Christopher Bellamy

Comprehensively detailed account of Communist Russia (USSR) v Fascist Nazi Germany & its allies: also covers the campaign in the Far East against Japan. A Bibliography of 15 pages & 83 pages of Notes & References indicates the author's commitment to cover every aspect of the immense War on the Eastern Front that many consider the decisive conflict of WW2. The cold-hearted leadership of the Political elite plus the calculated planning of Nazi & Red snr Staff Officers is well documented. The author describes a vast frontline that often resembled the worst excesses of the 'meatgrinder' proportions experienced in WW1 with indiscriminate brutality, face-to-face frenzy and ghastly sacrifice by both sides set in enlightening detail.… (more)

I admit more than a fascination with the Eastern Front - the largest land front in military history.

This book takes the long view - starts before the Second World War, and ends with the Japanese surrender in September 1945. Massive amounts of original research, sweeps away many of the past myths on the war. Staggering amounts of detail - and still very readable.

Good portraits of many of the dominant figures as well - how their relations affected the lives of thousands. Stalin, in particular, is given a good deal of interest. Such is the nature of the totalitarian state - it invariably leads to personality analyses of those at the top. Also a good analysis of the NKVD, which I had not previously read of in this context.

Of course, no history is totally perfect. But this is excellent and fills in many gaps in this most terrifying story.… (more)

A FINE LEGACY FOR THE EARLY DAYS OF EU LAW:
The exploratory and creative work of Sir Francis Jacobs

Francis Jacobs will clearly be seen as one of the founding fathers of modern EU jurisprudence with his 574 Opinions set out in order at the Annex to this splendid compilation of views edited by Philip Moser and Katrine Sawyer.

There are ten highly distinguished appreciations from sixteen of the most prominent names associated with the development of EU Law in practice and in the academic world. The book will be seen as a piece of history of the early days of European law-making done in a warm, friendly and at times jolly manner from the conference in 2006 where this book was born (the United Kingdom Association of European Law), and where Lord Slynn pays tribute to the quality of Jacobs’ opinions and their jurisprudential correctness in his thoughtful preface.

When I was a law student, I did not really understand the role of the Advocate General properly so the book is a good reminder of the role to me many years later. The job Jacobs did was to provide independent and impartial opinion once the parties had completed their submissions but before the judges had begun their deliberations in a particular matter. Like everything in the EU, it takes time up but this concept and method of creating community law is a new way (to some) to look at legal problems and assess the correct outcomes when one is dealing with such a variety of cultures and customs on the continent.

The many diverse fields of community law as it has developed are well explained from freedom of movement of goods and people, to the emerging principles of modern human rights law. The contributors have analysed his legacy well and Slynn sums up much of the compilation when he writes of Jacobs’ quality of expression both exploratory and creative which “may have a longer-term effect on the development of the law than the short-term importance of the immediate disposal of the case”.

How true! The well earned respect of his colleagues places Sir Francis in a special place for the evolution of community law as an ideas man who had to face up to the hard EU cases. Konrad Schiemann comments that he will re-read part of the book to “stimulate my mind on what I trust will as a result become a clearer judgment” thus illustrating the inspirational tone when it comes to the shaping of the EC/EU legal order (and yes, I am merging community and union here!).

I hope one day that those pests who call themselves Euro-sceptic will re-read this work and see the far-reaching consequences of what Advocate General Jacobs created. The book should become essential reading for future law students as the authority of the European Union and its concept of community law develops a firmer design in the first half of this century. This book is a worthy history about a worthy man’s opinions which will shape the European ideal for decades to come as new lawyers come to grips with the concept of community law and what it means for the jurisprudent.… (more)