Video Book Review: Smashing Hitler’s Panzers

Here is our video book review of the new book by Steven Zaloga,Smashing Hitler’s Panzers: The Defeat of the Hitler Youth Panzer Division in the Battle of the Bulge.

 

Publisher’s Description:

In his riveting new book, Steven Zaloga describes how American foot soldiers faced down Hitler’s elite armored spearhead—the Hitler Youth Panzer Division—in the snowy Ardennes forest during one of World War II’s biggest battles, the Battle of the Bulge. The Hitler Youth division was assigned the mission of the Führer’s Ardennes offensive: capture the main highway to the primary objective, Antwerp, whose seizure Hitler believed would end the war. Had the Germans taken the Belgian port, it would have cut off the Americans from the British and perhaps led to a second, more devastating Dunkirk. In Zaloga’s careful reconstruction, a succession of American infantry units—the 99th Division, the 2nd Division, and the 1st Division (the famous Big Red One)—fought a series of series of battles that denied Hitler the best roads to Antwerp and doomed his offensive. American G.I.s—some of them seeing combat for the very first time—had stymied Hitler’s panzers and grand plans.

Book Review: Professor Porsche’s Wars

Here is our video book review of the book Professor Porsche’s Wars: The Secret Life of Legendary Engineer Ferdinand Porsche Who Armed Two Belligerents Through Four Decades by Karl Ludvigsen.

 

 

Publisher’s Description:

Regarded as one of the great automotive engineers of the twentieth century, Ferdinand Porsche is well remembered today for his remarkable automotive designs including the Volkswagen Beetle and Auto Union Grand Prix cars. Yet there is another side to his extraordinary career, for he was an equally inventive designer of military vehicles and machinery. In this field too he excelled. Indeed the sheer versatility of his contribution is astonishing. Karl Ludvigsen’s study is the definitive guide.

He tells the complete story, focusing on Porsche’s relations with the German armed forces and on the stream of advanced designs he was responsible for. Included are Austro Daimler’s pioneering aero engines, the Kübelwagen, Schwimmwagen, Type 100 Leopard tank, Ferdinand or Elefant tank destroyer and the astounding Type 205 Maus tank. He also describes Porsche’s creative work on aero engines, tank engines and even a turbojet for the V-1 flying bomb.

Karl Ludvigsen’s account confirms the preeminence of Ferdinand Porsche as a brilliant and prolific engineer, one of the most remarkable of his generation.

Book Review: Cromwell vs Jagdpanzer IV

Here is our video book review of Cromwell vs Jagdpanzer IV: Normandy 1944 (Duel) by David R. Higgins and published by Osprey.

Book Description:

By 1944, the evolution of armoured doctrine had produced very different outcomes in Britain and Germany. Offering a good balance of speed, protection and firepower, the British Cromwell tank was much faster than its German opponent, but the Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer had a high-velocity main gun and a lower profile that made it formidable on the defensive, especially in ambush situations. The two types would fight in a series of bloody encounters, from the initial days of the struggle for Normandy through to its climax as the Allies sought to trap their opponents in the Falaise Pocket.

Using archive photographs, specially commissioned artwork and battle reports, this fascinating study expertly assesses the realities of tactical armoured combat during the desperate battles after D-Day.

 

Video Book Review: The Tanks of TOG

Here is a short video book review of The Tanks of TOG: The work, designs, and tanks of the Special Vehicle Development Committee in World War II by Andrew Hills.

Tanks of World War II – Episode 6: Char D1, D2 and FCM 36

We dive further into French tanks of 1940 with this new video looking at the Char D1, D2 and FCM 36 tanks.  While none of these vehicles were produced in great numbers, all three saw combat in the 1940 campaign and deserve mention.  Next episode, we will look at two more french tanks, the R 35 and H 35.

For reading recommendations for these vehicles, be sure to check out our picks here.

Author Profile: Col Robert Icks

We shot this short video a couple days ago taking a look at tank author and researcher Col. Robert Icks.  Icks (1900-1985) was one of the first people to write extensively on the topic of tanks and armored vehicles.  His work would inspire many other researchers and writers to explore the topic.

Tanks of World War II – Episode 4: Panzer II

Here is episode four of our video series The Tanks of World War II.  This episode finishes up our look at the Polish Campaign of 1939 and examines the German Panzer II and it’s variants.

The Chieftain: Tankfest Thoughts 2018 Part 1

Over at his youtube channel, World of Tanks chief North American researcher Nicholas “The Chieftain” Moran has posted part 1 of his observations from the recent Tank Fest 2018 event at the Tank Museum at Bovington.

Book Review: Hungarian Armored Forces of World War II

A video book review of Hungarian Armored Forces in World War II (Photosniper) by Peter Mujzer, published by Kagero as part of their Photosniper series.

Video Book Review: Tank Wrecks of the Eastern Front 1941-1945

We review the latest in the Images of War series from Pen & Sword Publishing, Tank Wrecks of the Eastern Front 1941–1945: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War) by Anthony Tucker-Jones.