I bought this one. Have read ~50 pages. Does anyone have it / read it ?
Panzer Lehr Division 1944-45
Author: Frederick P. Steinhardt
Paperback 230mm x 145mm - 352 pages, 41 maps, plus tables & diagrams.
Publisher: Helion & Company
The Panzer Lehr Division was one of the most élite German armoured formations in existence in early 1944. Its baptism of fire was in the deadly Normandy bocage. Although suffering heavy losses in Normandy, the Division continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war, seeing particularly notable service during the Ardennes Offensive and in the Ruhr.
The first volume in the new Helion series WWII German Military Studies prints an extensive number of reports written by former officers of the Division, principally its commander Fritz Bayerlein. Virtually all of these reports have remained unpublished since they were written soon after the end of WWII. They cover all aspects of the Division's history, although with particular emphasis upon events in Normandy, the Ardennes and Germany.
A number of the reports include detailed order-of-battle and other organisational data.
Important though the reprinting of these documents is, this book is made doubly important thanks to the linking text and expert annotations from editor Fred Steinhardt. In effect, this book provides an extremely detailed chronological history of the Division's activities, in greater detail than has yet appeared in print before.
The Book
This is a serious military study and as such is not for the faint hearted. The author himself states that the book is to serve as a reference work, and this is apparent from the wealth of detailed notes, appendices, references, footnotes, maps diagrams etc that accompany the main text. Unlike other studies I have read, the focus of this book is not on endless eye-watering descriptions of campaign minutiae, but the interviews in each section with Fritz Bayerlein that cover his recollections of events.
Contents
Part I - Panzer Lehr Division in Normandy through to the Withdrawal from France.
Part II - Panzer Lehr Division 130 in the Ardennes offensive
Part III - Panzer Lehr Division 130 after Ardennes, before Remagen
Part IV - Panzer Lehr at Remagen and after
Panzer Lehr Division 1944-45
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Panzer Lehr Division 1944-45
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Re: Panzer Lehr Division 1944-45
It's a very interesting book and draws from Fritz Bayerleins personal accounts while in command.
[130] Panzer Lehr reg 902 Unit Leader
Re: Panzer Lehr Division 1944-45
While we're on the subjest - is the other one any good ?
"Elite Panzer Strike Force: Germany's Panzer Lehr Division in World War II "
"Elite Panzer Strike Force: Germany's Panzer Lehr Division in World War II "
Gliderinf / Luftlande
Re: Panzer Lehr Division 1944-45
Seems that most books are a re-hash of the Bayerlein interviews - so still wondering if the "Elite strike force " book is worth getting.Gliderinf wrote:While we're on the subjest - is the other one any good ?
"Elite Panzer Strike Force: Germany's Panzer Lehr Division in World War II "
Also - Is there a book available with a descent amount of photos of the division. (the hellion one only has pictures of various Generals - not of the division.
Gliderinf / Luftlande