History Literature / FightingInHell

* TheLostWoods: All over Russia. Not only did partisans hide in them but main forces could assemble unexpectedly before rushing the German lines.

* CrapsackWorld: [[YouShouldKnowThisAlready You probably figured that out.]]

* OpposingCombatPhilosophies: Germans are more mechanically minded and skilled at large scale maneuver and were the [[TankGoodness ultimate blitzkriegers]]. To be honest the provincialism of Germans was remarkable and they are seldom called on it. Too many military writers seem to assume that Central Europe was the norm and places where nature does not do what it is told to are treated as strange. The Germans amazingly didn't even do research on Eastern European warfare before then, as if assuming that all wars would be with Austria or France. Despite all that the Germans managed to adapt fairly well to Russia. Russians couldn't usually maneuver with the virtuousity of Germans (nobody could really) and were plagued a lot more by ObstructiveBureaucrats than the Germans were. However they had a lot of advantages. Russians depended a lot on reserves as the stereotype indicates. And on the sheer [[MotherRussiaMakesYouStrong toughness]] of their soldiers. But they also depended a lot on their remarkable wilderness talents. They were skilled at deception and guerrilla warfare and made up for their lack of sophistication by German standards with their ingenuity and improvisation. Finns had neither the [[MoreDakka firepower]] of the Germans nor the [[WeHaveReserves mass]] of the Russians. But they were even more wilderness savvy than the Russians and definitely more than the Germans and had an environment that was even more unpleasant to campaign in than Russia.

Compiled by Peter Tsouras this is a collection of writings by German generals gathered at the request of the US Army and now made public. During the fifties, intelligence needed information to brief officers on the presumed [[GloriousMotherRussia next enemy]]. And so they went to the experts on the Russians: the Germans. The works thus resulting were published by the army without comment or correction and no more then the NotSafeForWork warning needed because of the various writers [[ThoseWackyNazis earlier employer]].

The work describes the conditions of the Eastern Front and the techniques of the rival powers in great detail. Despite it's flashy sounding name, it is a staff volume, not a popular history and written in an encyclopedic manner. A good source for someone interested in the subject.

* DirtyCommunists: Interestingly, these are complimented for making Russia more militarily efficient then the Czarists did.

* OpposingCombatPhilosophies: Germans are more mechanically minded and skilled at large scale maneuver and were the [[TankGoodness ultimate blitzkriegers]]. To be honest the provincialism of Germans was remarkable and they are seldom called on it. To many military writers seem to assume that Central Europe was the norm and places where nature does not do what it is told to are treated as strange; the Germans amazingly didn't even do a research on Eastern European warfare before then as if assuming that all wars would be with Austria or France. Despite all that the Germans managed to adapt fairly well to Russia. Russian's couldn't usually maneuver with the virtuousity of Germans(nobody could really) and were plagued a lot more by ObstructiveBureaucrat s then Germans. However they had a lot of advantages. Russians depended a lot on reserves as the stereotype indicates. And on the sheer [[MotherRussiaMakesYouStrong toughness]] of their soldiers. But they also depended a lot on their remarkable wilderness talents. They were skilled at deceptions and guerrilla warfare and made up for their unsophistication by German standards with their ingenuity and improvisations. Finns had neither the [[MoreDakka firepower]] of the Germans nor the [[WeHaveReserves mass]] of the Russians. But they were even more wilderness savvy then the Russians and definitely more then the Germans and had an environment that was even more unpleasant to campaign in then Russia.

* WeatherOfWar: Russia's General Winter as expected. But also taking pride of place is Colonel Slush. During springtime all the packed snow floods out over the steepes and in fall rains come pouring down making Russia one big swamp. This was in fact even worse in some ways; you can actually campaign in winter because the roads are hardened; you certainly can't do that when they are flooded. In summer it is scorching and desert like. Russia was a {{Deathworld}} even before you start [[BerserkButton making the inhabitants mad at you.]]

* HadToBeSharp: Pretty much everyone. Forget victory. ''Surviving'' this makes you a {{Badass}}.

* WeHaveReserves: The Russians again

* FinnsWithFearsomeForests: Praised tremendously. Though [[YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame Finns might find that annoying]] it takes quite a bit of prowess to get the professional admiration of a [[InsufferableGenius German Staff Officer]].

* NazisWithGnarlyWeapons: The writers and of course the German side.

* WorldWarII