War Without Garlands: Operation Barbarossa 1941/42

War Without Garlands by Robert J. Kershaw is a detailed military history of Operation Barbarossa, Nazi Germany’s massive 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union. Drawing heavily on German diaries, letters, reports, and firsthand accounts, Kershaw examines the campaign from the viewpoint of the soldiers and civilians who experienced it.

The book looks closely at the secrecy surrounding the invasion and considers how far both the German public and members of the armed forces were kept unaware of the coming attack. It follows the early confidence of the advancing troops, the brutal fighting on the Eastern Front, and the growing realization that the campaign would not bring the quick victory many expected.

Personal testimony brings the fear, hardship, exhaustion, and violence of the campaign to life. This is a strong choice for readers interested in World War II, Operation Barbarossa, German military history, and the Eastern Front.

Hardcover, Very Good. Does have The Bookstore stamp on the first inside page