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Summary: Teaching tales from the inventor of the panzer division
Review: The best book ever written on combined arms operations, written by the man who wrote the book. His work, as well as "Acktung Panzer" are as valid today as they were in the 1940's.
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Summary: Brilliant...A classic of war history...
Review: The book has its most important parts in its last chapters, the ones that review the people of the highest ranks in the WW2. within the book you just really begin to find out how Hitler lost his war...the trait by his staff, noone caring about the youth on the front together with Hitler...you will see how a General can be the "father" of his soldiers and stand against a "Dictator" for his "children"...and did you know that at th first times of Germans entering Russia, they were greeted by "butter, eggs and bread in a dish" by Soviet people...read to find out how this behaviour turned into a "partisan putsch"...
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Summary: Very illuminating.
Review: The book takes you through the birth and development of the dreaded Panzer arm, the way it was effectively put to use in some of the great campaigns in history and the personalities in the German High Command. This is the second time I've read it. The first time was a library book. Now, I've made sure I'd purchase my own copy because this one's a keeper.
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Summary: Armor Commander
Review: The book was very interesting in that it gave a good perspective of the unwillingness of the German General staff to see armor divisions as anything other then units to support infantry, prior to WW II. The general's disagreements with Hitler especially in regards to the treatment of prisoners during the Russian campaign shows the integrity he had as a soilder. I would recomend this book to anyone interested in the evolution of the use of armor in warfare or it's use by the Germans in WW II. Guderian was a innovator and was a soilder from the prussian military mindset.
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Summary: The Father of Lightning War Speaks
Review: This book offers a rare opportunity to observe the workings of the mind of one of the foremost proponents of blitzkrieg (lightning war). "Schnelle Heinz" Guderian was one of the guiding forces behind the blitzkrieg tactics of the German Army's formidable panzer divisions of World War Two. A frontline general during the lightning campaign against France in 1940, he later became Inspector General of all Germany's armored formations. By 1945 he was out of favor with Hitler and unemployed because of his outspoken criticisms of the Fuhrer's conduct of the war. He was passionate in his efforts to create the first modern all-arms mechanized armies. This book deserves a place in the library of any serious student of armored warfare. It is readable without being overly technical. A related work which focuses on German panzers and blitzkrieg in action is PANZER BATTLES by Von Mellenthin.
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Summary: Military Historians Dream
Review: This book will be of great interest to any military historian. Guderian takes us through the development of the Panzer force both in its formation and tactics and its implementation in the battlefield in the Polish, French and Russian campaigns. There are detailed accounts of his involvement in those campaigns and at times I got a little lost in the geographic references and the poor sketch maps did little to compensate. However,the book is more than that. The book contains an incredible insight into the German High command, Hitler and his cronies and their disasterous blunders such as at Dunkirk and the gross under estimation of Soviet Russia in terms of fighting ability and technology. What I found of special interest was of the recollections of meetings and arguments with Hitler and Guderian's refusal to bow to the Furher's will power. Guderian was dismissed after the failure of the German army at the gates of Moscow in 1941 but his talents could not even be overlooked by Hitler and after further set backs were encountered was recalled to service in 1943. The Allies were fortunate that Guderian's talents were hindered by Hitler's "YES" men, overwise the war could have taken a different course. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in World War Two from a German stand point.
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Summary: A great book by a fearless soldier of WWII
Review: This is a great book by a brilliant strategist and soldier of WWII. Guderian tells his military life with straight forward bluntness that is typical of General's who have seen the face of war and combat first hand. His tactics of "Achtung Panzer!" and of defeating and defending against the Soviet Army during WWII is rivoting. A loyal soldier to Germany Guderian makes no apology for fighting for the "Fatherland" yet you can tell that he was no "loyal Nazi" either. He was just a soldier doing his duty as he saw best. But overall this is the type of General and Panzer leader that the allies feared, especially the Soviets. As a final comment, it would of been very interesting to see how the allies would of done at Normandy, if Guderian was there and if he would of had full authority to let the tanks and Panzergrenadiers loose at the allies after DDay. The allies are indeed fortunate they never had to go against Guderian or the soldiers under his command.
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Summary: Behind the scenes overview of 3rd Reich war machine
Review: This was an excellent and readable account written by a man with firsthand knowledge of Nazi high command decision making. Guderian shows how the conservative mentality of decision makers stalled the Panzer corps before they could conquer Russia. Again and again the Nazi's, especially Hitler, sabotoged their own progress.While Guderian seems to be an apologist for certain parts played by high Nazi officials, one must remember that he was a loyal German soldier. One should expect no less than loyalty from a man with his long history of service to his country.An excellent read!
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