Between Giants

The Battle for the Baltics in World War II

De: Prit Buttar

Narrado por: James Cameron Stewart

During World War II, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia found themselves trapped between the giants of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Over the course of the war, these states were repeatedly occupied by different forces, and local government organizations and individuals were forced to choose between supporting the occupying forces or forming partisan units to resist their occupation. Devastated during the German invasion, these states then became the site of some of the most vicious fighting during the Soviet counterattack and push towards Berlin. Many would be caught up in the bitter fighting in the region and, in particular, in the huge battles for the Courland Bridgehead during Operation Bagration, when hundreds of thousands of soldiers would fight and die in the last year of the war. By the end of the war, death and deportation had cost the Baltic States over 20 percent of their total population and Soviet occupation was to see the iron curtain descend on the region for four decades. Using numerous firsthand accounts and detailed archival research, Prit Buttar weaves a magisterial account of the bitter fighting on the Eastern Front and the three small states whose fates were determined by the fortunes and misfortunes of war.

©2013 Prit Buttar (P)2019 Tantor

interesting but perhaps lacking in a clear focus

interesting book with lots of great history and very well researched. however it isn't clear if it's more about the baltics or the military history and ends up jumping between the two without always making clear connections.

Detailed Analysis of the Baltics around WW2

I appreciated the level of the depth and analysis into the state of each Baltic country prior to, during, and after WW2.

Brilliant account of Forgotten Baltics

Prit Buttar is truly a master of military history. His knowledge of the Eastern front and ability to convey it in great detail to readers never fails to amaze. The study of the Baltic nations during WWII is one of tragedy, horror, and incredible fascination. These tiny countries, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania truly are, and were, trapped between giants. This is one book that solely focuses on them, as the great majority skim them or skip over it completely. And these giants fought bitterly over them, using them for their own devices. In WWII, it was the Germans who occupied them, before they were re-annexed by the Soviet Union after the war. Hundreds of thousands, and potentially much higher, numbers of Jews and other persons were killed by Baltic state nationals working with their overlords in complete compliance. But ultimately this is a tale of countries that had never been independent of their neighbors, but were always subjected to rule by them. And they tried to crush them.

James Cameron Stewart's performance is impeccable. He's a master. BRAVO.

A hidden history revealed

If one wants to learn about a relatively obscure area of the Second World War, the war in the Baltic states, this a revealing treatise.

Very interesting

This a book that makes you think and understand that both sides leaders were both horrible men. Hopefully we remember all the lesson from these wars and never repeat history