Hans von Luck (1911–1997)

In 1939, Hans von Luck's motorized unit was one of the first to cross the frontier into Poland, marking the start of World War II. Over the next six years he was constantly in action in every major theatre of the war, and got to know almost every German commander of note. These are his memoirs.
A stunning look at World War II from the other side...

From the turret of a German tank, Colonel Hans von Luck commanded Rommel's 7th and then 21st Panzer Division. El Alamein, Kasserine Pass, Poland, Belgium, Normandy on D-Day, the disastrous Russian front--von Luck fought ther… (mere)

One might expect a memoir titled Panzer Commander to be guts and glory but it's not that kind of book. Von Luck didn't actually fight in tanks rather was in the field directing where to send the tanks. Von Luck was a field commander who served with Rommel under whose star his fortunes rose. Although Von Luck took part in some of the most important campaigns of the war - Poland, France, Russia, North Africa, Western front - his memoir, written in the 1980s, recalls less the gory details and instead the relationships and people. He doesn't dwell on hardships. He is too polite, noble. Indeed he has an air of an aristocrat. His persona and bearing is the best part of the book. His story is also incredible: he was captured by the Russians and didn't return home until 1950, he lived a very long war and saw more than most. Von Luck was not a Nazi and makes clear throughout that many in the German military were not happy about the leadership (Hitler and Nazis) who were seen as incompetent.… (mere)

These are the memoirs of Herr Oberst Hans von Luck and his experiences as a non-Nazi professional officer in the German army leading to and through World War II to the bitter end. He also describes the five years he spent after the war in a Soviet POW camp and his return to civilian life. This book idolizes the men who fought for their country had that loyalty abused by Hitler. In one place, he compliments the flexibility of his American foe and the material available to him. It explained to me the inflexibility I've seen in other militaries and often wondered about in the Germans. The narrative bogged down occasionally in the details of movements and actions during some of the campaigns--I suppose that would be essential to understanding the tactics and the situation but it was difficult to follow for someone who has not been to those places. The brutality of the Russians during the fall of Germany was not new, but von Luck made it graphic and brought it home. The book also uses some uniquely American idioms, explaining the influence of his collaborator, Ambrose. I guess dogface soldiers are similar everywhere.… (mere)