Charging Knights on the Eastern Front: The Combat History of schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505
After many years of research, the author has written an excellent unit history with all the elements of a great book: detailed text, personal accounts, excellent photographs (many rare and previously unseen), colour profiles & maps, organigrams, a personnel roster, and biographies.
The s.Pz.Abt.505 fought exclusively on the Eastern Front, beginning with Operation Zitadelle in July 1943. It then fought at Rosslawl and then in the Smolensk-Witebsk-Orscha area from September 1943 until April 1944. It was transferred south into the Kowel area for two months. At the end of June, it returned to the Borisow area, from where it was engaged in a fighting retreat through Minsk and Grodno. At the end of July 1944, it was transported to Ohrdruf to refit and train on the Tiger II. At the beginning of September, the Abteilung was shipped to Nasielsk, Poland, where it fought until November 1944. It was then sent to Wirballen. It fought in East Prussia until the war’s end, retreating to Pilau in late April 1945. Some members escaped, many ended up in captivity, and others lost their lives during the final days.
This hardcover book has 400-pages, 528-photos, 21 detailed full-colour maps, 8-pages of colour profiles, 9 detailed organigrams, a partial roster of 814 members, and 51 biographies.
Book Data
Author: Dale Ritter
Language: English
Pages: 400
Photos: 528+ black & white photos
Illustrations: 8-pages of colour illustrations
Physical: Hardcover, 300x230mm, portrait