Panzer Battles : A Study of the Employment of Armor in the Second World War - Softcover

F. W. Von Mellenthin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0345321588 ISBN 13: 9780345321589

Publisher: Ballantine Books, 1985

Synopsis

When Sam Donaldson interviewed General Norman Schwarzkopf in his quarters in the Gulf, PANZER BATTLES was one of the books on his desk. A model military history, this is one of the few close looks we will ever have of the tactics, the planning, and the operations of tank warfare from a participant.
It was the decisive victories of the German Panzer divisions in North Africa in World War II that taught the Allies the importance of an integrated combat team consisting of tanks, infantry, and artillery. PANZER BATTLES is a vivid account of the major campaigns of that war, especially the legendary desert battles fought by Rommel, who found the desert to be the perfect terrain in which to wage almost purely theoretical armored warfare with large-scale tank formations.
Here is an unparalleled look at what the American military learned from the experience of fighting in WWII -- experience that was put to use in the Gulf War.

About this title

About the Author

F.W. VON MELLENTHIN began his military career at the age of nineteen when he enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry Regiment of the German Army. He was ordered to the War Academy in 1935, was serving as intelligence officer to the 3rd Corps when the war began in 1939, and had been promoted to major general by 1945 when he was taken prisoner by American troops on the Western front

Review

Vast in scope, keen in its technical appraisal, respectful of history...other military authors should doff their hats and bow. --Brigadier general S.L.A. Marshall, chief historian of the European theater in World War II

Panzer Battles is a must have for those interested in the fighting in North Africa and the Eastern Front. Major General von Mellenthin provides an extremely knowledgeable account of the divisional level fighting before El Alamein and during and after Stalingrad. Of particular interest are his accounts of the 4th Panzer Army's attempt to rescue the 6th Army at Stalingrad and the 4th's actions near Belgorod during operation Citadelle. The only flaws this book has are von Mellenthin's tendency to blame Hitler for any setbacks and his comments on his Russian opponents which lead one to beleive that von Mellenthin had little problem with Hitler's "lebensraum" policies. These minor details notwithstanding, this is a very good book well worth a read. --Lance Frickensmith

along with gudarians panzer leader, the most informative book iv read on ww2. von mellenthin was a truly outstanding staff officer --robert michael lowe

About this edition

• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Publication date: 1985
• ISBN 10: 0345321588
• ISBN 13: 9780345321589
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480