{"product_id":"brandenburgers-in-the-blitzkrieg-1940","title":"Brandenburgers in the Blitzkrieg 1940","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFully illustrated, this is the first study of how the Brandenburgers – Germany’s covert special forces – seized the bridges that led into France in 1940, in their biggest campaign to date.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFormed from elements of various unorthodox units and militia groups that took part in the invasion of Poland, by mid-1940 the Brandenburgers were established as the Wehrmacht’s specialists in operating behind enemy lines. With several separate battle groups set tasks that could determine the success of the whole campaign, the invasions of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands would be the Brandenburgers' debut as a key part of the German war machine.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe bold strategy of \u003ci\u003eFall Gelb\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eFall Rot\u003c\/i\u003e depended on seizing major river bridges in Belgium and the southern Netherlands, without which the Germans’ rapid advance would stall. Researcher and historian Lawrence Paterson examines the overlooked story of how the Brandenburgers were organized and tasked to seize dozens of these bridges and other key targets, relying both on deception and fighting skills. It was a role which proved their worth in major operations and prompted their expansion afterwards into a full regiment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIllustrated with archive photos and specially commissioned artwork and maps, this book examines and assesses the course of every assault – not all of which were successful, and which often turned into savage battles – as the Brandenburgers fought to open the road to France.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Product","offer_id":57768746025304,"sku":"9781472874214","price":19.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9781472874214.jpg?v=1784697336","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/brandenburgers-in-the-blitzkrieg-1940","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}