This month's book vote sees five Campaign titles battling for your support. Read the full descriptions and have your say by visiting the Book Vote page. Plus, check out the results of last month's Air Campaign vote.

 

Cartagena 1741: Britain’s Attempt to end Spain’s South American Monopoly

Cold Harbor 1864: The Last Engagement of Grant’s Overland Campaign

Athens 1944: Britain’s Involvement in the Greek Civil War

An Loc 1972: Halting the North Vietnamese March towards Saigon

Narva 1944: German and Soviet War in the Baltics

 

 

Cartagena 1741: Britain’s Attempt to end Spain’s South American Monopoly

The naval operation against Cartagena was the biggest of its kind that Britain had organized at the time. The operation was a product of lobbying from the business world who wanted to end Spain’s trade monopoly. Eventually, 20,000 men crossed the Atlantic. They were joined by 4,000 colonial troops from the US. However, the Spanish had been warned and were prepared. What resulted was a tremendous failure for the British and they eventually recalled its forces to Jamaica.

 

Cold Harbor 1864: The Last Engagement of Grant’s Overland Campaign

In May 1864, Grant’s cavalry had managed to seize the crossroads at Old Cold Harbor and held it against attacks from the Confederates until reinforcements on both sides managed to arrive. Lee’s Confederates were expertly dug in and prepared to repulse any Union attacks. It involved almost 170,000 troops and resulted in the loss of 12,700 Union and 5,200 Confederate men. It would be Lee’s final victory in the war.

 

Athens 1944: Britain’s Involvement in the Greek Civil War

Fought in December 1944 and January 1945, this conflict was a culmination of tensions between various factions in Greece, and the British Army. An agreement had been made in May 1944 that there would be a new Greek Army formed, under the command of the British. As the Germans withdrew from Greece, the British ordered the Greek resistance groups to disband, leading to conflict and bloodshed. 

 

An Loc 1972: Halting the North Vietnamese March towards Saigon

On 13 April 1972, three North Vietnamese divisions attacked An Loc with infantry, tanks, heavy artillery and rockets, taking half the city after a day of close combat. This was the southernmost thrust of the three-pronged Easter Offensive. They held An Loc under siege for three months as the South Vietnamese fought to hold them off from fully taking the city. They were finally able to keep them at bay long enough with support from the US, eventually even retaking Quang Tri in September.

 

Narva 1944: German and Soviet War in the Baltics

Between February and August 1944, the German and Soviet troops fought in and around the Narva area in Estonia, including at the Narva Bridgehead and the Tannenberg Line. The Soviets were attempting to use Estonia as a base for attacks against Finland and an invasion of East Prussia. The Germans wanted to protect their control of the Baltic area and the iron ore shipments from Sweden. Alongside that, the Estonians were looking to restore their independence.

 

 

Last month, we asked what you would like to see published in our Air Campaign series. Thank you to everyone who voted and provided feedback. Here are the results: 

 

Okinawa 1945: The epitome of joint US airpower - 11%

Mesopotamia 1920–25: The RAF’s first Iraq war - 23%

Winter War 1939–40: Repelling the Soviets from Finnish skies - 45%

Afghanistan 2001–21: The longest air war - 11%

Burma Railways 1942–45: Cutting Japan’s sinews of war - 11%