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Nicaragua 1961-1990 Vol.2 Contra War - Latin America @ War No.15 ISBN : 9781911628217 Helion & Company via Casemate UK Nicaragua is another one of the countries of Latin America which in modern times has been ravaged with internal conflict. Following the US Invasion in 1915 the country became to be a Dictatorship run by the Somoza Family, If they were not in power directly then they were the power Brokers. Anastasio Somoza Garcia would become President in 1937 when he removed the then President. He was nominally succeeded in 1947 however he then lead a coup to retain power. He was then fatally shot by the Poet Rigoberto López Pérez in 1956, only to be replaced by his son! Following a Marxist led insurgency the Sandinista Government would be established in 1979, however by this time the country had been ravaged by war, and natural disasters. This book now looks at the period following 1979. Given the state of the country and its economy at this point the new government introduced a number o wide ranging reforms and what amounted to a cultural revolution. However in the background the US were worried about another seemingly Cuban backed government in the region and thus began to support the creation of a new counterrevolutionary force which would become known as the "Contras". This new in effect civil war in which both sides would be supported by outside groups would rage through the country until the late 1980s. The Sandinistas would start to gain the upper hand, then in 1984 the US Congress would cease aid to the Contras. The same year fresh elections would also boost the Sandinista side. The US would try repeatedly to support the Contras but to no avail with the whole Arms to Iran and funding for the Contras coming under great scrutiny. The period 1988 to 1990 would lead to peace talks, while the government was successful on the battlefield the economy was in ruin compounded by a major Hurricane hitting in 1988 with a drought the year later. Following peace talks there were elections in 1989 and a difficult demobilisation of forces. The period of time following this has not been easy for the country with large scale demonstrations as late as 2018, however the country has remained free of conflict. Conclusion This book will give the reader an understanding of this conflict in Nicaragua. It is A4 softcover and 71 pages long with black & white illustrations throughout. There are also 8 colour pages with equipment profiles and maps. Highly Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

The 1st US Infantry Division Histoire et Collections The 1st Infantry Division was established in 1917 to participate in the fighting in France and faced the major German offensives of 1918. During the Second World War, it effected its first assault landing in North Africa in 1942. Then followed the invasion of Sicily, D-Day in Normandy, the battle of the Bulge and the conquest of the Reich, as far as Czechoslovakia; Their history is covered in 96 pages which include the following chapters:- Birth of division Stateside training North Africa The invasion of Sicily Normandy and the liberation of France Belgium and Germany The Battle of the Bulge To Czechoslovakia ad Victory in Europe The occupation of Germany and the Cold War The “Big Red One” in movies From Vietnam to the Gulf Big Red One Division senior officers and heroes. The book is packed full with period photographs, right from the first formation of the division; including some colour ones form the Normandy beaches. Rather than concentrate on the equipment, the majority of the photographs are of the actual men of the division which is a good thing in my opinion. Each chapter is very well written and covers all the main detail of what the division had to endure, but being succinct, and to the point, rather than flowery as in some books. This book is mostly about the photographs and these really convey what the men had to go through, whether through the training, trench warfare, more training then the battles from Omaha Beach right through to the last battles in Czechoslovakia. For the modeller there are some great scenes that could be reproduced in diorama or vignette form, showing the conditions the division fought in, from North Africa through France and into Germany. There is also a wealth of information on the units assigned to the division and their associated insignia, and several pages dedicated to their heroes, the winners of the Congressional Medal Of Honor. Conclusion While there are not that many pages to it, this book is a great insight into the men of the 1st Division through their photographs and annotations, as well as the division as a whole from inception to the present day. If you’re interested in unit history then this book is a must have, and would be great in a collection. Review sample courtesy of

Stalins Favourite. 2ndGuards Tank Army Helion and Company Unfortunately this, being the second part in the two book series, we are missing a lot of the early information on the 2nd Guards Division. What we do get, is the combat history of the division from July 1944 to May 1945, taking in the following operations and chapters on nearly 500 pages:- Preface Introduction The Lublin – Praga Operation of Summer 1944 The Vistula – Oder Operation 1945 The Army pivots against the German Stettin grouping In the Eastern Pomeranian Operation 1945 In the Berlin Operation Best practices from the 2nd Guards Tank Army’s wartime experiences and General Bogdanov’s proposals Afterword Appendices Once you get through the photographic references, list of maps, and list of tables, you finally get to the preface, forward and Introduction, you finally get to the first chapter, and first battle. Each Battle or Operation is described in a similar manner as first, The Lublin Operation which consists of a list of Command staff, 3rd Tank Corp, 16th Tank Corps units, 8th Guards Tank Corps units, Units directly subordinate to army headquarters, and additional attached units such as the anti-tank and anti-aircraft divisions and mortar brigade, plus each of the units commanding officers. There are then a series of photographs of the officers, men and equipment. The narrative then goes on to describe the preparatory phase of the operation, the units previous experience in the field, training and other working up exercises. The tactical situation at the start of the operation is then explained, followed by the enemy’s grouping and the correlation of forces, and the terrain. There then follows the build up and the situation the 2nd tank army and 8th Guards army from 18th July to 21st July 1944, followed by the 2nd tank army’s combat actions for Lublin, the combat losses and the combat report to the commander of the 2nd tank army from the 24th July 1944. These sections are in-dispersed with additional period photographs. There then follows additional information on the following:- 2nd tank army’s operations for Deblin and Pulawy The German force grouping on the south-eastern approaches to Warsaw 2nd tank army’s actions to seize Zelechow, Stoczek, and Garwolin The development of the offensive in the direction of Minsk-Masowwiecki 2nd tank army’s approach to Praga from the East 3rd tank corps emerges on the enemy’s communication lines in the Radzymin, Struga, Marki, Wolomin region The 2nd tank army goes over onto the defensive The 3rd tank corps fight to repel the enemy counterattacks on 3rd August 1944 Losses of the 2nd tank army over the period of defensive fighting between 1st August and 8th August. Post action conclusions regarding the 2nd tanks army’s defensive operations. Post action reports Recollections from survivors. Combat decorations There are four appendices post the Afterword which give information such as General Bogdanov’s record, Commanders of the 2nd tank army from 1943 to 1998, the 2nd tank army its Heroes of the Soviet Union, the order of glory of the 2nd tank army, Identification of the 2nd tank army’s subordinate units. Conclusion It’s taken me quite a while to get through this book as there is so much information to take in. Whilst it’s probably not the sort of book you read cover to cover, it’s definitely one you can dip into, read a chapter on a particular battle, or check tank markings for individual units, and it this that will be of interest to modellers rather than just those interested in military history. Review sample courtesy of