Featured battle : Heilsberg

Part of The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Date : 10 June 1807

Initially only the Reserve Cavalry Corps and Soult's IV Corps came up against what they thought, and because of their messages sent back to him, Napoleon thought, was the Russian Rearguard. Initial attacks were costly and unsuccessful and it was realised that the Russian main body had made a stand. Hastily summoned Napoleon came up with Lannes V Corps and the Imperial Guard. He immediately threw in Lannes Corps in yet another fuitless and costly frontal attack. During this engagement Count Bennigsen, the Russian commander, was so ill that he fell unconscious from his horse several times. The Russo-Prussians retired from the battlefield on the 11th having inflicted heavy casualties on their opponent.

The Story of the 79th Armoured Division

serving officers
This book opens with an apology. The Author says that because the book was produced in a hurry just as the war was ending some actions may have been missed out. It was written by serving officers for the officers and men who had served and were serving in the units of the 79th Armoured Division. It covers the period October 1942 until June 1945 and was printed in Hamburg in July 1945. The Author may have felt the need to apologize to comrades whose actions were not included, but he has no need to apologize to the modern reader. The whole narrative reads as a fascinating, detailed account of the actions of this very special division. The text is well supported by photographs and maps. The maps are worthy of special attention being generously distributed through the book on pages which fold out and some have tracing paper showing unit movements as overlays. Not something one would expect to find in a modern publication. All in all, this is a real gem of a book, excellent despite the haste of its publication. It would provide a firm foundation for a modern author wishing to give greater access to these brave men in their specialized fighting vehicles.
Not lnown, July 1945