Franz A. P. Frisch: " Condemned to Live: A Panzer Artilleryman's Five-Front War". This gripping memoir of Franz A. P. Frisch portrays the nine-year life, culture and travails of an Austrian Panzer artilleryman who fought with his Panzer Artillery Battalion from Poland to France, then Russia and on to Sicily and Italy, where he was captured, and remained a private in rank. But, the Germans severely underestimated their opponent and the weather they would face on their journey to Moscow. One of von Rosen’s quotes that jumped into my head and stayed there was about the end of the war where he said in a recap of sorts that it was “better end with horror than horror without end”.

Furthermore, Panzer Commander also features an interactive strategic map, through which players can view each battle, field, and assign missions to their various platoons. Supply lines can be established and battlefield objectives can be pinpointed with strategic precision.

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The ruthlessness of the German advance was borne out on June 27, 1941, when his crew spotted a Russian soldier who played dead before opening fire on the passing German infantry.

Lothar-Günther Buchheim: " Jäger im Weltmeer". The author describes his patrols aboard U-96, where he served as a war correspondent during October 1941, the patrol that served as the basis of Buchheim's novel "Das Boot" and of course the now-legendary film. Few of us will ever know what it was truly like to fight, as a soldier in a conflict like the Second World War. One where every day could be your last, where the limits of your physical & mental endurance are tested and where you evidence or indeed may perpetrate some of the very worst actions possible upon your fellow man. That is probably why I find books like this fascinating; by understanding how others react under the most extreme stress we better understand ourselves & our fellow man. As a result I have read many similar accounts from all sides of the conflict. They are generally fascinating studies of what it means to be human.In less than 15 minutes, 13 or 14 tanks, two anti-tank guns, and 13 to 15 transport vehicles had been destroyed by Heavy SS-Panzer Battalion 101, some attributed to Wittmann. He played no further role in the Battle of Villers-Bocage. [39] For his actions during the battle, Wittmann was promoted to SS- Hauptsturmführer, and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. [40] Karl Dönitz: " Memoires: Ten Years and Twenty Days". Memoires written by Admiral Karl Dönitz about his time as Commander-in-Chief of the U-boats (10 years) and as the last head of state of the Third Reich (20 days).