Smashing Hitler's Panzers: The Defeat of the Hitler Youth Panzer Division in the Battle of the Bulge

by Steven J. Zaloga

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 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.

Genres: History, World War II, Military History, Nonfiction, 20th Century

372 pages, Hardcover

Published October 26, 2018

About the author

Steven Zaloga is an author and defense analyst known worldwide for his articles and publications on military technology.  He has written over a hundred books on military technology and military history, including “Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II”, one of the most highly regarded histories of the Sherman Tank.  His books have been translated into Japanese, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Russian. He was a special correspondent for Jane’s Intelligence Review and is on the executive board of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. From 1987 through 1992, he was the writer/producer for Video Ordnance Inc., preparing their TV series Firepower.  He holds a BA in history from Union College and an MA in history from Columbia University.

Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.

Reviews

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another banger by Zaloga. His strength is as always in analysis and what makes him good is his analysis of just about every aspect of war. The battle narrative is a bit dry but that is not quite why you are here.

[Gregg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read for someone already knowledgeable about the Battle of the Bulge. This title focuses on the under reported Northern shoulder of the Bulge, the initial German "Schwerpunkt" (main focus). Dealing with the Hitlerjugend Division and associated units in the battles in the Elsenborn sector of Belgium. Part 1 covers Plans and Preparations, including Hitler's Plan, "Schwerpunkt", the Hitlerjugend Div., a chapter on the various German infantry divisions used for the breakthrough, a chapter on the weather, a chapter on American and German artillery used at that time, and finally a chapter on the first American unit to face the German offensive the U.S. 99th Infantry Division.

Part 2 covers the various battles from the time the Germans roll past the Westwall to the time the Schwerpunkt is moved south due to the American defense stopping the offensive before the Elsenborn Ridge.

I enjoyed this read because I learned more about the initial battles that lead up to what too many Americans think of when thinking about the Battle of the Bulge, Bastogne.

[Steve Switzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent account of the overlooked but mor important part of the ardennes fighting.. once the germans were stopped here bastogne etc was irrelevant

[Johnnyc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed and very good account of a battle on the northern shoulder of the Battle of the Bulge.