Erich von Manstein (1887–1973)

Field Marshal von Manstein tried to write a purely military history of his actions on the Eastern front. He came pretty close, and the result is a very abstract book, with no great personal revelations. As, it came out at the beginning of the Cold War, descriptions of killings of masses of Godless Russians were fairly popular. if you want a book with accurate maps, but little colour, here it is.

Brilliant and incisive military memoir. I feel a degree sympathy for the man, to be so intelligent and capable yet so thwarted. Of course, in a battle between Nazis and Stalin's USSR, it would have to be the lesser of two evils.

A tedious read at best. Reading it was like trying to eat dust. However, the hardcore student of WWII will find the book to be a must when learning about the German Army. If you are want to know more about the fighting on the Eastern Front, then take the time to wade through it.

Originally published in Germany in 1955, and in England and the United States in 1958, this classic memoir of WWII by a man who was an acknowledged military genius and probably Germany's top WWII general, is now made available again. Field Marshal Erich von Manstein described his book as a personal narrative of a soldier, discussing only those matters that had direct bearing on events in the military field. The essential thing, as he wrote, is to "know how the main personalities thought and show more reacted to events." This is what he tells us in this book.His account is detailed, yet dispassionate and objective. "Nothing is certain in war, when all is said and done," But in Manstein's record, at least, we can see clearly what forces were in action. In retrospect, perhaps his book takes on an even greater significance. show less