Looking for German WWII armored car materials

**jcustis** · 03-15-2008

I know that if I float this up here, someone has to have scratched up something previously...

Looking for a book along the lines of a memoir perhaps, written by a German who served within an armored car element during WWII. It doesn't need to be of the "Tiger Ace: Michael Wittman" variety, but it would be good if the author spent any time discussing the tasks of operating and fighting his vehicle.

Also looking for translations of doctrinal texts (to include US Army intelligence pamphlets) that detailed the use of German armored reconnaissance units in concert with armored formations.

Thanks in advance for anything you all can dig up.

**davidbfpo** · 03-15-2008

Jon,

Try Granite State, his research may have touched upon armoured cars elsewhere and pre-1939.

I cannot recall any such German memoirs, although there are some British. Perhaps looking at the divisional history of the German 90th Light Division and other, smaller formations in North Africa would suggest lines of research. German armoured cars appeared in the blitzkreig years in Europe, but other arms were in the limelight.

Might be worth asking the UK Tank Museum / UK National Army Museum, as there maybe post-WW2 documents?

davidbfpo

**Norfolk** · 03-16-2008

jcustis, this would be a good place to start looking for US military intelligence pubs on German Reconnaissance units. Here's a few, most from there:

German Armored Car Reconnaissance (Information Bulletin No. 1), US Army, 1941

The German Armored Division (Information Bulletin No. 18), US Army, 1942

German Methods of Warfare in the Libyan Desert (Information Bulletin No. 20), US Army, 1942

TM-E 30-451 Handbook on German Military Forces, US Army, 1945

Special Series No. 8, German Tactical Doctrine, US Army, 1942

Special Series No. 22, Company Officer's Handbook of the German Army, US Army, 1943

Don't know of any good German recce memoirs offhand, though.

**Steve Blair** · 03-16-2008

The War Department's "Handbook on German Military Forces" has a short section on the use of armored cars for recon that might be of some use. It came out in 1945, and was based in large part on captured German publications as well as debriefings and other information. It was reprinted by the LSU Press in 1990.

You might want to check out the modeling community as well. Some of the Osprey stuff can make a decent starting point, as they usually have decent bibliographies. Can't remember offhand if there are any mechanized recon memoirs in English or not, although I have a nagging (possibly faulty) memory of one coming out or being discussed a few years back.

You may want to put the question out on the Feldgrau forums. They should be able to help you if there's anything out there.

**jcustis** · 03-16-2008

Thaks gents. On the exact track I was looking for. I think the Feldgrau forum definitely has a lot of promise for follow-on referrals.

And just to think that 10 years ago it would have been extremely painful to attempt something like this...

**bikewrench8541** · 03-18-2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_von_Luck

I read his book Panzer Commander some time ago.
I can't recall how much armored car specific info was in there, but it did cover his time in North Africa.

**Steve Blair** · 03-19-2008

Luck didn't go into too much detail regarding A/C operations, if memory serves.

**jcustis** · 03-19-2008

The Marine I took over from as a company commander lurks here, and PM'd me about the PME he conducted concerning Luck, armored recce, etc.

While details about life in the turret would be especially neat to get a hold of, broader scope stuff would be fine as well.

I'm waiting for the webmaste to approve my application to join the Feldgrau forum. Over at Feldgrau.com, they are offering digitized German maps, complete with graphics that were resident in the national archives. I'm aiming for the set of 24 relating to the N. Africa campaign, if for no other reason that to take a peek at the quality of map that was in use at the time.

**Steve Blair** · 03-19-2008

Feldgrau's a good source, with lots of international participation as well. I'm registered there, so if you have access issues let me know. You may turn up some stuff there that's not available in the US in terms of narrative, including translations. Damned good source for WW2 German info from what I've seen.

**Granite_State** · 03-20-2008

Will find that other email address for you, hope they're helpful.

**davidbfpo** · 07-04-2008

Jon,

Just came across a reference to: 'Als Panzer and Spahtruppfuhrer on der Panzer-Lehr Division 1943-1945' (translation As an Armored and Scout Troop Leader in the Panzer Lehr Division 1943-45) by Otto Henning, publisher Verlaghaus Wurzburg 2000, 247 pp., ISBN 978-3-88189-634-4. Recouts his experiences with Recce Bn. 130 in Hungary, Normandy and in the Ardennes.

Google found one link in English that lists the book: http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1324 and all the others are in German.

Perhaps Fuchs can help or someone still serving in Germany?

davidbfpo

**Fuchs** · 07-04-2008

Originally Posted by jcustis

I know that if I float this up here, someone has to have scratched up something previously...

Looking for a book along the lines of a memoir perhaps, written by a German who served within an armored car element during WWII. It doesn't need to be of the "Tiger Ace: Michael Wittman" variety, but it would be good if the author spent any time discussing the tasks of operating and fighting his vehicle.

Also looking for translations of doctrinal texts (to include US Army intelligence pamphlets) that detailed the use of German armored reconnaissance units in concert with armored formations.

Thanks in advance for anything you all can dig up.

Can you read German?

**davidbfpo** · 07-04-2008

I've just tried Google search on "Otto HEnning" + feldgrau and this found a review of sorts:

Now Hans, in another recent thread you mentioned the book "Als Panzer- und Spähtruppführer in der Panzer-Lehr-Division, 1943-1945" by Otto Henning. I'm reading it now and it is very interesting; thanks for the tip. It gives great insight into the workings of the le.Pz.Spähtrupps equipped with the two 250/9 and one 250/3. Henning describes his Spähtrupp actions with lots of detail. At least to me it was noteworthy that the Spähtrupps didn't only perform pure reconnaissance, but in many situations they also often linked up with Gefechtstände of neighbouring units to gather information from them (position strength, enemy activity in the sector,...).

davidbfpo