Panzer Operations: Germany's Panzer Group 3 During the Invasion of Russia, 1941 (Die Wehrmacht im Kampf)

ISBN: 1612002692

Author: Hoth, Hermann

Condition: New

This book, originally published in German in 1956, has now been translated into English, unveiling a wealth of both experiences and analysis about Operation Barbarossa, perhaps the most important military campaign of the 20th century.Hermann Hoth led Germanys 3rd Panzer Group in Army Group Center-in tandem with Guderians 2nd Group-during the invasion of the Soviet Union, and together those two daring panzer commanders achieved a series of astounding victories, encircling entire Russian armies at Minsk, Smolensk, and Vyazma, all the way up to the very gates of Moscow.This work begins with Hoth discussing the use of nuclear weapons in future conflicts. This cool-headed post-war reflection, from one of Nazi Germanys top panzer commanders, is rare enough. But then Hoth dives into his exact command decisions during Barbarossa-still the largest continental offensive ever undertaken-to reveal new insights into how Germany could, and in his view should, have succeeded in the campaign.Hoth critically analyses the origin, development, and objective of the plan against Russia, and presents the situations confronted, the decisions taken, and the mistakes made by the armys leadership, as the new form of mobile warfare startled not only the Soviets on the receiving end but the German leadership itself, which failed to provide support infrastructure for their panzer arms breakthroughs.Hoth sheds light on the decisive and ever-escalating struggle between Hitler and his military advisers on the question whether, after the Dnieper and the Dvina had been reached, to adhere to the original idea of capturing Moscow. Hitlers momentous decision to divert forces to Kiev and the south only came in late August 1941. He then finally considers in detail whether the Germans, after obliterating the remaining Russian armies facing Army Group Center in Operation Typhoon, could still hope for the occupation of the Russian capital that fall.Hoth concludes his study with several lessons for the offensive use of armored formations in the future. His firsthand analysis, here published for the first time in English, will be vital reading for every student of World War II.Table of ContentsPrefaceMaps1 Introduction2 Background3 Destruction of the Enemy in the Border Areas, 22 June-1 July4 At Hitlers Headquarters, 26-30 June 19415 From Minsk to the Western Dvina, 1-7 July 19416 The Battle of Smolensk, 8-16 July7 Closing the Smolensk Pocket, 16 July-18 August8 Moscow, Kiev, or Leningrad9 The Operations of the Battle of VyazmaConclusionEpilogue : Hermann Hoths Career after the Battle of Vyazma by Linden LyonsAppendicesNotesBibliography