{"title":"Kaloyan Matev","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"red-wind-over-the-balkans-book-kaloyan-matev-9781804512463","title":"Red Wind Over the Balkans","description":"This book describes two Soviet offensive operations carried out during September and October 1944. The first was the operation for the occupation of Bulgaria - known as the 'Bulgarian operation'; the second was the Belgrade offensive operation, which was carried out immediately after the Bulgarian operation. Although separate, the two operations were closely linked to each other: the first was conducted in an almost peaceful manner, which saved resources. This necessitated that the Soviet Command carried out the second operation promptly, which seriously endangered the encirclement of German Army Group ? position in the Southern Balkans. Pressed by the advancing Red Army, the German troops withdrew from the territories of Greece and Albania. They also relocated fresh forces from the Western Balkans to the Bulgarian-Yugoslav Border in order to build up a defense line. The book describes in detail the heavy battles during the Belgrade offensive operation. Both combatants suffered from the same problems: heavy mountainous terrain; poor roads and infrastructure; and severe weather conditions. This is one of the few Soviet offensives which started without a large superiority of their forces over those of the enemy. The German soldiers were trained to fight in mountainous conditions, and the Soviets were not. The Soviet armament was more modern, but heavier. Additionally, it was not designed to move on the narrow and steep mountain roads. Therefore, the success of this offensive operation was unclear for a long time. The German Command was but a step away from turning Belgrade into a fortress, and slowing down the war in the region for months. The Soviet troops won, but as a result of very tough fighting. After Bulgaria joined the Allied forces, its military forces were subject to the command of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. The commander of the Front used this new ally to the max - thus conserving Soviet forces. There is also a short description of the activities of the Bulgarian troops, who undertook a secondary offensive from the Aegean Sea to the town of Nis in Southern Serbia. The book describes the operations of both ground and air forces. Special attention is paid to the Soviet tank and mechanized units which participated in both operations, and the book benefits from a detailed set of daily statistics and accompanying analysis which has not been attempted before. As well as a detailed narrative, the author also provides information covering camouflage, markings and unit insignia. The authoritative text is supported by more than 400 photographs (the majority of them previously unpublished); full-color profiles showing the aforementioned camouflage, markings and unit insignia; and also full-color battle maps. This book is a result of the author's years spent studying documents from the Russian Federation's Central Archives of the Ministry of Defense and the Bulgarian State Military Historical Archives. Such a detailed study on this topic has not appeared before - and the author's work is unlikely to be superseded.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49744472539409,"sku":"NGR9781804512463","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49757071900945,"sku":"GOR013777192","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/180451246X.jpg?v=1751631611"},{"product_id":"the-armoured-forces-of-the-bulgarian-army-1936-45-book-kaloyan-matev-9781909384163","title":"The The Armoured Forces of the Bulgarian Army 1936-45","description":"This book provides a detailed history of motor vehicles and armored fighting vehicles in the Bulgarian Army from 1936, during the last years of peace, until the end of the Second World War in 1945. For much of this period, Bulgaria was allied to Germany. The Bulgarian Army was mainly equipped with German weapons, or equipment captured by the Germans and then sold to Bulgaria. The negotiations as well as supplies of motor vehicles and armored vehicles are described at length. The combat service of the army's armored units is also described in detail, firmly based on archival research. Despite Bulgaria's entry into World War II as early as 1941, the only military actions during the first period of the war were related to the occupation of parts of Yugoslavia and Greece. The real combat service of the Bulgarian Army began in September 1944 against its former ally, the Germans. The delivery of armored fighting vehicles for 1st Bulgarian Army from the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front 1945 is described in detail. Until very recently, the fate of all armored fighting vehicles in the Bulgarian Army in 1945 remained completely unknown. The classified status of the documents prevented any detailed study. However, this is now possible, and full coverage is provided. In addition to a detailed narrative, the author also provides full information covering camouflage, markings, and unit insignia. The authoritative text is supported by over 600 photographs (the majority of them previously unpublished), color profiles showing camouflage, markings, color unit insignia and color battle maps. This book is a result of the author's years of study in the Bulgarian Central Military Archive. Such a detailed study on this topic has not appeared before, and the author's work is unlikely to be superseded.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51593439772945,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51593440985361,"sku":"GOR009828060","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":52113353769233,"sku":"CIN190938416XG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/190938416X.jpg?v=1751630270"},{"product_id":"red-wind-continues-book-kaloyan-matev-9781804516706","title":"Red Wind Continues","description":"\u003cb\u003eRed Wind Continues chronicles a six-army clash across three borders, revealing persistent, high-stakes winter warfare.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The 1944-1945 winter witnessed a relentlessly fierce battle for Hungary, as the gateway to Wien and the southern territories of the Deutsches Reich. The Soviet Second Ukrainian Front advanced too slowly and, despite the heavy casualties, failed to complete its tasks within the specified time. The Third Ukrainian Front was sent to help after fulfilling brilliantly its earlier tasks (see 'Red wind over Balkans', Helion, 2019).Red Wind Continues depicts the persistent fights between three Axis forces (Germans, Hungarians and Croats) and three Allies forces (Soviets, Tito's Yugoslavians and Bulgarians) during WWII last months - quite an unusual battle of six armies on three borders.The contact between the Western and Eastern Allies in Southern Austria in May 1945 is featured too. Although the Soviet 57th Army never had a moment's difficulty in dealings with the British 8th Army, the hidden whiff of the future conflict is felt.Red Wind Continues focuses on land-based war actions with special attention on Panzertruppen and the Soviet tank and mechanized units. The book benefits from detailed daily statistics and analysis not done before.The authoritative text is supported by over 600 black and white photographs (the majority of them previously unpublished), colour profiles showing camouflage, markings, colour unit insignia and colour battle maps.This book results from the author's years of study of documents from the Russian Federation Central Archives of the Ministry of Defense and the Bulgarian State Military Historical Archives. Such a detailed study on the topic has not appeared before, and the author's work is unlikely to be superseded.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51605725806865,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51605726036241,"sku":"NGR9781804516706","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1804516708.jpg?v=1763482689"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-kaloyan-matev.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}