Take a look inside
This is the first volume in a series on the history of Panzerregiment 1, Germany’s initial armored formation. It describes its emergence from the Reichswehr Kraftfahrtruppe before 1935 and its development during the years of rearmament before the outbreak of World War II. The central part of the book describes the regiment’s deployment as part of the 1. Panzerdivision during the Polish Campaign in September 1939. Deployed as a critical component in the focal point of the 10. Armee, the division made a decisive breakthrough towards the Vistula, which contributed significantly to the quick and decisive end to the campaign. The battles at Rozprza, Piotrkow, and in the great Vistula bend are described and analyzed in detail from both a German and a Polish point of view. Staffing overviews for all years, 207 leaders’ biographies and the dog tag lists of the entire regiment at the beginning of the war are documented in this comprehensive work.
In addition to extensive literature, newspapers, and the official war diaries and memorabilia of the participants, the previously unpublished casualty reports from the former Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) were evaluated and give an impression of the severity of the battles.
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Authors: Rico Unger | Daniel Jurt | Glen Hendricks
Language: English
ISBN: 978-3-9525384-0-1
Pages: 636
Photos: 650+
Maps/tables/charts: 50+
Physical: Hardcover, 225x290mm
What you can expect
Rare photos in top quality and detailed legends allowing each person to be easily identified.
Important details are enlarged.
42 maps with clear symbols, time indications and the important units. In yellow, the respective direction indicates where a photo was taken at that time.
Original documents, pictures of orders and certificates of ownership of the members of Panzerregiment 1.
Diary excerpts with clear references to the source.
Dog tags list of the whole regiment with additional pictures and info about the soldiers.
Positioning and allocation of the tanks of the entire regiment incl. detailed information on the whereabouts of the tanks during the Polish Campaign.
Organisational chart of all officers and senior non-commissioned officers of the Kraftfahrlehrkommando Ordruf and Panzerregiment 1.
The vitas and all the known decorations earned by 207 officers of the regiment. Most of them also with their original signatures.
Many drone shots of the original battlefields with additional details on the course of the battle.
Table of Contents
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Introduction
Part 1
Prologue
Creation of Kraftfahrlehrkommando II Ohrdruf
Training and Trial-Exercise 35
The unveiling
Part 2
Creation of Panzerregiment 1
Training
Nuremberg 1936 – Presentation of the regimental colors
Expansion
Wehrmacht maneuvers of 1937
Consolidation
Service in Sudetenland
Last year of peace
The way to war
Part 3
Initial situation
Start of the campaign
Battle of Piotrków
Breakthrough to the Vistula River
Battle at the Bzura
The end of the campaign
Part 4
Personnel 1934 to 1939
Erkennungsmarkenverzeichnis (Dog Tag List)
Panzers 1934 to 1939
Panzerersatzabteilung 1
Sources
Glossary
Conclusion