Robert L. Di Nardo Libros

No 20th century military organization has been as widely studied as the German army of World War II. Nevertheless, there are almost no truly integrated studies of the panzer or armor branch, dealing with the organizational, economic, personnel, doctrinal, and tactical factors that affected the panzer arm's performance. DiNardo fills that gap in this detailed examination of the panzer arm from Weimar through the end of World War II. Drawing upon German military documents as well as memoirs, battle reports, and other materials, DiNardo provides a new look at the rise and decline of one of the most important parts of Germany's military machine. Important insights can be gained by examining the nuts and bolts of the army's expansion and its absorption of two foreign armies. This complete analysis of the German panzer arm also provides a microcosmic view of Nazi Germany at war. As such the book is invaluable for all researchers involved with the study of World War II and Nazi Germany.

One of the great misconceptions of the Second World War is the notion that the German Army was the epitome of mechanical efficiency--combining lightning speed with awesome military power. R. L. DiNardo argues that, although the elite panzer divisions were indeed formidable units, about 75 percent of the German Army were infantry divisions who relied primarily on the horse for transport. So, DiNardo asks, how modern was the Wehrmacht during World War II? Could it have achieved a higher level of modernity than it actually did? This book takes an unusual approach to the study of the much mythologized German Army.In dealing with horses specifically, DiNardo shows how the German Army was in many ways a throwback to the nineteenth century. How extensive was this antiquated dependence on horses, and was this a conscious decision on the part of the leaders of the German war machine? Did it have an effect on the army's organization and battle strength? What problems did the Germans encounter due to their use of horses? This study answers these questions from a unique perspective and will be invaluable to military historians, courses in military studies, and the collections in public and academic libraries.