Under the Red Banner

Based on formerly secret and top-secret Soviet military records, supplemented with extensive analysis and over 100 official maps and diagrams, Under the Red Banner traces the daily actions of a Soviet tank unit throughout World War II. Renamed several times - 9th Tank Division, 104th Tank Division, 145th Tank Brigade and 43rd Guards Tank Brigade - the unit fought in well-known battles [Smolensk, Moscow, Operation Bagration and East Prussia] as well as some of the East Front's 'forgotten battles' [Operation Mars, Orsha and Vitebsk]. Providing unique insight into the activities of an infantry-support tank unit, Under the Red Banner details the unit's actual experiences, including how it trained and prepared for battle and how it actually fought. Summaries and charts provide extensive detail on its formal and actual structure, equipment strength, losses and repair rates. In many cases, these details vary significantly from what existing histories have led us to believe. Under the Red Banner demonstrates how much closer to a full understanding of the events on the Eastern Front it is now possible to get by utilizing Soviet military records and shows that it is now possible to trace every step and action of a unit, even in a 'forgotten battle'. Under the Red Banner will appeal to historians and those interested in armoured warfare, including wargamers. Many of the operations are detailed at a scale that would allow them to be played out with popular computer or miniature games. 3 b/w illustrations, 12+ b/w photos, 108+ b/w maps, 5 figures, 21 tables, 22+ graphs