Panzer-Division In Russia

On 22 June 1941, the Wehrmacht with over three million soldiers attacked the Soviet Union. For the invasion the Panzerwaffe managed to field some 3,000 Panzers and were distributed among 19 Panzer-Divisions, 10 motorized infantry divisions, 4 motorized SS divisions, the motorized Grosdeutschland Regiment and a few independent assault gun units. Initially, the Panzer-Divisions achieved great success, however, the vast expanses of terrain its vehicles had to cover; and huge logistical problems, gave the commanders of the Panzer-Divisions serious difficulties, particularly when the winter arrived and the Russians put up stiff resistance. But still, the German factories were able to replace depleted armored vehicles at a steady rate. By June 1943, 21 Panzer-Divisions were prepared for Operation Zitadelle in the Kursk salient. For this massive attack, which became the largest tank battle of World War Two, the Panzerwaffe were able to muster no less than 1,715 Panzers and 147 StuG III assault guns. But the losses at Kursk were so immense that the Wehrmacht took the first steps of its slow painful retreat back to Germany. By August 1944, the Panzer-Divisions had incurred huge losses in the East, during this month alone they had lost almost 1,500 tanks and assault guns. After this, all their reserves were gone. Undermined by severe provisions they continued to fight on with badly depleted divisions organized into various ad hoc groups. With insufficient fuel or incorrect ammunition supplies, desperation filled the ranks until the very end of the war. Filled with many unpublished photos, this book traces the Panzerwaffe in the campaigns in the East, from Barbarossa to late 1944. Robert Michulec has sourced the photos from small archives and personal collections in Eastern Europe. =