Between Giants: The Battle for the Baltics in World War II

Between Giants examines the Baltic states' experience during World War II as they faced domination by both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. The book covers the period from 1939 to 1945, focusing on Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania's struggle to maintain sovereignty while caught between two aggressive powers. Military historian Prit Buttar draws from German, Soviet and Baltic sources to reconstruct the campaigns, battles and political maneuvering that shaped the region's fate. The narrative tracks the Soviet occupation of 1940, the German invasion of 1941, and the return of Soviet forces in 1944-45. The work documents how local populations responded to and resisted both occupying powers, including the formation of partisan groups and attempts to restore independence. Beyond military operations, the text addresses the human impact through accounts of deportations, persecution, and collaboration. The book highlights a lesser-known theater of World War II while exploring universal themes of national survival, resistance, and the cost of being caught between competing empires. This examination of the Baltic experience provides perspective on current geopolitical tensions in the region.

Readers appreciate the book's detailed coverage of a lesser-known WWII theater and its balanced treatment of all sides involved - Soviet, German, and Baltic forces. Many note Buttar's thorough research and use of firsthand accounts to tell the human story behind military operations. Liked: - Clear explanation of complex political dynamics - Maps and photographs enhance understanding - Coverage of smaller Baltic nations' perspectives - Accessible writing style for non-military readers Disliked: - Some sections become dense with military unit designations - A few readers found the political background sections too long - Limited coverage of civilian experiences Ratings: Goodreads: 4.19/5 (190 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (156 ratings) Notable reader comment: "Fills a major gap in English-language WWII literature about the Baltic states' experience between Nazi and Soviet occupation" - Amazon reviewer Several military history enthusiasts noted the book serves as a solid reference work for this theater of operations.

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🌟 Author Prit Buttar served as a doctor in the British Army and has extensively studied military medicine alongside Eastern Front warfare 🌟 The Baltic states changed hands six times between 1939 and 1945, being occupied alternately by the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany 🌟 During the period covered in the book, approximately 550,000 Baltic citizens fled their homelands to escape the advancing Soviet forces 🌟 The book details how the Holocaust was particularly devastating in the Baltics, with Estonia becoming the first territory to be declared "Judenfrei" (free of Jews) by the Nazis 🌟 Despite the massive scale of fighting in the Baltic region, this theater of WWII has received relatively little attention in English-language histories compared to Western Front operations