Panzer The Armoured Force of the Third Reich

 

This book presents a fresh interpretation of a controversial and fascinating subject. It is a comprehensive account of the reasons for the failure of the Third Reichs armoured force which, in the early years of the war, had won such remarkable victories in Poland, Flanders, France and the Soviet Union, humbling the worlds most highly rated armies.

Panzer illustrates how the theories of armoured warfare were applied in battle by taking four military operations as detailed examples: the lightning advance of Rommels 7th Panzer Division across France in May 1940; the huge encirclement battle around Kiev in the summer and autumn of 1941 which resulted in the capture of over 600,000 prisoners; the battle at Gazala in North Africa in 1942 which illustrates the cut and thrust of daring panzer tactics; and tank commander Michael Wittmans brilliant individual action in the wooded, hilly country of Normandy in 1944.

Also described are the ever-changing organisation of the panzer divisions before and during the war; the development of armoured vehicles and their influence on the field of battle; and the personalities of the leaders and their men.

The many photographs from private and official sources trace the history of German armoured fighting vehicles from the Mark I, armed only with machine gunds, to the giant Tiger with its 88mm gun.

 

Mathew Cooper & James Lucas
Hardcover with d/w 160pp Book Club Edition 1976

Vg/Vg

Book Code:  SA0656