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Submitted by
Steve Mercatante
on: May 16 2021 - 2:06pm

English language books on the use of armor during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 are few and far between. Into this void now steps the well qualified Anthony J. Candil. He is a former senior officer in the Spanish Army with extensive training and experience in armored warfare. His expertise and background is evident in his approach to this topic, and is welcome.

Tank Combat in Spain is concise, well organized, and offers important insight into the employment of tanks during the war,

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Submitted by
Steve Mercatante
on: Apr 13 2021 - 5:44pm

Over the past thirty plus years the U.S. Marines have been devolving into a second army. This has created exactly the kind of redundant capability that is not only far too common within the U.S. armed forces, but also greatly undermines national security by taking the U.S. Marines away from its core historical mission.

Thankfully, that era appears to be closing. The Marines are now moving back to being an elite, mobile, hard-hitting force of amphibious light infantry.

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Submitted by
Steve Mercatante
on: Mar 17 2021 - 5:40pm

Last year I reviewed and recommended Volume I of Douglas E. Nash Senior's new trilogy looking into the combat history of the IV. SS-Panzerkorps. I have now completed Volume's II and III and think you will like them both. Check out the new review of these volumes here!

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Submitted by
Steve Mercatante
on: Feb 13 2021 - 8:51pm

Many of my readers probably have an interest in military history and operations in general and not just the Second World War. If so then you may have been paying attention to the advanced nature of the Russian effort to secure a dominant military position in the Arctic Circle. You may have also wondered what this effort entails and why it is such a big deal.

If so, then I have just reviewed a book about the Second World War era ground based military operations of Germany's Mountain Corps

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Submitted by
Steve Mercatante
on: Dec 10 2020 - 12:14am

I've spent the last two months reading the most detailed study you might ever find regarding one of the Second World War's more overlooked but great city sieges. Clocking in at 1,400 pages and two volumes this may end up becoming the definitive study of the 1944-45 Battle for Budapest, and it is well-worth your time. Take a moment to check out the review and why it is I think this two-volume set lives up to the author's ambitious goals. 

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Submitted by
Steve Mercatante
on: Aug 26 2020 - 11:27pm

Here we are again. I had previously sworn off reviewing World War II books written by former German officers. Darn it but don't I have another good one for my readers. This time we get to hear the thoughts of Panzer Group 4's former Chief of Staff - Chales De Beaulieu and his opinion as to why his panzer group failed to take Leningrad during Operation Barbarossa. Please do check out the full review. The analysis within this book's pages are well worth your time.

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Submitted by
Steve Mercatante
on: Jun 16 2020 - 8:36pm

Astute readers may have noticed that to date I have shied away from reviewing any of the books written by German officers who fought in the Second World War. So why this book? Read on for that answer, my thoughts on the author, and a word of caution for readers.

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Submitted by
Steve Mercatante
on: May 25 2020 - 3:44pm

As of this writing nearly 100,000 Americans have died of Covid-19. The vast majority of these deaths were entirey preventable. That is undisputable. What is also undisputable is the horror of dying from this disease, of dying alone.

Submitted by
Steve Mercatante
on: May 19 2020 - 7:57pm

I have just published my review of Special Forces Berlin by James Stejskal. After reading this book anyone would be hard-pressed to argue that "Detachment A" wasn't the best-of-the-best in the US military throughout much of the Cold War era. One could even argue that it's skillset as practiced in the late 1970's up to the mid-1980's equally stood up as best in its class in comparison to even its newest and more widely acclaimed US special forces peers in Delta Force or SEAL TEAM 6.

Submitted by
Steve Mercatante
on: Mar 22 2020 - 7:18pm

Igor Nebolsin does it again. My latest review covers his most recent work - Tank Battles in East Prussia and Poland 1944-1945. This is a must read for armored enthusiasts. Check out my review and see why.

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