Duel for the Golan: The 100-Hour Battle That Saved Israel

by Jerry Asher, Eric Hammel (Contributor)

The story behind the victory in the Yom Kippur War.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, War, Israel

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1987

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best book about the Yom Kippur war with a focus on the events on the Golan. It nicely lines out the political, military and economical events that prompted Syria and Egypt to attack Israel. It also describes the built up and planning on both Syrian and Egyptian side in a way, which makes it even more spectacular and amazing that Israel managed to win this one.

This book is great in explaining the why's and how's down to a minute detail, down the unit movements on a large and small scale. It also tells the very personal and touching stories of individual heroism and the splendit esprit de corps which helped to overcome the most spectacular odds.

In closing this book does not stop when the last shots have been fired, but also looks at the military and especially political ramifications that followed this war. Both in Israel and in the neighbouring arab states.

This book should be read side by side with "Heights of Courage: A Tank Leader's War on the Golan" from Avigdor Kahalani. It deals with the same events, but tells the story as witnessed by the CO of the Israeli tank batallion that had to weather most of the storm head on.

[Rupin Chaudhry · Rating 4 out of 5]

So small yet so strong. If David versus Goliath was a legend it was brought to life by this incident when a tiny nation battled against a very superior enemy.
The book gives blow by blow account of the war outlining the full order of battle of the warring factions. The Israelis suffered losses and a time came when all was lost...but they emerged strong and emerged victorious. After the duel, Israelis did not stop, the next aim was to make syria realise its mistake.
Knowledge of tank warfare is desirable but not mandatory. This book is a text book material for mechanised infantrymen and war historians

[Matthew Dambro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent analysis of the Golan front in the Yom Kippur war of 1973. The author clearly explains the battles from the strategic, operational and tactical standpoint. The beautiful vignettes of the small personal battles on each side are lovely. Asher uses both Israeli and Arab sources. He strives mightily for objectivity. His style is lucid and learned; a throughly good read. The only objection is the lack of maps explaining the battlefield movements.

[S2 Mc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maps were somewhat helpful but still lacking greatly in assisting in following the geography of the running tank battles. Amazing little war - 400 Israeli tanks lost to a combined 2,400 - 2,500 by the shiftless, inconsequential, Islam-challenged Arabs. Pardon my French, but they (Six Days,Bitch!) deserved it, and more.

[LB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting and detailed book about the tank battles at the Northern Front of the Yom Kippur War. However, I feel the account neglects the infantry and paratrooper action of defense of the outposts along the border. From what I read in other books, it was a fascinating chapter in the history of that war.

[Andrew Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best account I’ve read yet focused on the fighting in the Southern Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War. My main criticism is that the typesetting for this edition was quite poor, making for sometimes jarring reading.

[Scott Holstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Very captivating, well researched, well written about a fascinating and important point in history. Recommended.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duel for the Golan: The 100- Hour Battle that saved Israel by Jerry Asher and Eric Hammel- Jerry Asher is an Israeli author while Eric Hammel is a war researcher. With their effort, the Book is well researched in facts and figures while the narrative is captivating and binds the reader to complete the book in one sitting. The story is that an attack is planned on Israel by Arab States, Syria, Iraq, Jordan. Egypt. The year in 1973, the day chosen is the day of Yom Kippur, October, the holiest day of Jews. During this period, a week long prayers are held and the civilians and armed forces take leave. The plan is to attack from Golan Heights towards the sea, so that Israel can be divided in two parts. Syria has collected Soviet manufactured 1200 main battle tanks, 1000 armored personnel carriers, 1000 artillery pieces and more than 100 mobile anti aircraft missile carriers. After World War II, the above is the greatest tank battle fought and won by Israel. Israel comes to know about the collection of armored vehicles at Golan Heights and even though every person is busy in prayer for Yom Kipper, a Cabinet Meeting is called and an offensive is planned. The army men who have gone on leave are called back under emergency mobilizations asked to report to the barracks. The army units located away from Golan were recalled to new locations. Arms & armaments are readied and placed on strategic locations near the Golan Heights. First the ready armored vehicles are provided to various contingents then the tanks which can be repaired are sent to the workshop. Maps of the area are provided. Alert is sounded all over the country. The Armed forces are informed that there can be a shortage of ammunition therefore; they have to aim, prepare and then only use the available ammunition to hit the enemy tanks. The unexpected Syrian tank attack started and continued for 4 days about 100 hours. During this period ambushes were planned according to the map of the location. All Israeli tanks were hit by hostile Syrian assault- fire at least once. Out of the total tanks in a single unit, at least 5 to 6 tanks under an Israeli team were hit and made unusable. At the end of the war, 1450 tanks of the Syrian, Iraqi and Jordanians were struck and made immobile. Israel lost 250 tanks. More tanks were placed with the President of Syria and thus no further tanks were made available for the thrust. Prisoners of war and other similar issues have also been dealt with. It is a worth reading book on War for all.

[David Buchan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed account of the 1973 battle for the Golan Heights, which should be read while consulting appropriate maps to avoid confusion. Good factual account with personal anecdotes as seen from the Israeli perspective.

Even accounting for the stepped defensive ramps, which gave Israeli centurion tanks a hull down advantage and rapid repair of damaged tanks close to the front lines, it's difficult to rationalise their overwhelming kill ratio vs modern T62 tanks just as superior Israeli leadership, commitment and training. I would have appreciated some more statistics.

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have been easier to follow with maps. The big thing I learned is that the war did NOT start with a surprise attack. The Israelis had gone on alert several days before, and had started wholesale callups of the reserves before the shooting started.

[Jby · Rating 4 out of 5]

of interest to Tank grogs

[Krishnan Rgp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book clearly brings out the diffrence in the force levels on either sides of Golan. The only classical battle of mechanised arms in the world after WWII has been covered in detail.