Before you leave...
Take 20% off your first order
20% off
Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order
Night of the Bayonets: The Texel Uprising and Hitler's Revenge, April-May 1945 (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781784384685)
Vendor:
Eric Lee
Product type:
Books
- $29.95
$29.95- $29.95
- Unit price
- per
Subtotal:
$29.95
Description
xA fascinating account of a little-known World War Two rebellion.
In the final days of World War II in Europe, Georgians serving in the Wehrmacht on Texel island off the Dutch coast rose up and slaughtered their German masters. Hitler ordered the island to be retaken and fighting continued for weeks, well after the war's end.
The uprising had it origins in the bloody history of Georgia in the twentieth century, a history that saw the country move from German occupation, to three short years of independence, to Soviet rule after it was conquered by the Red Army in 1921. A bloody rebellion against the Soviets took place in 1924, but it remained under Russian Soviet rule. Thousands of Georgians served in the Soviet forces during World War II and among those who were captured, given the choice of "starve or fight", some took up the German offer to don Wehrmacht uniforms.
The loyalty of the Georgians was always in doubt, as Hitler himself suspected, and once deployed to the Netherlands, the Georgian soldiers made contact with the local Communist resistance. When the opportunity arose, the Georgians took the decision to rise up and slaughter the Germans, seizing control of the island. In just a few hours, they massacred some 400 German officers using knives and bayonets to avoid raising the alarm. An enraged Hitler learned about the mutiny and ordered the Germans to fight back, showing no mercy to either the Georgians or the Dutch civilians who hid them. It was not until 20 May, 12 days after the war had ended, that Canadian forces landed on the island and finally put an end to the slaughter.
Eric Lee explores this fascinating but little known last battle of the Second World War: its origins, the incredible details of the battle and its ongoing legacy.
Author: Eric Lee
ISBN-10: 1784384682
ISBN-13: 9781784384685
Publisher: Greenhill Books
Language: English
Published: 03/26/2020
Pages: 232
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.20w x 1.00d
In the final days of World War II in Europe, Georgians serving in the Wehrmacht on Texel island off the Dutch coast rose up and slaughtered their German masters. Hitler ordered the island to be retaken and fighting continued for weeks, well after the war's end.
The uprising had it origins in the bloody history of Georgia in the twentieth century, a history that saw the country move from German occupation, to three short years of independence, to Soviet rule after it was conquered by the Red Army in 1921. A bloody rebellion against the Soviets took place in 1924, but it remained under Russian Soviet rule. Thousands of Georgians served in the Soviet forces during World War II and among those who were captured, given the choice of "starve or fight", some took up the German offer to don Wehrmacht uniforms.
The loyalty of the Georgians was always in doubt, as Hitler himself suspected, and once deployed to the Netherlands, the Georgian soldiers made contact with the local Communist resistance. When the opportunity arose, the Georgians took the decision to rise up and slaughter the Germans, seizing control of the island. In just a few hours, they massacred some 400 German officers using knives and bayonets to avoid raising the alarm. An enraged Hitler learned about the mutiny and ordered the Germans to fight back, showing no mercy to either the Georgians or the Dutch civilians who hid them. It was not until 20 May, 12 days after the war had ended, that Canadian forces landed on the island and finally put an end to the slaughter.
Eric Lee explores this fascinating but little known last battle of the Second World War: its origins, the incredible details of the battle and its ongoing legacy.
Author: Eric Lee
ISBN-10: 1784384682
ISBN-13: 9781784384685
Publisher: Greenhill Books
Language: English
Published: 03/26/2020
Pages: 232
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.20w x 1.00d
Recently Viewed Products
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.