Carius 'Tigers in the Mud' in question - his record 're-appraised'

20+ page 'dossier' on Carius and his record in the latest issue of "2e Guerre Mondiale" magazine ("Second World War") on French news stands

" Carius is better known for his 'memoir' Tigers in the Mud than he is for his actual combat record..." and while I haven't read it all, this is basically a long over-due (in some eyes) 're-appraisal' of the 'story-telling' that most of us swallow at face value in the author's " Tiger im Schlamm "..

Some of this though - as the magazine article author points out - is apparent from a careful and close read of the book...eg, on 22 July 1944 Carius and another Tiger claimed 17 IS-2 and 5 T-34 Later the same day Carius then claimed a further 28 IS-2 tanks in an ambush with other Tigers. However a report by the CO of sPzAbt 502 compiled on 20 August 1944 - which is reprinted later in Carius' book - lists a total of 23 Soviet tanks claimed by the entire unit (17 T-34 and 6 IS-2) for 22 July 1944 - no mention of the 28 IS-2 ambush. So even by his own account Carius would appear to have something of a faulty memory. Of course its becoming de rigueur to call into question the records of the 'leading' Panzer/Luftwaffe aces many of whom undoubtedly had their records and individual 'achievements' inflated and/or exaggerated for propaganda purposes. This new article is authored by Stéphane Mantoux and he explains his approach - to dissect more accurately Carius's record as detailed in his book in the context of the war in the East - in his blog here.


http://www.2e-guerre-mondiale.com/