The A7V tank was Germany's not terribly distinguished answer to the British and French tanks of World War I. In fact, it was sufficiently second rate that the Germans frenetically put into service every British Mark IV they could find and repair. Only about 24 A7Vs served in the war; at least one was finished afterwards and served with the Freikorps, but it differed from the war tanks in several important ways. Although several A7Vs survived the war (including one which succumbed to a particularly mindless bout of scrapping at Aberdeen Proving Grounds during WWII), only one original tank remains, 506 Mephisto, captured by Australian forces and preserved in Australia. The German Army several years ago had a replica A7V constructed for their museum at Munsterlager, filling an important gap in their collection of German AFVs.

This book, published by Haynes (better known for their excellent series of auto manuals) is an important reference for this unusual vehicle and includes dozens of photographs of the preserved tank Mephisto, contemporary photos, and plans and drawings. The origins of the German tank program are covered, followed by detailed chapters covering the chassis, the armored body, the armament, the numbering of the tanks, and the identification of one from the other (especially helpful because the A7Vs were surprisingly individual). The relatively short operational life of the tanks is then discussed, followed by a useful section on the German use of captured British Mark IV tanks. A final section covers the camouflage and markings of both the A7Vs and the German-operated Mark IVs, and the uniforms worn by their crews.

With the recent release of a model of the A7V in 1/72nd scale by Emhar, this book is a vital reference for anyone interested in building an accurate A7V, or for those non-modelers who are curious about the little known German employment of armor in World War I.

Although the best available reference on the a7v, the interior photos of Mephisto were incomplete. This text contains comparative charts and diagrams needed to differentiate between every a7v tank made. Camoflage and unit markings are also described and diagramed. Definitive color references would have been helpful. I recommed this book highly to WWI armor buffs.

It's a shame that only one reviewer has preceded me. If Catholics were reading this book, there would probably be many trying to undermine it, as there are the excellent book by another Roman Catholic scholar, John Cornwell.

Cornwell's book may be making a bigger splash because of his controversial title, "Hitler's Pope, the secret history of Pius XII". Both authors are obviously pained, as Catholics themselves, by the facts which they uncovered, and are not happy to be exposing the shameful record of their church regarding the Holocaust. But loyalty to God does not allow them to hide or misrepresent the truth about their church. And for that they are to be praised - by God, if not by all of their fellow Catholics! -

The prior reviewer does a great job of summarizing Gordon Zahn's book. I urge Christians as well as Jews to read both of these books, (...)

This book exposes the powerful support for Hitler and his war on the part of the German Catholic hierarchy.

These men were, for the most part, anti-Nazi.

Their protests, however, were limited to complaints about harassment of Catholics, confiscation of religious property and the creation a new pagan cult.

For the most part they urged their flocks to support the Nazis, especially in World War Two.

Prohibitions against support of unjust wars had no affect on them and Zahn enumerates the reasons why.

First of all, Catholic teaching led them to support the secular government.

In this regard, the Pope's recognition of Hitler's regime as legitimate set a tragic example for all Catholics to follow.

Second, like most Germans, they were pained by their country's set-backs in World War One and yearned for Germany to attain the glorious role it deserved on the world stage.

Another contributing factor was, apparently, the important role that obedience to authority and duty to the fatherland played in German culture.

Finally, these men feared Communism. Communists had staged a number of unsuccessful coups in Germany in the years following World War One and Hitler was against Bolshevism.

Ironically, Zahn repeatedly refers to these men as heroes while portraying them as leaders gone astray.

Some had been active in the inter-war peace movement but Zahn quotes sermon after sermon in which they urge their congregations to serve loyally and lavish praise upon soldiers "defending" their country.

In a number of asides Zahn also calls into question the role of the bishops' opposite numbers in the Allied camp whom, he feels, betrayed their callings as well when they did not oppose the bombing of cities and demand for an unconditional surrender.

Great Book. It was just what i was looking for. I recommend you read it.

Embracing the whole gamut of German culture since the foundation of modern Germany, this exceptional work delivers an accurate and witty introduction for the non-specialist reader.

This book ought to be required reading for all students of German history and literature.

Oxford University Press' ongoing translation of the German government's official history of the Second World War, Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg, has produced yet another fine volume. This is to my knowledge the best work available on Germany's attack on the Soviet Union. The sheer scope and depth of the campaign are laid out in astonishing detail.

This is the 4th volume of the "Official German" history of World War II. There are suppossed to be 10 volumes altogether. Volume 4 is so far the most ambitious and controvesial of the set. It is well over 1000 pages, many, many tables, charts etc. It even comes with a spiral bound 4 color map book that shows the operational side of the conflict. Considering that this tome covers the decision to invade, the build up, and attack from June 1941 thru December 1941 you will understand the scope of this project. While laying the bulk of the blame on the conflict to the Nazi's, there is some discussion on the new revisionist thinking that Stalin was in fact preparing a strike into Germany but was forestalled by the German assult. I will let you the reader figure out which way the book tends to go. The translation from the German is very good, I had no trouble following the text. This book and series is not meant for a first time introduction to World War II; great detail is given on the socio/economic aspects of this conflict that rarely get mentioned at all the standard popular books. All in all a great addition to the series and a wonderful new look at a topic that never seems to go out of style. You will love it in your library!!

My wife and I lived in Germany for 2 1/2 years and used that time as an opportunity to get into bicycling. One of the first books we bought was "Germany by Bike"...a smart move on our part. Of the 20 tours listed in the book we took 3 of them and can say we were most pleased with those. The directions are simple and easy to follow and the trails are wonderful. If you're looking for a great guide to explore Germany by bike then look no further.

Definitely the best cycling guide book there is about Germany. I grew up in this country and thought I knew it well - yet Nadine Slavinski's book reveals a treasure of little known secrets. Her tours provide a brilliant mixture of Germany's best in terms of bicycle touring and you can tell that she has spent quite some time working and researching in the 'Old World'

Like Nees, I have also live in both the US and Germany, and this book was really informative. I learned to understand my German culture in a way I never had before. It explained all of those "German" things that I do. I think this book is an essential step for those who are learning about Germany and its culture.

Finally - a well-researched and up-to-date book on Germany and the Germans. The author gives some historical background, an overview of German cultural themes, a comparison between typical German and American communication patterns, and an overview of the German business model and business beharviors. The last chapter is devoted to exploring the changes in German society at the turn of the 21st century. As one of them (yes, I am German), I have felt accurately portrayed, without the stereotypical mindlessnesses that tends to charactarize a lot of American authors writing about Germany. Two thumbs up! This book is a gem.

Another in the series by Mr. Douglas regarding former head of the Gestapo (Geheimstaatspolizei), Heinrich Mueller, nearly each page drops bombs that will make you think. If you prefer television to thinking, you can pass it by, but if you like a purportedly nonfiction page-turner, where it is the content, not the style, that really grabs you, this is a must. Shatters all preconceptions about the 20th century.

This adds to data on what really happened in WWII.

You must read to understand.

Not just another mundane collection of photos, this book is perhaps one of the best volumes in English regarding German soldiers, and especially the GD Division. The captions cast light on many arcance areas of study - uniforms, organization, history, tactics - and all the details are consistently correct and well researched. The only minor nit I was able to find is the mis-captioning of an NCO equivalent beamten as a "Hauptmann" - (p. 114)

Overall, a thoroughly excellent photographic record, with emphasis on naming photo subjects (a very nice touch). Of course, as with any collection of WW II photos, most of the pictures in this book are obviously posed, and there is nothing in the way of "real action" shots. This is not a drawback, and few "real action" shots were taken during the war by any of the combatants.

There are also some excellent biographical sketches of Knight' Cross winners and unit commanders.

God, Honor, Fatherland is an excellent pictoral study of one of the Whermacht's truly elite divisions. The author covers "GD" from 1942 to 1944. Although I have a fairly extensive collection of books covering the German Army on the Eastern front, most photos in this book were new to me. The author made contact with numerous "GD" veterans and got many previously unpublished photos, many of which the people in them are listed by name and sub-unit. The author also gives 1 to 2 page narratives of the various major battles GD participated in during this time frame. As well as descriptions of the various sub-units that made up GD, including rarely covered support/maitenance units.

My favorite part of the book were the biographical sketches of various GD personalities. These include not only senior and company grade officers, but several NCO's as well. I recomend this book to anyone interested in German units or the Eastern front of WW2, particularly armor buffs and modelers.

Joseph Goebbels was the Propoganda Minister for the Third Reich. Propoganda has a very different meaning today than it did in 1940, but his role was to communicate the ideals of the Reich. Being a very gifted writer, this proved an excellent task.

You will find no "plotting" in this book, other than general discussion of the ideals of National Socialism. There is no discussion of mass exterminations of any people or religion. What you will find is insight into a man intent on keeping a nation together in the face of tremendous adversity, namely the threat of Bolshevism. In many ways, the book is inspirational.

The most vile aspects of man running a continent. This book will be one of the scariest you will ever read, and the sad part is that it all really happened. In true diary form, Goebbels recounts every decision and horrible "fun" the Nazi administration had during the early years of the war. Discover little-known facts, such as how many other religions Hitler planned to eradicate after the Jews. Experience the executions in blunt, diary form. Learn about war strategies and propaganda programs.

This is challenging reading. I could take only a few pages at a setting. It makes you think. It makes you understand the baser realities of life.

Nasty, but important reading.

This is one of the best military biographies I have read. It gives a very clear picture of Guderian as a surprising sympathetic character with much humanity; whilst at the same time deliniating Guderian's role in defining the nature of modern warfare. It only fails in not bringing Guderian to the public's eye to a position far above Irwin Rommel, a man who accomplishments pale into insignificance by comparison. Macksey makes clear the manner in which Guderian distillated the ideas of Fuller and his Tank Corps contemporaries: the true pioneers of Armoured warfare, and formed them into a practical and workable whole which secured for Germany her early victories and produced a formula for war still employed today as evinced by the Gulf War. In addition his not inconsiderable operational contribution to those victories are clearly explained as was his unique relationship to Hitler, who in marked contrast as to his attitude towards Guderians contemporaries maintained a respectful, if not admirable mein towards Guderian to the very end. A book that should be read by every student of armoured warfare and the Second World War.

Whenever we read history books, we encounter a lot of people such as generals, commanders, ministers and presidents. And we begin to have irresistable longing for the knowledge of him or her,especially you find the most interesting people. Guderian was that kind of person I desperately wanted to know. It may be a little difficult for those who are first comers to the military world. But, if you have a little knowlede, you will find this book's benefits. Especially, it is important to me that his career of wireless communication eventually helped him building the modern tank warfare theory. In short conversation, whenever I refer to tank warfare and Guderian's accomplishments, others are caught in fresh shock. They just heard about Rommel whose career in WW¥° was infantry. And another thing which I learnd is that the great accomplishment is not build just in a day. This book will help you find the answer.