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

by Prit Buttar

During World War II, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia found themselves trapped between the giants of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Over the course of the war these states were repeatedly occupied by different forces, and local government organizations and individuals were forced to choose between supporting the occupying forces or forming partisan units to resist their occupation. Devastated during the German invasion, these states then became the site of some of the most vicious fighting during the Soviet counter-attack and push towards Berlin. Many would be caught up in the bitter fighting in the region and, in particular, in the huge battles for the Courland Bridgehead during Operation Bagration, when hundreds of thousands of soldiers would fight and die in the last year of the war. By the end of the war, death and deportation had cost the Baltic States over 20 per cent of their total population and Soviet occupation was to see the iron curtain descend on the region for four decades. Using numerous first-hand accounts and detailed archival research, Prit Buttar weaves a magisterial account of the bitter fighting on the Eastern Front and the three small states whose fates were determined by the fortunes and misfortunes of war.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Military History, Military Fiction, War, European History

667 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Prit Buttar studied medicine at Oxford and London before joining the British Army as a doctor. After leaving the army, he has worked as a GP, first near Bristol and now in Abingdon. He is extensively involved in medical politics, both at local and national level, and served on the GPs’ Committee of the British Medical Association. He appears from time to time on local and national TV and radio, speaking on a variety of medical issues. He contributes regularly to the medical press. He is an established expert on the Eastern Front in 20th century military history.

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Auftragstaktik - military concept centered on achievement of a mission, which allowed junior officers to make decisions, in contrast to older, more rigid command and control systems. pgs 63-4

I really enjoyed this and learned a great deal. This was a well-written and well-researched endeavor on a less often discussed topic of World War 2. The book opened with the history of the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia) from the arrival of Christianity in the 12th century through World War I. The fluctuation of historical and cultural information including the Prussians, the Habsburg's, Orthodoxy and Catholicism, the Russian Empire, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, and the Soviet annexation was all mentioned in detail.

The book detailed the push up through the Baltic States with the start of Operation Barbarossa. The Baltic region was to be a launching platform for Army Groups North and Center in the attempt to take Leningrad and Moscow, respectively. Military action against Soviet forces was successful and the Germans were welcomed. The local population were relieved from the Soviet yoke and began cooperating with transitional government, manpower, and other administrative actions.

The attempt to exterminate Baltic Jews was Germany's first real experience of a 'final solution', based on mass killing, to what the Nationalist Socialists called the 'Jewish Problem'. Whilst Jewsin Germany and elsewhere had faced persecution, even random killings, there had been no attempts at mass executions. pgs. 129-30

With the arrival of the German, however, brought their racial policies. As in Poland and Czechoslovakia, special "Task Force" groups the Einsatzgruppen followed the Wehrmacht and began enforcing the racial war. Smaller detachments from its parent unit, Einsatzkommando units worked with local 'collaborators' to deal with Jews, Communist supporters, and those who worked with the Soviet government. The Lithuanian Ypatingasisbūrys ('special squads'), Latvian Pērkonkrusts ('Thunder Cross') and annihilation teams Arājs Kommando, and Estonian Omakaitse ('self-defense') paramilitary police units were created to organize pogroms: mass shootings and synagogue burnings. They also aided in the creation of local ghettos and concentration camps throughout their respective nations. The expression of extreme nationalism and endorsement of the Aryan agenda, official military units were created with Waffen-SS sponsorship: 15th SS Waffen-Grenadier Division (1st Latvian), 19th SS Waffen-Grenadier Division (2nd Latvian), and 20th SS Waffen-Grenadier Division (1st Estonian).

Eventually the tide turned and the Soviet offensive pushed back across the Eastern Front. Operation Bagration was launched by General Ivan Bagramian with the 1st Baltic Front and 3rd Belarusian Front. In the autumn of 1944 Army Group North was isolated and pinned against the coastline for the remainder of the war. Redesignated Army Group Courland, a war of attrition existed with infantry, armored clashes, communications lapses, supply shortages, and artillery bombardment. The last section of the book went into detail about the aftermath and attempts of stabilization under the Soviet regime. This included persecution of criminals, post-war actions against collaborators, and the echoing effect up through today.

Overall this was a great and informative read. There was so much more information I could have mentioned so give this one chance. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in a unique part of World War 2 and the Baltic States. I would also suggest Masters of Death: The SS-Einsatzgruppen and the Invention of the Holocaust by Richard Rhodes.Thanks!

[Bryan--The Bee’s Knees · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed but clear account of events in the Baltic countries during World War II.

It should probably not be surprising to me--but it is, somewhat--that there are still groups arguing over the narrative of this time in this place, or across the entire Eastern Front, for that matter. If you doubt it, read through the one-star reviews of Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin on Amazon. One of the things that I think Prit Buttar does well with Between Giants is make it clear that there is no pleasant storyline to follow, that while there may have been humane and heroic individuals, no one group can really claim to hold the moral high ground from this period. Arguments to the effect that what this group did was worse than what that group did read as though they are advanced by people with hidden agendas; as, perhaps, some kind of amorphous buttress for other, equally suspect claims.

I don't think there's any real doubt to anyone that the policies of Stalin and Hitler resulted in monumental slaughter. But I think it's equally true that, for what ever reason, countries caught between these two states--even as they suffered--also had elements that took part in the atrocities. What's commendable, I think, about Buttar's account, is that while he records the history, there is no veiled judgment in his writing. Other historical accounts aren't always free of this, and I think it's a mistake to try to assign moral values to people from history. Our responsibility begins and ends, it seems to me, with learning from it and taking steps we don't find ourselves in the same positions. To somehow feel as if I know how I would react if I were transported back to any particular period in time is an illusion. The only useful thing is to recognize aspects I wouldn't like to see repeated, and expend my energy trying to prevent their recurrence.

Ooof--let me get of the soapbox. Sorry about that. This is a detailed yet clear account of the political, social, strategic and tactical events in the Baltic States during the war. It is extremely competent, though perhaps not spectacular. I don't think this is a theater that gets much attention in mainstream books about the war, so I would certainly recommend it to those who are interested in the war, and especially those who might be interested in individual unit action. The maps included were about standard for most history books, which means there could have been more and in more detail, but still they were better than many other books of history I've read.

Not knowing a great deal about Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania, I thought the introduction gave enough background to set the stage for the war, and then covered Barbarossa (as it occurred in the Baltics,) the Holocaust (again, limiting the information to events in the Baltics), the retreat by the Wehrmacht from Leningrad, the Narva battles, and the Courland defense. A short conclusion lists the fate of many of the combatants, and also addresses the problems these states have experienced coming to grips with their complex history in this time.

I feel it is beyond my ability to even imagine the history of Eastern Europe throughout the 2oth Century. The only thing I know of even begins to approach what it must have been like is The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell--a book I feel is deeply flawed and which I don't necessarily recommend, but the first chapter of which is one of the most ghastly sketches of the Eastern Front I've ever read.

In comparison, even with its unblinking look at the slaughter of innocents, Between Giants seems sanitized. But it has a different purpose, and for the detailed movement of combat units during the war, I think it was very good.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am the grandchild of Lithuanian immigrants who came to the USA before the First World War, so this book filled in some historical gaps for me. The book tells the story of various communities in the Baltic states who had no good choices when it came to choosing a foreign patron. Perhaps the hardest done-by were the Baltic Jews, who were faced with a choice between Hitler and Stalin. They sided with the latter for obvious reasons and incurred the lethal enmity of their Christian compatriots as a result. There are no "good guys" in this book -- the Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians who bravely resisted the Russian occupation after 1945 were in many cases tainted by their previous collaboration with the Nazis.

Buttar tells the tale in a thorough, dispassionate, but workmanlike manner. I found the passages dealing with the German-Soviet battles to be hard going because of the author's insistence on citing every division- or brigade-level unit involved in the fighting. Nevertheless, this is a worthwhile read to fill in the blanks about a little-known front of the Second World War.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Between Giants" is the story of the Baltic states, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, during World War Two. When I was in school in the 60's, we were taught about these countries and how they were under the jackboot of Soviet control. I doubt if children are taught about things like this now, the probably don't even know where these countries are, much less what they've been through.

Prit Buttar, the author, starts the book by giving some background on the three countries beginning with World War I. After that struggle, the three nations attempted to assert their independence. Just before WWII, Germany and the Soviet Union, entered into an agreement to split Poland. As a result, the Baltic nations were taken over by the Soviets. Then, when Germany invaded Russia, the Soviets were driven out and the Germans took over.

This brought about the genocide of the Jews and others in the Baltic states, a subject well covered in the book. Then, a few years later, the Soviets drove the Germans out, except for a large German force trapped in a area called the Courland Bridgehead on the Baltic Sea, which held out until the end of the war. When the Soviets returned a whole different kind of persecution began.

The Baltic states had a complex mix of people, some pro-German, some pro-Russian and some pro-independence. All these groups were well covered in the book. Finally, the Iron Curtain fell in 1991 and all three countries are independent, at least for the time being.

I am always on the lookout for history of which I am unaware. In "Between Giants" I was pleased to be enlightened on the Jewish Holocaust in the Baltic, the fight in the Courland Bridgehead and the fight between the Germans and Soviets in the Baltic nations.

It is a good book on a little covered area of the world and its history. It is well worth a read.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an impressive book on the Baltic Republics and their involvement in WW2 from 1941 and the German invasion through the occupation to then re-capture by the Soviets. This book is extremely detailed and a mine of information for reference. Unfortunately that is also its problem as it is hard to keep track of the mass of differently numbered similar units on both the German and Soviet size or the places they are fighting over. The author takes you down to some very detailed low level action but it just ends up becoming incomprehensible. He can clearly write and the chapters at the start of the book before the Nazi invasion and the ones on the Soviet re-occupation are a good clear read.

The occupation section had the extermination of the Jews is hard reading and I have mixed views on it as Buttar details what happened in each of the three Baltic states one after the other and it does seem repetitive but it is something that does not deserve to be forgotten. Maybe a different combined chronological approach would have worked.

Overall I am split on what I think of this book. Excellent research and information but often unreadable.

[Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice overview of the tensions (to use an understatement) in the region. Why many jews aligned with the Soviets (seeing how Hitler treated them), while most others in the region aligned with Hitler (seeing how the Soviets treated them during and after annexation).
Something that Americans don't seen to grasp is why so many Eastern Europeans aligned with the Nazis, from Ukranians to those from Baltic states to Finns, etc. It's because they saw Stalin as the greater evil and led into a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" type of logic. Nowadays many of them get painted as Nazis by the left and the Russians, but that's certainly a mischaracterization of history.

[Derek Weese · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Baltic region has always been one of the most strategic regions in northern Europe. Formerly the cockpit of conflict between the Swedish, Polish and Russian Empires as well as Lithuania, during WWII the Baltics were the scene of some of the fiercest fighting to take place between Germany and the Soviet Union.
Prit Buttar starts his story by giving a brief historical overview of the region, going back as far as the Northern Crusades and the conflicts of the Teutonic Knights in ancient Prussia. During WWI the Germans made major inroads into the region, and attempted to annex much of it following the Treaty of Brest Litovsk (a treaty Germany would immediately break) which knocked Russia out of the war. Following the defeat of Germany in the west, and the withdrawal of German forces and government forces, the Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians attempted to secure their own independence against Russia. They were, despite the chaos of the early 20's following WWI, successful and for the first time in hundreds of years the three states could control their own destiny free of the overbearing Russians, Poles, Swedes and Germans. However, this would not last.
Though successful in fending off early attempts by the Red Army to reacquire the three states, by 1939 and the lead up to the German-Soviet invasion of Poland it was clear that the three states were once again mere pawns in a grander game.
As part of the secret clauses of the Nazi-Soviet Pact, the two powers would divide northern Europe up between themselves. While the three Baltic States were not specifically stated in the understanding, Stalin had every intention of seizing all three of them. The Red Army quickly occupied all three states, despite diplomatic advances to Germany for assistance against Russia. While Hitler should have seen the move coming, it convinced him of the need to strike the USSR as rapidly as possible, both before she grew too modernized as well as before she gobbled up too large of a buffer zone.
During the Red Army occupation the Soviets brutally suppressed independence movements, and took their share of revenge for their defeat in the early 20's. When Germany invaded on June 22, 1941, the Baltics were rapidly conquered by Army Group North, and, once again, it would be Germanic rule. What followed is the most harrowing chapter of the tale.
The Baltic states, all of them, to a large degree willingly took part in the Holocaust. Hundreds of thousands of Jews were massacred between 1941 and the middle of 1944, mostly by their own neighbors who were eager to be rid of the Semitic menace (a common theme in European history). Prit Buttar also describes the German efforts to arm men from the three states as auxiliaries, many thousands would serve in the Waffen-SS, a source of tension between them and Russia to this day.
By the middle of 1944, however, the tide had turned against Germany and the Red Army was on the offensive. The early attempts to smash Army Group North, isolated by the near annihilation of Army Group Center during Operation Bagration, while damaging, were fended off by skillful and at times desperate German resistance. A series of Panzer offensives were launched which restored a land corridor to the Army Group holding position in the Baltic. Hitler, despite strategic sense, refused to abandon the territories citing future strategic possibilities that were sheer fantasy. Stalin was equally as determined to reconquer them, all the better to bully Finland into a truce after a major victory. While the land corridor would be erased in later fighting, the German stand along the Narva and the fighting withdrawal into the Courland Corridor exacted a horrible toll on the Red Army, and the Germans along the Narva exacted a 10-1 kill ratio against the Soviets.
Buttar goes into some depth, in the final three chapters, on the fighting of the COurland Pocket, and gives reasonable, and convincing analysis as to why the German's couldn't have withdrew the Army Group using a seaborne lift. While the Pocket did tie down major Soviet forces (as Stalin was obsessed with annihilating the pocket), it also kept hundreds of thousands of experienced German and pan-European Waffen-SS troops away from the main front defending Germany herself. The defensive stand of Army Group North was nothing short of brilliant, in 6 major battles they defeated all attempts by the Soviets to reduce the Pocket, even though some ground was lost. In fact, the Pocket would hold out till the end of the war, never truly defeated. The book wraps up with an excellent overview of the fate of those involved in the harrowing tale.
All in all this is, yet another, excellent book from Prit Buttar, fast establishing himself as a master military historian of both World War's Eastern Front. It tells the tale of the lesser known aspect of the Eastern Front. Outside of some of the details of the Seige of Leningrad, the epic contest between Army Group North and the Red Army in the region is all but unknown in the West. And the Battles of the Courland Pocket, as well as the earlier stand along the Narva, are also described here largely for the first time to a popular audience. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you wish to know more about the conflict in the Baltics, and the exceedingly complex political and social elements tied up with the military tale, then this book is a perfect choice.
Any book by Prit Buttar is one to purchase, this one is no exception.

[LNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good focus on Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from the end of WW1 to the end of WW2, most of the book focuses on WW2. Buttar did a great job covering the bad, the ugly, and the evil of the Eastern front and the complexity that soldiers found themselves in while their homes were being fought over by both the Soviet Red Army and the Nazis. The book does a good job of covering the Baltic Holocaust and its horrific numbers. The chapters are written in chronological order (with geographical focus in the chapters) and is easy to follow along. It focuses heavily on the army movements, so I had trouble remembering which battalion or division was which, but if you know your WW2 Eastern front military it should not be so difficult. I enjoyed the book and would read Buttar's other one "Battleground Prussia"

The book has a nice set of endnotes and a large looking bibliography, and the introduction set it up well.

[Gabriele Goldstone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more, but the battle by battle pace didn't work for me.
However, I appreciated the author's detached approach Maps were good, too.
(Although more is always better.) And I really liked how he ended the book, showing
that the issues of the war continued on into the end of last century.
All in all, I learned something about this confused, bullied part of the world
and I'm glad I read it.

[Grzegorz Malitka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Buttar depicted Baltic states history in very readable form. Author gave us short background of region's history across the ages and showed the events which led to soviet occupation in pre-war years.
Then we've got Barbarossa and soviet offensives from late 1943 till end of the war.

Many people complain about the way author described battles. It's definitely not Beevor's style, with all those scenes when soldiers shooting other soldiers. Here we have very detailed moves of specific formations across the land they fought for. That's the strength of this book - focusing on detail.

Maps are good enough to inform us about what happened in described parts of the front line. Sometimes I had to put an eye into Google Maps, to make myself sure when specific city/village was located. That's all.

Other complains focuses on to scarce material about Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian units. It's only partially true, because all the time we're finding reference to those local Waffen SS outfits fighting here and there. We don't have so many accounts because a lot of vitnesses of those events were dead in the moment of writing a book.
The second thing is that local battalions were used in character of supporting force, not main body of operations.

I'm rating at 5. It's definitely worth to try.

[David Lowther · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have enjoyed Between Giants a lot more had I read it in a paper copy rather than an E book. The complex campaign descriptions could only be followed by maps and diagrams which were poorly reproduced in my edition. Why that is I couldn't say. In my own book LIBERATING BELSEN Kevin Sheehan's superb maps are brilliantly reproduced in the Kindle edition so it can be done.

The book is about the subjugation of the peoples of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania first by the Russians, then the Germans and finally by the Russians again. The battle scenes are vividly, if at times confusingly, recreated. There are excellent footnotes and a comprehensive biography. Clearly the author has done masses of research. The chapter on the Baltic Holocaust is terrifying and moving as is the post script which briefly tells of the years when the countries were part of the Soviet Union 1945 to 1989.

Many natives did assist the Nazis in their killings of the Baltic Jews. Might we have done the same under occupation? I hope not but who knows?

David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen and Two Families at War, all published by Sacristy Press.

[Ralph Wark · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story bogged down by battle scenarios.

I am a history, and specifically a WW II buff, since my father served. I thought this would be an interesting book about a little reviews part of the War, and it was. Partly. The sections regarding the social impact.....the chickens of the Jews, anti semitism, who leaned to Germany, who to Russia, were all interesting and well written. Although Prit did have some character studies, the majority of the book was a well researched but dull the 714th rifles then turned right at Novogrod and tried to outrank the Red Army's Second Shock Troop. Unfortunately, not my favorite historical narrative, so three stars. For those hoping to fill in the blanks to their history it is very worthwhile, for others you may find it a bit of a slog.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read of the tragic history of the Baltic States up to and during WWII. The book, after a brief history of the states from WWI to 1939, provides a very good military history of the campaigns of 1941 & 1944-5 along with a history of the 1942-4 occupation. My only problem is with the maps. The text goes into great detail of the campaigns, but when you try and follow on the maps, many of the places mentioned are not included. For someone not familiar with the area this would have been a welcome addition. Overall though, well recommended.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10 The political events surrounding the Baltic states in WWII are more interesting than I had imagined, and there are details here that I haven't seen anywhere else. For example, did you know that some terms of the German/Soviet treaty were renegotiated in 1939 as events of the war unfolded? The detailed battle accounts grew tedious, and I found myself skipping over them. It's hard to blame a history book for being too complete, but only describing some major battles and their significance would have been a better read.

[Tres Herndon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first (pre-war) part of the book was interesting, as was the description of the depredations the Baltic population suffered under the Soviets, then the Nazis, then the Soviets again. However, a good chunk of the book consisted of pretty dry descriptions of the military engagements, such and such a Guards Army attacked this Waffen SS unit, etc., etc. The maps in the Kindle version were also quartered over four pages making them hard to read. Only recommended for the hard core military history buff.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm interested in this topic and focus area but for a non-academic WWII fan the pacing was slow and painful. It took me too long to slog through this book. I will say that the final chapter with dealt with partisans fighting from the forests was pretty interesting. Good enough but only for people interested in this part of WWII.

[Xats Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you only read one book on the first year of WWI on Eastern Front in WWI, this is the book you want to read. Very good treatment of the opening phases of the the war in the East, covers both Germany and Austria-Hungarian fronts--unlike some books the Austrian-Hungarian get their due as an independent army and are not reduce to the status of a German minor ally.

[Asmizal Ahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting facts and history on the formation of the Baltic states. It is unfortunate on how ideologies manipulate common people to go against each other and how it spun out of control during WW2.

Military actions in the Baltic states typically centered on the Courland pocket and this book detailed out well. Love the eyewitness excerpts.

[Steve Switzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excelent prit buttar eastern front book this time a history of the baltic states in WW2 all the fighting details and the assorted atrocities
Informative book but due to the subject matter not for the easily disturbed
First class

[Philip Dingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A valuable telling of how overwhelming political and military forces subjugated the Baltics, and not for the first, nor likely the last time. Rated at four stars, but only because my interest did not extend to the actual battle details. An essential history of the region that needed to be told.

[Heinz Kohler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book, filled with fascinating detail about a part of the Great War that is often neglected.

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent book concentrating on the Baltic states throughout the war. Interesting to see those who committed war crimes lauded later for fighting occupation.

[Tim Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to read

It tells the story of the battle for the Baltics that most books skip over.

I give this book four stars.

[Robert Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read on a little known area of the Second World War. Unfortunately, it is a tad dense and cover so much time and so many events and people.

[Steve Shallenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of very good information about the Baltic States before during and after WW 2. With emphasis on the WW 2 years. A great tragedy that is seldom talked about.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eminently researched and recounted with an emphasis on comprehensiveness, balance and critical approach to the sources

[Arik]

I gave up.

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The three Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have been fought over and ruled over by other states for centuries. They gained their independence in the wake of the First World War, but were under pressure from the political manoeuvring of Russia, Germany, and Poland in the interwar years. They are rocked by the German-Soviet non-aggression pact prior to World War Two and occupied by Soviet Union in 1939, then by Germany in 1941, and again by the Soviets 1944-45, remaining behind the iron curtain as part of the Soviet Union until 1990. With the exception of Poland, no countries experienced as high a population loss through death and deportation during the war as the Baltic states (over 20 percent). To complicate matters, both belligerent armies included large numbers of combatants from the Baltic states, plus nationalist and pro-Soviet partisans were operating. Prit Buttar seeks to tell the complex story of the battle of the Baltics from all perspectives (each Baltic state, Germany, Russia; politicians, soldiers, partisans, civilians) from a somewhat distant, neutral perspective. To a large degree, he succeeds, starting with a general potted history leading up to independence post WWI, a general overview of the interwar years, then a detailed history of actions during WW2, and a summary of post-war outcomes.

Buttar covers a lot of ground and there is a lot of detail, but the narrative suffers from a couple of issues. First, the coverage is somewhat uneven, with great detail relating to particular military encounters, with less in-depth analysis concerning civilian life, the activities of partisans, the deportations and ghettos, and Baltic state politics. In part, this is probably related to access to archives and sources. Second, much of the history is laundry-list is style, noting which units were moving where and engaging which armies, etc., and while there are maps, they only relate to a few of the events. In part, this is to do with the scale of the encounters, involving hundreds of thousands of military combatants over a large area, but it makes following events almost meaningless beyond giving a sense of the scale. The result is an analysis that is broad in scope, packed with lots of detail, but is dry, a little uneven, and sometimes uninteresting to follow, and would have benefitted from more personal stories (which are included as very limited snippets). Moreover, some of the analysis jarred a little, especially relating to Jews, who are always talked about as a different group to Latvians, Lithuanians, Estonians and Russians, as if one couldn’t be Latvian and Jewish, for example. They were no doubt singled out as an ethnicity, which is not nationality. Overall, an interesting read as to how the Baltic states fare in the early- and mid-twentieth century.

[Bruce Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between Giants, The Battle for the Baltics in World War II, by Prit Buttar (2013, 343pp). This is a detailed look at the political but mostly military battles for the Baltics — primarily Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, but including some mention of Poland, Finland, Belarus, and Ukraine — between Germany and Russia. More so than I ever knew, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were battlegrounds for competing powers dating back centuries. Their individual efforts at modern day nationhood were largely thwarted by Poland, Russia, and Germany, and during WWII were invaded and subjugated by German and Russian armies. Their populations were mostly deemed (at best) second class people, and they suffered horribly not just from being at the crossroads of battling armies, but from express attempts to exterminate elements of their populations including but not limited to Jews, deportation of hundreds of thousands, and forced labor and military conscription of many who were left. The author describes military operations throughout the war, with an eye for detail that is both both enlightening and mind-numbing. To his credit he included many maps, but not nearly enough. Moreover, because he constantly referenced German and Russian equivalents of (among others) army groups, armies, corps, divisions, battle groups, brigades, regiments, battalions, companies, and lesser entities (plus air and sea power), keeping them straight within chapters, let alone paragraphs and even some sentences was nearly impossible at times. Frankly, I would have loved to have had the names of Russian units typed in red or some other color to help keep the armies straight. For a casual reader of history, much of the detail was overkill, but is possibly indispensable for military historians. Regardless, it is a fascinating account of an often overlooked theater of operations by many, other than its association with Operation Barbarossa and the siege of Leningrad with which most of us amateurs are familiar. The barbarity of the military forced against both civilian populations and opposing forces on the eastern front far exceeded what was seen on other fronts, leading to more than normal brutality. Unfortunately, the end of the war did not end the turmoil in these countries. All three countries were reabsorbed into Russia, and tens of thousands of residents seen as untrustworthy were killed, deported, or otherwise punished. Those remaining, regardless of their circumstances, lived in countries with redrawn borders, destroyed infrastructures & economies, and otherwise crippled societies. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania each regained their independence with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and all are now members of NATO and the European Union.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the exception of Poland, no region or territory suffered more greatly during World War II than the Baltic States. Caught between the giants of the Soviet Union and the Third Reich, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia became pawns in the desperate battle for control of Eastern Europe throughout the course of World War II. This is a story of conquest and exploitation, of death and deportation and the fight for survival both by countries and individuals. The three states were repeatedly occupied -- by the Soviet Union in 1939, by Germany in 1941, and again by the Soviet Union in 1944-45. In each case, local government organizations and individuals were forced to choose between supporting the occupying forces or forming partisan units. Many would be caught up in the bitter fighting in the region and, in particular, in the huge battles for the Courland bridgehead during Operation Bagration when hundreds of thousands of soldiers would fight and die in the last year of the war. Over 300,000 Soviet troops would be lost during the repeated assaults on the 'Courland Cauldron' before 146,000 German and Latvia troops were finally forced to surrender. No mercy was shown and all Latvians, Lithuanians, and Estonians who fought for Germany were executed. By the end of the war, death and deportation had cost the Baltic States over 20 percent of their total population and the iron curtain would descend on the region for over four decades. Using numerous first-hand accounts and detailed archival research, Prit Buttar weaves a magisterial account of the bitter fighting on the Eastern Front and the three small states whose fates were determined by the fortunes and misfortunes of war.