Tiger Tracks

The Classic Panzer Memoir

By: Wolfgang Faust

Narrated by: George Backman

Wolfgang Faust was the driver of a Tiger I tank with the Wehrmacht Heavy Panzer Battalions, seeing extensive combat action on the Eastern Front in 1943-45. This memoir is his brutal and deeply personal account of the Russian Front's appalling carnage.

Depicting a running tank engagement lasting 72 hours, Faust describes how his Tiger unit fought pitched battles in the snows of Western Russia against the full might of the Red Army: the T34s, the Stalin tanks, the Sturmovik bombers, and the feared Katyusha rocket brigades. His astonishing testimony reveals the merciless decisions that panzer crews made in action, the devastating power of their weaponry, and the many ways that men met their deaths in the snow and ice of the Ostfront.

First published in the late 1940s, this memoir's savage realism shocked the postwar German public. Some were outraged at the book's final scenes while others wrote that "now, at last, I know what our men did in the East".

Today it stands as one of the great semiautobiographical accounts of warfare in World War II - a crescendo of horror, grim survival, and a fatalistic acceptance of the panzer man's destiny.

Originally published in the German Federal Republic as Panzerdammerung (Panzer Twilight).

The only other surviving memoir by this author is The Last Panther - an astonishing account of panzer warfare in the final hours of the Third Reich.

©2015 The Estate of Wolfgang Faust; Bayern Classic Publications (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Real memoir? Dunno bout that...

Real or not this tale is certainly embellished to say the least, all the while claiming to be a memoir. It unwinds like a movie, grim, violent and very visual. The reader will come away with a sense of the horror of the eastern front. Beginning to end the non-stop action makes for a great read, and I will definitely be doing another read through.

PURE FICTION

As many have mentioned, I purchased this title based on it being described as a true war memoir. It is definitely a fictional account of war on the Eastern Front. There are so many inaccuracies in this book that I can't begin to mention them all. The fact that the author (whoever that really is) expects me to believe that he actually saw all the details he describes through a vision slit of a Tiger tank is downright insulting. Not to mention his repeated claims of being kicked in the back by his tank commander while driving; which is a physical impossibility in a Tiger tank given their locations in the tank and proximity. Do not buy this book if you are looking for a historical account of an actual battle. You will be greatly disappointed as I was.

Realistic I can't verify, but it's a fun read

What is it like to be in a tank on the eastern front during WW2? I am not in the position to say how accurate the book is (the author even addresses this in the preface saying all these people doubting the accuracy of his story are a bunch of civilians) but I can say this book tells an exciting story.

war porn

And I loved it, the story was ok but in believable. It is a good listen.

Amazing story

This story is truly graphic and horrific in description of the eastern front battles. The listener gets the feeling of being right inside the hull of the tiger tank with the excellent performance of the reading and author’s descriptions. I got chills at certain parts. 10/10

romance of history

this author, whom undoubtedly was in the war, and in the middle of the retreat, makes a catching romance out of his accounts. the book is captivating and interesting. loved the end. a smart way to account history without it being boring. some details are rather funny. loved the book

Engaging

Excellent look into the Tigers and tank warfare. It also gives you a feel for what they went through.

The Wild East

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Some great first hand accounts of fighting on the Eastern Front.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tiger Tracks?

A couple of the battle descriptions are intense, and like many first hand accounts, this one survives to write about it, yet came close to death so many times.

What about George Backman’s performance did you like?

He sounded like a German soldier and good voice characterizations.

Any additional comments?

A short book but action packed. I listened to it twice.

Entertaining

This book is a memoir that reads more like a fictional story. Very descriptive and entertaining. If half this stuff is real; this guy was truly in some horrific battles. Lots of gore. I liked it. I wish I knew if it is a true memoir or not though...

You Almost Feel Sorry For This Guy

The reader's style didn't really match the story most it the time. However, this was a pretty graphic tale of combat and a tank driver's view of an army in defeat. Whether you believe it or not, it is a good story. You almost feel sorry for the author until you realize he was part of the Nazi onslaught that destroyed most of Europe and was finally getting their just reward.