
Panzer Commander Hermann Balck
Germany's Master Tactician
Stephen Robinson(Author)
Exisle Publishing
Published on 1. August 2019
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-1-925820-00-3 (ISBN)
Description
A history of one of the world's greatest armoured warfare commanders, Hermann Balck (1897-1982).
During World War II, Balck commanded panzer troops from the front line and led by example, putting himself in extreme danger when rallying his soldiers to surge forward. He fought battles that were masterpieces of tactical operations, utilizing speed, surprise and a remarkable ability to motivate his men to achieve what they considered to be impossible. We follow his exciting journey through the fields of France, mountains of Greece and steppes of Russia. In Greece, through flair and innovative leadership, his soldiers overcame every obstacle to defeat determined Australian and New Zealand soldiers defending the narrow mountain passes. Balck personally led his men to victory in battles at Platamon Ridge on the Aegean coast and in the Vale of Tempe, before entering Athens.
This is also the story of a cultured and complex man with a great love of antiquity and classical literature, who nevertheless willingly fought for Hitler's Third Reich while remaining strangely detached from the horrors around him. The book is the result of extensive research of primary and secondary sources, including Balck's battle reports and first-hand accounts written by Allied soldiers who opposed him, panzer division war diaries and campaign assessments, and declassified Pentagon documents.
During World War II, Balck commanded panzer troops from the front line and led by example, putting himself in extreme danger when rallying his soldiers to surge forward. He fought battles that were masterpieces of tactical operations, utilizing speed, surprise and a remarkable ability to motivate his men to achieve what they considered to be impossible. We follow his exciting journey through the fields of France, mountains of Greece and steppes of Russia. In Greece, through flair and innovative leadership, his soldiers overcame every obstacle to defeat determined Australian and New Zealand soldiers defending the narrow mountain passes. Balck personally led his men to victory in battles at Platamon Ridge on the Aegean coast and in the Vale of Tempe, before entering Athens.
This is also the story of a cultured and complex man with a great love of antiquity and classical literature, who nevertheless willingly fought for Hitler's Third Reich while remaining strangely detached from the horrors around him. The book is the result of extensive research of primary and secondary sources, including Balck's battle reports and first-hand accounts written by Allied soldiers who opposed him, panzer division war diaries and campaign assessments, and declassified Pentagon documents.
Reviews / Votes
"If you are interested in military history, then I highly recommend this book.", Local Matters (NZ) "Anyone with an interest in armoured tactics from the German side will find this book well worth a read", Australian Army News "(Balck's) most amazing feat was in December 1942, when he annihilated a Soviet tank corps against overwhelming odds. It was his talent for coping with seemingly impossible odds that saw the US seek out his advice during the cold war and rescued him from complete obscurity. Robinson's straightforward and easy to understand accounts of the battles really brings them to life.", Daily Telegraph "This glossy hardback book covers Balck's WWII exploits as a Panzer commander, fighting in the Balkans, Greece, France and the Eastern Front. It vividly describes his battlefield methodology and how he routinely destroyed much larger forces arranged against him... It's a cracking read, illustrated throughout", Armourer magazine "Balck's command of the 11th Panzer Division during the Chir River battles, a series of desperate winter engagements fought in southern Russia during the Stalingrad campaign, firmly established his place in history as a master of armored warfare.", Military History Now "Well researched and written in traditional military style. It is at is best describing the desperate fighting ... during the soviet offensive to recapture Stalin", Asia Pacific Reporter and Defence Review Asia "I think this book will be of great interest to readers keen on military tactics in the land domain.", Australian Defence Magazine "Panzer Commander is very well structured and informative, providing incredible detail without getting bogged down making it a fascinating and relatively easy read. Something the author does that I found particularly compelling was including excerpts from Herman Balck's diary in the narrative to provide insight into what the man himself was thinking.", Casus Belli PodcastMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Auckland
New Zealand
Illustrations
50 b-w photos
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 151 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-925820-00-3 (9781925820003)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
09/2019
1st Edition
Exisle Publishing
€18.49
Available for download

E-Book
09/2019
Exisle Publishing
€19.49
Available for download
Person
Stephen Robinson studied Asian history and politics at the University of Western Sydney, graduating with First Class Honours. He has worked at the Department of Veterans' Affairs researching British atomic weapons tests and as a policy officer in the Department of Defence. Stephen Robinson is also an officer in the Australian Army Reserve and has served as an instructor at the Royal Military College. He also graduated from Australian Command and Staff College.
Content
Introduction
Chapter 1: Breakthrough at Sedan
Chapter 2: Intervention in the Balkans
Chapter 3: The Shadow of Olympus
Chapter 4: The Battle of Platamon Ridge
Chapter 5: The Race to Larissa
Chapter 6: The Battle of Tempe Gorge
Chapter 7: Athens and Escape
Chapter 8: The Chir River Battles
Epilogue
Bibliography
Notes
Index
Chapter 1: Breakthrough at Sedan
Chapter 2: Intervention in the Balkans
Chapter 3: The Shadow of Olympus
Chapter 4: The Battle of Platamon Ridge
Chapter 5: The Race to Larissa
Chapter 6: The Battle of Tempe Gorge
Chapter 7: Athens and Escape
Chapter 8: The Chir River Battles
Epilogue
Bibliography
Notes
Index