Book Recommendation The Yom Kippur War: The Epic Encounter That Transformed the Middle by Abraham Rabinovich

https://smile.amazon.com/Yom-Kippur-War-Encounter-Transformed/dp/0805211241/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+yom+kippur+war&qid=1601237877&s=books&sr=1-1

I followed up reading Six Days of War with this excellent history. This was a far different war than 1967. The Arabs caught Israel totally by surprise. The war caught both the US and the USSR by surprise. Israel expected two weeks warning, and got six hours. There was a complete intelligence failure by Israel, despites warnings from sources in Egypt and King Hussain in Jorden. And the Israeli leadership was a captive of their memories of the six-day war. This time, the Arabs had been well trained to stand and fight. They were equipped with SAM-6 missiles that kept the Israeli air force at bay and cost them dearly. They were equipped with numerous RPGs and Saggar missiles that meant Egyptian infantry could devastate Israeli tanks. There was also an almost complete failure of the top political and military leadership. What retrieved the situation for Israel was the professionalism, courage, and tenacity of Israel’s soldiers and airmen. Rabinovich has the ability to take you to their level so you see the war through their eyes. The story of how Lt. Zvika Greengold, in one tank, stopped a Syrian advance, destroying numerous tanks and vehicles, is unforgettable. But there were hundreds like it. Israel lost more men per capita in the war than the US did in WWII. Still, it was a near-run thing. Anyone interested in military history, modern war, or Israel will appreciate this book.