Panzer Commander

The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

By: Hans von Luck, Stephen E. Ambrose - introduction

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

A stunning look at World War II from the other side.... From the turret of a German tank, Colonel Hans von Luck commanded Rommel's 7th and then 21st Panzer Division. El Alamein, Kasserine Pass, Poland, Belgium, Normandy on D-Day, the disastrous Russian front - von Luck fought there with some of the best soldiers in the world. German soldiers. Awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Knight's Cross, von Luck writes as an officer and a gentleman. Told with the vivid detail of an impassioned eyewitness, his rare and moving memoir has become a classic in the literature of World War II, a first-person chronicle of the glory - and the inevitable tragedy - of a superb soldier fighting Hitler's war.

©1989 Hans von Luck (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

A compelling look into WW2 from the "other" side

This is not a book I would have normally found on my own. But, a good friend recommended it and I am most grateful that he did. It is a recollection of World War II that everyone should read.

These are the memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck and in it he shares his experiences of his life as an officer in the German army leading up to and through World War II. It also gives his account of the five years he spent after the war in a Soviet POW camp and his eventual return to life as a civilian.

This book is not a glorification or romanticization of war. It is not a defense of Hitler's Germany, nor an apology. It is an explanation of how men who were patriots of their country had that loyalty twisted and abused in Hitler's quest for world domination. It is a view "from the trenches" and gives great insight into both the details of the battles von Luck fought in, and the thoughts and feelings of him and his men through the various stages of the war.

While I did find the narrative bog down from time to time with the details of movements during some of the campaigns, what really makes this book a standout are von Luck's insights into how the German army viewed the war as well as the descriptions of encounters that he had with his enemies both as captor and prisoner. von Luck also brings into this collection additional stories from his companions who got separated from him over the course of the war - of people he befriended in Paris during the time Germany initially occupied it, of subordinates captured by the Americans in North Africa and the time they spent in POW camps in the American Midwest, of the woman who was for a time his fiance before his capture and five year internment.

In war, governments seek to make their citizens see the enemy as something not human. von Luck makes nots of the Nazi propaganda machines efforts to make the German citizens see the Soviets as "sub-humans" at the time that Hitler broke his non-agression pact with Stalin and started the disastrous invasion of the Russian homeland. This book shows that all of these peoples - Russians, Germans, French, Brits, even the Americans - weren't just "others" but were men doing their best to follow the orders of the civilian leaders under difficult circumstances. It is a book anyone who would claim the mandate of leader of a country should read to better understand the human face of war and the young men whose lives are spent engaging in "politics by other means."

For the narration - Bronson Pinchot did an excellent job of bringing this story to life. His inflection, rhythm and accents really made me feel like Colonel von Luck was sitting down in the room with me and telling his story.

Pinchot, what were you thinking?

Bronson Pinchot is perhaps my favorite male narrator on Audible, but loses his way here. His "German accent" would be acceptable for the voice of a native German speaking character in a novel, but it is clearly a native English speaker with attempting a German accent. Given this is the English memoirs of a native German speaker, this gimmick is a tragic, unforced error of judgement.

von Luck is clearly shaping his memoirs to advocate peaceful coexistence among Europeans. While I have a lot of sympathy with this perspective, one does have to wonder where the line between memoir and advocacy lies.

Military historians will probably find his discussions of some of his accounts of noteworthy actions in WWII short on detail. I found myself drawn to his accounts of life in the Soviet internment camps after the war at least as compelling.

Compelling Well Told Original Story

Hans Von Luck tells his compelling story with a refreshing style. To see the war from a loyal German soldier view point is interesting. There are many intriguing twists in this story of his war years & the remaining period of his life.

The victors' tale once again

Any additional comments?

If you expect to hear Germany's version of events, you will be disappointed. The author, Hans von Luck, went out of his way to curry favor with the victorious Western Allies and puts the blame on Germany for everything. However, reading in-between the lines, you can extract some insights over the true course of events during and after WW2. Some critics have accused the author of embellishing his story, but, even if we take his tales with a pinch of salt, there is no doubt Hans von Luck was a brave soldier and a bright Panzer commander. And certainly no one can blame him for making his book palatable for the victorious Western allies--otherwise it might have not been even printed, and he would have never been invited to deliver any speeches.

a must read for all generations.

Extremely well written. Several sections brought me to tears.
The humanity in which the material is presented is breathtaking.

A Gentleman Soldier

A fascinating perspective from a Wehrmacht Officer. Von Lucks memoir is a telling tale of his experience on 3 fronts, his relationship with Rommel and his captivity. recommended for anyone who has an interest in WWII history from the other side.

outstanding

unbelievably human... excellent battlefield reporting without going too much into depth... meets some fascinating people as well. do not pass up.

Most excellent reconstruction!

This audio book is incredible. Read in a German voice makes it feel like we are listening to Von Luck himself recount his

Good view of the war from the other side

The accent was hard to listen to at higher speeds and I wish he would have given more details about some of what he saw and did, but overall I really liked it.

Great book

a unique style, I loved it. A great balance between overall view and personal accounts.