Panzer Commander : The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

Rating:
Summary: A Very Entertaining Read
Review: When reviewing a WW2 memoir that's written by a German one can easily get into a fix. Either it's "too apologetic" for some people or people will think their are hiding the atrosities of the war. Without having a preconcieved notion of what he should or should not of written, I found this book to be a brilliant read that keeps the human side of the war and avoids the politics. From the snows of the Russian front to the dessert of north Africa, Luck gives you a feel for what it was like and the relationships he had with his men and fellow officers. I wish the book was longer and spent more detail on the actual combat and a considerable portion of the book deals with his postwar captivity. For avid military buffs who enjoy reading about tactical maneuvers with numbers and strategy this book is not for you. But anyone who wants an honest account without being bogged down with confusing diagrams this is a great enjoyment.

Rating:
Summary: SAVE YOUR MONEY!
Review: Morally bankrupt creature writes of his extortion of peoples he "conquered." Von Luck is always bewildered at his good fortune at receiving "gifts" and "presents" from Poles and Frenchies. Pah-leese! I have read hundreds of books about WWII and this is the only one I could not stomache. This person is the perfect example of the post-war bewildered soldier act. He tries to convey to the reader he was a tank commander because of his sparkling personality and social skills, not his abilities as a killer. Lets face it, war is about killing the other guy first. Hans, however, likes to skip over the battles and cut to the chase: Post-battle looting. This book itself us unenlightening, devoting the majority of text to socializing and personal issues.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent insight of ww2 german army tactics
Review: What I love about this book is that Hans Von Luck clearly shows exactly how the typical German soldier conducted himself. It showed that the common concerns of the average soldier in ww2 Germany was not of the "jewish question" or of the other rubbish Hitler tried so hard for everyone to believe, but instead they concerned themselves, of their fellow soldiers, their family, and their home. But because they were soldiers they had to do their duty, which was to fight.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: In 1992, I Was in Normandie, and study the theaters of "D-day". One of the reader was Colonel Hans Von Luck.Hes trameduos way of telling his story of the war was unique, This man and his storis catch me, that he was an gentleman and a proffesional warrier.I also met John Howard who secured the pegasus bridge, after he had succefully landed with his glider. When I read this book this summer (1999) it was like I meet him agin,the start of the war aginst Poland,France,Russia,Africa,and so on.... I think this is a very good book and I recomend it. I have to apologize, beakuse me english is not so god so Ihope you understand what I meen. La

Rating:
Summary: A great WWII personal account!
Review: This is a great book, because von Luck had the fortune (or misfortune) to be in every important theater of war from the very start of WWII to the very last days. Luck himself is an interesting character, urbane, cosmpolitan, making friends easily--- not your stereotypical Prussian officer. If the book has any defect it is its great lack of "inwardness" in the author's depiction of himself and his activities. In any event, it is a fascinating "read".

Rating:
Summary: Realistic......made you feel as if you were part of his life
Review: I felt as if i knew him, Colonel Hans Von Luck, personally. It was a well written book of his account. Never losing the emotion and reality of himself, the book told and taught you about what was actually going on in the world at this time.

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat Self Serving...
Review: Von Luck could have said something about the "Comissar Order" that meant the death (rightly or wrongly) of many men. He also choses to leave out the somewhat important fact that "Barbarossa" was implemented to destroy the Soviet Regieme and all who served it. In one part of the book he talks about finding coffee and sharing it with the whole camp. Where in Germany, cut off by Naval blockade, is he going to find coffee at the end of the war? I hope he didn't hurt his hand patting himself on the back. The fact he was a frontline soldier and survived well deserved captivity at the end of the war commands my respect. I feel he would have done better to write a little more objectively and a lot less than an enlightened personality. I feel a good B.S. detector is needed when reading this book. I do not reccomend it for Historians.

Rating:
Summary: Luck is a true warrior that desevres the utmost respect
Review: The adventures of Luck are truely amazing. The respect that he had for his men is heartfelt right up until the end. He never trys to present himself a hero but he is just that- a hero. He did what was asked, even though he was asked to do just about everything. Luck had more courage than all the arm chair quaterbacks put together.

Rating:
Summary: SUPERB BOOK
Review: I was dissapointed to see the negative reviews of this book and felt compelled to defend it. Panzer Commander is indeed a splendid book. It is very interesting and full of insight. Yes, the book is not crammed full of horrorific imagines like Forgotten Soldier. I suspect most of these critics are couch-potatoe, civilians looking for pulp-gore to quell thier bloodlust. I would highly recommend this work to anyone interested in an axis perspective of WWII by a German Officer of obvious honesty and integrity.

Rating:
Summary: A very interesting account of war memories of Hans Von Luck
Review: For me he is one of the greatest heroes of Germany like Michael Wittmann or Hans Ulrich Rudel. He stopped the British offensive to Caen (operation Goodwood) with only a few Flak 88's. The book hasn't a detailed description of all suffering and misery of "Forgotten Soldier" and tactics of "Panzer Battles" (that disappoint me) but is interesting and easy to read. He fought in all the theaters of the war: Poland, France, Russia, Africa, France again to the end in Germany near Berlin. If you are looking for a bloody war history worst than "Private Ryan" I recommend "Forgotten Soldier". Please read the customer comments of this book.