This book is about the build-up, organisation, duties and responsibilities,
and the action of German tank maintenance units in World War II. For the first
time, throughout all of the varied publications covering the Panzerwaffe, the
interesting and necessary chapter of the mechanical and technical side of the
combat units is highlighted! No one can possibly attain a complete comprehension
of the tank war itself without an understanding of the time devoted to the
recovery and maintenance of the combat vehicles because: "one hour of tank
operation required ten hours of technical service" (Alfred Rubbel, s.Pz.Abt.503)
The book starts with an historical introduction from the Middle Ages through the
Reichswehr and ultimately to the Wehrmacht. The 2nd chapter is about the
organisation of the maintenance units, from the I-Gruppe to the
home-maintenance. Which unit was assigned to which level and how were they
equipped with men and transport? Because of the huge differences between the
KSt.N. and reality, not only the theory, but also the reality is shown with the
help of many examples, veterans' and POW reports. This is what makes this book
special and interesting. Highlighted units include the s.Pz.Abt.503, 506 and 508
and the 8th and 11th Panzerdivisions. Further units included are listed in the
index. The 3rd tells which maintenance unit was charged with which work and how
much time was necessary to do each job. A special part concerns spare-parts
production and distribution. The differing combat situations and conditions,
attack, retreat, road-marching etc. and what they meant for the maintenance are
described in the 4th chapter, beginning with the story behind the famous Tiger
114 of the s.Pz.Abt.503 during the Battle of Kursk, as told by the commander
Alfred Rubbel himself. Of most of the veterans that share their stories with us
in the book, a little portrait is made. They show how different their ways were
to the maintenance units. An in-depth look is taken at Martin Lange's history,
the veteran with whom I've started the whole project. He saw his first action
with the first Panthers deployed during the Battle of Kursk. Chapter 6 tells the
story of his unit - the 11th Panzerdivision, always from the point-of-view of
tank maintenance. The Appendix is a part of the book as any other chapter. Its
contents can be seen in the Index. I'd like to point out an article from Volker
Ruff about the Strabo crane, of which three different versions can be
distinguished. Sketches show how it was deployed and then folded back together
again - ready for road-transport. A photograph file is added in the style of the
NutsandBolts magazines. I also included another article with the help of Tiger
veteran Alfred Rubbel concerning changing the tracks of a heavy tank
step-by-step. The article is complete with amazing shots of Panthers of the 5th
SS-Panzerdivision "Wiking". This book lives from the many stories and examples
provided by veterans, many POW reports that were made by the US-Army, diagrams,
original documents and the over 220 photographs, of which many have never been
published before. "Arriving recently at the TMMI office, this newly published
book is the type of publication that will actully, physically make your mouth
water if you are into the Second World War German armour and its trappings.
Contained with the 200+ pages is an irresistable array of images of German
vehicles (Tigers, StuGs, Panthers, Famos and trailers and lots more), in carious
states of recovery, repair, replenishment and ruin, all of which present some
fascinating details and diorama ideas for the modeller. This book describes the
organisation, deties and deployment of German tank maintenance units during the
Second World War, making it rather unique in that respect. It's impossible to
gain a full understanding of the tank war itself without an appreciation of the
resecources and time devoted to the recovery and maintenance of combat vehicles
- it was a massive and vital undertaking, with on average one hour of tank
operation requiring ten hours of maintenance. The test is entirely in German so
it's a little difficult for us non-German speakers to find out the background to
the images, but the book is still an Aladdin's cave of information and should be
snapped up by anyone who likes to paw over previously unpublished black and
white photographs of vehicles being fixed. We love it! - Tamiya Model Magazine
International No 123
NOW HALF-PRICE!
