Repairing the Panzers – German Tank Maintenance in World War 2 – Volume 1 & 2

OVERVIEW

This two-volume set looks to answer some of the following questions:

• How did Germany keep its infamous Panzers running throughout six years of war?
• What mechanic was competent for what kind of damage?
• What special vehicles and recovery equipment were used by the maintenance units?
• How were they organized?
• How much supply reached the front during Operation ‘Zitadelle’ and how was it distributed among the battered divisions?
• How did winter and desert conditions affect operational readiness?
• Why weren’t captured Russian vehicles pressed into service like French and other vehicles were?
• What was the purpose of the ‘Panzerstützpunkt’ of 1944?
• What kept heavy Panzers from mixing in with lighter Panzers?
• What caused the loss of brand-new Panzers?

ANALYSIS

I have recently become interested in how the German Army maintained their panzers. They sometimes went to extremes to drag damaged tanks away from the battlefront to repair and get them back into action.

There is a huge range of books on WW2 German motorized and panzer division operations and campaigns, but the maintenance, repair, supply, etc., of the equipment has been mostly overlooked.

Hence the need to acquire these two books! The books focus on the maintenance, repair, and recovery of Panzers, but as no Panzer unit was able to operate without wheeled vehicles, they are also covered in this book. You learn what put Panzers out of action, how they were recovered from various predicaments and you will get an inside look at the battle that went on behind the front lines to keep every Panzer possible in fighting condition.

The pictures alone are worth the price. All of them are extremely clear and many of them I had not personally seen before. These books opened my eyes and mind to a relatively unknown aspect of the Wehrmacht’s ability to remain in the field in the face of great loss of vehicles and the numerical superiority of its enemy vehicles.

The books are loaded with previously unpublished photos and well-written captions that are complimentary to the well-researched and comprehensive examination of the German repair and recovery system for motor vehicles under combat conditions, from battlefield repairs to return to the Reich for total rebuild.

 My only negative comment is that I found the text to be rather dry throughout. Maybe it’s the subject matter that leads to that.

These books are a MUST for any serious modeler and anyone truly interested in the Panzer arm of the German army. As with many specialized books, these are a little on the expensive side. Look out for offers on secondary markets to get them at a cheaper price.

BOOK DETAILS