Combat History of Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 217

Combat History of Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 217 by Haasler and Vosters.

Combat History of Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 217 tells the story of the only Sturmpanzer IV-equipped unit to see action on the Western Front. Formed in May 1944, Stu.Pz.Abt.217 fought in Normandy, Belgium, Aachen and the Ardennes Offensive before finally perishing in Ruhr pocket in April 1945.

Researched over more than twenty years using hundreds of German and American records, authors Timm Haasler and Simon Vosters, part of the Duel in the Mist team, have meticulously retraced the steps of the battalion to offer the reader the most comprehensive coverage to date.

This 284-page book is illustrated with 183 large-format photographs, ten maps and seven specially commissioned diptych artworks by Felipe Rodna, including interior views of the Ausf.IV version. QR-codes feature on a number of pages; simply point your smartphone camera at them to see the scene today in Google Maps or Street View.

Book Data

Author: Timm Haasler & Simon Vosters
Artist: Felipe Rodna
Photos: 183
Artworks: 7
Maps: 10
Pages: 284
Physical: Hardcover, 275x215mm, landscape

Contents

1. Activation of Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 217
   
2. Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 217 in Normandy
   
3. Withdrawal from Normandy and engagements in the Aachen area
   
4. Rest and Refitting
   
5. Between Aachen and the Ardennes
   
6. The Ardennes Offensive
   
7. Last traces
   
8. The Sturmpanzer IV
   
9. Appendix
   Index

About the Authors

Timm Haasler
Author

Timm Haasler is a commercial executive in the consumer goods industry with a background that reaches deep into military history. A former artillery officer and a graduate of the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich, he wrote his diploma on the rest and refitting concept of the German armed forces in World War II, a subject that sparked a lasting interest in the period. He lives in Melle, Germany, where he continues to balance professional work with historical research.

Simon Vosters
Author

Simon Vosters is an archivist from Belgium with a firm grounding in modern European military history. He studied Modern History at the University of Ghent and later specialised in archival studies at the University of Brussels. His master's thesis explored the German retreat through the Belgian Ardennes in September 1944, a subject that shaped his ongoing interest in wartime documentation and research.

Felipe Rodna
Artist

Felipe Rodríguez Náñez, also known as Felipe Rodna, is an architect, CG artist and military illustrator from Salamanca, Spain. His work stands out for its meticulous detail, blending the precision of technical illustration with the mood and flair of fine art.

Website Reviews

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