Panzer Commander Quotes

“As my orderly Erich Beck later wrote, “We admired our opponents for their national pride and commitment. They demanded our respect. We heard that a Polish cavalry regiment had mounted an attack against our tanks. They had been told that the German tanks were only wooden dummies.”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

“Love of country, patriotism, a cause - these are noble virtues, but people don't fight and die for them. They will fight and die for their units and for their comrades. (in the Introduction by Steve Ambrose)”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

“My experience in previous theaters of war had taught me that the more critical a situation, or the more alarming the reports, the more calmly every experienced leader should react.”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

“To forget is good—but hard. To forgive is better.            Best of all is reconciliation.”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

“It was a new discovery for us that the stalwart and robust-seeming men often lost their nerve under combat conditions, while the supposedly weak proved to be strong and kept their heads at precarious moments.”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

“to which every Wehrmacht unit from the regiment up had to appoint an NFO, “National Socialist Leadership Officer” (Nationalsozialistische Führungs-Offizier), whose job was to keep a political eye on the unit and its command.”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

“inculcated with a healthy national consciousness.”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Hans von Luck

“At the same time as the introduction of “cultural life” for the prisoners, the Antifa was also set up in the camp, an anti-Fascist group that was attached to the German camp commandant and watched over and “re-educated” by Black Nena. It was joined by a few long-standing German Communists and also by some opportunists who hoped for alleviations and privileges through their membership. With the rest of us, the Antifa held no interest. The names of some of its particularly zealous supporters were remembered, and many of them were well and truly beaten up when we were released.”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

“The only one to remain in his vehicle, was my radio operator, who was sending off my messages. Next to the vehicle, stood my intelligence officer, who passed on to the operator what I shouted across to him. Then a machine—I thought I recognized the Canadian emblem—approached for a low-flying attack on the armored radio station. At 20 yards, I could clearly see the pilot’s face under his flight helmet. But instead of shooting, he signaled with his hand for the radio officer to clear off, and pulled his machine up into a great curve. “Get the operator out of the vehicle,” I shouted, “and take cover, the pair of you.” The machine had turned and now came at us out of the sun for the second time. This time, he fired his rockets and hit the radio car, fortunately, without doing too much damage. This attitude of the pilot, whether he was Canadian or British, became for me, the example of fairness in this merciless war. I shall never forget the pilot’s face or the gesture of his hand.”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

“Once again, Rommel took my arm. “Luck, one day you will think of my words. The threat to Europe and to our civilized world will come from the east. If the peoples of Europe fail to join forces to meet that threat, western Europe will have lost. At the moment, I see only one ‘warrior’ prepared to champion a united Europe: Churchill!”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

“Then a machine—I thought I recognized the Canadian emblem—approached for a low-flying attack on the armored radio station. At 20 yards, I could clearly see the pilot’s face under his flight helmet. But instead of shooting, he signaled with his hand for the radio officer to clear off, and pulled his machine up into a great curve. “Get the operator out of the vehicle,” I shouted, “and take cover, the pair of you.”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

“Rommel realized this at once and brought up an 88mm battery. He personally directed the 88s shot by shot with the result that over 30 British tanks were knocked out and the enemy withdrew.”
― Hans von Luck, Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck