Panzer Lehr Division, 1944-45

Book excerpt: The Panzer Lehr Division was one of the most élite German armoured formations in existence in early 1944. Its baptism of fire was in the deadly Normandy bocage. Although suffering heavy losses in Normandy, the Division continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war, seeing particularly notable service during the Ardennes Offensive and in the Ruhr. The first volume in the new Helion series WWII German Military Studies prints an extensive number of reports written by former officers of the Division, principally its commander Fritz Bayerlein. Virtually all of these reports have remained unpublished since they were written soon after the end of WWII. They cover all aspects of the Division's history, although with particular emphasis upon events in Normandy, the Ardennes and Germany. A number of the reports include detailed order-of-battle and other organisational data. A very large number of situation maps are also featured. Important though the reprinting of these documents is, this book is made doubly important thanks to the linking text and expert annotations from editor Fred Steinhardt. In effect, this book provides an extremely detailed chronological history of the Division's activities, in greater detail than has yet appeared in print before. / This new series is designed at bringing into print previously unavailable archival material covering all aspects of the German Armed Forces during the 1933-45 period. / Volume 1 contains an extensive series of previously unpublished reports covering all aspects of Panzer Lehr Division's combat history, especially in Normandy, the Ardennes and Germany 1944-45. / Many reports feature detailed order-of-battle data and are supported by a large number of situation maps. / Extensive linking commentary and annotations from the editor mean the book as a whole provides an extremely detailed narrative of the Division's activities 1944-45. / Publication marks a major contribution to the history of the Panzertruppen during the final year of WWII.