MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 1 (Stackpole Military History) | 
 enlarge | Author: Patrick Agte
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $6.93
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Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 151537
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6 x 1.2
ISBN: 0811733343
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.541343
EAN: 9780811733342
ASIN: 0811733343
Publication Date: September 1, 2006
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Condition: Brand new!
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Book Description
German Panzer ace Michael Wittmann was by far the most famous tank commander on any side in World War II, destroying 138 enemy tanks and 132 anti-tank guns with his Tiger. This classic of armored warfare is both combat biography and unit history, as Patrick Agte focuses on the life and career of Wittmann but also includes his fellow Tiger commanders in the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. Volume One covers the Eastern Front, where Wittmann racked up more than 100 kills and participated in the Battle of Kursk in 1943.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Detailed History of top Waffen SS Tiger Commanders! August 1, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Eastern Front experiences of the world's most successful tank ace, Michael Wittmann, and those of his fellow Waffen SS Tiger commanders of the Leibstandarte Division are covered in this first of two volumes published by Stackpole Books.
This first volume does provide a great deal of information of Wittmann and his comrades and the combat activities of the 4th (Heavy) Company from its creation in January 1943 to early June 1944 when Wittmann & his comrades, now part of the 101st SS Panzer Battalion, found themselves in France awaiting the Allied invasion. Numerous first-person accounts of Wittmann, the man and the military commander, abound. Though many are written in the stilted, stiff wartime style, they do present a coherent picture of an exemplary commander and a superlative fighting leader. The book also includes testimonials to other Waffen SS commanders and many accounts of Eastern Front action. Unfortunately the book, originally published in Germany, is a ponderous read.
The book also features over 300 photographs of Wittmann, his comrades, their tanks, Soviet opponents, etc. Unfortunately photo reproduction quality is poor; most shots are muddy. There are a number of battle maps included but they are are hard to understand and add little to the narrative. I did find the inclusion of the various units' Order of Battle fascinating. At a single glance you could see how many tanks the unit possessed, supporting flak units, scout cars, supply trucks, etc. and realize how large an organization the 10st, for example, was.
All in all, Agte's book is a mixed blessing. Lots of info on Wittmann, other Tiger commanders and Eastern Front battles but it's presented in a plodding, graceless narrative. Lots of rare photos but they're poorly reproduced, etc. Reasonable price ($19.95) but remember: you still need to pick up volume 2 to see how it all ends!
Your call!
Can't Give It 5 Stars but I do recommend it. June 8, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I read a couple of readers reviews before I purchased the book. I confirm or concur with what one of the reviewer's said. The maps are not the greatest and the cities mentioned in the text are hard to locate on them and you also need to purchase Vol 2 which continues the story of Wittmann. Vol 1 covers mostly the eastern front and some Italy and Wittmann's exploits there but you need Vol 2 for the western front. It is an easy reading book. More detail about the Tiger's performance aspects would have been good. I will write more on Vol 2 when finished.
great book March 8, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I really liked how the book not only delved into Michael Wittman, but also the explored the battles the he was in during WWII.
 MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 1 (Stackpole Military History) January 11, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
A very good book to read, with a great deal of information about a WW II hero of the Germany Waffen SS (Michael Wittmann). This book also tell the story of other panzer commanders, and the men that fought in the heavy panze's battalions of WW II. I would also recommmend that you purchase Volume II right away, you wouldn't want to stop reading after you finish Vol. I.
A bit disappointed October 27, 2006
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
I purchased this book and volume 2 on the hope of reading about Michael Wittman, at the time of this review I had not started the second volume.
The book does have a lot of information about the Tiger Aces of the Leibstandarte and their battles / triumphs but Michael Wittman has been regulated as one of the Tiger Aces. The book does give a number of mentions of him, but if you are looking for a history solely on him you are going to be disappointed, I gave the book 3 stars for that reason only, for an overall history of the Tiger Aces the book is worth 4 stars.
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