March to Surrender: A German Operation in the Dying Days of WWII
WWII did not end with Hitler’s suicide. As the Allies advanced across Germany from east and west, soldiers were attempting to find the safest places…
Wounded in Action – Powerful German Officers of WWII
Modern warfare distances commanders from the action. The commanders of WWII in German armies, however, often put themselves close to the front lines. Along with…
The WWI Experience of Germany’s WWII Commanders
WWI shaped the German army of WWII. Bitterness at their loss encouraged Nazism among the Germans and created scores of highly driven soldiers. The experiences…
Erwin Rommel in the Invasion of France in WWII
Erwin Rommel is usually remembered for commanding German forces in North Africa during WWII. There, his mastery of tank combat brought surprise victories and a…
Field Marshal Erich von Manstein – German Commander in World War II
One of Nazi Germany’s greatest military planners, Field Marshal Erich von Manstein displayed a thorough understanding of the use of strategy. However, his conclusions were…
Willi Langkeit – German Panzer Commander of World War Two
Willi Langkeit was one of the most gifted German tank commanders of WWII. Repeatedly honored for his service and promoted to considerable rank for his…
The Last Years Of World War Two: The German Fighting Retreat from Finland, 1944
By late 1944, Germany was undoubtedly losing WWII. Its forces were being driven back on every front, often in great disorder. When they were compelled…
Michael Wittmann: German Panzer Ace Of World War Two
Like the Red Baron a generation before him, Michael Wittmann was a master of his machine. A skilled commander and gifted fighter, he destroyed 117…
China’s Long Fight Against Japan – 1937 to 1945
In 1937, following the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, China and Japan went to war. It was the beginning of WWII in East Asia, two years…
WWII: Panzer Unit Grossdeutschland and the Last Ditch Defence of Germany
From the spring of 1944, German forces were pushed back through Eastern Europe by the Russians. They went from holding conquered territory to desperately defending…
The SS – One of the Most Infamous Fighting Forces in History
The Schutzstaffel, or SS, was one of the most infamous fighting forces in history. The political shock troopers of the German Nazi party, they were…
The Tragedy of the SS Cap Arcona – WWII’s Titanic
The SS Cap Arcona was a German ocean liner built in the 1920’s for the Hamburg – South America Line. She was Germany’s answer to…