Amazing Read "In Deadly Combat" by Gottlob Herbert

STUKA · Post by **STUKA** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:10 pm

"In Deadly Combat"
A German Soldier's Memoir of the Eastern Front
Author: Gottlob Herbert Bidermann
Translated & Edited by Derek S. Zumbro
2000 University Press of Kansas
ISBN 0-7006-1122-3 (Paperback)
I picked it up at Barns and Noble for $17.99 in the World War II section.
Only Half way through this book and I can't stop reading it - It feels like I'm watching an amazing movie - the detail and picture Bidermann gives the reader is perfect.

Bidermann was a Pak-37 Gunner for the Wehrmacht's 132d Infantry Division.
Bidermann accounts in great detail many exploits of his crew and the basic moral and difficulties the German's faced in the early to later battles in the East. Some accounts are in perfect detail - When Bidermann accounts for the battle in Makensia where his crew took out three Russian Tanks earning them the Iron Cross, you know these events are replayed in his mind every night. Other events appear more historical - you know letters, pictures, and other materials were used to fill in the memory gaps.
Many details about the equipment and materials used for example.
The German's quickly ditched their horse carts and vehicles due to the mud and lack of parts. They preferred the horse carts used in the Crimea and vehicles left by the Russians s were coveted as they were American Fords and parts were plentiful. Maps used by the Wehrmact were not accurate - for example roads on German's maps of the area were really muddy paths etc.
Bidermann accounts for seeing the Reserves arriving in their fresh Winter Uniforms looking down from their tanks with disdain at having to fill holes lost by some of the front line Units. Bidermann states these units arrived with fresh winter uniforms and Tanks (All captured French Tanks) only to be pushed back with heavy Losses 30-60 tanks lost (I can't seem to find the pages).
Some interesting insights as after The Germans took Sevastopol Hitler ordered this whole Southern Line to move North for the Invasions of Leningrad and Stalingrad. And the whole reason they fought the Southern Front was to keep Russians from Flanking and taking out the German Supply Lines. Bidermann states the Russians changed their tactics from having whole armies led by political officers to using highly trained generals as the German's did the opposite - having Highly trained Generals in the beginning only to be commanded by generals of Political appointment toward the end. Stalin realized the importance of the Crimea and the ability to exploit the German supply line and launched hundreds of thousands of poorly led troops to their death trying to take very thin German lines.

One would think if this Southern Front had been kept the War in the East could have lasted another year as many people in the Crimea were actually pro German and joined the army in supply structure to stay away from the German prison Camps.

Other interesting details - the German troops fully believed the Americans would actually join them in pushing back the Russians out of Europe.

well sorry for not- stopping. I just wanted to let everyone know about this book - got a little carried away. But find the book and enjoy the read.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:22 pm

I guess I will have to check this book out I have never seen some one so excited about posting a book review it’s gota be good

STUKA · Post by **STUKA** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:26 pm

sorry - big history buff

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:31 pm

big history buff

Ditto here, and I also have that book in my library by Bidermann, and it is excellent like you said. If you enjoyed "In Deadly Combat" allow me to recommend a few other books of this type that you might also enjoy, "A Stranger To Myself" by Willi Peter Reese, "Through Hell For Hitler" by Henry Metelmann, and "Black Edelweiss" by Johann Voss.

http://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Myself-I ... 905&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Through-Hell-Hitl ... 935&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Edelweiss-C ... 966&sr=1-1

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 12:06 am

Thanks for the heads up STUKA. My guess is you fellas have read them, but a must read is "Hitler Moves East" and "Scorched Earth" by Paul Carrel. Best books on the Ost Front written yet.

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:41 am

a must read is "Hitler Moves East" and "Scorched Earth" by Paul Carrel. Best books on the Ost Front written yet.

I have both, and I agree they are both excellent books, although written primarily from the German point of view since Carell (aka Paul Karl Schmidt) was an Obersturmbannfuhrer (equivalent to Lt. Col.) in the Allgemeine SS. HME was the very first book I ever read about the Soviet-German war and in my opinion is still one of the best accounts available, in spite of it's age. I was fortunate enough recently to purchase a first edition hardcover version of HME in near new condition for $65 delivered, which is a real coup considering that first edition HC's in nice condition are very hard to find and are fetching as much as $150 or more on ebay, amazon, and elsewhere. Even the paperbacks are going for $50 or more sometimes, it's crazy.

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:53 am

OK, I have two dog-eared paperbacks and have meant to buy the hardbacks but there are so many other cool books out there it never seems to be a priority.

Have you read all of Bruce Quarry's books on the SS? "Hitler's Teutonic Knights" is one of them and although there isn't much in the print there are some stunning photos never before released. These can be picked up used for under $20 sometimes.

I am glad to see that other's share my interest for obscure WWII books!

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:11 am

OK, I have two dog-eared paperbacks and have meant to buy the hardbacks but there are so many other cool books out there it never seems to be a priority.

Have you read all of Bruce Quarry's books on the SS? "Hitler's Teutonic Knights" is one of them and although there isn't much in the print there are some stunning photos never before released. These can be picked up used for under $20 sometimes.

I am glad to see that other's share my interest for obscure WWII books!

Oli...hardback editions of "Scorched Earth" can usually be found in nice condition at fairly reasonable prices, but HME is another matter altogether...it took me over a year to find a first edition hardcover in decent condition without taking out a second mortgage..LOL

, JJ Fedorowicz publishing of Canada sells a 1990's reprint of HME that is fairly plentiful at ebay etc., but even these go for around $75 or more. I've heard Quarry's name before, but don't own any of his book, I'll have to check them out though. Some of the best books available on the Russo-German war are authored by David Glantz, a retired US Army Colonel and historian, but these are primarily operational studies that would bore the average reader to tears, so I would recommend these only to hard core history buffs and those who want a comprehensive look at the strategic, operational, and tactical details of the war on the Eastern front. BTW, one other title by Carell that you may not be familiar with is "Operation Barbarossa in Photographs" this is a great companion to Carell's other works, and I highly recommend it.

http://www.amazon.com/Operation-Barbaro ... 537&sr=1-1

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:46 am

Thanks OK, I will check out Glantz. When I go into "nerd" mode I bore everyone else to tears so this is probably right up my alley!

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 12:39 pm

Sorry OK, it is Bruce Quarrie.