This is one of the most significant military books of the twentieth century. By an outstanding soldier of independent mind, it pushed forward the evolution of land warfare and was directly responsible for German armoured supremacy in the early years of the Second World War. Published in 1937, the result of 15 years of careful study since his days on the German General Staff in the First World War, Achtung Panzer! argues how vital the proper use of tanks and supporting armoured vehicles would be in the conduct of a future war. When that war came, just two years later, he proved it, leading his Panzers with distinction in the Polish, French and Russian campaigns. Panzer warfare had come of age, exactly as he had forecast.This first English translation of Heinz Guderian's classic book - used as a textbook by Panzer officers in the war - has an introduction and extensive background notes by the modern English historian Paul Harris.

This is one of the most significant military books of the twentieth century. By an outstanding soldier of independent mind, it pushed forward the evolution of land warfare and was directly responsible for German armoured supremacy in the early years of the Second World War. Published in 1937, the result of 15 years of careful study since his days on the German General Staff in the First World War, Guderian's book argued, quite clearly, how vital the proper use of tanks and supporting armoured vehicles would be in the conduct of a future war. When that war came, just two years later, he proved it, leading his Panzers with distinction in the Polish, French and Russian campaigns. Panzer warfare had come of age, exactly as he had forecast. This first English translation of Heinz Guderian's classic book - used as a textbook by Panzer officers in the war - has an introduction and extensive background notes by the modern English historian Paul Harris.

Vivid narrative of tank combat on the brutal Eastern Front during World War II.

WWII began with a metallic roar as the German Blitzkrieg raced across Europe, spearheaded by the most dreaded weapon of the 20th century: the Panzer. No German tank better represents that thundering power than the infamous Tiger, and Otto Carius was one of the most successful commanders to ever take a Tiger into battle, destroying well over 150 enemy tanks during his incredible career.

For most of World War II, 1939-45, Germany's armored forces or Panzerwaffe ruled the battlefields of Europe through superior tactics, training, and will power. Their primary function was to break through enemy lines along a narrow front "hitting with fist and not feeling with the fingers," encircle the enemy, cutting him off, and setting up their subsequent annihilation by regular infantry and artillery units. Speed and shock were the Panzerwaffe's friends. In 1935, the first four Panzer divisions were formed and developed under the watchful eyes of officers such as Heinz Guderian, Ewald von Kleist, Erich H�pner, and Hermann Hoth. By 1939, on the eve of the war with Poland, Das Deutsches Panzerwaffe (German Armored Forces) had grown into ten divisions, spearheading the German assault into several surrounding countries.This is the historically accurate but fictional story of Gunter Prehm, a young Saxon who joined Panzer Division 1 in 1935. Read what training and life was like for him and his buddies in Kompanie 5, Panzer Reglement 1, about their uniforms and equipment, about the Panzerkampfwagons (armored fighting vehicles-tanks) that they operated and lived in, about the new Panzer tactics that they learned, practiced, and honed, and about their first campaigns in Poland in 1939 and in France in 1940, which proved to the world the decisive punch of revolutionary Panzer division concept, elevating the Panzerwaffe to become the undisputed champions of the battlefield.

Germany's opening run of victory in World War II was only made possible by the panzer forces that Heinz Guderian (1888-1954), the father of modern tank warfare, had created and trained, and by his audacious leading of those forces from 1939-1941. Guderian's breakthrough at Sedan and lightning drive to the Channel coast virtually decided the Battle of France. The drive he led into the East came close to producing the complete collapse of Russia's armies, but at the end of 1941 Guderian was dismissed for taking a timely step back instead of pandering to Hitler's illusions. He was recalled to service only when Germany's situation had become desperate, and was eventually made Chief of the General Staff when it had become hopeless.

The Panzer IV Family of German tanks is covered in both text and photographs, with detailed information given on usage and design.