F. W. Mellenthin (1904–1997)
Author of Panzer Battles: A Study of the Employment of Armor in the Second World War
About the Author
Works by F. W. Mellenthin
NATO Under Attack: Why the Western Alliance Can Fight Outnumbered and Win in Central Europe Without Nuclear Weapons (1656) 5 copies
Armored warfare in World War II : Conference featuring Generalmajor F.W. von Mellenthin, May 10, 1979 (1979) 1 copy
Schach dem Schicksal. Ein deutscher Generalstabsoffizier berichtet von seiner Herkunft, seinem Einsatz im Zweiten… (1988) 1 copy
Panzer battles 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Mellenthin, F. W.
- Legal name
- Mellenthin, Friedrich Wilhelm von
- Birthdate
- 1904-08-30
- Date of death
- 1997-06-28
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- Germany
- Birthplace
- Breslau, Silesia
- Place of death
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Places of residence
- Germany
Johannesburg, South Africa - Education
- Prussian Military Academy
- Occupations
- soldier
officer - Organizations
- German army
Members
Reviews
Panzer battles; a study of the employment of armor… by F. W. von Mellenthin
A clear account of this general's time on the Eastern front. It is quite technical, and deals with many actions that read well in the context of that phase of the Cold War. It also covers fighting in North Africa. There is very little of the personal in this book, but for military minded people a good investment of time.
From the 'we wuz robbed' school of German military history. The enemy - especially the Russians - are a faceless anonymous horde, while the Germans are all noble, selfless, honourable, brave, and determined. There are some interesting descriptions of battles and incidents, but the whole book needs to be read with a massive grain of salt.
Uncritical and somewhat self-serving early work by a German staff officer. Sections on Eastern front best avoided. Probably best remembered for Norman Schwarzkopf's endorsement.
Reading this book you feel the utter hopelessness in the German war effort grow month after month after the Stalingrad disaster. Von Mellenthin uses many sources both Axis and Allied to tell the story, and his knowledge as a staff officer is helpful to the historian to put context on many of the larger operations of the war.
His time with the 48th Panzer Division in the East is extremely interesting, however, I was most interested in his experiences in Africa with Rommel.
Very little time is spent on the Western theater as his involvement came at the end for Germany, right before the Battle of the Bulge.… (more)
His time with the 48th Panzer Division in the East is extremely interesting, however, I was most interested in his experiences in Africa with Rommel.
Very little time is spent on the Western theater as his involvement came at the end for Germany, right before the Battle of the Bulge.… (more)
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Statistics
- Works
- 8
- Members
- 550
- Popularity
- #45,355
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 6
- ISBNs
- 18
- Languages
- 3