Panzer Ace

The Memoirs of an Iron Cross Panzer Commander from Barbarossa to Normandy

By: Richard Freiherr von Rosen, Robert Forczyk

Narrated by: Nigel Patterson

Richard Freiherr von Rosen was a highly decorated Wehrmacht soldier and outstanding panzer commander. After serving as a gunlayer on a Pz.Mk.III during Barbarossa, he led a company of Tigers at Kursk. Later he led a company of King Tiger panzers at Normandy and in late 1944 commanded a battle group (12 King Tigers and a flak company) against the Russians in Hungary in the rank of junior, later senior lieutenant (from November 1944, his final rank). Only 489 of these King Tiger tanks were ever built. They were the most powerful heavy tanks to see service, and only one kind of shell could penetrate their armor at a reasonable distance. Every effort had to be made to retrieve any of them bogged down or otherwise immobilized, which led to many towing adventures.

The author has a fine memory and eye for detail. His account is easy to listen to and not technical, and adds substantially to the knowledge of how the German Panzer Arm operated in the Second World War.

©2017 Verlagshaus Würzburg GmbH & Co. KG; English language translation copyright 2018 by Greenhill Books; Robert Forczyk foreword copyright 2018 by Greenhill Books (P)2018 Tantor

Good, well rounded book

Really good book and quite informative. Not gory. I was surprised at how much idle time there was even at the end of the war. Other books I've read show a more desperate sense of retreat. I really enjoyed the part after the war. Most books end right after capture without much of a story.

Great book

It is fascinating to hear the under told German military history of WW2. I found it very interesting.

The author is a humble man def would read this

I’ve never read a book like this the author is a good man idk what else to say but what a moving book

If you love armor or war memoirs you’ll love this.

This book is fantastic. Up there with Tigers in the mud, blood red snow, and Forgotten Solider. I’m comparing it to these as those are other Axis view point memoirs. Get it, you’ll enjoy it.

Great firsthand account

I like firsthand war accounts for their personal perspective. You won’t learn grand strategy or political rationales but you will learn what it was like to be in those shoes. This is one of the best and very well written.

OUTSTANDING!

One of the best wartime memoirs I’ve read/listened to. Very matter of fact but with rich detail.

Strongest recommendation for any WWII buff.

A wonderful, honest account….

Absolutely fascinating, for anyone who wants to get a balanced view of WW2. What an incredible soldier and person - decent, chivalrous, dedicated to his men. A very moving account of a young man’s journey through the hell of war.

Fascinating Perspective

It’s often difficult to find quality memoirs written by German belligerents in WW2 and it can be disorienting associating their accounts with events we know of in the West. However, Van Rosen’s story is a testament to a quality man who did his duty and nothing more. The action and events are thrilling to read and imagine how oneself could survive such ordeals. The narrator has some great experience in pronouncing German and French terms, which is always amusing to imagine. Overall, I recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about the Wehrmacht soldier and the great iron horses they called home.

Great Book

This book is a great insight into German perspective in WWII. It's very eye opening.

an interesting historical tale

Talks about events in the second world war from an interesting perspective, would love for more details about the day to day in each theater but given the scope of covering the authors entire career in the wermacht he understandably covers the most important topics.