Amazing Read "In Deadly Combat" by Gottlob Herbert
Posted: 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.
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.
