Infantry Aces of the Reich

Book came in a solid box completely safe and intact. The book is a very interesting read since it discusses the biography of a number of the Knight's Cross winners in WWII - Wehrmacht, Paras and Waffen SS - really interesting to read more in depth on some of the people that are constantly referenced in other books. My 12 year old son who is very interested in military history found it easy to read and exciting. Highly recommended.

The book contains an introduction to the Knight's Cross series of medals and then presents many heroes of the WW II German Army in a chronological order: 1939-40: Georg Michael, Rudolf Witzig, Michael Possinger, Fritz Vogt, Ludwig Kepplinger 1941: Harry Hermann, Heinrich Neumann 1942: Karl Ulrich, Hans Sturm, Bruno Sassen 1943: Martin Stieglitch, Gerd Mischke, Wilhelm Wegener, Remi Schryine, Georg Karck, Alfred Schneidereit 1944: Gunther Hochgarz, Ferdinand Foltin, Siegfrid Jamrowski, Emil Durr, Erich Lepkowski, Franz Weber, Heinz Meyer, Eduard Hug, Wolfgang von Bostell, Heinrich Keese 1945: Rudolf Donth, Paul Liebing, Willi Fey, Friedrich Richter, Gustav-Peter Reber, Hans Hauser The short biographies are really excellent and keep the reader's interest fixed. There are many stories of personal bravery, reckless, unbelievable daring and fanatical courage, but only a small percentage of the soldiers covered are represented in black and white photographs, in a special section of the book. After reading this book, your view of the German Army will certainly change.

My biggest surprise is that this book has not been reviewed yet, as it has been out of print for 9 years now.This small but interesting book starts with a review of combat awards given by the Germans, and what it took to earn them. This is one of the most straight forward simplest explanations I have seen, and would be good reading just for that.The book then starts each year of the war as a chapter with a breif explanation on the war from the German stand point at that time. Then it contains within each chapter several short stories about men who won the Knights cross in that year. The book by no means covers all the winners, only a few, and the stories are short. On the other hand, the author picked some great stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will not be able to put the book down. One story has a German officer driving into a French collum by mistake, and ordering THEM to surrender, the rest is in the book, I won't ruin it.The stories are short, and keep your attention very well, you can read the book in a day if you let yourself.I think there are two other books in the series, one about paratroopers, and one about SS, but I have only seen them once along time ago.If you are interested in WW II from the German side, and want to see what bravery and leadership really are, this is the book for you. Just wish the book was thicker and had more stories, but I'm not complaining a bit, the ones in the book are probably the best you will see.