A highly illustrated study of the Petsamo-Kirkenes campaign, which saw
Soviet naval infantry deployed in abundance against the elite German
Gebirgsjäger in the harsh conditions of the far north of the Eastern
Front.
This title examines the bitter conflict between two highly tactical
armies as they battled across challenging terrain to gain control of
strategically significant Northern Finland. On the one side were the
invading Soviet troops, hoping to liberate an area full of rich
resources and littered with bases that that would enable the arrival of
Arctic convoys from Britain. They employed naval infantry in abundance,
not only to make amphibious landings to capture strategically
significant port facilities, but also on deep outflanking maneuvers
inland. Their opponents were the elite Gebirgsjäger from XIX
Gebirgskorps; trained to be self-sufficient and resourceful and
equipped with a range of bespoke weaponry, this mountain division was
ideally suited to operate in the harsh climate. Combat conditions were
unique: the extremely rough terrain, laced with bogs, streams, boulder
fields, and large rivers, presented a significant challenge in its own
right, even without the added threat of attacks by highly trained
soldiers.
This illustrated title tells the story of this unique and bitter
struggle in the far North, an epic battle between two elite forces
fighting in a demanding environment. With bird's-eye views and maps of
key battlefields, this is a comprehensive guide to one of the most
challenging campaigns of the Eastern Front.
