Theirs the Strife

Theirs the Strife tells the story of a series of bitter actions fought 75 years ago between the British and the Germans during the closing days of the North-West Europe campaign; a time when the war’s result was no longer in doubt and, for the Allies, the race nearly won. The many short but intense engagements of the final weeks have, however, been uncelebrated by historians. The few British narratives covering the period make at best only passing reference to the engagements and rarely do they mention the courage required of the exhausted men of British Second Army to prosecute the war to its end.

The book’s narrative concentrates on the battles fought by VIII and XII Corps to cross the rivers Weser and Aller, as it was on these rivers that the British advance crashed into the raw but young and well-motivated troops of a recently-raised naval infantry division and a Waffen-SS battalion of Hitler Youth, organisations whose soldiers were determined to fight to the best of their ability in their first and probably last battle. Although the outcome was never in doubt, the resilience and courage of the Germans came as a most unpleasant surprise to the British and checked them in their advance to the Elbe. The narrative is studded with first-hand accounts and photographs and supported by some 100 maps and figures, giving the reader unparalleled understanding of the action. The author provides detailed information on the organisations, weapons and equipment of the participating German and British formations and units, and in the epilogue there is in-depth analysis of the Second Army’s strengths and weaknesses and the reasons why the German units were prepared to fight on when all was so obviously lost.

Theirs the Strife fills a significant gap in our knowledge of this period and, in the 75th anniversary year of the actions it describes, is a fitting and long overdue testament to the men of both sides who had to fight in sight of peace.

"It is a great blend of in-depth research, lavish map coverage, and excellent photographs. Certainly a must have if you are considering walking the battlefields, or if you are looking for a somewhere to stage an interesting battlefield study." Royal Anglian News

"...gives a welcome expansion to the limited knowledge of this time and place in the war." WWII History Magazine

"This well-written narrative is an excellent insight to the life of the late war soldier and touches all aspects, including noting the numbers of German troops buried in each town and village. [...] Thoroughly recommended for armchair historians, Model-makers and wargamers." Scale Military Modelling International Magazine

"....John Russell's Theirs the Strife is a valuable addition to the literature on World War II. By resurrecting the forgotten battles of April 1945, Russell sheds light on the courage and determination of the soldiers who fought on both sides. His meticulous research, engaging narrative, and humanizing approach make this book a must-read for history enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of the final days of the war in Europe. While it may not be a comprehensive account of World War II, it is a compelling exploration of a critical and often overlooked chapter in history." Chris Buckham, Iron Cross Magazine

"John Russell's Theirs the Strife is a valuable addition to the literature on World War II. By resurrecting the forgotten battles of April 1945, Russell sheds light on the courage and determination of the soldiers who fought on both sides. His meticulous research, engaging narrative, and humanizing approach make this book a must-read for history enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of the final days of the war in Europe..,...It is a compelling exploration of a critical and often overlooked chapter in history." The Military Reviewer Blog

"...John Russell gives us a detailed, exciting and beautifully mapped and photographed account of the battles fought by the British 2nd Army between the rivers Weser, Leine and Aller in April 1945...It is of great interest but also a major source of research as it draws together so much contemporary material." British Commission for Military History

"....This highly researched book provides a very detailed account of the battles and those units involved. The level of research is clearly outstanding and I can only agree with the many previous positive reviews that have gone before. A great piece of work." History Book Chat Blog