FW282 Early War: Barbarossa (incl. Axis Allies + Polish)

In September 1939, the Red Army invaded Poland, joining the Germans in dividing the country between them. Stalin then brought the Baltic States to heel before turning his attention to Finland. When Finland refused Stalin's demands, the Red Army crossed the border in November 1939, beginning the Winter War. The Finns proved a formidable foe, and the bitter fighting exposed weaknesses in the Red Army. Then, on 22 June 1941, Operation Barbarossa began a struggle of epic proportions. Three German army groups and some 3.8 million Axis soldiers launcher a surprise attack across the Soviet border, supported by around 3,000 tanks and 2,700 aircraft.

Facing them was an enormous Soviet military, with more than 20,000 tanks and around 20,000 aircraft. Yet much of the Red Army was unprepared for the scale and speed of the German assault. The Germans rapidly overran many Red Army units, but others fought with grim determination. Soviet mechanised corps launched fierce counterattacks, revealing the new and heavily armoured T-34 and KV tanks to the Germans. Red Army resistance, autumn rains, and stubborn pockets of defenders slowed the German advance. As winter descended, freezing conditions brought the German thrust towards Moscow to a halt.

The war in the East had only just begun.

INSIDE YOU WILL FIND:

• History, Background and Forces for Poland, Germany, the Soviet Union, and Finland fighting on the Eastern Front from 1939 to 1941.
• Detailed unit histories to inspire your next projects.
• Inspirational colour photos.
• Painting and basing guides.
• FREE Forces Of War Code unlock all of the lists included in Barbarossa on our army builder website
• FREE Forces Of War Code to unlock the Hungarian and Romanian Early War lists on Forces, when released
• FREE Flames Of War Digital Code to download a copy of the book to your digital device
• FREE Catalogue detailing the miniatures and accessories featured in the book