OK, a brief excursion here. The subject of the number of Soviet WW II Tank and Mechanized Corps has cropped up on my radar again, twice in the last week.
Note for the uninitiated, a Soviet (Russian) Tank or Mechanized "Corps" in World War II had roughly the size/organization/function as a Division. So Soviet Tank Corps were their version of a Panzer Division, or an Allied Armored Division.
People just keep getting it wrong, I saw "43" given as the number of Tank Corps in a widely circulated (And otherwise very accurate) book. Nope, there were only 31 Tank Corps formed, and twelve were transformed (redesignated) as Guards Tank Corps. I think the 31+12 is where the 43 came from, but as far as I can tell, none of the unit numbers were reissued during WW II.
And it is even worse, at least two were the basis of Mechanized Corps, and at least one disappeared during the summer of 1942 and was never reformed.
The final total, tracing formations active thru May 1945, was Twleve Guards Tank Corps and Twelve Tank Corps. Oh, and a Polish Tank Corps. (Lublin Poles?)
You think that's murky? Taking advantage of the current warm spell, I dug my old VOVE (White, single Volume Encyclopeida) (ie, a real Soviet Source) (1984); I've never had a real warm and fuzzy feeling about the number of Mechanized Corps.
A "Mechanized Corps" was like a tank Corps, except inverted; (Three Mechanized and One Tank Brigade) Not an inferior, infantry heavy force, they were actually authorized (and mustered) more tanks than the Tank Corps. With more infantry. Think Socialist version of an SS Panzer Division.
The "Mechanized Corps" article says there were 13 formed, the Article on Guards (You already understand about the award, etc of Guards status? The Wikipedia article used to be a straight translation of the Soviet Base article; Not any more....)
BUT, at least three (3) Guards Mechanized Corps were formed directly as Guards Mechanized Corps (Well, transformations of respectively 1st Guards RD, 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division, and 3rd Guards Motor Rifle Division) (1st, 2nd, and 6th Guards Mechanized Corps)? And the there is the 13th "Tank Corps" (Which even the Soviets used to have to write special notes about how it was, well, unusual), reorganised as a mechanized corps (with lend lease Matilda and Valentine Tanks) prior to the Stalingrad Counteroffensive; Redesignated as the 4th Guards Mechanized Corps. I would need the base honorific name to find them in the encyclopedia (A thirty minute wikipeida fail here); (L'vov?)
Oh well- more later if anyone cares.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Military History for Beginners (Part 1)
Twice recently I had the opportunity to suggest books for an eighteen year old. Without particularly knowing what they were interested in, just generic "Military History" (OK, there is hope left in the world....).
Sometimes I need something like that to realize just how deeply knowledgeable I am, but I will have a stab at it here.
First, every generation writes it's own "popular" history. Right now there is a book on First World War UK war resistors masquerading as Military History on Amazon, it is an interesting read, but not something for the market I am interested in. But it keeps popping up in my recomendations.
So start with the basics, authors. Two major figures of the last generation are John Keegan (Still active) and Stephen E. Ambrose (1936-2002). A trip to the bookstore or local library should turn up multiple titles by both authors. Pick one related to a subject he (she?) has expressed interest in, it will probably satisfy any eighteen year old.
The whole issue of Nazi Glorification and the Hitler Channel is too complex for a beginner, but one very useful specialist book I like to recommend is Richard Overy, Why the Allies Won (1995). And his survey, Russia's War (1997) is pretty good too, nice readable length.
In particular I would recommend Keegan's Face of Battle (1976), one of the foundations of the "new" military history (Don't ask), or Six Armies in Normandy (1982). You can probably find one of those at the local Friends of the Library. He has been a prolific author throughout the field. And the Ambrose book on D-Day should be available cheap.
Another popular historian to consider from the prior generation is Cornelius Ryan (1920-1974). Three enormously successful books, The Longest Day (D-Day),(1959), The Last Battle (1966) about the Fall of Berlin, much material reprised by Max Hastings for Armageddon, and A Bridge to Far (1974). One was for sale at my local chain book store, and there should be plenty of used copies out there. And yes, they were the inspiration for the two movies of the same titles.
(Revised & Expanded, Dec 9, 2012)
Next Post: Things to Avoid
Sometimes I need something like that to realize just how deeply knowledgeable I am, but I will have a stab at it here.
First, every generation writes it's own "popular" history. Right now there is a book on First World War UK war resistors masquerading as Military History on Amazon, it is an interesting read, but not something for the market I am interested in. But it keeps popping up in my recomendations.
So start with the basics, authors. Two major figures of the last generation are John Keegan (Still active) and Stephen E. Ambrose (1936-2002). A trip to the bookstore or local library should turn up multiple titles by both authors. Pick one related to a subject he (she?) has expressed interest in, it will probably satisfy any eighteen year old.
The whole issue of Nazi Glorification and the Hitler Channel is too complex for a beginner, but one very useful specialist book I like to recommend is Richard Overy, Why the Allies Won (1995). And his survey, Russia's War (1997) is pretty good too, nice readable length.
In particular I would recommend Keegan's Face of Battle (1976), one of the foundations of the "new" military history (Don't ask), or Six Armies in Normandy (1982). You can probably find one of those at the local Friends of the Library. He has been a prolific author throughout the field. And the Ambrose book on D-Day should be available cheap.
Another popular historian to consider from the prior generation is Cornelius Ryan (1920-1974). Three enormously successful books, The Longest Day (D-Day),(1959), The Last Battle (1966) about the Fall of Berlin, much material reprised by Max Hastings for Armageddon, and A Bridge to Far (1974). One was for sale at my local chain book store, and there should be plenty of used copies out there. And yes, they were the inspiration for the two movies of the same titles.
(Revised & Expanded, Dec 9, 2012)
Next Post: Things to Avoid
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