Customer Reviews

The History of the Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland, Vol. 1 (v. 1)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book follows the Panzerkorps Grossdeutchland from its inception to the early years of the Russian front. The experiences of the Panzerkorps in Poland (1939) and France (1940) are also part of this book. Many first-hand accounts are included, which give add dimension to the description of the war from a German point of view. This book differs from many other accounts of WWII in that personal observations are combined with a discription of the overall strategy. There are plenty of maps in this book, although most place names are given using German names or transliteration conventions. Even with a knoweledge of German, some of the maps are somewhat sketchy and difficult to read. Nevertheless, this book was just what I was looking for.

I ditto the comments of the previous two reviewers. I will add that it does an excellent job of giving a front line perspective of small unit tactics. In one part of the 1st volume, it talks about the first German retreats in the winter. In one particular account it talked about how a squad reacted to enemy fire and successfully withdrew. I spent many years in the infantry and many of these small unit tactics are very similar to what the US army teaches today. The book also gives a pretty good operational level view although it is of course more from the point of view of Spaeter fitting in his limited view during the war to what actually happened. Very good series and I'll be coming back to it over the years to read again and again. 5 stars from author to publisher. These books are about as high quality as you can get. Just holding one and feeling its weight tells you these are made to last.

This account begins with an outline of the history behind Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland. It origins are that of the ceremonial guard or "Wache" in Berlin, and was therefore then known as "Wachregiment Berlin," formed in 1921 as part of the 100,000 man Army or "Reichswehr" allowed by the 1919 Versailles Treaty. As such its responsibilities included functions outside of the capabilities and duties of the police alone which included countering attempting coups with the capital city, providing honor guards for funerals and state visits, and guarding military installations. On January 12, 1939 the guarding of Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler was added to its duties, forming under its auspices the "Wache Fuerher." On April 6, 1939 the order was given for Wachregiment Berlin to be reorganized into the Infantrie-Regiment Grossdeutschland. As such the new organization was in place as the war began on September 1, 1939.