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on August 14, 2017
Heinz Guderian paints a precise picture of Germany's Military role in Hitler's quest to establish the Third Reich. Detailed information of the concept of blitzkrieg and how it was developed and implemented, and the the various characters who effected Germany's efforts give an understanding of why Hitler caused Germany's defeat.
Guderian often gives a great deal of exact details that some readers may find either tedious or fascinating.
Guderian often gives a great deal of exact details that some readers may find either tedious or fascinating.
on October 29, 2014
As a teenager I read Panzer Leader multiple times. One of my interests were military simulation games so it was natural to read a book about the the development and application of Blitzkrieg by one of its main developers. The book is an excellent read and chronicles the development of armored warfare in Germany before and during WWII. This illustrated version is even better! The added pictures serve to enhance the message of the book as you can actually see images of the events and persons from the book. Definitely worth the extra money for the illustrated version!
on May 26, 2014
The perspective of the professional German soldier, Heinz Guderian, explains how the bitter defeat of WWI lead him to believe that war was necessary. Rising to the rank of general as a result of his experience and writings about the future use of mobile armor his 1937 book became a favorite of Hitler. Guderian commands the victorious field attack in Poland then designs the attack through the Ardennes in France. His breakthrough into France brings victory in Europe to the Nazi's and Hitler. Guderian is asked once again to lead the Germans against Russia and he commands the 2nd Army. With Moscow within his grasp he discovers the failed leadership of the Nazi's when he is ordered to leave Moscow and battle south for hundreds of miles to take a worthless position at the whim of Hitler. He battles back to the gates of Moscow but the Russian winter defeats his army. He refuses the order from Hitler to fight to the last man and withdraws his men from the senseless war against the elements. Guderian is dismissed from the Army in December 1941and returns to Germany. The German army never recovers from the loss on the eastern front. This book details the general's view of the war in the order of Sherman or Grant.
on July 6, 2017
If you want to understand why Germany rose and fell, read this fascinating book. Along with "Lost Victories " by von Manstein, Guderian's first hand account of dealing with redtape, lunacy, incompetence, and delusion is both riveting and unfiltered primary reading. A must read for anyone interested in the struggle of the Eastern Front....
on January 17, 2014
I have read the bios of most of the high ranking German leaders, Including Goering (who never got to write an autobiography for obvious reasons), Speer, kesselring, Von Manstein's disjointed memoirs, and "panzer battles" by von Mellenthin. So I can say that "Panzer leader" is one of the better autobiographies among this group and it is top notch.
It is very well written, stays on topic of who-what-when and most importantly HOW, and guderian also includes many of his personal perceptions, thoughts and opinions on the battles he fought, the German equipment and tanks vs. the Soviet ones and his view on the German military situation as the war unfolded.
Particularly interesting are his views on hitler and his opinion of hitler's amateurish meddling And his (guderian's) constant contention with hitler's bad decisions at every turn.
This book is a valuable addition to any serious study of WW2.
It is very well written, stays on topic of who-what-when and most importantly HOW, and guderian also includes many of his personal perceptions, thoughts and opinions on the battles he fought, the German equipment and tanks vs. the Soviet ones and his view on the German military situation as the war unfolded.
Particularly interesting are his views on hitler and his opinion of hitler's amateurish meddling And his (guderian's) constant contention with hitler's bad decisions at every turn.
This book is a valuable addition to any serious study of WW2.
on July 12, 2017
The author was an exceptional individual who believed in his Country and did all that he could to defend it. He must have been a brilliant srategist in modern tank warfare and given a free hand could have made it very difficult for the allies to win. This is a sad story of a true patriot who resisted the evils and excess' of Hitler but to no avail.
on February 1, 2012
As others here have said, this is a mesmerizing read as an account of WW2. It is written from the aspect of one of Germany's top Generals; an account of General Guderian's personal experiences coupled with many evaluations of decisions made and also of the people who made them.
The writer impresses within a couple of pages as an "officer and gentleman" of the old (Prussian) school. Kenneth Macksey describes him as "proud, dignified, honorable, kind and courtly, with a twinkling sense of humor" in his Introduction, and this came across throughout the book. The reader also cannot miss Guderian's distress at seeing his homeland again devastated in war, though he seldom states this openly (except as critiques of those he holds responsible), and mentions only in passing his own personal losses. An interesting sideline from Macksey is Guderian's "debt" to Capt Liddell Hart (para 3, p20), which doesn't reflect well on the latter. I'd like also to add a personal note of appreciation for the translator, Constantine FitzGibbon, as the book flows easily and preserves the character of its author.
This is a book crammed full of detail which no serious student of WW2 should be without. Highlights for me were -- Guderian's inter-war interest in Tank warfare (and the opposition to it); His eye-witness account of the Anschluss (and his challenge to Churchill); the campaign up to Dunkirk (and the escape of the BEF); his account of the assault on Moscow (and the reason for it failing); the discussion at the end of the book on the German General Staff.
An easy to read book, full of fascinating insider knowledge. In the dispute as to who was responsible for the loss of Barbarossa, Hitler or his Generals, this volume is unambiguous. Written by an obviously patriotic soldier, the events he so vividly portrays have shaped the world we live in today, for better or worse.
I gave this book four stars rather than five because as I continued to read through it, there came an impression that this was written to please the victors. Guderian was one of 2,000 German officers picked by the Americans immediately after the war to write memoirs. This is not to say his negative views of the Nazi hierarchy aren't correct, and even held genuinely by him, but by the end of his book it had taken on for me a flavour of appeasing the winners, just as he had inserted the above-mentioned (unjustified) "tribute" to Capt. Liddell Hart. Excellent read for all that.
The writer impresses within a couple of pages as an "officer and gentleman" of the old (Prussian) school. Kenneth Macksey describes him as "proud, dignified, honorable, kind and courtly, with a twinkling sense of humor" in his Introduction, and this came across throughout the book. The reader also cannot miss Guderian's distress at seeing his homeland again devastated in war, though he seldom states this openly (except as critiques of those he holds responsible), and mentions only in passing his own personal losses. An interesting sideline from Macksey is Guderian's "debt" to Capt Liddell Hart (para 3, p20), which doesn't reflect well on the latter. I'd like also to add a personal note of appreciation for the translator, Constantine FitzGibbon, as the book flows easily and preserves the character of its author.
This is a book crammed full of detail which no serious student of WW2 should be without. Highlights for me were -- Guderian's inter-war interest in Tank warfare (and the opposition to it); His eye-witness account of the Anschluss (and his challenge to Churchill); the campaign up to Dunkirk (and the escape of the BEF); his account of the assault on Moscow (and the reason for it failing); the discussion at the end of the book on the German General Staff.
An easy to read book, full of fascinating insider knowledge. In the dispute as to who was responsible for the loss of Barbarossa, Hitler or his Generals, this volume is unambiguous. Written by an obviously patriotic soldier, the events he so vividly portrays have shaped the world we live in today, for better or worse.
I gave this book four stars rather than five because as I continued to read through it, there came an impression that this was written to please the victors. Guderian was one of 2,000 German officers picked by the Americans immediately after the war to write memoirs. This is not to say his negative views of the Nazi hierarchy aren't correct, and even held genuinely by him, but by the end of his book it had taken on for me a flavour of appeasing the winners, just as he had inserted the above-mentioned (unjustified) "tribute" to Capt. Liddell Hart. Excellent read for all that.
on November 9, 2015
It's an excellent history, although as a scholarly work it suffers a bit from dry writing. As a historian I think a little more effort would have produced an even better book, but if you want to study the father of panzer warfare, read this.
on November 24, 2014
Guderian was one of the great German generals. Without him, Germany would most likely have failed when it attacked France in 1940. Using his plan, they succeeded in an astoundingly short time.
Guderian was one of the few German generals who was willing to argue with Hitler. In doing so, he was taking not only his career, but also his life, in his hands.
This book is full of behind the scenes tensions between Hitler and his generals.
For the most part it is quite readable. However, I find myself occasionally hurrying through a paragraph with lots of place names that I don't recognize.
But overall it is a great book.
Guderian was one of the few German generals who was willing to argue with Hitler. In doing so, he was taking not only his career, but also his life, in his hands.
This book is full of behind the scenes tensions between Hitler and his generals.
For the most part it is quite readable. However, I find myself occasionally hurrying through a paragraph with lots of place names that I don't recognize.
But overall it is a great book.
