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| The Combat History of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II | 
 enlarge | Author: Karlheinz Munch
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $14.77
You Save: $15.18 (51%)
New (17) Used (8) Collectible (2) from $14.76
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 288739
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 10.8 x 8.4 x 1
ISBN: 0811732428
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.54217
EAN: 9780811732420
ASIN: 0811732428
Publication Date: November 30, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new!
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Book Description
* Hundreds of photos, many never published before, of Germany's rarely seen tank destroyers, including the Ferdinand, Elephant, and Jagdtiger * Color illustrations focus on unit markings, numbering, and camouflage * Accompanying text chronicles the unit's combat operations * Personal accounts from the men who rode in these mechanical monsters German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 was equipped with the heaviest tank destroying vehicles of the German armed forces. Initially activated as an assault gun battalion and redesignated in April 1943, the 653 received its first Ferdinand tank destroyers (later modified and renamed Elephants) in May 1943 and went into action on the Eastern Front a month later. In 1944, the unit converted to the even more massive Jagdtiger. The seventy-five-ton, heavily armored Jagdtiger was the behemoth of the battlefield and boasted a 128mm gun -- as opposed to the Ferdinand's 88 -- with a range of more than thirteen miles, making it deadly despite its limited mobility. Outfitted with these lethal giants, the 653 saw service in Russia, Italy, Austria, and Germany.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Maintenance History... August 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a fascinating study of German super heavy tank destroyers during World War II. Using a ton of primary sources, the author gives an account of the 653rd heavy tank battalion and its many actions. The most telling part of this history is that most of these monsters spent almost all of their time in some kind of maintenance. They were so heavy and unreliable that they broke down constantly. I thought that this was more of a maintenance history than a combat history. This is somewhat mitigated by the fact that the book is loaded with great black and white photos. It also has color plates in the back for those who are interested in camouflage and paint schemes.
Overall, this is an excellent book, which I highly recommend to anyone interested in WWII German tanks.
German Armored Rarities April 10, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
When this book appeared, it collectively took the breath away from World War Two armor enthusiasts and historians alike. Karlheinz Munch has cleared away decades of half-truths and assumptions by going directly to the source. He has interviewed unit veterans and consulted original military documents and private diaries to produce the most complete history of the 653rd Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion, a unit that operated some of the most remarkable vehicles of the war, the Ferdinand, a self-propelled antitank gun built on the redundant chassis of the Porsche Tiger (and later renamed the Elefant), and the Jagdtiger, a self-propelled 128 mm antitank gun built on the chassis of the King Tiger. The other surprise was that the soldiers were avid shutterbugs, and the veterans and their familes have opened their private photo collections to the author. These are vehicles previously known through a mere handful of German propaganda photos and US Army Signal Corps pictures. Suddenly, we have not dozens but hundreds of fresh photos, showing details of operations, unit markings, and more. Rarities include a Porsche Tiger P prototype converted to a command tank, a recovery Panther with a Panzer IV turret bolted to the roof, a Russian T-34 converted to a German antiarcraft tank, and more.
What you will not find is breathless, blow by blow recreations of thrilling battle scenes (for that, read books by Franz Kurowsky). Munch offers straightforward reprints of unit after-action accounts augmented by some private materials provided by unit veterans. Publisher Stackpole books has taken the enormous hardcover edition originally published in Canada by J. J. Fedorowicz, and reissued it in a slightly edited softcover edition at 20% of the original price. A superb investment for the historian or model builder.
Heavy tank killers December 30, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book contains little combat information so it is not for the combat fan. However it does provide you with a written record of how this unit functioned, the trials and problems incountered with heavy tank killers.
The book is crammed with photographs, most of which I have never seen before. It is a wonderful source of information for the historian, heavy fan, or model nut. A must have for any reference library and the scale drawings and colour picture will please the model builder. An unbeatable value for the price!!
 Good historical book October 30, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The great book on this unit, when you want to get know its history.
It's a pity, there is no table where you can easily find a particular vehicle's tactical number, its commander's name or the details on its end, especially when you look for any details on rearming this unit with Jadtigers.
The big disadvantage are the photos, not good quality in fact.
Not for the combat fan. February 9, 2007
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
This book does give you an idea of what working with these very heavy tank destroyers was like. In practice that meant dealing with the frustrations of equipment which was frequently broken down, and you will see how critical the infrastructure which supported the actual AFV is. There is very little about actual combat, but some. You do get a good feeling for the tradeoff of extremely heavy unit weight and combat effectivness. If you know what you are buying this can show you a lot, but it is not a combat narrative.
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