Steel Inferno: 1st SS Panzer Corps in Normandy

by Michael Reynolds

The Allied invasion of France on D-Day in June 1944 was one history's riskiest and most successful gambles. After hard fighting, American, British, and Canadian troops won a toehold in Nazi-held Europe. But Germany's elite Panzer divisions hadn't been present at the beaches. Due to poor intelligence and a divided command, the tanks with black crosses only came to the invasion area after the first landings. But when the German Panther and Tiger tanks finally arrived, they were seeking a battle of annihilation, presenting the Allied attack inland with a ring of fire and steel.For nearly two months, the Allies hammered the enemy, even as the Germans attempted to throw them back into the sea. Some of the most intense armored battles ever fought in war were fought in Normandy, bringing glory and infamy to hardened and colorful soldiers such as Kurt "Panzer" Meyer, Jochen Peiper, and Max Wunsche, and enhancing their reputations for ferocious, desperate combat. In the end, their actions would decide the outcome of the war.Told in an engaging style and packed full of fascinating details of the 1st SS Panzer Corps, Steel Inferno offers a unique perspective on one of the greatest military engagements in history.

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

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Major General Mike Reynolds was a British Army Officer who saw fierce action in Korea and in Germany became a target of the Red Army Faction.

From 1972 Reynolds was a guest speaker on many British Army and NATO battlefield tours in the Ardennes, initially as training, and later as a commercial enterprise. He followed this by writing six Second World War military histories and became a recognised expert on the Waffen-SS and the Normandy and Ardennes campaigns.

The Devil’s Adjutant (1995)
Steel Inferno (1997)
Men of Steel (1999)
Sons of the Reich (2002)
Eagles and Bulldogs in Normandy 1944 (2003)
Monty and Patton: Two Paths to Victory (2005)
Soldier at Heart: Private to General (2013) - autobiography

Reviews

[Adam Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well researched . However, it’s overwhelming in its information output. Instead of focusing on what specific unit moved where and the authors sidebar arguments ( which come off as a college essay style argument) the story could have been better told by simplifying the specifics.

[Hans Brienesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great account, timely and impartial.

[Steve Dedier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really good book by Reynolds. He gives you all the detail of the actions with each unit involved but intersperses personal accounts to make it readable. My biggest issue is that you really need detailed maps to get the most out of the material and the ones in the book are not up to the task. Reynolds also balances his account praising the fighting ability of the units with accounts of their atrocities. Admiration but not hero worship. The Commonwealth leadership comes off particularly bad for poor planning, execution and aggressiveness.

[Thomas McCall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overwhelming in detail with little eye to readability (including very poor quality maps) the book is an absolute slog which does little to truly understand the combat motivation or true performance of the Corps.

Reading the book one would be surprised to learn that the Allies won the Second World War. The author showers praise on the Corps while, generally, admonishing Allied soldiers, equipment and strategy.

At times, the book verges on the "Wehraboo" in its description of the Corps. As a result, I would never suggest this for the casual reader.

[Ief Keizers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Mark Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book that explains the Battle for Normandy during WWII

[Akash Dua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully potrays the hell Wehrmacht and SS troops went through doing their duty in the face of imminent defeat and death.

[Ian Willey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good in depth history without hero worship of the SS

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this years ago, Upon rereading it struck me just how good a book this is. The author stays fairly neutral,covers more daily nuts and bolts details vs. the "we won, they lost" attitude of a few other British writers. The combat accounts were clear and concise. I think to understand a battle you have to read accounts of both sides, and clearly written accounts of the German actions in Normandy on a Corp level are few and far between, much less written by a former high ranking British officer looking at it objectively.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good account of the role of the 1st Panzer Corps in the battle for Normandy but more maps would have been helpful.