Being there . . . . to join “buffers-in-the-know” in appreciating two hot off the presses
CASEMATE PUBLISHERS Illustrated Series’ World War II contributions via celebrated historical
authors IAN BAXTER and MASSIMILIANO AFIERO – – their books being among the best of all the
newly designed and formatted groups of successive coordinated subjects by battle events,
usually chronologically. In short, military publishing has rarely offered readers, whether casual
or deadly serious, continuous, and connected acts, events, or steps, including personalities, in
understandable sequences. This humble reviewer, like so many readers, has his favorite
publishers publishing such series, i.e., CASEMATE, OSPREY, NAVAL INSTITUTE, SCHIFFER, of
course, and mighty McFARLAND – – all the best this world has to offer. Only the British can
match their narrative writers, qualities of design, expensive print-paper, clarity of images,
illustrations, and binding — CASEMATE’s contributions from the beginning of its history. Check
out for yourself the website of each publisher and order accordingly. The simple role of this
“reviewer” is to “die for” by others who enjoy critiquing, meet, peruse, read, relish, and
introduce, insert, insinuate, interpolate, intercalate, interpose, and interject the latest of the
latest in a forum of words and photos such as ARGunners offers – in this case, leaving the poor
fellow alone to enjoy his imaginative promoting. Case in point for Casemate, two brand-new
shining, illustriously illustrated mini histories to add to the buffer’s WWII shelves in his or her
growing library . . .
NOBLE CASEMATE PUBLISHING LEADS THE GROWING “SERIES” PACK, BARELY, WITH RESOLUTE
DRIVE AND DETERMINATION TO OFFER EXCITING, NAY, EXALTING, READING AMID HITHERTO
UNSEEN PHOTOS COLLECTED OVER EIGHT DECADES! BE THERE, TO LITERALLY EYE-WITNESS
EUROPE AT WAR WITH ALL YOUR EMPATHIC AND UPLIFTING EMOTIONS
“THE SOVIET DESTRUCTION of ARMY GROUP SOUTH – Ukraine and Southern Poland 1943 –
1945”, by Ian Baxter. CASEMATE PUBLISHERS, Casemate Illustrated Series: 2023, 128 pages,
7”x10”, B&W photos, paperback; $28.95. Visit, www.casematepublishers.com.
“12 th SS PANZER DIVISION HITLERJUGEND – Volume 2, From Operation Goodwood to April
1945”, by Massimiliano Afiero, Translated by Raphael Riccio. CASEMATE PUBLISHERS, Casemate
Illustrated Series: 2023, 128 pages, 8”x10”, B&W and Color illustrations, paperback; $28.95.
Visit, www.casematepublishers.com.
Reviewed and Highly, Highly Recommended by Don DeNevi
God, Almighty, how this writer wishes he worked for Casemate! Think of it: what better way
to BE THERE on this final weekend of February 2023, when 300 exceedingly rare, unpublished
images (150 in each book) covering the main battles along the Dnieper and in the Crimea and
Odessa; then, taking a deep breath, reading the detailed accounts of one of the largest
operations of WWII involving almost 4,000,000 troops stretched along a 900-mile front for
months.
Then, hop over to coastal France to observe the infamous 12 th SS Panzer Division
HITLERJUGEND fight fiercely from Operation Goodwood through to the end of the war. Excellent
maps and diagrams comingling with another 150 photos that will certainly force you to smell
and witness the horrendous death and destruction. In “The Soviet Destruction of Army Group
South”, you will follow Operation Goodwood from Day One in July 1944, bypassing Caen. You
will watch the encirclement of the Falaise Pocket; fight along the Maas and in the ill-fated
Ardennes offensive of December 1944, then deploy to Hungary in 1945 to stem the Red Army
advance to Berlin. Thus, reader, with the aid of maps and crystal-clear photos in color, you will
see for yourself how these kids, for the most part, do Hitler’s bidding and fight to the bitter end
against overwhelming odds, until the final battles in Austria and on Reich soil occur in late April
- Be there when some of these boys manage to achieve a few local success and launch
desperate counterattacks right up to the final days prior to Hitler simultaneously chomping
down on a cyanide pill while pulling the trigger of his personal Mauser he places in his mouth.
