Panzer Leader
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Courage, and brains, are not the property of one side...
  • Good inside story of the German military
  • Heavy duty tactical stuff
  • A Must Read but Turgid at Times
  • One of the best Books on the German Army in WW2
Panzer Leader
Heinz Guderian , and General Heinz Guderian
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:
  1. Lost Victories: The War Memoirs of Hitler's Most Brilliant General Lost Victories: The War Memoirs of Hitler's Most Brilliant General
  2. The Rommel Papers (Da Capo Paperback) The Rommel Papers (Da Capo Paperback)
  3. German Generals Talk German Generals Talk
  4. Attacks: ROMMEL Attacks: ROMMEL
  5. Tigers in the Mud: The Combat Career of German Panzer Commander Otto Carius (Stackpole Military History Series) Tigers in the Mud: The Combat Career of German Panzer Commander Otto Carius (Stackpole Military History Series)

ASIN: 0306811014

Book Description

The 50th-anniversary edition of the German general's legendary memoir. When published in 1952, Panzer Leader quickly became a best seller, but over the half-decade that followed, it also established itself as a classic, lauded by Stephen Ambrose as "a mesmerizing read." A dramatic first-person account by the father of modern tank warfare, it is also a searing group portrait of the Third Reich's leading personalities as they turned imminent victory into agonizing defeat.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Courage, and brains, are not the property of one side..........2007-08-15

My son got me this for Christmas a couple of years ago...it may well be the finest memoir by a General Officer I have ever read [I have to admit that most of those by Confederate Generals are bure bilge]. Heinz Guderian was a commander of early, primitive, tanks in WWI, essentially invented modern tank warfare between the wars, then commanded Panzers in WWII, leading the invasions of Poland, France, and Russia.

General Guderian makes no moral judgments on the right or wrong of his job; he was told to go after lebensraum, and he did it. A devout Christian man, he must have been bothered at times, but....remember, Pope Benedict XVI fought for the same cause, though far below General Guderian's pay grade. He makes plenty of judgment on the stupidity of the Russian campaign, and on the defective plan in France, but that's all.

This was no modern day JEB Stuart [tanks are the military descendent of horse cavalry]; Guderian left the flash and style to the likes of Patton and Rommel, on whom it looked better. Maybe Guderian was Wade Hampton or Joe Wheeler. [The are no comparisons for Forrest; he was unique, though so few are].

This fine book is, of course, a translation. I can't vouch for the accuracy, as I can't read German, but it is quite readable. In most wars, the books are about, and by, the winners; the two exceptions are Germans from WWII, and Confederates. It has been said that that's because those are the two losing sides that still have adherents....maybe, but if you want to find out how a horse turned into a tank, and how a modern army is built, start right here.

4 out of 5 stars Good inside story of the German military.......2007-05-05

Heinz Guderian's "Panzer Leader" provides an inside story of the development of the German armored forces before World War II and the operation of those forces during that war. Guderian was one of the major figures helping to develop the Panzer doctrine of quick striking and deep thrusting armored attacks. And the book portrays the resistance from more traditional army leaders in the German military.

The Introduction (by Kenneth Macksey) observes that (page vii): "'Panzer Leader' is about one man's endeavor, at a moment of institutional change, to defend his country by the modernization of its army." An obvious question is what do talented military leaders do when serving political leaders who are not worthy of their loyalty? In the "Foreword," B. H. Liddell Hart casually notes that (page 13): "'Their's not to reason why, theirs but to do and die. No nation that maintains fighting services can afford to revoke that rule of experience. Where soldiers begin to question the rightness of the cause for which they are fighting, armies soon collapse." And perhaps Hart unwittingly makes a point. When should a military recoil from the madness of a leader like Hitler? Hart may be far too forgiving of soldiers fighting for wicked causes. Still, a difficult issue.

The book itself traces, briefly, Guderian's early life. It then considers his role in the development of German armor and the consequent doctrines of warfare based on the use of armor. He discusses the German movements against Austria and the Sudetenland and then the invasion of Poland.

The role of armor was most dramatically seen with the German attack on the Western front. The Panzer divisions sliced deep into the allied defenses, creating havoc. Only Hitler's foolish calling off the army at Dunkirk allowed the English to rescue substantial elements of its ground forces.

Guderian's tale of the preparation for and carrying out of the attack on Russia is detailed (and dry). Much detail is provided (and see Manstein's book on the same subject, "Lost Victories"). Perhaps most telling is his tale of the slashing retreat as German forces found themselves vastly outnumbered by Russian forces and subject to the awful weather of Russia. Guderian explains the mad strategy of Hitler of refusing to let the German forces find better sites to defend their positions. For his criticisms of Hitler (pretty courageous of Guderian), he was relieved--only to come back later as, of all things, Chief of the German General Staff.

At the end, he ventures a few observations on leading personalities of the Third Reich and concludes with some very brief comments. It would have been interesting to get deeper reflections from his perspective on the nature of the war, the role of the army vis-à-vis a despotic government, his own sense of the role that he played. The final part of the book is a series of Appendices that are useful (memos of critical events, for example).

This is a book, like Manstein's, that is useful for providing graphic detail of the military struggles of the Second World War. And both reveal little perspective by the two fighting generals of their role in the misery created by the Third Reich.

3 out of 5 stars Heavy duty tactical stuff.......2007-03-16

Guderian was a military theorist and innovative General of the German Army during the Second World War. Germany's panzer forces were raised and fought according to his works, best-known among them Achtung - Panzer!

As some have already pointed out, this is not a cowboy action book like a "D-Day" or "Bridge too far". Instead, it is a detailed account covering the formation of german tank forces, key battles and an exhaustive analysis of the russian campaign. This book is not for casual WW2 readers - you need to be passionate about WW2 to appreciate this book. The lack of coherent maps (while describing campaigns, strategies, offense etc) is the only reason why I am giving 3 stars instead of 4.

4 out of 5 stars A Must Read but Turgid at Times.......2007-03-01

Any student of World War II in regard to the Germans in Russia should read this one. Of course, Poland [1939], France [1940], and the second Ardennes or Battle of the Bulge [1944] are dealt with, as well. Guderian, as he goes along, reveals the fantasy land of the Fuehrer and the "yes men" around Hitler, back at the Wolfschanze or other places.

Hitler's map fantasy and ideas are most helpful to the enemy, as things began to unravel. The main theme of this is Hitler's "fight for every inch," rather than fall back to good defensive positions and man them properly. Soon the German armies were used up. We see the terrible end in the bunker with Hitler maneuvering imaginary armies.

The battles in Russia have a certain monotony of places and actions we don't really know about, or all seem the same. In this, Guderian could have cut some of the material. We need to know what these individual battles mean in the big picture. However, the central issues are covered: the Russian winters; the T34 Russian tank; the two front war; the turning of the armies from Moscow to go south the first year; the terrible rains and mud on the very bad roads for armor and mechanized units; Hitler's interference and incomprehension of the situation at the local scene; the relieving and transfering of generals into command and from command; and finally, the Borman [Hitler's troll secretary] factor.

Turgid in places but a very good read.

By the way, Guderian is NOT a Christian and indicates he hasn't a clue about this. It is what he doesn't say that confirms this. It is interesting that many Nazi leaders give lip service to a God or a church but it means little. God is just an idea weakly fabricated and often mixed with all sorts of pagan philosophies. Die Aufklaerung resulted in something quite the reverse for Germany, as the Nazis applied it.






5 out of 5 stars One of the best Books on the German Army in WW2.......2007-01-10

Having a strong interest in history and in particular the history of Germany and WW2 I have read a number of books on the subject, increasingly turning to personal accounts, valuing them as much for the unfiltered, raw insight as for the invariable personal bias they present.

This book, and Heinz Guderian, is all that and more; not only does he take you on a facinating journey, providing insight to the remarkable relationships and machinations that existed within the Army High Command at the time, but he clearly takes pains to present his facts and opinions in a way befitting a man of his stature and reputation. Equally interesting is the bias of opinion, evidenced as much by what is presented as by what is omitted, providing additional insight to the man and the times in which this was written.

If you are interested in the leadership of the German Army during WW2, then this is an excellent read.
DEVIL'S ADJUTANT: Jochen Peiper, Panzer Leader
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Battle of the Bulge
  • Totally Ambiguous Title but Good Historical Account of the Bulge
  • Great research, dull writing
  • Tittle is Misleading
  • Excellent book
DEVIL'S ADJUTANT: Jochen Peiper, Panzer Leader
Michael Reynolds
Manufacturer: Spellmount Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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GeneralGeneral | Germany | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Men of Steel: I SS Panzer Corps: The Ardennes and Eastern Front, 1944-45 Men of Steel: I SS Panzer Corps: The Ardennes and Eastern Front, 1944-45
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ASIN: 1862271569

Book Description

Now in paperback, this authoritative account and assessment of the military career, Dachau war crime trial and murder of Jochen Peiper, Heinrich Himmler's Adjutant and the "Siegfried" of the Waffen SS, describes his involvement in the Ardennes offensive and Malme'dy Massacre

- Illustrated with rare photographs, high quality maps and figures.

- Peiper's rise through the ranks of the Fuhrer's Bodyguard Regiment, Die Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler.

- Peiper's service with Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS.

- His fighting record on the Eastern Front and in France.

- The first thoroughly objective account of his role as the Commander of the Kampfgruppe Peiper in the 1944 Ardennes offensive, which brought him to particular wartime prominence.

- The facts about "The Malme'dy Massacre" on 17 December 1944, when 84 Americans died at the hands of Peiper's men.

- The Dachau Trial which led Peiper to the condemned cell in Landsberg prison.

- His postwar life as a paroled War Criminal.

- Peiper's death during a fire-bomb attack on his home in France in 1976.

Major General Mike Reynolds is a respected historian and writer. His other books are Eagles and Bulldogs (Casemate 2003), Steel Inferno and Men of Steel.?

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Battle of the Bulge.......2006-11-13

What is the point of reading something like this?There is very very little about Jochen Peiper life,book should be caled"Battle of the Bulge"
DO NOT believe everything that is writen there, ESPECIALLY by UK writers or directors. Remember, the winners write the history.

5 out of 5 stars Totally Ambiguous Title but Good Historical Account of the Bulge.......2006-07-10

Despite this books ambiguous title, it is a very detailed account of Panzer Leader Jochen Peiper's actions of Germany's last major offensive against the Allies at the Battle of the Bulge. Jochen Peiper served under Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, for several years prior to getting a field command. Peiper led the 1st Panzer Division at the Bulge. This book is chocked full of detail written very dryly and attempts to humanize Peiper or justify his actions to some degree. I found this book only of interest because of the great detail contained concerning the actions of the elitist group of Nazi military of the SS division Peiper commanded. For instance: What was the mentality and reasoning for murdering captured US military personnel at Malmedy? I was really not interested in his conviction at the war crimes trials. Basically he was not a good man in my opinion. Because of the book's highly detailed account of military events during the Battle of the Bulge I would recommend this book.

2 out of 5 stars Great research, dull writing.......2005-06-25

One the one hand, Reynolds has done impressive research - if you want to know exactly where 1 Company of the 117th Infantry was at 1432 on 21 December, then congratulations - you have found your book. The author has spent a lot of time working out who was doing what, where, and when.
On the other, he fails to bring any of the characters to life and has - unlike other military historians like Hastings or Beevor - no real facility in describing what happens on the battlefield. There is little extrapolation on the weapons and tactics used, and no feeling for the tension, fear and excitement of action.
Finally, although one might expect, from the title, that the author would concentrate on the German experience, most of his sources - interviews and written - are American. As someone who has guided German veterans around the battlefield, it is odd that he did not include more remininscences from the Germans.
To sum up: Reynolds has done a good job researching the minutae of the various units' positions and timings, but does a poor job of writing about battle, and the reader will often lose sight of the woods due to the mass of trees.

3 out of 5 stars Tittle is Misleading.......2004-11-29

I bought the book believing it tobe a complete account of Jochen Piper's military career. Even though the details about the Ardennes campaign and the drive to the Meuse are impressive the book says few about Piper's career in Russia. I wanted to know how the Blowtorch Battaillon in Piper's command won its fearful reputation in Russia, about his aggresive tactics with half tracks and his innovative style of commnad that has been praised in numerous accounts. About this I didn't learn something new in this account but it is a very good book about the KG Piper's actions during the Battle of the Bulge. The tittle of the book is a little bit misleading as it does not center in Piper's career or biography and is more a historic account of the Battle of the Bulge. I gave it 3 stars for that, if some chapters were dedicated to Piper's previous career in Russia which accounts for most of his exploits and fame I would have improved my rating.

4 out of 5 stars Excellent book.......2004-03-26

For those that want a basic view of Peiper and his role in the Ardennes Offensive, this is very good. The author is unbiased and has both American and German accounts of the battle from beginning to end. Those that want a thorough and indept account of Peiper, Patrick Agte's book is what you want. The Bulge is the final and greatest offensive in the war against the western allies and unlike the war in the east where Peiper participated in, it was the Battle of the Bulge, particularly the Malmady incident that effected Peiper on a more personal level condemning him as a war criminal and to be hanged. Peiper being branded as a war criminal probably what led to his murder by French Communists. But Peiper did nothing unusual that other sides didn't do. The shooting of prisoners was common, particularly on the eastern front, but on the western front Americans also shot German prisoners as well. Aside from the fact that he was a committed Nazi, in all fairness Peiper like all great and aggressive military leaders did what he had to do in order to win a desperate battle.
Panzer Leader
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Panzer Leader
    Heinz General Guderian
    Manufacturer: Ballantine
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback
    ASIN: B000JJOUFS
    Panzer Leader
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Panzer Leader
      Heinz Guderian
      Manufacturer: Ballantine
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: B000SDCOTY

      Product Description

      the man who planned and fought Hitler's land battles tells the whole revealing story of the most dreaded tan corps of WWII
      PANZER LEADER
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        PANZER LEADER
        General Heinz (translated By Constantine Fitzgibbon, with a Foreword By Captain B. H. Liddell Hart) Guderian
        Manufacturer: Easton Press
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover
        ASIN: B000V7606U
        Panzer Leader
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Panzer Leader
          General Heinz (Captain B.H. Liddell Hart, Foreword) (Constantine Fitzgibbon, Trans) Guderian
          Manufacturer: Michael Joseph
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover
          ASIN: B000WAE5HW
          Panzer Leader
          Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
          • Courage, and brains, are not the property of one side...
          • Good inside story of the German military
          • Heavy duty tactical stuff
          • A Must Read but Turgid at Times
          • One of the best Books on the German Army in WW2
          Panzer Leader
          Heinz Guderian
          Manufacturer: Ballantine, New York,
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback
          Similar Items:
          1. Lost Victories: The War Memoirs of Hitler's Most Brilliant General Lost Victories: The War Memoirs of Hitler's Most Brilliant General
          2. The Rommel Papers (Da Capo Paperback) The Rommel Papers (Da Capo Paperback)
          3. German Generals Talk German Generals Talk
          4. Attacks: ROMMEL Attacks: ROMMEL
          5. Tigers in the Mud: The Combat Career of German Panzer Commander Otto Carius (Stackpole Military History Series) Tigers in the Mud: The Combat Career of German Panzer Commander Otto Carius (Stackpole Military History Series)

          ASIN: B000KTPD9E

          Customer Reviews:

          5 out of 5 stars Courage, and brains, are not the property of one side..........2007-08-15

          My son got me this for Christmas a couple of years ago...it may well be the finest memoir by a General Officer I have ever read [I have to admit that most of those by Confederate Generals are bure bilge]. Heinz Guderian was a commander of early, primitive, tanks in WWI, essentially invented modern tank warfare between the wars, then commanded Panzers in WWII, leading the invasions of Poland, France, and Russia.

          General Guderian makes no moral judgments on the right or wrong of his job; he was told to go after lebensraum, and he did it. A devout Christian man, he must have been bothered at times, but....remember, Pope Benedict XVI fought for the same cause, though far below General Guderian's pay grade. He makes plenty of judgment on the stupidity of the Russian campaign, and on the defective plan in France, but that's all.

          This was no modern day JEB Stuart [tanks are the military descendent of horse cavalry]; Guderian left the flash and style to the likes of Patton and Rommel, on whom it looked better. Maybe Guderian was Wade Hampton or Joe Wheeler. [The are no comparisons for Forrest; he was unique, though so few are].

          This fine book is, of course, a translation. I can't vouch for the accuracy, as I can't read German, but it is quite readable. In most wars, the books are about, and by, the winners; the two exceptions are Germans from WWII, and Confederates. It has been said that that's because those are the two losing sides that still have adherents....maybe, but if you want to find out how a horse turned into a tank, and how a modern army is built, start right here.

          4 out of 5 stars Good inside story of the German military.......2007-05-05

          Heinz Guderian's "Panzer Leader" provides an inside story of the development of the German armored forces before World War II and the operation of those forces during that war. Guderian was one of the major figures helping to develop the Panzer doctrine of quick striking and deep thrusting armored attacks. And the book portrays the resistance from more traditional army leaders in the German military.

          The Introduction (by Kenneth Macksey) observes that (page vii): "'Panzer Leader' is about one man's endeavor, at a moment of institutional change, to defend his country by the modernization of its army." An obvious question is what do talented military leaders do when serving political leaders who are not worthy of their loyalty? In the "Foreword," B. H. Liddell Hart casually notes that (page 13): "'Their's not to reason why, theirs but to do and die. No nation that maintains fighting services can afford to revoke that rule of experience. Where soldiers begin to question the rightness of the cause for which they are fighting, armies soon collapse." And perhaps Hart unwittingly makes a point. When should a military recoil from the madness of a leader like Hitler? Hart may be far too forgiving of soldiers fighting for wicked causes. Still, a difficult issue.

          The book itself traces, briefly, Guderian's early life. It then considers his role in the development of German armor and the consequent doctrines of warfare based on the use of armor. He discusses the German movements against Austria and the Sudetenland and then the invasion of Poland.

          The role of armor was most dramatically seen with the German attack on the Western front. The Panzer divisions sliced deep into the allied defenses, creating havoc. Only Hitler's foolish calling off the army at Dunkirk allowed the English to rescue substantial elements of its ground forces.

          Guderian's tale of the preparation for and carrying out of the attack on Russia is detailed (and dry). Much detail is provided (and see Manstein's book on the same subject, "Lost Victories"). Perhaps most telling is his tale of the slashing retreat as German forces found themselves vastly outnumbered by Russian forces and subject to the awful weather of Russia. Guderian explains the mad strategy of Hitler of refusing to let the German forces find better sites to defend their positions. For his criticisms of Hitler (pretty courageous of Guderian), he was relieved--only to come back later as, of all things, Chief of the German General Staff.

          At the end, he ventures a few observations on leading personalities of the Third Reich and concludes with some very brief comments. It would have been interesting to get deeper reflections from his perspective on the nature of the war, the role of the army vis-à-vis a despotic government, his own sense of the role that he played. The final part of the book is a series of Appendices that are useful (memos of critical events, for example).

          This is a book, like Manstein's, that is useful for providing graphic detail of the military struggles of the Second World War. And both reveal little perspective by the two fighting generals of their role in the misery created by the Third Reich.

          3 out of 5 stars Heavy duty tactical stuff.......2007-03-16

          Guderian was a military theorist and innovative General of the German Army during the Second World War. Germany's panzer forces were raised and fought according to his works, best-known among them Achtung - Panzer!

          As some have already pointed out, this is not a cowboy action book like a "D-Day" or "Bridge too far". Instead, it is a detailed account covering the formation of german tank forces, key battles and an exhaustive analysis of the russian campaign. This book is not for casual WW2 readers - you need to be passionate about WW2 to appreciate this book. The lack of coherent maps (while describing campaigns, strategies, offense etc) is the only reason why I am giving 3 stars instead of 4.

          4 out of 5 stars A Must Read but Turgid at Times.......2007-03-01

          Any student of World War II in regard to the Germans in Russia should read this one. Of course, Poland [1939], France [1940], and the second Ardennes or Battle of the Bulge [1944] are dealt with, as well. Guderian, as he goes along, reveals the fantasy land of the Fuehrer and the "yes men" around Hitler, back at the Wolfschanze or other places.

          Hitler's map fantasy and ideas are most helpful to the enemy, as things began to unravel. The main theme of this is Hitler's "fight for every inch," rather than fall back to good defensive positions and man them properly. Soon the German armies were used up. We see the terrible end in the bunker with Hitler maneuvering imaginary armies.

          The battles in Russia have a certain monotony of places and actions we don't really know about, or all seem the same. In this, Guderian could have cut some of the material. We need to know what these individual battles mean in the big picture. However, the central issues are covered: the Russian winters; the T34 Russian tank; the two front war; the turning of the armies from Moscow to go south the first year; the terrible rains and mud on the very bad roads for armor and mechanized units; Hitler's interference and incomprehension of the situation at the local scene; the relieving and transfering of generals into command and from command; and finally, the Borman [Hitler's troll secretary] factor.

          Turgid in places but a very good read.

          By the way, Guderian is NOT a Christian and indicates he hasn't a clue about this. It is what he doesn't say that confirms this. It is interesting that many Nazi leaders give lip service to a God or a church but it means little. God is just an idea weakly fabricated and often mixed with all sorts of pagan philosophies. Die Aufklaerung resulted in something quite the reverse for Germany, as the Nazis applied it.






          5 out of 5 stars One of the best Books on the German Army in WW2.......2007-01-10

          Having a strong interest in history and in particular the history of Germany and WW2 I have read a number of books on the subject, increasingly turning to personal accounts, valuing them as much for the unfiltered, raw insight as for the invariable personal bias they present.

          This book, and Heinz Guderian, is all that and more; not only does he take you on a facinating journey, providing insight to the remarkable relationships and machinations that existed within the Army High Command at the time, but he clearly takes pains to present his facts and opinions in a way befitting a man of his stature and reputation. Equally interesting is the bias of opinion, evidenced as much by what is presented as by what is omitted, providing additional insight to the man and the times in which this was written.

          If you are interested in the leadership of the German Army during WW2, then this is an excellent read.
          Panzer Leader
          Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
          • Courage, and brains, are not the property of one side...
          • Good inside story of the German military
          • Heavy duty tactical stuff
          • A Must Read but Turgid at Times
          • One of the best Books on the German Army in WW2
          Panzer Leader
          General Heinz Guderian
          Manufacturer: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc.
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover
          Similar Items:
          1. Lost Victories: The War Memoirs of Hitler's Most Brilliant General Lost Victories: The War Memoirs of Hitler's Most Brilliant General
          2. The Rommel Papers (Da Capo Paperback) The Rommel Papers (Da Capo Paperback)
          3. German Generals Talk German Generals Talk
          4. Attacks: ROMMEL Attacks: ROMMEL
          5. Tigers in the Mud: The Combat Career of German Panzer Commander Otto Carius (Stackpole Military History Series) Tigers in the Mud: The Combat Career of German Panzer Commander Otto Carius (Stackpole Military History Series)

          ASIN: B000O038OG

          Customer Reviews:

          5 out of 5 stars Courage, and brains, are not the property of one side..........2007-08-15

          My son got me this for Christmas a couple of years ago...it may well be the finest memoir by a General Officer I have ever read [I have to admit that most of those by Confederate Generals are bure bilge]. Heinz Guderian was a commander of early, primitive, tanks in WWI, essentially invented modern tank warfare between the wars, then commanded Panzers in WWII, leading the invasions of Poland, France, and Russia.

          General Guderian makes no moral judgments on the right or wrong of his job; he was told to go after lebensraum, and he did it. A devout Christian man, he must have been bothered at times, but....remember, Pope Benedict XVI fought for the same cause, though far below General Guderian's pay grade. He makes plenty of judgment on the stupidity of the Russian campaign, and on the defective plan in France, but that's all.

          This was no modern day JEB Stuart [tanks are the military descendent of horse cavalry]; Guderian left the flash and style to the likes of Patton and Rommel, on whom it looked better. Maybe Guderian was Wade Hampton or Joe Wheeler. [The are no comparisons for Forrest; he was unique, though so few are].

          This fine book is, of course, a translation. I can't vouch for the accuracy, as I can't read German, but it is quite readable. In most wars, the books are about, and by, the winners; the two exceptions are Germans from WWII, and Confederates. It has been said that that's because those are the two losing sides that still have adherents....maybe, but if you want to find out how a horse turned into a tank, and how a modern army is built, start right here.

          4 out of 5 stars Good inside story of the German military.......2007-05-05

          Heinz Guderian's "Panzer Leader" provides an inside story of the development of the German armored forces before World War II and the operation of those forces during that war. Guderian was one of the major figures helping to develop the Panzer doctrine of quick striking and deep thrusting armored attacks. And the book portrays the resistance from more traditional army leaders in the German military.

          The Introduction (by Kenneth Macksey) observes that (page vii): "'Panzer Leader' is about one man's endeavor, at a moment of institutional change, to defend his country by the modernization of its army." An obvious question is what do talented military leaders do when serving political leaders who are not worthy of their loyalty? In the "Foreword," B. H. Liddell Hart casually notes that (page 13): "'Their's not to reason why, theirs but to do and die. No nation that maintains fighting services can afford to revoke that rule of experience. Where soldiers begin to question the rightness of the cause for which they are fighting, armies soon collapse." And perhaps Hart unwittingly makes a point. When should a military recoil from the madness of a leader like Hitler? Hart may be far too forgiving of soldiers fighting for wicked causes. Still, a difficult issue.

          The book itself traces, briefly, Guderian's early life. It then considers his role in the development of German armor and the consequent doctrines of warfare based on the use of armor. He discusses the German movements against Austria and the Sudetenland and then the invasion of Poland.

          The role of armor was most dramatically seen with the German attack on the Western front. The Panzer divisions sliced deep into the allied defenses, creating havoc. Only Hitler's foolish calling off the army at Dunkirk allowed the English to rescue substantial elements of its ground forces.

          Guderian's tale of the preparation for and carrying out of the attack on Russia is detailed (and dry). Much detail is provided (and see Manstein's book on the same subject, "Lost Victories"). Perhaps most telling is his tale of the slashing retreat as German forces found themselves vastly outnumbered by Russian forces and subject to the awful weather of Russia. Guderian explains the mad strategy of Hitler of refusing to let the German forces find better sites to defend their positions. For his criticisms of Hitler (pretty courageous of Guderian), he was relieved--only to come back later as, of all things, Chief of the German General Staff.

          At the end, he ventures a few observations on leading personalities of the Third Reich and concludes with some very brief comments. It would have been interesting to get deeper reflections from his perspective on the nature of the war, the role of the army vis-à-vis a despotic government, his own sense of the role that he played. The final part of the book is a series of Appendices that are useful (memos of critical events, for example).

          This is a book, like Manstein's, that is useful for providing graphic detail of the military struggles of the Second World War. And both reveal little perspective by the two fighting generals of their role in the misery created by the Third Reich.

          3 out of 5 stars Heavy duty tactical stuff.......2007-03-16

          Guderian was a military theorist and innovative General of the German Army during the Second World War. Germany's panzer forces were raised and fought according to his works, best-known among them Achtung - Panzer!

          As some have already pointed out, this is not a cowboy action book like a "D-Day" or "Bridge too far". Instead, it is a detailed account covering the formation of german tank forces, key battles and an exhaustive analysis of the russian campaign. This book is not for casual WW2 readers - you need to be passionate about WW2 to appreciate this book. The lack of coherent maps (while describing campaigns, strategies, offense etc) is the only reason why I am giving 3 stars instead of 4.

          4 out of 5 stars A Must Read but Turgid at Times.......2007-03-01

          Any student of World War II in regard to the Germans in Russia should read this one. Of course, Poland [1939], France [1940], and the second Ardennes or Battle of the Bulge [1944] are dealt with, as well. Guderian, as he goes along, reveals the fantasy land of the Fuehrer and the "yes men" around Hitler, back at the Wolfschanze or other places.

          Hitler's map fantasy and ideas are most helpful to the enemy, as things began to unravel. The main theme of this is Hitler's "fight for every inch," rather than fall back to good defensive positions and man them properly. Soon the German armies were used up. We see the terrible end in the bunker with Hitler maneuvering imaginary armies.

          The battles in Russia have a certain monotony of places and actions we don't really know about, or all seem the same. In this, Guderian could have cut some of the material. We need to know what these individual battles mean in the big picture. However, the central issues are covered: the Russian winters; the T34 Russian tank; the two front war; the turning of the armies from Moscow to go south the first year; the terrible rains and mud on the very bad roads for armor and mechanized units; Hitler's interference and incomprehension of the situation at the local scene; the relieving and transfering of generals into command and from command; and finally, the Borman [Hitler's troll secretary] factor.

          Turgid in places but a very good read.

          By the way, Guderian is NOT a Christian and indicates he hasn't a clue about this. It is what he doesn't say that confirms this. It is interesting that many Nazi leaders give lip service to a God or a church but it means little. God is just an idea weakly fabricated and often mixed with all sorts of pagan philosophies. Die Aufklaerung resulted in something quite the reverse for Germany, as the Nazis applied it.






          5 out of 5 stars One of the best Books on the German Army in WW2.......2007-01-10

          Having a strong interest in history and in particular the history of Germany and WW2 I have read a number of books on the subject, increasingly turning to personal accounts, valuing them as much for the unfiltered, raw insight as for the invariable personal bias they present.

          This book, and Heinz Guderian, is all that and more; not only does he take you on a facinating journey, providing insight to the remarkable relationships and machinations that existed within the Army High Command at the time, but he clearly takes pains to present his facts and opinions in a way befitting a man of his stature and reputation. Equally interesting is the bias of opinion, evidenced as much by what is presented as by what is omitted, providing additional insight to the man and the times in which this was written.

          If you are interested in the leadership of the German Army during WW2, then this is an excellent read.
          PANZER LEADER
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            Manufacturer: MICHAEL JOSEPH
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover
            ASIN: B000S5J8SW
            PANZER LEADER
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              PANZER LEADER
              Heinz. Guderian
              Manufacturer: Publisher Unknown
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover
              ASIN: B000WASHY4

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