Hitler's Panzers: The Lightning Attacks that Revolutionized Warfare

by Dennis E. Showalter

A fascinating account of Nazi Germany's armored forces by the author of Patton and Rommel.

Determined to secure a quick, decisive victory on the World War II battlefields, Adolf Hitler adopted an attack plan that combined tools with technique- the formidable Panzer divisions. Self-contained armored units able to operate independently, the Panzers became the German army's fighting core as well as its moral focus, establishing an entirely new military doctrine.

In Hitler's Panzers, renowned World War II scholar Dennis Showalter presents a comprehensive and unbiased study of Nazi Germany's armored forces. By delving deeply into a detailed history of the theory, strategy, myths, and realities of Germany's technologically innovative approach to warfare, Showalter provides a look at the military lessons of the past, and a speculation on how the Panzer ethos may be implemented in the future of international conflict.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, War, World War II, Autobiography, Military History

400 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2009

About the author

A specialist in German military history, Dennis E. Showalter was professor emeritus of history at Colorado College. He was president of the American Society for Military History from 1997 to 2001 and an advising fellow of the Barsanti Military History Center at the University of North Texas.

Reviews

[Maitrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started out reading this book as a relative WWII newbie, I can place Stalingrad on a map, and know what the Battle of the Bulge was, but that is about it.

This book was easily the most in depth study of a particular facet of war, any war, that I've ever read. It threw me at the deep end, and like somebody cut off and surrounded by the eponymous Hitler's panzers, I was struggling to make sense of most things. Unlike those poor souls however, I enjoyed being confused and looking for answers all the time. I think I now know more about WWII, even after reading only about this one aspect of it, than ever before.

Dennis Showalter is a professor of history at the Colorado College, and his specialization in military history regularly shows up in this book. He regularly tackles myths, and stories that have grown up around some aspects of the armoured fighting in Europe involving the panzers, and being a novice, I definitely would benefit from a re-reading after familiarizing myself with all aspects of WWII. I found his writing to be crisp, and enjoyable, one of the reasons I stuck through.

The book covers the history of the panzers right from the post 1919 armistice, and how German theory and craft on armoured fighting evolved. The 1940 War in Western Europe is covered quickly (the war itself was quick too), and the bulk of the book is given over to the massive tussle between the Germans and the Soviets. Characters, mainly from the German side of things regularly appear, and battles are explained in some detail. Equipment, such as the fabled Tigers and Panthers, not to mention their Russian and later, American counterparts are quickly explained, with the emphasis that the war was fought and won with operational and tactical nimbleness, not equipment. For example, when the war started, the French actually had superior tanks to the German Panzer IIIs and IVs, but German operational command and manoeuvring cut them to pieces. Later in the war, when the famous German Tigers and Panthers appeared, it was the Soviets with their overall depth and planning, but slightly inferior tanks, that hammered the Germans.

Overall, I liked everything about this book, but it is not for the WWII novice. I only hope that this is a good beginning for my WWII reading list.

[Darrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are hoping for a good story don't read this book. This is a history Prof's dream book. Detail by detail, in chronological order. Every modification of the Panzer and tanks that led up to and after it. It is very well written and interesting for history buffs but I had a hard time finishing it.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good look at the Panzer forces from their start through 1945. Lots of new information from the old USSR is worked into this and nicely integrated with the work of authors like Gantz. The development of Panzer tactics and operational uses gets nice discussion.

One particularly interesting question the author raises is 'Why did the USA manufacture so many thousands of Shermans after we saw how the Germans destroyed them?' A complicated answer based on several factors is given and worth reading the entire book to find out.

[Grant Kisling · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at armored warfare throughout world war 2. The author goes into detail on the tactics and the statistics behind the action. I also found the descriptions of all the different vehicles to be helpful in understanding how they affected each engagement.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Alan Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Professor Showalter is a master of German military history. His mastery is on display here, in a useful counter to the Panzer memoirs of Guderian, Mellenethin et al.

[Walt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hitler's Panzers is about the history of German armored warfare around World War II. The first few chapters cover the concepts of tank warfare developed by the German's prior to World War II and the successes they had in its use during the years of 1939-1941. Showalter does a fantastic job of exploring not just the ideas but also analyzes how and why of the German developed these advances in tank warfare tactically, geopolitically, and culturally. After reading this part of the book I was convinced that Hitler's Panzers was well on its way to a five star rating. Unfortunately, the book then devolves into a history of the panzer divisions. Showalter spends too much time the details of the battles and movements of the panzer divisions later in the war instead of focusing on the bigger picture of how the political and military changes during the war changed the way the panzers were used (even though this may have been his intent). The book finally peters out in the epilogue with some generic views on warfare, human nature, and the Nazis. Still a worth while read for those interested in the military history of WW2.

[Dean Marquis · Rating 2 out of 5]

obviously mr showalter knew a lot about the development of german armour tactics during ww 2. He even defined the german art of war as the mobile battle. this has gotten them into a lot of trouble but thankfully now there part of nato and thats not going to happen. poland is part of nato. dennis also defind the us art of war as war by management. i think that this is a topic for a book in itself. i thougjt hitlers panzers was poorly presented. it had no space between the paragraphs. i know this is a small thing but a paragraph represents a particuler series of connected thoughts. which are represented by sentences. in three pages he was talking about the testing of panzers in spain.. How guderion but an expensive car with the proceeds of his first book and another unrelated topic.
i hooe mr showalter keeps on writing. im building quite a library on the subject and high quality books are getting hard to find.

[Trebor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tanks, tanks, and more tanks. Blitzkrieg, shock and awe, invasion of the merciless Huns. They had the best tanks, the most disciplined soldiers, the smartest generals, the most courageous officers, but thank God they were all under the thumb of a total madman who generally did everything contrary to the German military strategists. How could something so evil as Nazism and its' malignant doctrine seize the entire continent of Europe is such a short time. The author explains it almost tank battle by tank battle. That type of war has become the modern blueprint of the U.S. and others. In the end it all came down to lack of fuel as one of several death blows to the Third Reich.

[Chuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the story of the German panzer units in WW2. The biggest problem with the book is that it is unfocussed. On a topic like this, which has been widely written about, you've got to offer a new perspective, which means that you should have a premise or series of premises that you seek to demonstrate in your book. Showalter doesn't do that. His book is one that proceeds by saying, this happened, then this happened, then this happened, etc. When I finished it, I came away with the feeling that I had learned nothing, even though I am by no means expert on the subject. I felt like I had wasted my time reading the book.

[Brentman99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a very academic book on the German Panzerwaffen, look no further than this one. Showalter is a great historian and provides lots of details that anyone who is interested in WWII will enjoy. It is quite a story how Germany moved from the Pz I in Poland to the King Tiger that helped defend Germany in the latter stages of the war.

Overall, I enjoyed the details as well as the politics that Showalter mixes in with the history. Worth reading if you have an interest in the subject.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

As one who had a brief encounter with later versions of this devilish machine, I found the story of the evolution of it fascinating--in a terrifying, fifty-years-removed, sort of way. The book is vintage Showalter--clearly written and deeply researched. It's not a book I"d say is a "fun read" though.

[Iain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this four stars as the book is engaging and holds many insights. However a complete lack of footnotes and often fractured/incomprehensible sentences drops my rating a notch. A good book that could have been great if only it had seen sterner editing and supported some of its contentions with sources.

[Rory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was one of the most even handed portrayals of the Wehrmacht I've read, and I've read more than a handful at this stage in my life. It was a bit plodding, but so was the war on the Eastern Front. I think I'll be seeking out Patton and Rommel in the near future.

[Twilight Sparkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good insight into the panzer formations and tanks of the Wehrmacht and SS and touches on myths such as the Wehrmacht being clean when it comes to war crimes. A little dry at times.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most through account of the panzers I've ever read. Slight complain that months are commonly misattributed.