Tank Men

Tank Men recounts the experiences of tank crews during World War II through first-hand accounts and extensive research. The narrative follows soldiers from multiple nations including Germany, Britain, America, and Russia as they fought from inside their armored vehicles. Author Robert Kershaw, a former British Army colonel, presents detailed descriptions of tank warfare across major WWII battlefields from North Africa to the Eastern Front. The book covers technical aspects of various tanks while maintaining focus on the human element - the cramped conditions, psychological pressures, and brotherhood that developed between crew members. Kershaw draws from interviews, letters, and military records to reconstruct tank battles and daily life for these soldiers who fought a new kind of mechanized warfare. The accounts include both routine moments and intense combat situations that tank crews faced throughout the conflict. The book reveals universal truths about warfare and human nature through the lens of a transformative military technology that changed combat forever. Tank Men stands as both a military history and a study of how humans adapt to technological change under extreme circumstances.

Readers value the personal accounts and first-hand perspectives from tank crews across different nations during WWII. The book provides details about daily life, combat experiences, and the psychological impact on soldiers. Liked: - Balance of technical details and human stories - Coverage of both Allied and Axis tank crews - Clear explanations of tank warfare tactics - Inclusion of rare photographs - Strong research and primary sources Disliked: - Jumps between different time periods and battles - Some readers found the writing style dry - Limited coverage of Eastern Front battles - Occasional repetition of anecdotes Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (239 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.5/5 (185 ratings) Amazon US: 4.4/5 (97 ratings) Notable reader comment: "Gives voice to the men who fought in these steel coffins and shows both the technical and human side of armored warfare." - Amazon reviewer

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🔹 Many tank crews in WWII were extremely young - the average age of American tank crews was just 20, while German tank commanders could be as young as 17. 🔹 Author Robert Kershaw served as a Colonel in the British Parachute Regiment and commanded the 10th Parachute Battalion, bringing firsthand military expertise to his analysis of tank warfare. 🔹 German Tiger tanks were so feared that Allied soldiers often mistakenly identified other German tanks as Tigers, leading to inflated reports of Tiger encounters - a phenomenon known as "Tigerphobia." 🔹 Tank crews developed their own superstitions and rituals, such as never cleaning the inside of their tanks or keeping specific "lucky" items, believing these practices kept them safe in battle. 🔹 Tank maintenance was so crucial that for every hour a tank spent in combat during WWII, it required an average of ten hours of maintenance work.