war.

• In-depth analysis of military operations in 1943
• Detailed description of campaigns in North Africa and the Eastern Front
• Assessment of the impact of Allied landings in Sicily and Italy
• A fresh perspective on Hitler's role in strategic decision-making
• Insightful portraits of Wehrmacht commanders and soldiers
• Dispelling myths about the German army
• Utilization of German historical sources

Robert Citino, an award-winning author, presents the story of the dying, desperately defending, yet still extremely dangerous and deadly Wehrmacht. Drawing on his excellent knowledge of German-language sources, Citino provides a fresh, vivid, and detailed account of the campaigns of that momentous year: the Allied landings in North Africa, General von Manstein's great counterattack at Kharkov, the German attack at Kasserine Pass, the titanic clash of tanks and men at the Kursk Bulge, the Soviet counteroffensives at Orel and Belgorod, and the Allied landings in Sicily and Italy.

Through these events, Citino shows how armed forces historically adapted to violent, aggressive actions responded when the roles were reversed; how, after brutal fighting with the Russians and the British, German commanders viewed their newest enemy, the U.S. Army; and why, despite material and numerical superiority, the Allies were unable to make 1943 bring them much closer to a final settlement. Thanks to his penetrating operational analysis, the author states that literally every flawed German decision had a group of staunch defenders in the army's officer corps.

Citino looks at all the clashes from the perspective of each nation participating in them and proves beyond any doubt that the individual fronts interacted with each other. Ultimately, Citino paints a grim portrait of the German officer corps, debunking the long-held view that Hitler was responsible for every wrong decision. Full of telling anecdotes, vivid portraits of characters, and thoroughly documented, the book will appeal to both military historians and a wider audience.