Prit Buttar has written many military history books revolving around the world wars and this is another fascinating account. Centering around operation bagration, the Soviet offensive of 1944, Buttar discusses the situation the Germans are in and how the Soviets plan to launch a massive offensive to further drive the Germans east. Incredibly detail oriented without excessive length, a thorough description of Operation Bagradtion and it's effect on the war on the eastern front. To WWII fans or readers of some of his other military histories, I belive readers will find this book enjoyable and informative.

This is another detailed account from Prit Buttar, following his analysis in ‘Meat Grinder’ of fighting at an earlier date on the Eastern Front. As with this earlier authoritative account, readers looking for a summary of Operation Bagration should probably look elsewhere as this is a detailed work that examines all aspects of the brutal fighting in the summer and autumn of 1944. The author considers the detailed preparations for this counter punch by the Red Army and the ways in which the Russian forces used deception to a remarkably successful extent such that the preparations made by the Wehrmacht were both ineffective and focused on the wrong area of the lengthy eastern front. As Prit Buttar explains, the fighting, as so much of the war in the eastern front, was desperate and brutal. With German forces on the back foot, the normal tactical excellence of the Panzer and infantry divisions failed not only to prevent the Red Army from breaking through the defensive lines but also meant that they were unable to make the usual prompt counter attack to restore the defensive lines.
The detail of the fighting is given exhaustive coverage and the thinking of the senior officers on both sides is analysed to give a good insight into the decisions taken. Also given some consideration is the way in which the operation related to the major operations following D Day.
An excellent account that will appeal to those interested in a serious analysis of Operation Bagration.

In his new book BAGRATION 1944: THE GREAT SOVIET OFFENSIVE, Prit Buttar, an ardent explorer of the Eastern Front, examines the series of decisive battles in June-August 1944 on Belarusian soil. While Stalingrad is considered the turning point of the German conquest of the Soviet Union, the Bagration offensive of magnificent proportions - 1.7 million Red Army men - was the straw that broke the camel's back. On June 6, 1944, the Allies opened the second front in Normandy, thus tying up substantial German resources. Germans suffered from confirmation bias, convinced that the main Soviet offensive in 1944 would be against the Army Group North Ukraine. Three years of Red Army and Stavka learning the hard lesson, through the blood of both civilians and combatants, paid off: the Soviet forces reciprocated the Wermarcht's 1941 campaign, smashing the German lines and moving as far away as Warsaw and the borders of East Prussia. Prit Buttar illuminates multiple reasons behind Bagration's success. For example, while the Red Army became more flexible in decision-making on all levels, Hitler's inability to accept the nearing German defeat resulted in command paralysis and unneccessary life loss.

BAGRATION 1944 will be a great source of information for history buffs. It's not suitable for people not familiar with WW2 and the Eastern Front, as the narrative focuses on a narrow topic.

I received an ARC through Netgalley, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a great historical nonfiction book, it had that element that I was looking for and was invested in the historical element of this. Prit Buttar has a strong way of telling the story and I could see the research being told.