Panzer Leader [Paperback]

Heinz Guderian (Author), Kenneth Macksey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 1996

Germany's opening run of victory in World War II was only made possible by the panzer forces that Heinz Guderian (1888—1954), the father of modern tank warfare, had created and trained, and by his audacious leading of those forces from 1939 to 1941. Guderian's breakthrough at Sedan and lightning drive to the Channel coast virtually decided the Battle of France. The drive he led into the East came close to producing the complete collapse of Russia's armies, but at the end of 1941 Guderian was dismissed for taking a timely step back instead of pandering to Hitler's illusions. He was recalled to service only when Germany's situation had become desperate, and he was eventually made chief of the General Staff when all had become hopeless.Panzer Leader is a candid and dramatic account of the development and campaigns of the panzer forces that, along with the Luftwaffe, stood at the heart of blitzkrieg; it is also a searing group portrait of the Third Reich's leading personalities as they turned early victory into a protracted, agonizing defeat.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

General Heinz Guderian commanded the German panzer forces in Operation Barbarossa, but was dismissed for taking a timely step backward instead of pandering to Hitler's illusions. Guderian was adjudged free of any connection to war crimes, and did not stand trial at Nuremberg. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 552 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (March 21, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306806894
• ISBN-13: 978-0306806896
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,858,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Military Historians Dream, April 6, 2000

By 

W. B. Smith (Auckland New Zealand) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panzer Leader (Hardcover)

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.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Soldier's Story from the Axis High Command, December 23, 2001

By 

Mannie Liscum (Columbia, MO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panzer Leader (Paperback)

General Guderian's book is certainly not for the WWII reader who wants a style like that of Ambrose or Ryan, but it does deliver on sheer content and insight from one of the greatest military minds of the second world war. Guderian is quite humble in his writing considering he was the primary driving force behind development of Germany's Blitzkreig warfare. Had this been written by a personality such as Montgomery I'm sure the feel would have been much different. His descriptions of campaigns in the west and east are often quite moving, but equally as often dry and matter of fact. His writings are not as "moving" or personal as those of Rommel (see The Rommel Papers), but they are full of important information and insights. In particular his closing chapter touches nicely on his feelings of the German High Command, it's members, and leaders of the Nazi party. If you want history as told by a leading member of the German High Command this book will not disappoint. If you want edge of your seat story telling this might not be your cup of tea.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Achtung Tank Lovers!!!, December 26, 2001

By 

William Knapp "scott1972" (Albuquerque, New Mexico United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panzer Leader (Paperback)

For anyone who is intersted in armored warfare this is a must read, because Guderian is without a doubt a pioneer of 20th century armor tactics and the father of Germany's Panzer Forces. It was him and military thinkers like him that brought about the concept of mass armored formation as a separate military arm in oppose the spreading out tanks all over as infantry support. The book describes the development of the German Panzer Forces from infancy to full develoment as well its implementation during the WWII. The book is treasure of technical information from the most well knowned to the most obsecure tanks developed in Germany, analyzing both weakness' and strengths of different models. Guderian also gives a very detailed story of the German offensive in Russia of 1941 (until he was dismissed) and he picks up the story in 1943 after his reinstatement to active military duty and describes the events up to very end of the war. Even though the General was man integrity his view of the of the war (recorded at the end) is described from the German point of view and can't help to be a bit biased. Guderain's absolute defence of the honor of the German army leaves the reader a bit skeptical in view of what we know about German atrocities on the eastern front. However none of these faults (that's why i gave it 4 stars) takes away from the richness of information this text provides on development and implementation of massed armor forces for first time in history of warfare. If you are interested in the history of the German-Soviet conflict I would look for a more balanced source eleswhere and leave this book for the armor enthusiest or a reader of military biographies.