Panzerkrieg by Peter McCarthy and Mike Syron

Panzerkrieg: The Rise and Fall of Hitler’s Tank Divisions

The development and employment of Panzers in the Second World War.

Ironically, it was the Versailles-imposed prohibition on tanks that allowed the Third Reich to use them in new and effective ways, bypassing the rather pedestrian tank forces of the victors in the First World War. Where France and Britain used tanks in small numbers, tied down to infantry support, the brilliant German tacticians such as Heinz Guderian could use even inferior tanks to blast holes in the enemy’s front and then exploit through, making spectacular victories in the early years of the war.

The Germans did well as teachers, and found themselves on the receiving end of the lessons in the closing years, particularly at the hands of the Russians.

They were also hamstrung by the incredible folly of Hitler, who launched misbegotten offensives and dictated the fanatical defence of lines and places that weren’t worth a damn.

Never going too deep, but covering all the theatres of Germany’s war from a panzer perspective, this book was an enjoyable read on a distressing topic.

A century later, and the map of Europe is much the same as it was before the First World War. Friendly open, borders, a common currency, few restrictions on trade, mutual respect… So what was all the death and desruction, tragedy and waste, hatred and hell for?