Paul Carell for me too - I started reading Hitler Moves East in high school during the 60s. At that time, I was amazed to find a book about the Eastern Front from the German perspective, and it hooked me. Over the years, I looked far and wide for an affordable hard-back copy. In the meantime, I bought Der Russlandkrieg, Scorched Earth, and The Foxes of the Desert (and even got Schiffer's translated edition of Der Russlandkrieg just so I could find out what it said !). Finally I found HME about 20 years ago for $10. It's not the most accurate account as military history but it's a good read, and holds a lot of sentimental value for me.