Panzers in Normandy: General Hans Eberbach and the German Defense of France, 1944 (Stackpole Military History Series) [Paperback]

Samuel W. Mitcham Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Series: Stackpole Military History Series | Publication Date: March 30, 2009

In July 1944, after fighting in most of Germany's campaigns--Poland, France in 1940, the Eastern Front--and then serving as Heinz Guderian's troubleshooter, General of Panzer Troops Hans Eberbach took command of Panzer Group West near the vital city of Caen in the British sector of Normandy. During the next two months, Eberbach led German tanks against the Allied onslaught in an ultimately vain attempt to stop the breakthrough into France's interior. Captured by the British at the end of August, Eberbach nevertheless secured himself a place among Germany's best panzer leaders.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Samuel W. Mitcham Jr., a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot and college professor, has written numerous books on World War II, including Retreat to the Reich (978-0-8117-3384-7), Panzer Commanders of the Western Front (978-0-8117-3507-0), and Panzers in Winter (978-0-8117-3456-1). He lives in Louisiana.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books; First edition (March 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811735532
• ISBN-13: 978-0811735537
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,009,531 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Panzers in Normandy: General Hans Eberbach ..., March 25, 2009

By 

William L. Robinson (Elgin, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panzers in Normandy: General Hans Eberbach and the German Defense of France, 1944 (Stackpole Military History Series) (Paperback)

This book was a most pleasant surprise. I have read several of Dr. Mitcham's books and looked forward to reading it. Much to my surprise, the book is primarily a translation of the General Eberbach's memoirs that he wrote while a POW in British and later American custody. Dr. Mitcham does interject, very clearly, comments to fill out Eberbach's memory with more documented facts. Gerneral Eberbach wrote this account from memory without the aid of any army or personal documents. While not a thoroughly documented account of the combat activities of 5th Panzer Army/Group Eberbach, it does provide a useful personal recounting of the events of the German defeat in Normandy by a highly respected and professional officer. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Normandy Invasion from the German Perspective, August 17, 2009

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Dave Schranck "Dave" (Anaheim Ca) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panzers in Normandy: General Hans Eberbach and the German Defense of France, 1944 (Stackpole Military History Series) (Paperback)

This is a very interesting read. Its not an official document but a memoir from General Eberbach while he was detained by the US Army after the war. The general was highly regarded and experienced being involved in Poland, Russia, North Africa before coming to Normandy in 1944. He worked with and was friends with Rommel and Guderian and a person who the author greatly admired. This is not a comprehensive, well researched chronology buts its still very interesting and gives insight as to how the Germans acquitted themselves against the superior odds of the Allies.
General Eberbach came to Normandy in the first week of July and was involved in the several main offensives by Montgomery in the Villers-Bocage - Caen region in July and with the defense of the Falaise plain in August. He was also involved with the Mortain counterattack and the attempt in keeping the escape route between Falaise-Argentan open for the 7th Army and the 5th PzA to escape to the Seine.
He describes the pathetic condition of the German forces were in by the end of July, mostly due to the awful direction of Hitler. He also feels, without going into a lot of detail, that if the 15th Army was brought to Normandy quickly that the Allied beachheach could have been destroyed. He also feels that at the end of July and with the successful Allied offensive, Operation Cobra, that his forces should have fallen back to the Seine or even the West Wall and that the Mortain counter offensive was suicidal. He also claims that if the British were less cautious and also attacked at night the German line would have fallen weeks earlier.

The first two chapters were added by Mr Mitcham and was an introduction into the accomplishments of General Eberbach as well as summarizing the Normandy conditions when the General arrived. Throughout the book the author adds material that either Eberbach forgot or wasn't aware of to enhance the reader's experience. This added information was a big help but there was one glaring statement on page 97 that caught my attention. It wasn't footnoted so I'll have to research the comment to get confirmation. The comment states Bradley was informed by Ultra in time to prepare a defense against the Mortain assault. I'm not saying its wrong but its the first time I've encountered the statement.
The author also includes many good photos of German officiers involved in France. There are a few photos of German equipment that are label incorrectly but that doesn't detract from the fine story of General Eberbach.
An observation on mine part: Throughout the story Eberbach repeatedly declares how weak the Germans were by the end of July. If that is true, they handled themselves relatively very well in France and made a remarkable recovery by December for the launching of the Ardennes Offensive.
The author provides a few simple maps, an Appendix and great Notes that usually refers to the German participants that adds to your knowledge base.
Anybody who is a fan of the Overlord Offensive should read this book for it acts as a counterweight and helps you understand the German perspective.

14 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too Many Errors Detract From The History, April 25, 2009

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Alexander M. Kirk "BeenThereDoneThat" (Allen, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panzers in Normandy: General Hans Eberbach and the German Defense of France, 1944 (Stackpole Military History Series) (Paperback)

This is the first Sam Mitcham book I've read, and I had high expectations. I have particular interest in Normandy so General Ebernbach's story, as the commander of Panzer Group West, is of particular relevance.

The book is primarily based on a report Ebernbach wrote for the Allies while a POW, and overall it is very forthcoming and honest. Ebernbach provides a good overview of the difficulties both sides had fighting in Normandy. If read in conjunction with Jarymowycz's "Tank Tactics From Normandy to Lorraine" the reader will identify several points that validate Jarymowycz's thesis that the Commonwealth Tank formations suffered from poor Armored doctrine.

However, the book is riddled with many editorial and factual errors. In the first edition paperback, at least six pictures are mislabeled. For example on page 120 a German SdKfz 166 Brumbar is identified as a SdKfz 165 Hummel (two very different vehicles), and on page 126 a turret-less Sdkfz 173 Jagdpanther tank-destroyer is identified as its more famous, turreted, predecessor the SdKfz 171 Panther.

There are also errors of historical fact such as the myth that Bradley had ample warning of the German counter-attack at Mortain (first peddled by Frederick Winterbotham in "Ultra Secret" back in 1977). If Mr. Mitcham had been up the latest scholarship he would have known that getting warning of an attack minutes before (in some accounts after) it starts is not very useful.

These and other such irritating faux pas don't necessarily detract from General Ebernbach's words. But they can cause one to question the editorial adjustments Mr. Mitcham admits he made, for historical accuracy, in editing Ebernbach's manuscript (most notably in unit identification). Since Mitcham doesn't list where these corrections occur in the manuscript the reader is left wondering whether an author who can't tell the difference between a Panzer III and a Panzer IV (hint: a III has 6 road wheels whereas a IV has 8, see page 142) and who is not up on the latest Normandy scholarship is really qualified to correct a commanding General on his Order Of Battle.

Many good things in this book; however, caveat emptor!