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Panzer Tactics: German Small-Unit Armor Tactics in World War II
Ultimate inside view of the blitzkrieg in World War IIDiagrams, maps, and schematics illustrate key principlesHundreds of rare photos show Panzers and crews in actionWolfgang Schneider has written the definitive account of German small-unit armor tactics. Using period training manuals, after-action reports, countless interviews with Panzer veterans, and his own experiences as an armor commander in the modern German Army, Schneider describes World War II Panzer tactics, coupling his narrative with scores of illustrations that highlight armor concepts. Schneider covers the major types of small-unit operational art-offensive and defensive-and also discusses road marches, reconnaissance, command and control, working with other arms of service, life in a tank, armor training, gunnery, and the future of armor. The book provides useful insight into armor tactics for both the layman and the armor enthusiast.
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2000
41 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Wolfgang Schneider
16 books3 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Wolfgang Schneider ist Oberst a.D. der Bundeswehr (Panzertruppe) und Militärhistoriker.
Wolfgang Schneider is an officer of the German Bundeswehr (armored force) and military historian.
Wolfgang Schneider ist Oberst a.D. der Bundeswehr (Panzertruppe) und Militärhistoriker.
Wolfgang Schneider is an officer of the German Bundeswehr (armored force) and military historian.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 9, 2021
Panzer Tactics is a translation of a German work first published in 2000, containing 372 pages and a claimed 400 illustrations, though that seems on the low side to me. Schneider served as an armour officer in the German army and his knowledge of his subject shines through at all times. He has written a number of books on German tanks in WW2 and has a mastery of his subject, and he has clearly spent a lot of time in and around tanks, both modern and WW2.
Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover, but not in this case. Here we have one that is far more than it claims and quite simply an essential source for anyone with an interest in the period or amour in general. Schneider has taken military training manuals, unit histories, after action reports, and a myriad of other documents and extracted and collated a wealth of information from them. These are backed up by hundreds of photos from a large variety of sources and are mostly previously unpublished. Add sketch maps and schematic diagrams and this becomes a primer for all things Panzerwaffe. Throughout, Schneider gives the German terms as well as the English, so if you are ever unclear about Hauptkauptkampfentfernung he spells it out for you, or his translator does at any rate.
Schneider sets out the various chapters thematically, starting with offensive operations, then defensive operations, unit movement, reconnaissance etc. They don’t all relate to tactics but also include logistics and maintenance, life in a panzer, and training and tank gunnery. These add to the completeness of the book, so while not strictly covered by the title they are more than welcome inclusions. There is a short chapter on tactics today and in the future, which seems a bit tagged on and unnecessary, but that is a very minor complaint for what is otherwise an excellent book. The illustrations are chosen to best illustrate the text so do not flow chronologically but thematically and show a huge variety of vehicles from a VW saloon to a Tiger II and everything in between. There are a number of oddities, like a Panzer I command tank in a combat unit in summer 1944, which as Schneider says, shouldn’t be there.
This is an excellent book on the German panzer arm and will appeal to anyone with an interest in the topic, be they a modeller, historian or wargamer. This should be the first item on their Xmas list.
Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover, but not in this case. Here we have one that is far more than it claims and quite simply an essential source for anyone with an interest in the period or amour in general. Schneider has taken military training manuals, unit histories, after action reports, and a myriad of other documents and extracted and collated a wealth of information from them. These are backed up by hundreds of photos from a large variety of sources and are mostly previously unpublished. Add sketch maps and schematic diagrams and this becomes a primer for all things Panzerwaffe. Throughout, Schneider gives the German terms as well as the English, so if you are ever unclear about Hauptkauptkampfentfernung he spells it out for you, or his translator does at any rate.
Schneider sets out the various chapters thematically, starting with offensive operations, then defensive operations, unit movement, reconnaissance etc. They don’t all relate to tactics but also include logistics and maintenance, life in a panzer, and training and tank gunnery. These add to the completeness of the book, so while not strictly covered by the title they are more than welcome inclusions. There is a short chapter on tactics today and in the future, which seems a bit tagged on and unnecessary, but that is a very minor complaint for what is otherwise an excellent book. The illustrations are chosen to best illustrate the text so do not flow chronologically but thematically and show a huge variety of vehicles from a VW saloon to a Tiger II and everything in between. There are a number of oddities, like a Panzer I command tank in a combat unit in summer 1944, which as Schneider says, shouldn’t be there.
This is an excellent book on the German panzer arm and will appeal to anyone with an interest in the topic, be they a modeller, historian or wargamer. This should be the first item on their Xmas list.
December 14, 2021
Extremely pleasant piece of read, for someone who fell in love with Panzerwaffe.
The book is more like a photographic album, with few dozens of pages filled with text. Each photo depicts some of currently described topics such as logistics, training, combat in few different variants. There is plenty of pictures to watch.
Most of them has it's own description, pointing out interesting facts and details
The readable part of the book is kind of a mixture of few different army regulations, supplemented with wide range of author's thoughts, backed with experience in commanding of the armored unit .
5 stars from me.
The book is more like a photographic album, with few dozens of pages filled with text. Each photo depicts some of currently described topics such as logistics, training, combat in few different variants. There is plenty of pictures to watch.
Most of them has it's own description, pointing out interesting facts and details
The readable part of the book is kind of a mixture of few different army regulations, supplemented with wide range of author's thoughts, backed with experience in commanding of the armored unit .
5 stars from me.
July 15, 2022
A thoroughly good read and a must have for any aficionado of the Second World War. If goes into exact detail and provides many pictures. It even has a picture of a Russian Mine Dog that was trained to run under German Tanks and blow up. (It was dead of course)
April 21, 2011
What an exotic work! The focus? German small-unit armor tactics in World War II (the book's subtitle, as a matter of fact). One odd thing: The book also discusses Post World War-II small unit tank tactics, which seems a bit out of place.
The author notes the aim of the book (Page vi): ". . .I intend to make clear how the German fundamentals of employing armor formations differ from those of other nations even to the present day."
The volume is filled with photographs of German armor; a huge percentage of pages is filled with multiple photos. This provides a certain richness to the presentation in that one need not imagine what armor looked like--at rest and in action.
The book covers the gamut--offensive operations (this is an issue emphasized by the author, since he contends that armor is most effective in offensive maneuver), defensive operations, unit movements, reconnaissance, command and control, logistics and maintenance (especially important for armor). combined arms operations, life in a tank (it could be pretty dreary if the temperature outside was hot or cold or if there was fairly substantial precipitation), training and tank gunnery, and army tactics.
Interesting tidbits. How far behind the lead platoon ought following tank platoons be on the move? How far ahead of the mean line should lead armor be (engaging in assessment of where the enemy lies)? What position should armor take on open roads versus entering a populated area?
While the abundant photographs are a plus, some fairly primitive illustrations regarding tactics and movement are not quite up to the standards (although these reflect official documents).
If you happen to be interested in German armor tactics at the small unit level (e.g., platoon and company) during World War II, this is an interesting volume. . . .
The author notes the aim of the book (Page vi): ". . .I intend to make clear how the German fundamentals of employing armor formations differ from those of other nations even to the present day."
The volume is filled with photographs of German armor; a huge percentage of pages is filled with multiple photos. This provides a certain richness to the presentation in that one need not imagine what armor looked like--at rest and in action.
The book covers the gamut--offensive operations (this is an issue emphasized by the author, since he contends that armor is most effective in offensive maneuver), defensive operations, unit movements, reconnaissance, command and control, logistics and maintenance (especially important for armor). combined arms operations, life in a tank (it could be pretty dreary if the temperature outside was hot or cold or if there was fairly substantial precipitation), training and tank gunnery, and army tactics.
Interesting tidbits. How far behind the lead platoon ought following tank platoons be on the move? How far ahead of the mean line should lead armor be (engaging in assessment of where the enemy lies)? What position should armor take on open roads versus entering a populated area?
While the abundant photographs are a plus, some fairly primitive illustrations regarding tactics and movement are not quite up to the standards (although these reflect official documents).
If you happen to be interested in German armor tactics at the small unit level (e.g., platoon and company) during World War II, this is an interesting volume. . . .
April 23, 2015
Panzer Tactics is a unique book in my collection. It is a large paperback packed with not just detailed examination and explanation of Panzer tactics in World War 2, but also extensive photographs from the time, including everything from actual battle photos to routine maintenance. If you want to know just how the German armoured units operated in World War 2, this is definitely the best book for it, written by a leading light on the matter.
August 3, 2016
An excellent and detailed book on all things Panzer. Every aspect of tank warfare is explored in some way from small unit actions all the way up to full scale army attacks, as well as the more mundane situations such as maintenance and recovery. Dozens of photographs help illustrate each point, each in turn packed with detail. A must have for anyone interested in the German Panzers from a purely tactical aspect, as well as being an excellent photographic resource.
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December 13, 2010Great read. Author describe how the machines were utilized to their maximum potential.
December 1, 2011
How the Panzers functioned in WWII. Excellent tips for wargaming—if they can be used at the game’s scale. Very interesting.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews