Fallschirm-Panzer-Division 'Hermann Göring': A History of the Luftwaffe's Only Armoured Division, 1933-1945

by Lawrence Paterson

Overview

A history of the development and role during World War II of the private army of the Nazi Luftwaffe’s commander-in-chief.

In the early years of the Third Reich, Hermann Göring, one of the most notorious leaders of the Third Reich, worked to establish his own personal army to rival Himmler’s SS and Reichswehr. The result: a private Prussian police force which grew into one of the most powerful armored units in Nazi Germany’s Wehrmacht.

This unit fought throughout the Second World War, meeting Anglo-American forces in vicious battles across the European theatres of Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy before finally being defeated by the Red Army on the Eastern Front. This book incorporates technical details of these battles with the turbulent politics and Machiavellian maneuvering of Hitler’s inner circle, giving military-history enthusiasts fresh insights into the development and role of this unusual division through the war.

Drawing on first-hand accounts and extensive archive material, World War II historian Lawrence Paterson presents a comprehensive and unbiased history of the establishment of the famous 1st Fallschirm-Panzer Division.

Praise for Fallschirm–Panzer Division ‘Hermann Göring’

“A fine study, well written, thoroughly researched and highly readable.” —The Journal of Military History

“An important contribution to an otherwise little-known but fascinating unit.” —History of War

“For anybody interested in the role of this elite unit, it is a ‘must read’ and as part of an understanding of the campaigns it fought, it offers a wider perspective of its interaction with adjoining units.” —Michael McCarthy, Battlefield Guide

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784386115
Publisher:	Greenhill Books/Lionel Leventhal, Limited
Publication date:	04/04/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	50 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Richard James Overy is a British historian who has published extensively on the history of World War II and Nazi Germany.

Table of Contents

List of Plates ix

Foreword Richard Overy xi

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 Police 1

Chapter 2 Early Successes in War 15

Chapter 3 Growing Pains 40

Chapter 4 Tunisia 64

Chapter 5 Rebirth 91

Chapter 6 Sicily 102

Chapter 7 Italy, 1943 129

Chapter 8 Anzio 164

Chapter 9 Rebuilding and Counter-Insurgency, Italy 1944 187

Chapter 10 From South to East, and East to West 205

Chapter 11 Panzer Corps 235

Chapter 12 The End 262

Appendix 1 Hermann Goring Cuff Titles 277

Appendix 2 Knight's Cross Recipients 279

Notes 281

Bibliography 293

Glossary 297

Index of Personalities 300

Editorial Reviews

"...a fine study, well written, thoroughly researched and highly readable."

Journal of Military History

"...includes a considerable number of first-person accounts from soldiers of the division as well as Allied opponents..."

Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

"...an engaging, detailed read that can educate, inspire, and provide source material to modelers of the formation in particular, and the Wehrmacht in general. The gallery of photographs is particularly useful for researching HG uniforms and insignia. Firsthand accounts provide exciting stories in much of the book."

Armorama