Panzerkrieg: The Rise and Fall of Hitler’s Tank Divisions

The image that most strikingly defines the Nazis’ Blitzkrieg in Europe is that of the Panzerwaffe’s massive columns of tanks advancing across the continent, smashing all resistance in their path. The mighty Panzers secured for Germany its brilliant military successes in the early battles of World War II, and when the tide of the war turned against the Third Reich, the Panzers became the backbone of its defense. But the dramatic story of Hitler’s formidable tank divisions is more than one of mere mechanical efficiency. It hangs, too, on the skilled soldiers who commanded them, fought in them, and believed in their near-invincibility. With rare illustrations, explanatory maps, and an immensely readable narrative, Panzerkrieg examines the legendary tanks and crews at El Alamein, the Battle of the Bulge, and Bagration. It appraises the tank warfare waged in the woods of France, the desert wastes of North Africa, and the limitless steppes of Russia. Exploring and fully charting the development of German fighting vehicles and battle tactics in the war—as well as exploding the many myths and misconceptions surrounding the Panzerwaffe—Panzerkrieg offers a finely measured assessment of the evolution, exploits, and eventual destruction of a superlative, once-supreme military force.