Germany Books

Yes, this is the best book on this subject that you will every read. I've long read Eric Brown's articles in Air International.
I've always found them both enjoyable and informative. This book is a collection of some of those materials and others he had yet to publish. The articles come directly from his log book and include broader experiences then even the log books provide.
Each article about each aircraft is both informative in there detail but are also delightfully colored by some personal experience that Mr. Brown had with them. Eric Brown is arguably
the most experienced pilot when it comes to the sheer number of aircraft types that he flew during World War II and in the 1950s. His ablitity to evaluate these aircraft of different companies and different nations makes his assessments truly unigue. This is NOT a book to be missed by anyone truly interested in military aviation!

The details are great for model builders but his comments on the personal flying difficultlys too much in depth. Overall, a solid 9. I paid $28.95 and it was worth every cent.

World war two is history like other things we learned from books and media. But how many times could you find a reference is written by a person who actually flew those airplanes ? Especially they were not Allied's planes, they were German's military airplanes.

You could learn the speed, range or how many guns of each airplanes from tones other books, but you won't be able to learn the feeling to fly all of them by the same person from them.

This book was published long long time ago, but don't think the data and describtion is also old. Those experience is never faded away.

Just as flying magazines review the latest twins, this is a 'you are there' kind of book. Organized to convey the standard specs- takeoff distance, range, armament, etc, Brown has included plenty of photos, and a rich narrative. Did you know the Germans used propeller controls modeled on the face of a clock? I was also intrigued by Brown's experiences with German aviators before and after the conflict. He must have led a fascinating life. Every scholar needs a copy of this book beside him when reading anything about World War II Luftwaffe operations.

This is probably the closest that the average person will come to flying a captured Luftwaffe aircraft. Wings of the Luftwaffe is certainly among the best books in the relatively small flight test review genre. Brown has a terrific eye for detail, and must have been an exceptional test pilot. I just wish Brown would write an expanded edition of this book, and his other classic, Wings of the Navy.

this book brings back some of the mystery to the U-boat and its crews.For a long time The Boat was seen as a "one size fits all" description of U-boat warfare. This book presents the different personalities of U-Boat commanders and its not difficult to imagine each would run his boat in a different manner.Also it is pointed out that the Boat was written by Bucheim who was never in actual combat by being depth charged,but who witnessed a sinking or two. The chapter where former U-boat commander Merten gets into a shouting match with Bucheim was particularly interesting.Merten is not presented as a Nazi or war-glorifier,but was offended by Bucheim's portrayal of U-boat crews as a bunch of post-traumatic,ribald,hopeless,submariners. According to Merten that may be accurrate for that boat,but not all the boats.The crew on the Boat definitely suffers a morale problem in the the movie and I had never seen this aspect previously,a person would wonder if they would be more vulnerable for a trip to,"Davy Jones Locker" As Vause points out in his book Das Boat is based on fact but it is not factual,it is a surrealist picture.I rewatched the movie and when I saw the scene where The Boat meets another Type VII on the seas, I wondered what might be going on inside that other sub.A whole different crew with a whole different way of playing their role.Could be time for another movie on this.

i enjoyed this book because it points out the different personalities of the U-boat commanders as opposed to accounts that have a "one size fits all",seen one u-boater seen them all interpretation.The chapter where former U-boat commander Merten gets into a shouting match with author of Das Boot,Mr. Buchheim,was particularly enlightening.As Buchheim descends into profanity you wonder which nerve Merten has struck.The book breaks down the U-boat war into different periods and after reading this book you will have to ask yourself if Buchheim's crew on Das Boot might be more surreal than real as was the movie Apocolypse Now in regard to the Vietnam War.Objecting to one scene in the Boat,Merten says,"I'm sure no U-boat captain ever had to use a gun to get a sailor to perform his duty".The shaky "Jahn" on Das Boot quivering in fear is as fictional as Kurtz in Apocolypse Now.But if Johann did not exist in reality he would have needed to be invented anyway.

Good book. Interviews with Jurgen Oesten complement Harold J. McCormick's "Two Years Behind the Mast: An American Landlubber at Sea in World War II." Anyone who has read that book knows that Commander Oesten sunk McCormick's Liberty ship on July 23, 1944. For some reason, however, McCormick's book is not cited in Vause's bibliography

Wolf is a departure from many of the submarine books of WWII. Rather than being a cold, dry, analysis of tonnage sunk and mission totals, it looks at the careers of a dozen U-Boat commanders as personal stories, warts and all. Starting with the illegal re-establishment of the Kriegsmarine's U-Boat fleet and particularly the early training, it progresses through the waves of new commanders who took over as their predecessors were either killed or transferred to desk jobs.

Vause divides these waves into those who started in U-Boats before the war, those who joined up early and achieved commands in the early days of the war and finally, those who were fed piecemeal into the mincing machine that was the last two years of the Battle of the Atlantic. It was in these final two years when the U-Bootwaffe suffered its worst casualties. For the uninitiated, 36,000 German sailors went to war in U-Boats and 32,000 did not return, the worst casualties of any combat group in WWII.

The highlight of the book for me was the odyssey of Victor Oehrn who, strangely for a submariner, was captured by Australian infantry in the North African desert! Without wishing to spoil the story, I can honestly say it would be worthy of a movie script and is very well presented by the author.

A great primer for anyone wishing to familiarise themselves with the U-Boat campaign of WWII, it is not intended to be a definitive work and does not get bogged down in cold analysis. Such books have their place but this is the alternative. At times funny, often sad but usually very insightful, it must be recommended very highly.

Very well written. Was very complimentary to his first on Wolfgang Luth. I would recommend this to any WWII naval history buff of the North Atlantic, or more serious information finder of the times and places. I hope Mr. Vause continues his work, as patiently as I will wait.

Read about the emotions involved in the training of a horse to the olympic level.

This book covers the training of Ahlerich from the horses purchase up to winning an Olympic Gold medal. Dr. Reiner Klimke shows the sensitive, always thoughtful handling, that went into the training of this great horse. He explains in detail why he did things a certain way with this particular horse. Like a Diamond cutter with a precious stone, Dr. Klimke was ever careful to preserve the brilliance and purity of movement that Ahlerich was blessed with. How easily one careless touch of the spur or jab in the mouth could destroy all this brilliance forever. Dr. Klimke was the best!

It is a very helpful book on training, problems that can occur. The one-on-one relationship with Alerich and all horses is so special. His helpful tips in using patience and the basics throughout the levels makes this a must read book. Book is also light and funny during the training. With his untimely death, this is a sure classic for all equestrians!

Most people know who these two are. If you do not, Reiner Klimke and Ahlerich won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1984. In the book Klimke reveals the full story behind their achievements. Seems Ahlerich was difficult and headstrong. I was given the book as a gift and to my surprise I really enjoyed the story. I was sorry the book ended. I think the book is fun, interesting with warmth and humor, enjoy.

I ordered this expecting VanWyngardens usual combination of scholarship and skilled,entertaining writing and I was not disappointed.Harry Dempsey's illustration work,again,is breathtaking.Any WWI work done by this pair is a must-have for reference and a pleasure to read as well.

Greg VanWyngarden's ALBATROS ACES OF WORLD WAR 1 PART 2 provides a followup to Osprey Aircraft 32, the first volume of the two-part series examining the design and production of the Albatros aircraft series, and is recommended for prior owners of the first volume and for specialty collections in aviation or World War I history. Vintage black and white photos accompany specs on the craft.

Albatros fighters made up the backbone of the German Air Service in World War I. Most, if not all of Germany's aces, flew some version of the sleek Albatros craft during their combat careers. The exploits of Albatros aces were so widespread that Osprey Publishing has produced a second volume on Albatros aces, this one authored by Greg VanWyngarden.

VanWyngarden's book differs from the earlier book, written by Norman Franks, in that he covers many of the lesser known Albatros aces not covered previously. Ernst Udet is probably the best known ace described along with the likes of Max Muller, Julius Buckler, Kurt Student, Theodor Rumpel, Kurt Schonfelder, Karl-Emil Schafer and others.

VanWyngarden is a gifted author, his text flowing smoothly. He includes several first-person accounts that help give a human flavor to those long-ago dogfights. The text is complimented by 100 black & white photographs, several plan views and 11 pages of color profiles by Harry Dempsey.

World War I enthusiasts will want to purchase this book. It compliments and supplements the earlier Franks book with more tales of intrepid aces flying one of the sleekest fighters of the Great War.

The author is one of the top authorities on WWI German aces and his knowledge shows in this exceptional book, Osprey's second title on Albatros aces. Covering many of the less well-known aces, the text is well-written and highly informative. It puts the flight operations in context of the wider operational picture and has many quotes from the German aces themselves. There are a number of photos that have never been published before and many new color profiles by the excellent artist who has done all of Osprey's WWI color profiles. This book is a 'must' for anyone who enjoys Osprey's series on aces and for all enthusiasts of WWI aviation.

Excellant, a well written account of her experiences. She was one of the lucky ones.

Lucie Adelsberger's memoir of surviving Auschwitz, opens with a description of life in Berlin in 1938. "It began with only a few so called 'trifles,' " she says, citing three incidents which leapt out of the maelstrom of edicts and indignities to confront her with the relentless cruelty of the regime. The first of these limited Jews to public benches marked for them, thereby denying the elderly, many already displaced from their homes, the solace of parks. The second occurred when her elderly mother smiled at a functionary who processed her emigration papers. The official screamed at her mother for her effrontery.
"That's when I realized that these people were beyond the reach of human kindness," says Adelsberger. The third was the denial, after months of wrangling, of her mother's exit visa by the host country. Adelsberger realized finally that "the outside world didn't want to get involved."

Adelsberger missed her last chance to flee when her mother fell sick. As round-ups of Jews accelerated she found herself praying her mother would die before the SS came for her. Those prayers were answered but her own ordeal surpassed her worst imaginings.

In unadorned prose Adelsberger recounts life and the varieties of death at Auschwitz. Her voice is gentle, her eye sharp and compassionate, quick to note small ironies as well as gratuitous kindness and cruelty.

As a doctor, Adelsberger was assigned to the gypsy camp where an epidemic of typhus was raging. There were no medicines and hundreds died daily in their own filth. Why the camp commanders bothered with a hospital at all is a mystery which can be inadequately answered only by the Nazi passion for order.

Meticulous records were kept of everyone. One of the camp's most grueling rituals was the daily roll call. With 25 to 35,000 inmates in the women's camp alone, with the camp's policy of moving inmates from one section to another without notice, and with hundreds dying enroute to forced labor or hidden in a corner of their block, an exact roll call was difficult to achieve. Twice a day, before dawn and after work, inmates stood for roll call. This encompassed everyone except the dead and lasted one to two hours ý unless the tally did not match. "A roll call that lasted a day and a night without interruption was nothing unusual."

Roll call, the unexplained withholding of food from already starving people, forced labor, these were routine. Then there were the days that stood out. Sunday in the gypsy camp when gymnasts and musicians put on a show (the Gypsies were allowed to keep their possessions) and an audience of 16,000 sang and danced to music which ended abruptly with an order for "block confinement." After hours of waiting ý and the Gypsies know what they're waiting for ý the SS appear, calling out names and numbers. That night 2,500 Czech Gypsies were sent to the gas chambers.

Adelsberger also tells of strategies for survival, although she says no one expected to leave the camp alive. But certain work details ý the kitchen, the bathhouse where prisoners were stripped of their last possessions, the band, were coveted. Barter and communication systems were devised despite the dangers of detection.

But the vast majority worked in the mills or munitions factories or the potato bunker. Or they dug graves. The worst was reserved for young, healthy Jewish men. Totally isolated from the rest of the camp, they worked in the crematorium. After two or three months they too were gassed. "Sometime while at work, one never knew when, the valves of the gas chamber would close, the gas would be turned on, and ý a new Sonderkommando would replace the old."

A heart-rending memoir, yes, but it speaks as much for the beauties and strength of the human heart as for the incomprehensible monstrousness of the experience.

The horrors of the holocaust and the strength survivors had to conjure every second to endure, is beautifully captured by Lucie Adelsberger. Her documentation of the events leading up to Jewish deportation is artful in its simplicity, as each action taken by the Nazis builds upon the last with fatal consequences. This amazing book then takes the reader within the walls of Auschwitz and in exquisite detail invokes the memories of those who were lost as well as those who survived with unflinching honesty. This account documents the strength of the human spirit, and is one that should not be missed.

I loved this book, and I couldn't put it down. Great read about the Holocaust. Very chilling to see how the women in the death camps, especially Auschwitz were treated. The font is for 6th Graders, but I feel that it souldn't be read, for the graphic nature, until high school.

A very good read.

Interesting, amazing company that created the most produce car in the world. Beyond a world icon, before there was TOYota, Nissan, Honda, VW did it all.

A book that packs the details in. If you want the detailed information on how VW was formed then this is a must read book. This book covers the British, German, French and American auto industries dabbling into the manufacturing of a small peoples car. The book covers in detail Herr Porsche's life in the making of Volkswagens for the Reich.

An outstanding account of the history of the Beetle, from the time of it's inception as the People's Car, to the decissions on what to do with the car and the plant which produced it. Mr. Ludvigsen provides an incredibly detailed account of the Beetle and the automobile of the '20s and '30s that influenced it and the world. A must read for history buffs and fans of the auto industry.

As with all of Mr. Ludvigsen's works, "Battle for the Beetle" is expertly researched and elegantly written.

The book is notable for its collection of historic photographs, detailing not only the evolution of the Beetle itself, but also many other rear-engined automobile development efforts from the same time period. While Mr. Ludvigsen certainly delivers on the political intrigue promised by his book's title, he also does a wonderful job of helping us understand the societal context which caused the rear-engine movement to come into being; in this way the Beetle as a technological artifact is placed into its proper intellectual ecosystem, a more interesting viewpoint than the more common "design genius" mythology build up around its creator, Professor Porsche.

In fact, this is no mere buff book, but an important work in the study of society and technology and how complex technological artifacts come into being.

But don't get me wrong -- if you love cars, and especially if you love Beetles, read this book!

Martin Middlebrook's judicious method of recounting military history works nearly as well in "The Battle of Hamburg" as it did in his first book "First Day on the Somme."

The two most attractive things about the Middlebrook style are the somewhat clinical attitude -- there is no rodomontade or triumphalism in his books -- and the pithy selections from participants.

Middlebrook is also good about paying attention to logistics, the area usually most neglected in popular histories.

For the Battle of Hamburg, the big issues are Area Bombing and the famous firestorm that killed perhaps 40,000 civilians in one night. The image of living people stuck on melted asphalt as the flames approach is one not easy to read.

Everybody has to have an opinion about such events. In a thoughtful summary, however, Middlebrook says he has been unable to decide for himself how to judge.

He lets others present their judgments. It is easy enough, however, to judge the judgments of many (Middlebrook suggests, a majority) of Hamburgers. They remain aggrieved that the British resorted to such uncivilized warfare as terror bombing. We can rightfully judge this a one-way-street morality: Only Germans are entitled to practice uncivilized warfare and it is a crime only when they have to experience it.

As always, the worst thing you can do for a German is to encourage him to speak frankly.

I very much like Middlebrook's approach to military history, but there are a couple of points where "The Battle of Hamburg" is seriously lacking.

Hamburg was the main producer of submarines. The attacks may have cut U-boat deliveries by around two dozen. (The implication has to be that the Germans got more efficient after the raids, as the workforce at the main yards, Blohm & Voss, was still down 20% four months after the raid.) Middlebrook never puts this number (the range is 20 to 26, depending upon whether you accept the British or the American estimate) in context. The raids on Hamburg came in July 1943; May 1943 was the "black month" of the U-boat arm when it went from great success in April to a loss of more than 40 boats in May.

So two dozen boats was a minor victory at the time. At the beginning of the year, it would have been much more consequential.

In his discussion of the strategy of Area Bombing, again, Middlebrook ignores a big piece of context. During the first four years of the war, Britain and (for the latter part) the USA were unable to come to grips with the main might of Germany. From June 1941, most of the fighting was done by the USSR.

Although the USSR defeated Germany at least as early as October 1941 (see my review of Overy's "Russia's War" for a discussion), there was a possibility that Germany could have retrieved the situation, had Britain not kept up the pressure.

Britain's ability to engage Germany was limited. The Battle of the Atlantic was the main arena. There is much talk today about asymmetric warfare. The Battle of the Atlantic was extremely asymmetric: it required a huge effort by the Allies to counter a modest effort by the Germans. (In the whole war, the losses of Germans in U-boats were less than the losses of Hamburgers alone on the Eastern Front, much less.)

For lack of such things as landing craft, the Allies were unable to transport a large enough army to Europe to engage important elements of the Wehrmacht in 1943. The fighting in Africa and the Mediterranean was a sideshow.

That left the air offensive. We know now that the effort was, again, asymmetric. The damage done to Germany by bombing was less than the effort expended by the Allies to bomb.

It does not follow that the effort was a wrong use of resources. Under the circumstances, it was the only way to keep the war going until decisive force could be raised and employed.

Last, there is one amazing sentence in the book. In his discussion about the morality of Area Bombing, Middlebrook says, "If Area Bombing had toppled Germany before the invasion of France, there would have been a deal less controversy on the subject, just as there has been little argument over the two American atom bombs which knocked Japan out of the war in 1945." I am surprised Middlebrook has not withdrawn that sentence in later editions.

My father was born under the bombs in Hamburg, so this had a personal interest to me. It is a fantastic, balanced book. It captures very well every aspect of the operation, and Middlebrook debunks a lot of myths about it being a "firebombing" raid. It was, as he is at pains to emphasize, a typical raid that was just more successful than most.

As with his other books, Middlebrook uses and includes many personal accounts; in this case, they are sad and gripping for all concerned.

From the narrative and analysis perspectives, this is a very well done book. The first and last chapters alone are a great read, discussing how area bombing and "terror" bombing came about. Middlebrook is balanced, summarizing the opponents and supporters' points of view. He himself remains "above" the debate, claiming, correctly in my point of view, that the era was challenging for all concerned, and difficult decisions had to be made in a compressed period of time without the benefit of a crystal ball.

It may be the best of his bomber series of books, because of the treatment of the Hamburgers.

Martin Middlebrook's series of books is a must for anyone interested in the strategic bombing campaign over Germany in World War II. Although most of his books cover raids that did not go well for the Allies (Nuremberg, Schweinfurt-Regensburg, and the Battle of Berlin), this book covers one of RAF Bomber Commands biggest successes (the US Eigth Air Force also carried out daylight raids as part of the Battle of Hamburg but they were not so successful). Middlebrook explains how "everything came together" for the RAF, most especially the introduction of "Window" which rendered the German defenders' radar useless; and the weather which made the incendiary bombs particularly effective in starting massive fires which lead to the horrific firestorm that caused so many fatalities. Middlebrook not only describes the attacking force, but also the defensive measures taken on the ground by the Germans and the experiences of the civilian population caught up in this nightmarish experience.
The author points out that regarding the bomb-load mix in this raid, the ratio of incendiaries to high-explosive bombs was no different than usual and it was the combination of circumstances that lead to the massive destruction (incidentally-he also points out that the Germans used incendiaries in their bombing raids on London and Coventry in 1940 and 1941 so the RAF can not be blamed for starting this type of warfare)
This book, like his others, is highly recommended.

In late July and early August 1943 Bomber Command, with the cooperation of the USAAF, launched a series of heavy raids against the German city of Hamburg. The objective was to paralyse the city and demoralize its inhabitatants so that its role in the war effort would be diminished, if not nullified. The Battle is best remembered for the Firestorm that engulfed much of the eastern section of the city (after the second RAF raid) and resulted in the death of approximately 40,000 people, mostly civilians. For hundreds of thousands of survivors, the raids made the true horror of modern war a reality, and the city's industries in many cases were temporarily disrupted. But in the end, the raid was only a partial success in that the will of the German people was not broken and the city did continue (although to a lesser degree) play its vital role in the German war-effort. The Firestorm has since become a controversial subject, but it must be understood that it had not been the intended outcome, as has been suggested. While many of the bombers did drop incindiaries on the city, the proportion in relation to high explosive bombs was not much different from previous raids.

The Battle of Hamburg is what one expects from Middlebrook; extensively researched and relatively objective, it is written in a manner that allows the reader to get a fair sense of what the Battle had been like for the various participants and witnesses. It is a fascinating read and a truly important study of a pivotal phase in the Allied bombing campaign against the Third Reich.

The first book in the Anatomy Of The Ship series described HMS HOOD (published 1982), the British battlecruiser sunk in a brief, violent and spectacular battle with the German battleship BISMARCK. That first book set the standard for the series, and is one which the series rarely matched. Here, of course, we are comparing the excellent with the merely very good. HMS HOOD established the format for the series with a brief but detailed history, a few pages of the best available photographs printed in large size, and a magnificent set of almost one hundred pages of detailed drawings depicting every possible element of the ship. Along with the scale plans and profiles were numerous three-dimensional perspective drawings which aided the reader in relating the geometrical drawings and giving some idea of the machinery, weapons, equipment and living spaces. BISMARCK follows the same format,does it well, but falls short of the highest standard. The technical description is thorough and the photographs large and clear, although all frequently published in other books. The drawings are crisp, uncluttered and clear. Captions are good with occasional errors (a head/toilet named as a mess space, some cryptic names which give no sense of the location's use). There are no 3D drawings at all, which makes interpretation of the plans an analytical process without the helpful perspective drawings of HOOD and other books in the series. Crucially, the main cutaway side profile showing the ship's interior does not name the numerous decks whose plan drawings take up many of the following pages, making it again an analytical exercise to determine the locations of various internal spaces.
This book is a fine adjunct to a collection of titles on the great battleships and BISMARCK in particular. Read in conjuction with other books named in the bibliography it provides useful insight into the ship's structure and layout. It fails, however, to give the reader any real "feel" for the ship, how it was put together, how spaces and equipment were related in this complex three-dimension naval mechanism. Highly recommended, particularly for the modeller, however the definitive book on the BISMARCK has yet to be written.

An excellent publication, as are all the books in the "Anatomy of the Ship " series, with excellent and clear drawings. These show not only the overall layout of each deck but details of the guns, general equipment and boats etc. An ideal reference for the model maker, illustrator or any marine historian. Text and photographs further enhance the presentation.
Present US publisher has maintained the fine standards of original UK publishers.

Well, firstly i wanna to say the books of this series Anatomy of Ship as always well made books.
About the book o f Bismarck is interesting to say wich the many drawings help to know about
internal arrangements of the ship. Many things i don't know what is are explained with the legends etc..
the drawings are good but in some cases i think the drawings have some failures(a personal view of a man wich work with drawings) but nothing to depreciate the book.
The texts are clear and the history of the ship overall all parts are excellent. Many, many drawings and a small scale plan can help to do a model of this Ship.
I have a lot of these books and i always purchased one new cause i know i don't loss money with these excellents books. i am ship modeller and always looking for good drawings to do a model or know about a ship. Five stars for me is a good note for this book.
Regards
Norberto

Among the superlatives you can quote about the Bismark is that she (and her sister ship 'Tirpitz') was the largest and heaviest warships ever completed in Europe. And arguably, she had the shortest working life. Her one battle cruise is obviously the stuff of legends. The sinking of the 'Hood' in just a couple of salvos. In turn her getting hit by a torpedo in exactly the place where it would cripple her.

This book is one of the 'Anatomy' series by the Naval Institute Press. It has a fairly complete description of the ship. For instance, the three types of armour were classified as KC, Wh, and Ww. KC armour was made by Krupp, was face hardened armour steel containing 0.34% carbon, 3.78% nickel, 0.32% manganese, 0.2% molybdenum and 2.06% chrome.

Most of the book, however, is composed of drawings, hundreds of drawings showing every aspect of the ship. Even the inside of the books dust jacket is used for a large outline drawing. It's a beautiful book.

I bought several copies of this book for relatives while I was over there. But you don't have to go all the way to Bayern! Just to the Amazon! Among this fine book's extra features are: concise but splendid explanations of some key differences between Old Bavarians, Schwabians, and Franconians, and their cooking traditions; and a nice colorful foldout map showing their respective regions; and a Bavarian calendar; and some helpful words about beer, wine, Radlermass, Russenmass, Schorle, Gschwemm, Leberkase, the different kinds of Wurst, and more! Now, if only Amazon had a way of shipping fresh Bavarian beer with this book!

This book not only has great recipes but also is full of the history of Bavarian cooking and culture. I would reccommend this book to anyone interested in preparing dishes rich in ingredients and Bavarian style.

I am very fond of this book, it is simple to use and has real recipies and interesting information about the recipes and how they originated.

I stumbled across this book at a Salvation Army store in Portland and knew right away that I'd come upon a rare find. I sat right down on the cold and dusty floor and started right in reading "A Few Words About Bavaria," the two page intro to Bavaria, then I opened the full color fold out and got an immediate sense of place, then read, "A Few Words about the Bavarians," moved onto how they use spices and herbs, then went to the recipes. I knew I was going to be cooking something up from this book this night.

Our meal started with the Asparagus Salad, prepared exactly ad the book says on page 90. Then onto the Creamed Asparagus Soup (we really like asparagus in our house) on page 36, which was to die for. The main course was the Old Bavarian recipe for Roast Pork on page 53. The dark beer really set that off. Who would have thought of brushing the pork with that. Emmmm, Emmmm good.

Of course, there are some recipes here I'll never try, like the Fried Calf's Brains, for example, but for the most part, most of the recipes here look like they're finger lickin' good. If you see this book somewhere, snatch it up. You won't be sorry.

Reviewed by Captain Katie Osborne

Outstanding work went into this book.Very easy to read,great of publisher to make room for many pictures,instead of the obligatory 12-16 most have in the center of the book.The author dug well and deep to aquire pictures and many personal facts one ordinarily would not find.Most readers of the African and Normandy campigns discover Fritz Bayerlein as a footnote for someone else's exploits extroidinaire.This book illustrates the degree that General Bayerlein enhanced the careers of such luminaries as Rommel and Guderian, as well as being a field commander in his own right.Major props to P.A. Spayd,keep us posted for the next work of this author.

Ms. Spayd has done a tremendous job of putting together the life of one of Germany's most accomplished generals. If a person is wanting to see a micro-study on the life and times of a German commander during WWII, then this book has much to offer. And last, anyone who is interested in the Afrika Korps must have this book since it closely looks at Rommel's command and warfare in Africa. Ms. Spayd has significantly contributed to the body of knowledge on the operational level of warfare during World War II and she has done so by putting a human face on it.

This book gives an in depth look at an important German general we have heard little about. General Bayerlein was a key participant in the North African, Russian and European campaigns. Of special interest to me was his role as commander of the Panzer Lehr Division during the Normandy invasion. His personal views of the orders he received to advance to the front in daylight while being attacked by Allied aircraft was especially interesting. A German officer who served in all of the major Euopean theaters of WWII and survived had to be someone special. The author, through her use of Bayerlein's own words and unpublished photographs gives a unique view of the man and the soldier.

What would it be like to be Rommel's leading German panzer general in World War II?

This new biography tells us with the first comprehensive biography of Generalleutnant Fritz Bayerlein. Bayerlein was Rommel's former Chief of Staff and commander of the elite Panzer Lehr Division. The biography covers his life from birth in 1899 Wuerzburg, Germany, to his experiences in the invasion of Poland, France and Russia along with North Africa, Hungary, Normandy, the Ardennes and the Ruhr. The book is the result of over five years of pains-taking research. What do we know of one of Rommel's favorite panzer generals outside of the much told story of the Blonde nurse at Bastogne? The author has unearthed unique documents and photographs in both military and personal archives. Bayerlein's nephew has reluctantly opened expansive archives to the author - including many family and wartime photos. Further, a personal friend, Mr. Manfred Rommel, provides personal insight into Fritz Bayerlein, the man and family friend.

The biography is further buttressed by interviews of Bayerlein's friends, comrades and neighbors. Fellow officers and soldiers describe his battles - both in victory and defeat with Bayerlein's personal correspondence serving as the core narrative. He tells us in his own words of the thrill of the early victories to the frustration and venomous feelings emerging from fighting a war of useless bloodshed. Dashing the image of a cold-calculating panzer general, Fritz Bayerlein emerges as a tank leader with feeling: raging anger over poor decisions passed down by superiors, slothful lethargy from a war lost, the lust for young nurses and even a gentle kindness with children caught in a terrible war.

Over 340 photographs (many never before published) and 20 war maps hand-drawn by Bayerlein himself, make this book an important addition to a military or biographical collection.