--- product_id: 66437934 title: "Vitebsk: The Fight and Destruction of Third Panzer Army (Die Wehrmacht im Kampf)" brand: "otto heidkämperlinden lyons" price: "18.31 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/66437934-vitebsk-the-fight-and-destruction-of-third-panzer-army-die store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # Vitebsk: The Fight and Destruction of Third Panzer Army (Die Wehrmacht im Kampf) **Brand:** otto heidkämperlinden lyons **Price:** 18.31 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Vitebsk: The Fight and Destruction of Third Panzer Army (Die Wehrmacht im Kampf) by otto heidkämperlinden lyons - **How much does it cost?** 18.31 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/66437934-vitebsk-the-fight-and-destruction-of-third-panzer-army-die) ## Best For - otto heidkämperlinden lyons enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted otto heidkämperlinden lyons brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Vitebsk: The Fight and Destruction of Third Panzer Army (Die Wehrmacht im Kampf) ## Images ![Vitebsk: The Fight and Destruction of Third Panzer Army (Die Wehrmacht im Kampf) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81bImGcKPpL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Interesting But Most Chapters Are Short *by S***K on Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2022* This book is an interesting first-hand account written in 1954 and originally only published in German. The author was the Chief-of-Staff of the 3rd Panzer Army at the time of these battles. Divisions of that Army were defending Vitebsk at this time. Keep all of that in mind when reading this book; more historical resources have been developed since then.The story is told in a matter-of-fact tone; you will not find any stories of small unit or individual soldier battles. There are references to battles with Soviet partisans in the region; a potentially controversial subject for some.As for the Amazon reviewer in 2021 claiming this is mostly a picture book, nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, there are 20 maps at the very beginning of the book, but the rest of the book, around 176 pages, is all text. I could not find any pictures other than those on the dustjacket of the book.My only complaint would be the "thinness" of some chapters, perhaps reflecting on the lack of historical information that was accessible to the author in 1954.Finally, if you want a broader and perhaps more detailed view of the offensives involving Vitebsk along with the surrounding region I would suggest looking at "Battle For Belorussia: The Red Army's Forgotten Campaign Of October 1943-April 1944" by David Glantz. That book was published in 2016 and it incorporates both Russian and German sources. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Well written *by B***O on Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2022* Good source of history ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The book is entirely what it claims to be, ... *by B***S on Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2017* The book is entirely what it claims to be, and therefore what I expected it to be. It is a treatise on the fight and destruction of the German Third Panzer Army as told from the perspective of its Chief of Staff, Otto Heidkämper. It was compiled as part of a postwar NATO study on the German conduct of war against the Soviets in WW2. It is written in a concise manner. The maps, though concentrated at the front of the book, are dated and therefore quite helpful to the reader who wants to relate relative portions of the text to them. The book is also refreshing in that it refutes two common perceptions – that the Wehrmacht initiated and monopolized the “scorched earth” policy and atrocities that were mainstays of the war in the East. On his arrival in the Vitebsk area in May 1943 the author notes that the city “had been set ablaze by young Communists immediately before its capture by German troops in the summer of 1941. Only a few church steeples remained standing amidst what was otherwise devastated land”. In Appendix 2 “Affidavit on anti-bandit warfare”, which was written as evidence for the Nuremberg trials, he discusses the anti-partisan operations in the Army’s rear areas.The book is not, as “History Enthusiast” states in his review, “a report of the numerous offensives undertaken by the Red Army in and around Vitebsk … ”. Nor is it, from what I can tell, intended to be. It is quite clearly a report on the numerous defensive battles fought by the German Third Panzer Army in and around Vitebsk during the latter months of 1943 and early months of 1944. This distinction is important because he criticizes the book for not being “balanced” to both sides. Incidentally, the book he claims is balanced (Glantz’s The Battle for Belorussia) actually isn’t either. It covers the German side of the campaign only to the extent of providing context for Soviet initiatives. So in truth, the reader who is interested in viewing the events from the perspective of each side should probably read both books.Unlike “History Enthusiast” I do not believe the author resorted to exaggerations. Indeed, the context in which the report was written suggests that it would have been counter-productive and self-defeating to do so. In any event it is almost common knowledge by now that the Germans’ inability to replace losses, coupled with the ability of the Soviets to readily replace theirs and more, resulted in the former being worn down and grossly outnumbered at this point of the war. Heidkämper refers to the deterioration of the Third Panzer Army’s combat power on numerous occasions as being both chronic and severe, so it is absurd to suggest he might be “regularly avoiding the true casualties”. In fact, it is entirely plausible under the prevailing circumstances for the average combat strength of the German divisions to be down in the range of 1,500 men by February 1944 – not only due to combat losses, but also due to sickness and combat fatigue from being at the front for too long. As far as the suggestion that Heidkämper could be “over-estimating Soviet forces” is concerned, it should be noted that there is absolutely nothing in the Glantz book (referenced by the reviewer) that contradicts his estimations of Soviet strengths and casualties. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/66437934-vitebsk-the-fight-and-destruction-of-third-panzer-army-die](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/66437934-vitebsk-the-fight-and-destruction-of-third-panzer-army-die) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-09-08*