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Hitler's Commanders: German Bravery in the Field 1939-1945
As absolute as Hitler's control over the Nazi war machine was, it depended on the ability, judgment, and unquestioning loyalty of the senior officers charged with implementing his ideas. These 14 soldiers, all of different rank, from varied backgrounds, and highly awarded, exemplify German military prowess at its most dangerous. A top military historian examines their achievements. Among his subjects: Panzer commander Warner Kempf and Kurt Mayer, commander of the Hitler Youth Division.
223 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2001
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About the author
James Sidney Lucas
39 books21 followersAuthor and historian. Imperial War Museum, London, England, deputy head of department of photographs.
Mr. Lucas was a WWII veteran. He served with the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, First Battalion, North Africa, infantryman, 1942; Queens' Own Royal West Surrey Regiment, Italy, 1943-44; Occupation Army, Austria, 1945; Foreign Office, Germany.
Most of James Lucas's professional life was associated with war. First, he served in the Queen's Own Royal Army as a British soldier in World War II, stationed in Africa, Italy, and later in Austria. In 1960 he joined the staff of the Imperial War Museum in London, eventually becoming the deputy head of the department of photographs. After retiring from this position, Lucas took up a third career, that of an author and historian. His favorite topic was World War II, a subject about which he became a respected authority—not only among scholars, but, through his work as an adviser on film and television productions about the war, among the general public as well. According to a London Times obituary, Lucas examined "almost every aspect of the Nazi war machine …combining technical information with first-hand testimony and so producing a body of work unequalled in its breadth. Having fought the Third Reich's best troops through North Africa and Italy, he knew their tenacity and resourcefulness."
Lucas's writing style was not considered typical of war histories. "Humour and enthusiasm, combined with rigorous attention to detail, were the hallmarks of his style," reported the Times obituary writer. Lucas was a prolific writer upon his topic of choice; and he covered many different aspects of the war, often concentrating on the German side of the conflicts.
As his Times obituarist declared, Lucas "saw himself as an archivist, searching for the ordinary men in the heat of battle, playing their part in the bigger picture." Lucas died on June 19, 2002, at the age of seventy-eight.
Mr. Lucas was a WWII veteran. He served with the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, First Battalion, North Africa, infantryman, 1942; Queens' Own Royal West Surrey Regiment, Italy, 1943-44; Occupation Army, Austria, 1945; Foreign Office, Germany.
Most of James Lucas's professional life was associated with war. First, he served in the Queen's Own Royal Army as a British soldier in World War II, stationed in Africa, Italy, and later in Austria. In 1960 he joined the staff of the Imperial War Museum in London, eventually becoming the deputy head of the department of photographs. After retiring from this position, Lucas took up a third career, that of an author and historian. His favorite topic was World War II, a subject about which he became a respected authority—not only among scholars, but, through his work as an adviser on film and television productions about the war, among the general public as well. According to a London Times obituary, Lucas examined "almost every aspect of the Nazi war machine …combining technical information with first-hand testimony and so producing a body of work unequalled in its breadth. Having fought the Third Reich's best troops through North Africa and Italy, he knew their tenacity and resourcefulness."
Lucas's writing style was not considered typical of war histories. "Humour and enthusiasm, combined with rigorous attention to detail, were the hallmarks of his style," reported the Times obituary writer. Lucas was a prolific writer upon his topic of choice; and he covered many different aspects of the war, often concentrating on the German side of the conflicts.
As his Times obituarist declared, Lucas "saw himself as an archivist, searching for the ordinary men in the heat of battle, playing their part in the bigger picture." Lucas died on June 19, 2002, at the age of seventy-eight.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 21, 2023
Published in 2000, 'Hitler's Commanders - German Bravery in the Field 1939-1945' tells the stories of 14 senior commanders that fought in with the German armed forces during WW2 and were decorated for bravery. Each gets a short thumbnail sketch that includes basic biographic details as well as details of military histories. The individuals include representatives of the German Army, the para-troops, and the Waffen-SS. The basic level of the info, often riddles with inconsistencies possibly caused by typos in dates, and the complete lack of supporting references left me concerned about accuracy, but it was interesting reading.
December 16, 2020
Mr. Lucas writes a good book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews