Interviews with 712th Tank Battalion

The Tanker Tapes
More Tanker Tapes
Once upon a Tank in the Battle of the Bulge
Reflections of a Tank Company Commander


A series of audio books by Aaron Elson made at reunions over the years. With stories from before the war, horse cavalry, during training, landing in Normandy, then through to Germany. The interviews were done in reunions and private homes so the audio quality isn't the best but the stories are worth it.

A few excerpts.


Falaise pocket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RYXbyra5e8

A stuart tank crewman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsTJ095O-_4

A sherman tank disabled by a panzer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp7nFzJcCS8

Training in the States.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a7NZw-qQhA

Tanks without infantry support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kls_6qsP7yI

Assaulting a village
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kaG5qoIRCI

 

Seconded!

These CDs are simply amazing to listen to.

I have:
The Tanker Tapes
Once upon a Tank in the Battle of the Bulge
Reflections of a Tank Company Commander
Four Marines
A T-O Trio Plus One
A D-Day Tapes Sampler
and his book on the 712th Tank Battalion "Tanks for the Memories"

As Pacifist has stated the audio quality does vary greatly from disc to disc, but overall, the audio is usually fairly good. But, given the wealth of veterans stories, this is but a minor inconvenience.
I have had the pleasure of talking to him a few times, at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's yearly World War II Weekend(June 6,7,8 2014). He can always be found at his stand in the hanger. I look forwatd to seeing him again, and picking up a few CDs that I didn't get last year.

Aaron's Blog: http://oralhistoryaudiobooks.blogspot.com/
Old homepage(the audio links all seem to be broken, but there is plenty of reading material and transcribed interviews): http://www.tankbooks.com/
New homepage: http://www.oralhistorystore.com/default.asp

PS My favorite interviewee is Dale Stuart Albee - He is the one heard on Pacifist's "Tanks without infantry support" and "Assaulting a village". Sadly, he passed back in 2007.