Ďábelský generál - Příběh jednoho z nejobávanějších německých tankových velitelů – Bagdonas Raymond (2024)

The book tells the story of the most highly decorated German regimental commander of World War II, known as the 'Tank Count,' Hyazinth Count von Strachwitz, a nobleman from Silesia. He fought on the front lines, and his hussar-like exploits as a tank regiment commander earned him numerous awards. He began his military campaign in Poland, further participated in battles in France, the invasion of Yugoslavia, and then Operation Barbarossa, where he earned the Knight's Cross. Subsequently, during the advance on Stalingrad, he received Oak Leaves for destroying 270 Soviet tanks during the crossing of the Don River at Kalach. At that time, as a regimental commander, he reached the Volga and fiercely fought on the northern edge of the Sixth Army's perimeter. During the fighting, he was severely wounded and evacuated from the Stalingrad pocket, thus spared the fate of the rest of the 6th Army. After recovering, he was appointed commander of the tank regiment of the Grossdeutschland division. By that time, he was already receiving new Tiger tanks, which were equipped for some of the units he commanded, as well as early models of Panthers. After the battles at Kursk and subsequent defensive fights, he was transferred the following year to Army Group North. During the rapidly changing battles in the Baltic in 1944, his Panzerverband Strachwitz was deployed as an independent unit that...