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Panzer Gunner: From my Native Canada to the German Ostfront and Back: In Action with 25th Panzer Regiment, 7th Panzer Division 1944-45
The bulk of the book is a detailed account of the author’s training, and his subsequent service with 25th Panzer Regiment, part of 7th Panzer Division. Bruno Friesen served as a gunner aboard, initially Panzer IV’s, before crewing the lesser-known Japdpanzer IV tank hunter. Apart from providing a large fund of information about specific German tanks and their combat performance, the author writes in great detail about the combat they experienced on the Eastern Front. If one wants to know how German tank crews fought the Soviets in the last year of the war, then this book provides an outstanding account, containing material simply not found elsewhere.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 4, 2022
This was a WELL WRITTEN WELL THOUGHT OUT BOOK BY A SOLDIER FOR SOLDIERS. I read some of the written reviews.....
THIS WAS NOT MEANT TO ADDRESS THE FEELINGS OF A CANADIAN FIGHTING FOR THE WERMACHT. NOR IS IT A TALE GRANDPA WOULD TELL. THIS WAS ABOUT HOW A PKW IV GUNNER OPERATED and some salient points.
The book was written the way a soldier would give a briefing to other soldiers, say in a lessons learned briefing (Which as an armor officer I attended tons of). You don't focus on feelings or issues in such a briefing, but rather facts and lessons learned to be passed on. The author was a historian and this book is pure history. This book was written along the lines of say Hunnicut---who wrote about various tanks from the Sherman, Tiger, Patton, and so on. Those books were VERY technically oriented.
I know alot of the more "woke" readers might not understand the concept of non-judgemental history . But its not a discussion of feelings. The author wrote this book as a technical reference more than anything else, with some personal anecdotal information...Ironically as an armor officer I've met more than a few of my share of German tankers from WWII---many who served in the Bundeswehr and we had similar lectures. They all shared one important characteristic:
If anyone has read Crichton's Eaters of the Dead, there's a scene that discusses some deception on the part of the king's son. When Ibn Fadlah is warned by an old noble to be careful, the old man says "This is the tale fit for a Basilisk (sp)" The author steps outside of the story to explain that Fadlah makes the assumption the reader knows what one is and then goes on to describe it.
Friesen makes comments to the reader that presupposes some basic knowledge..for example VOLKSDEUTSCH. The author assumes the reader will understand this, and also some of the hesitation he had--though this is only done briefly---because it ISN'T IMPORTANT. His father was VOLKSDEUTSCH and answered the call for Germany---not necessarially the Nazis---and also remember at the time TIME Magazine, Henry Ford, Joe Kennedy were touting and praising Hitler and the National Socialists for lifting up Germany from the ruins of WWI. There is no other way to look at that.
TYPOS:
I agree that the kindle had several, however I have a first edition copy of the book in hardback and I didn't find anything.
The book is a well written piece dealing with the technical aspects of being a PKW IV gunner. In many ways the fault I find is that he left out some more important details but as a reference tool its well done.
THIS WAS NOT MEANT TO ADDRESS THE FEELINGS OF A CANADIAN FIGHTING FOR THE WERMACHT. NOR IS IT A TALE GRANDPA WOULD TELL. THIS WAS ABOUT HOW A PKW IV GUNNER OPERATED and some salient points.
The book was written the way a soldier would give a briefing to other soldiers, say in a lessons learned briefing (Which as an armor officer I attended tons of). You don't focus on feelings or issues in such a briefing, but rather facts and lessons learned to be passed on. The author was a historian and this book is pure history. This book was written along the lines of say Hunnicut---who wrote about various tanks from the Sherman, Tiger, Patton, and so on. Those books were VERY technically oriented.
I know alot of the more "woke" readers might not understand the concept of non-judgemental history . But its not a discussion of feelings. The author wrote this book as a technical reference more than anything else, with some personal anecdotal information...Ironically as an armor officer I've met more than a few of my share of German tankers from WWII---many who served in the Bundeswehr and we had similar lectures. They all shared one important characteristic:
If anyone has read Crichton's Eaters of the Dead, there's a scene that discusses some deception on the part of the king's son. When Ibn Fadlah is warned by an old noble to be careful, the old man says "This is the tale fit for a Basilisk (sp)" The author steps outside of the story to explain that Fadlah makes the assumption the reader knows what one is and then goes on to describe it.
Friesen makes comments to the reader that presupposes some basic knowledge..for example VOLKSDEUTSCH. The author assumes the reader will understand this, and also some of the hesitation he had--though this is only done briefly---because it ISN'T IMPORTANT. His father was VOLKSDEUTSCH and answered the call for Germany---not necessarially the Nazis---and also remember at the time TIME Magazine, Henry Ford, Joe Kennedy were touting and praising Hitler and the National Socialists for lifting up Germany from the ruins of WWI. There is no other way to look at that.
TYPOS:
I agree that the kindle had several, however I have a first edition copy of the book in hardback and I didn't find anything.
The book is a well written piece dealing with the technical aspects of being a PKW IV gunner. In many ways the fault I find is that he left out some more important details but as a reference tool its well done.
October 20, 2018
The only interesting thing about the author is the strange circumstances he was thrown into. The rest of the story is very mundane, almost interesting in its lack of colour. The book itself is rather badly written, stories go nowhere, there is no thoughtful analysis or reflection, technical information is selectively crammed in for no reason or benefit. It's worthwhile only because it's a genuine story of the war from an unusual perspective.
April 2, 2013
I thought the subject matter was unique but the writing style was a little off-putting. The turn of phrase was not to my liking. You did get a view of what it was like to train for the role but the in depth analysis of transmissions and sighting reticles made it a little tedious in parts. I would recommend Guy Sayers book Forgotten Soldier over this one as you felt cold reading that book but only felt tired reading this book. A good try but it needed more feeling and less Chilton's Manual.
June 28, 2024
This is a hard one to review. Interesting perspective of a Canadian joining the German army but it was much too technical of a read. Plus the chapters on soldier farting and genital inspections really threw me while reading this.
February 14, 2021
I find the "story" as such mostly a display of technical data which would benefit someone in need of a research reference. Relatively uninteresting overall, except for some occasional injects of humor. Other than that, the author is essentially silent on the issue of someone born into a world diametrically opposed to the most criminal regime in modern history and has very little to say about his support of it. Nor does he have any thoughts as to the enormity of the regime's crimes as revealed after the war nor his part in attempts to preserve it. The fact that he could have been stationed on the Western front and confronted with the real possibility of killing his own countrymen in defense of that system never seems to occur to him then, or now.
November 18, 2018
Should have been one star! Not clear what the book was about and still remain baffled. Book contains a little about much that does not really have any bearing upon the the book title. What is not written about regarding this particular aspect of the war with Russia leaves the author wandering about for things to say. Not a convincing read and leaves a somewhat naive impression of his purpose.
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August 11, 2011An interesting account from inside the tank's turret.
March 21, 2025
This is quite the interesting story.
The author was born in Canada in 1925 to parents who were ethnic Germans living in Ukraine until 1924. The family left Canada and resettled in Germany in 1939, with the author and one brother making the move before the rest of the family. He was 14 at the time.
He was trained as a tank driver in 1944 and served in a Panzer IV and Jagdpanzer IV in 1944 and 1945, on the Eastern Front (mostly Lithuania and East Prussia). He saw what I would call limited combat. His personal records indicate he was involved in 7 tank battles. That seeems like a small number to me, but I guess that depends on the attrition rate of tank crews. Certainly, the number of tankers who survived years of combat must have been vanishingly small.
Although trained as a driver, he moved to the gunner position. A chapter of the book gives some details on how tank gunnery was done.
He was wounded and fled to the west, ultimately captured by the British. It took him a few years to arrange to return to his native Canada where he got himself educated (but not on the equivalent of the US GI Bill, as he fought for the Germans, not the Canadians). He kept his history private until late in his life, when he began volunteering at a military museum.
A fascinating tale, to be sure.
The author was born in Canada in 1925 to parents who were ethnic Germans living in Ukraine until 1924. The family left Canada and resettled in Germany in 1939, with the author and one brother making the move before the rest of the family. He was 14 at the time.
He was trained as a tank driver in 1944 and served in a Panzer IV and Jagdpanzer IV in 1944 and 1945, on the Eastern Front (mostly Lithuania and East Prussia). He saw what I would call limited combat. His personal records indicate he was involved in 7 tank battles. That seeems like a small number to me, but I guess that depends on the attrition rate of tank crews. Certainly, the number of tankers who survived years of combat must have been vanishingly small.
Although trained as a driver, he moved to the gunner position. A chapter of the book gives some details on how tank gunnery was done.
He was wounded and fled to the west, ultimately captured by the British. It took him a few years to arrange to return to his native Canada where he got himself educated (but not on the equivalent of the US GI Bill, as he fought for the Germans, not the Canadians). He kept his history private until late in his life, when he began volunteering at a military museum.
A fascinating tale, to be sure.
February 1, 2021
Humorous war stories with serious breaks.
Very technical information about tank guns, sighting in, measuring and type of ammunition used. Along the way humour and serious details about war. I would recommend this read to anyone interested in a view opposite from the allies. These guys were very well organized and trained, but they started a war with already outdated equipment.
Very technical information about tank guns, sighting in, measuring and type of ammunition used. Along the way humour and serious details about war. I would recommend this read to anyone interested in a view opposite from the allies. These guys were very well organized and trained, but they started a war with already outdated equipment.
September 18, 2019
As good as it gets.
I sincerely appreciate the story told here. Human element at its best. This reinforced my belief that there ultimately is redemption. I am going to re-read this. I met some like the author during my times in Germany.
I sincerely appreciate the story told here. Human element at its best. This reinforced my belief that there ultimately is redemption. I am going to re-read this. I met some like the author during my times in Germany.
December 8, 2019
Very Technical in parts, interesting if you know panzer's. Incredible story with insights into what it was like for people and families that answered Hitler's call to return to Greater Germany. Great battle descriptions and very moving about his experiences in the war.
September 29, 2024
From a participant …real details
An excellent overview of a soldier who was in the thick of it. As a soldier myself, a non combat one, this portrayal is an unvarnished view of what is was like to be in the thick and thin of it.
An excellent overview of a soldier who was in the thick of it. As a soldier myself, a non combat one, this portrayal is an unvarnished view of what is was like to be in the thick and thin of it.
January 24, 2024
I enjoyed the book. Interesting experiences. Hard to believe someone can go through all of this. For WW2 enthusiasts it's an interesting read.
September 25, 2022
The overall story and context are interesting. Congrats to the author for finishing the project and sharing his experiences. Overall, the book was just “ok” and could use some editing.
I, however, would not recommend this book to most audiences. If you’re an avid scale modeller, are interested in the technical aspects of WM vehicles, are looking for a technical description of the vehicle from someone who knew it well, or are a ww2 history buff in general, this book would certainly be an interesting read.
The book is quite technical, but not that well-written, and, other than a few engagements, doesn’t really contain that many combat scenes/stories from the front. I found it didn’t really flow as a story, making it choppy, and it didn’t have any character development or dialogue which would let us into his world or allow us to get to know his comrades. It was more of a photo album with lengthy descriptive texts. Listening to grandpa tell a story, as he remembered it from 60 years ago, as we flipped through his album and a technical manual.
It spends some time on self reflection and nostalgia, daily life in uniform, and quoting everything from songs to poetry, and reflects on the post war emptiness of being a veteran and finding ones way in life. Particularly so in his case, as he was an unrecognized veteran in Canada who fought on the opposing side. Am sure he was a welcome volunteer at the Ottawa War Museum, and I think it great that he could share his wisdom and experience there.
The hardcover edition I read was printed on glossy, seemingly photo, paper making the book a bit thicker and heavier than expected.
I, however, would not recommend this book to most audiences. If you’re an avid scale modeller, are interested in the technical aspects of WM vehicles, are looking for a technical description of the vehicle from someone who knew it well, or are a ww2 history buff in general, this book would certainly be an interesting read.
The book is quite technical, but not that well-written, and, other than a few engagements, doesn’t really contain that many combat scenes/stories from the front. I found it didn’t really flow as a story, making it choppy, and it didn’t have any character development or dialogue which would let us into his world or allow us to get to know his comrades. It was more of a photo album with lengthy descriptive texts. Listening to grandpa tell a story, as he remembered it from 60 years ago, as we flipped through his album and a technical manual.
It spends some time on self reflection and nostalgia, daily life in uniform, and quoting everything from songs to poetry, and reflects on the post war emptiness of being a veteran and finding ones way in life. Particularly so in his case, as he was an unrecognized veteran in Canada who fought on the opposing side. Am sure he was a welcome volunteer at the Ottawa War Museum, and I think it great that he could share his wisdom and experience there.
The hardcover edition I read was printed on glossy, seemingly photo, paper making the book a bit thicker and heavier than expected.
November 27, 2019
Amazing story of Canadian sent to Germany from Kitchener Ontario, fought on the Eastern Front and eventually made it home where he worked quietly for years then became a consultant at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2024
My edition has a slightly different hardcover in that it has a jagdpanzer colour profile at the bottom just above the authors name, 2019 Hellion edition, 220 pages (215 actually).Didn't care for the life story part, but the tech stuff on the Panzer iv and Jagdpanzer iv, outstanding !
October 28, 2024
I listened to the Audio book and would probably recommend to read this book instead. It has too many technical chapters and you miss out on illustrations.
Overall an interesting and partially very fascinating inside in an unusual life.
Overall an interesting and partially very fascinating inside in an unusual life.
May 20, 2025
this coupled with the movie about the tank gunner and the whole situation kinda feels real.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews