Best divisional commanders

Yes but he won the Knights Cross, Oak leaves and Swords all while commanding a regiment (or smaller).

What's wrong with Kurowski? Just curious.

 

Most of his hundreds of books ( published under the names Franz Kurowski , Karl Almann , Karl Kollatz , Volkmar Kühn usw. ) are verd bad researched ! And if you phone him and make a remark about a possible mistake in one of his books he gets VERY unfriendly !

No one that I would take too serious ...

Jan-Hendrik

 

That's interesting to know. I imagine though that it must be difficult to research and publish a book and then have strangers ring you up to interrogate and correct you. I probably wouldn't respond well to that approach either
In any case whether strictly factual or not they make very enjoyable reading IMO. I also liked Infantry Aces.

 

What a "research" ? He brings new books on the market in time-intervals of 3-6 month ...( he copies simply much stuff from other books with checking it ) !

Good Authors need 2-20 years to research for ONE book !

Jan-Hendrik

 

I would like to add one more name to an already impressive list of WW II division commanders. Heinrich Eberbach started the war as CO of PzRgt 35 and finished the war as CG PzGrpeWest; he was captured by the Americans in 1944. Along the way, he commanded PzDiv 4 on the Eastern Front. While stationed in Germany a lifetime ago, I had the opportunity to attend a reunion of members of PzRgt 35 and PzGrnRgt 12. When Gen Eberbach walked in, all the veterans immediately flocked to him. The respect, admiration and affection they had for him was unbelievable. He was a most impressive man and a most capable commander.

 

Has anyone mentioned Bayerlein here yet? I'm sorry for being too lazy to go through the pages right now..

 

I don't know if he was divisional commander, but I would like to serve under Hans Joachim Peiper. Hope I'll never get the "luck" to serve in army.

 

Why Peiper?

He was stubborn as a mule, but otherwise talented? I'm not sure.

 

AS above

The best Divisional Commander of WW2 bar non was,
Major General G.P.B.(Pip) Roberts. CB, DSO, Mc.
He led the 11th. (Black Bull) Armd.Div. from Normandy to the Baltic.
A tank-mans soldier greatly respected by all ranks.
(If you ever get the chance read his book, "From the Desert to the Baltic"

 

According to "A Bridge Too Far" he was one of the commanders responsible for the eventual escape to safety of the encircled German 15th Army, because when his division captured Antwerp he did not push on to seal off the South Beveland peninsula (which would have been a mere 30km drive northward). Then again he wasn't given orders to do so and his division was completely exhausted. The fault, once more, lies ultimately with Monty.

 

And why was that, Merlin?

 

11th Armd.Div

I haven't read 'A Bridge too Far' Roel, but, I do know the history of the 'Black Bull'.
PanzerM, read the history of 11th.Armd, read the 'BLACK BULL' by
Patrick Delaforce, (address and details by PM if required) then make your own decision.

 

Re: 11th Armd.Div

I can recommend it, though it would probably make you change your pick of Best Divisional Commander to Gavin.

 

PIP

NO CHANCE ROEL!
(I've actually broken one of my rules, never enter into a 'Best' or 'favourite' or 'what if' thread, first and last time!)
(I have actually seen Gavin, when he visited 82nd.AA Airbourne)