Panzer Divisions: The Eastern Front 1941-43

by Pier Paolo Battistelli

Overview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN E-BOOK. On 22 June 1941 Germany attacked the Soviet Union and her Panzer divisions were to play a major role in this titanic struggle. Although overwhelmed by Soviet numbers, the superior skill and capability of the German Panzer divisions meant that in three months the Germans had advanced deep into Soviet territory. However, after these initial successes the German offensive began to falter, culminating in the disastrous defeat at Kursk. This book describes the organisational history of the Panzer divisions, from the early successes of 1941 through to the introduction of revised Blitzkrieg tactics as the war progressed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472800022
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	01/20/2013
Series:	Battle Orders , #35
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	284,848
File size:	44 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Pier Paolo Battistelli earned his PhD in military history at the University of Padua. A scholar of German and Italian politics and strategy throughout World War II, he works both in Italy and abroad writing titles and essays on military history subjects. A contributor to the Italian Army Historical Office, he is currently revising his PhD thesis, The War of the Axis: German and Italian Military Partnership in World War Two, 1939-1943, for publication.
Pier Paolo Battistelli earned his PhD in Military History at the University of Padua. A scholar of German and Italian politics and strategy throughout World War II, he is active in Italy and abroad writing titles and essays on military history subjects. A contributor to the Italian Army Historical Office, he is currently revising his PhD thesis for publication: The War of the Axis: German and Italian Military Partnership in World War Two, 1939-1943.

Table of Contents

Introduction 4 Combat mission 5 Doctrine and training 7 Unit organization 10 Reorganizing the Panzer Divisions The Panzer Regiment The Schutzen/Panzergrenadier Regiment Reconnaissance units Artillery Anti-tank and engineers Signals, replacement, supply and divisional services Tactics 42 II. Panzer Division's drive to Dubno, 23-25 June 1941 The Dvina River crossing, 7 July 1941 The raid across the Susha River, 23-24 October 1941 Counter-attack at Klin, 11 December 1941 The battle for Charkow, 16-20 May 1942 Defence at Belyj, 30 November 1942 The drive on Stalingrad, 18-19 December 1942 Last battle at Rostow, 13 February 1943 III Panzer Korps at Kursk, 11-12 July 1943 Defence at Orel, 16 July 1943 Weapons and equipment 63 Command, control, communications and intelligence 76 Auftragstaktik: the German mission command system at work The 'lead forward' concept Leading a Panzer Division on the battlefield Unit status 82 Lessons learned 88 Abbreviations and glossary 90 Bibliography 92 Key to vehicle silhouette identification 94 Index 95