Paul Carell

Paul Carell was the pen name of Paul Karl Schmidt (1911-1997), a German author and former Nazi propagandist who became known for his military history books about World War II. His works focused particularly on the Eastern Front and German military operations, with his most famous books being "Hitler Moves East" and "Scorched Earth." During the Third Reich, Schmidt served as chief press spokesman for Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and held the rank of SS-Obersturmbannführer. After the war, he reinvented himself as a military historian under the name Paul Carell, publishing extensively during the 1960s and 1970s. Carell's books were commercial successes and were translated into multiple languages, praised for their detailed accounts of military operations and engaging narrative style. However, historians have criticized his work for presenting a sanitized view of the Wehrmacht's actions and minimizing German war crimes on the Eastern Front. His most significant works included "Operation Barbarossa" (1963), "Hitler's War on Russia" (1964), and "Hitler's War in the East" (1966), which detailed the German campaigns against the Soviet Union. Though well-researched in terms of military operations, these books largely avoided addressing the ideological aspects of Nazi Germany's war of annihilation in the East.

Readers appreciate Carell's detailed military accounts, battlefield descriptions, and use of first-hand sources from both German and Soviet perspectives. Many note his ability to explain complex military operations in accessible language. Positive reviews highlight his coverage of lesser-known Eastern Front battles and inclusion of personal accounts from soldiers. On Goodreads, readers frequently mention the maps and photographs enhancing their understanding of operations. Critical reviews point out his selective portrayal of German forces, omission of war crimes, and tendency to downplay Nazi ideology. Several readers note his background as a Nazi propagandist affects his objectivity. One Amazon reviewer states: "The author whitewashes the Wehrmacht's role in atrocities." Average ratings: - Goodreads: "Hitler Moves East" - 4.2/5 (486 ratings) - Goodreads: "Scorched Earth" - 4.3/5 (312 ratings) - Amazon: "Operation Barbarossa" - 4.5/5 (89 reviews) Most readers acknowledge the historical limitations while valuing the tactical and operational details. Military enthusiasts rate his works higher than general history readers.

Hitler Moves East 1941-1943 Detailed account of Operation Barbarossa and the German invasion of the Soviet Union through the Battle of Stalingrad.

Scorched Earth: The Russian-German War 1943-1944 Chronicles the Eastern Front battles from Kursk to the Soviet counter-offensives into German territory.

Operation Barbarossa in Photographs Photographic documentation of the German campaign against the Soviet Union with accompanying military analysis.

Foxes of the Desert Account of the North African campaign focusing on Rommel's Afrika Korps operations.

Invasion - They're Coming! Examination of the D-Day landings and subsequent Normandy campaign from the German perspective.

Der Landser Series of weekly novels depicting World War II from the viewpoint of German soldiers.

Stalingrad: The Defeat of the German 6th Army Detailed chronicle of the battle of Stalingrad and the destruction of the German forces.

Unternehmen Barbarossa German edition detailing the planning and execution of Operation Barbarossa on the Eastern Front.

William L. Shirer wrote firsthand accounts of Nazi Germany and WWII based on his experiences as a foreign correspondent in Berlin. His work "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" provides detailed documentation of the Nazi regime's operations and military campaigns.

Alan Clark produced military histories focused on the Eastern Front and German armed forces during WWII. His books "Barbarossa" and "Operation Barbarossa" cover similar ground to Carell's work, examining German military operations against the Soviet Union.

John Keegan wrote comprehensive military histories with focus on tactical and operational details of WWII battles. His works examine military leadership and battlefield decisions across multiple theaters of war, including detailed analysis of the Eastern Front.

David Irving authored controversial military histories about Nazi Germany and WWII from a German perspective. His works focus on military operations and leadership decisions while examining the war from the Wehrmacht's viewpoint.

Albert Seaton wrote detailed accounts of the Russo-German war with emphasis on military operations. His book "The Russo-German War 1941-45" covers similar territory to Carell's works, examining campaigns from both German and Soviet perspectives.