NATO and the Baltic Approaches 1949-1989 - (De Gruyter Studies in Military History) by Peter Bogason (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

The theme of the book is the creation of tactics for littoral warfare - as opposed to the more common blue ocean perspective. Themes are how NATO perceived the goals of the enemy; the purposes of the NATO organisations, the military instruments they had to organise, the organization of cooperation among units from sovereign states, and how they tested their military capabilities. Research is based on war plans and tactics of the Danish and West German navies and their planned support from air forces. We follow the modernisations of the navies from guns to missiles. Tactical discussions among military top offi cers are laid bare, and intelligence reports about the Warsaw Pact and its military capabilities are presented. Exercises are analysed based on the military reports.

Review Quotes

"[...] a solidly grounded pioneering work. [...] the book also works exceptionally well as a "reference book" for the researcher or student seeking specific knowledge about a limited theme or time period - such as NATO reinforcements for Denmark's defense in the 1970s and 1980s. [...] an excellent overview of Danish military development and integration into NATO during the Cold War. [...] It is the result of solid historical research and with the renewed Danish and Nordic focus on the Baltic Sea in a NATO context, it could hardly have come at a better time." Iben Bjørnsson, Krigsvidenskab, 23. May 2024, URL: https: //krigsvidenskab.dk/emne/nato-and-baltic-approaches-1949-89-when-perception-was-reality (last accessed and translated 7.6.2024)

"Die Studie ist eminent wichtig, weil sie bilater ale Arrangements, Kommandostrukturen, strategische und operative Gedanken sowie die Genese der maritimen Kooperation zwischen Kopenhagen und Bonn erstmals in diesem Umfang ausleuchtet. Für Politik, Streitkräfte, Wissenschaft und dort, wo über strategische Probleme im Ostseeraum nachgedacht wird, ist das Buch daher eine sehr sinnvolle Anschaffung." Dr. Sebastian Bruns in: marineforum 6/2024

"Bogasons Stärke liegt darin, dass er anhand der zwei Hauptakteure im Bereich der Allied Forces Baltic Approaches (BALTAP), Dänemark und Deutschland, die
Funktionsweise von Bündnisverteidigung nachzeichnet und in die damit verbundenen jeweiligen nationalen Diskurse und die Binnenlogiken der Allianz einbettet.
Außerdem schließt er damit eine Forschungslücke, weil es gleichzeitig eine Geschichte der dänischen Streitkräfte während des Kalten Krieges ist und die der
deutschen Bundeswehranteile unter dem Kommando von AFNORTH und nicht AFCENT." Christian Jentzsch in: MGZ 2/2024

About the Author

Peter Bogason, Professor Emeritus, Roskilde University and Royal Danish Defence College, Denmark.