Panzer Operations: The Eastern Front Memoir Of General Raus, 1941-1945

World War II, and you are there. Or, more correctly, Erhard Raus was. Reading his memoirs, however, Panzer Operations: The Eastern Front Memoirs of General Raus, 1941-1945, leaves one with the feel of actually having been in Russia right alongside the author. Translated from the original German Steven H. Newton, Panzer Operations is a fascinating account of fighting on the Russian Front. Indeed, the author's reflections upon his tactics and strategies were considered valuable enough to be quoted and included by the U.S. Army in training and tactical manuals it produced during the nineteen fifties.

Raus was not a native German citizen, having been born in Moravia, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He served with distinction in the Austrian Army during World War I, and was later assimilated into the German Wehrmacht during the Anschluss, or union, of Austria and Germany in 1938. There he served mostly as a staff officer until June of 1941, when he was assigned to command 6th Panzer Division. When Germany invaded Russia on June 22nd, 1941, 6th Panzer-and Raus-were at the forefront of the action.

Raus and his command sliced through the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, eventually crossing into Russia proper and driving on Leningrad. He was an effective commander and was often transferred to the hot spots on the Russian Front, eventually serving in the drive on Moscow, attemot to liberate 6th Army at Stalingrad, the major tank engagements at Kursk and Kharkov, and eventually on the defensive when the Russians invaded Easy Prussia in 1945.

Panzer Operations, at just over 300 pages, is a short and concise read. It is composed entirely of the author's descriptions of his experiences at the front, and the accounts are always extremely interesting. It is his recollection of his unorthodox tactics, however, that will appeal most highly to the military historian. Raus was not averse to "interpreting" orders as suited his purposes, and he had an uncanny knack for guessing the enemy's next move ahead of time.

Then too, the book has historical value, with remarkable insight into some of the major battles of the war on the Russian Front. Raus's remembrance of other events, too, stand out to the reader: the introduction of the heavy Tiger and Panther tanks, small unit actions across the front, meetings with Himmler and Hitler. All of these provide for a fascinating read.

Indeed, this reader found himself a bit skeptical of some of the author's recount about his direct honesty concerning the fate of the war in his meeting with Himmler, but Raus later offers evidence to substantiate his claims. His reputation for honesty and frankness seem to support him as well. That comes through in his writing style, which is mostly functional and informative in nature.

The author caps his work with a critique of where the German campaign in Russia went wrong, and he is critical of overall German strategy and, more directly, Hitler, throughout the book. His recounts of the mistakes the Wehrmacht committed on the Eastern Front are likely a good part of what made Panzer Operations of such interest to the US Army, which was doubtless contemplating a war in Russia of its own during the fifties.

Overall, Panzer Operations is a fascinating read for students of history and military tactics in general, and Word War II especially. Its accounts of actual conflict at the unit and front level will captivate and enthrall. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the aforementioned areas.