New member from Germany

Hello - I am joining the forum from Germany. I grew up in an area that was the battlefield for Operations Plunder and Varsity in 1945 - near Wesel, where Allied armies crossed the Rhine. So, my main field of interest are these two operations. However, I also am interested in other topics relating to the Second World War. I am also active on WW2talk.

I am looking forward to contribute my knowledge and to ask for (and find) advice regarding US activities in European Theatre of Operations.

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to the forums!

 

To all of the above members: Thanks for the friendly welcome!

 

Hallo Alex
The world is a village - and the Internet the broom chamber

 

Cheers and welcome!

 

Welcome aboard.

I am interested in the state of Panzer operations at this late stage of the war. To what extent did they still function as a cohesive force?

 

Hi Dennis,

are you aware of the book by Heinz-Günther Guderian? He is the son of the famous general and was an officer in the 116th Panzer Division. He wrote on his WW2 experience and about the last battles in 1945. Highly recommendable with many quotes from the war diaries of the division's regiments. He later served in post war Germany's Bundeswehr.
From Normandy to the Ruhr : with the 116th Panzer Division in World War II (Buch, 2001) [WorldCat.org]

 

Thanks. I wasn't aware tht Guderian's son wrote a book.

 

Thanks. I wasn't aware tht Guderian's son wrote a book.

 

Also, there is the 1946 interrogation of General Heinrich von Luettwitz who commanded the 47th Panzer-Corps which fought the Allies in the northern sector in the spring of 1945 - the transcript is available in English on fold3 (Foreign Military Studies B-197 to B-200)
Page 11 WWII Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54 - Fold3

 

Fantastic recommendation - thank you!

 

General Edvard Raus commanded panzers all through 1941- march 1945. Mainly Ostfront though from 6th Panzer division to Panzer Armies. Mainly the third. He wrote books himself but I recall the Allied interrogated him ( net version surely ) for his knowledge about Red Army tactics. Not much western front but a view of the Change in German tactics through the years.

 

Welcome to the forum. Rich A. in Pa.

 

Thanks to this thread, I now have the book. I started reading it today.

 

Thanks, Biak. I am a bit preoccupied with the current war - looking back at past wars and battles seems somewhat less important at the moment...