Tiger Tracks - The Classic Panzer Memoir

The author provides a vivid and sometimes graphic first person description of the battles in which he participated. His narrative immerses the reader in not only the facts, but the sights, sounds and smells of battle to provide a very visceral account of the action.

Probably apocryphal, but still a good read. The author does not shy away from depicting the brutality of tank combat even if the storyline is thinly woven. It gives you the feeling of being inside one of those iron coffins, and does not taint the tale with panzer invincibillity: a tiger tank here is a fragile thing before the might and numbers of soviet armor. Makes for a great weekend book, not as brutal or shocking as Wolfgang Faust's other book, The Last Panzer.

I actually did not read this book , even though I bought it. I was so disappointed with the authors other book " The last Panther ", that I didnt want to waste my time. I bought these books believing them to be non-fiction. They are clearly fiction.

Very good historical telling of the life and times of a German tank trooper during arguably one of the most horrific eras of land warfare ever. Books like this serve the purpose of letting people that war is hell, and not something to be entered into lightly.

Well written, but shorter than I thought. Written by the driver of a Tiger tank on the Eastern Front. I believe the author condensed many, many actions into one short 2-4 day bloodbath.

Pretty well written, and if you like armor, this is a good book. But beware, if you are squeamish, this is not a book you will enjoy.

As some other reviewers have metioned it does read like fiction bcause of the details and story like narrative, especiallty with one of the characters. The author documents his experiences during a 2 day retreat on the Russian Front. Still a fast, action packed and interesting read. Reading a book like this can be a nice change from other WWII books.

Excellent read. I was really transfixed, couldn't put it off so finished reading in three evenings.
Fierce fighting, bloody and cruel. Harsh conditions. The book describes only three or four days of action, the fact I was not aware of beforehand, but the speed of events packs the narration with so many powerful pictures, that I feel totally satisfied and I'm sure I do not need more in the same book. It left me with many images literally burnt into my mind's eye. Powerful narration, very good writing. I highly recommend it.

Wolfgang Faust was there, and I doubt he could, 'till his dying day, ever forget any of it. Every European in his day, was educated superbly and could write very well. Anyone like me who has read first-person accounts since I was thirteen about WWII can spot the truth.j

Despite the author's claim, I seriously doubt that everything in this book is true. If it is true, the author has a photographic memory with massive computer-like storage, given the unbelievable number of minute details of prolonged, intense military actions which involved hundreds of people and pieces of equipment. The remembrances/ memory dumps dwell heavily on gruesome aspects of the battles and interactions.

Interesting as it is from the German viewpoint and ignores that when the war flowed in their favour any atrocities were swept under the carpet,but when the tide turned their people suffered as their enemies had previously ! Revealing and sad because of the inhumanity of man to man and the selfishness that prevailed.

If you like non-fiction, war stories, or even first-hand accounts, I think you'll enjoy this book. The author is factual about his experiences, but also very good at describing the landscape, weather, and other facets of information, not just the horror of war.

Excellent read. I was really transfixed, couldn't put it off so finished reading in three evenings.
Fierce fighting, bloody and cruel. Harsh conditions. The book describes only three or four days of action, the fact I was not aware of beforehand, but the speed of events packs the narration with so many powerful pictures, that I feel totally satisfied and I'm sure I do not need more in the same book. It left me with many images literally burnt into my mind's eye. Powerful narration, very good writing. I highly recommend it.

Wolfgang Faust was there, and I doubt he could, 'till his dying day, ever forget any of it. Every European in his day, was educated superbly and could write very well. Anyone like me who has read first-person accounts since I was thirteen about WWII can spot the truth.j

Despite the author's claim, I seriously doubt that everything in this book is true. If it is true, the author has a photographic memory with massive computer-like storage, given the unbelievable number of minute details of prolonged, intense military actions which involved hundreds of people and pieces of equipment. The remembrances/ memory dumps dwell heavily on gruesome aspects of the battles and interactions.

Interesting as it is from the German viewpoint and ignores that when the war flowed in their favour any atrocities were swept under the carpet,but when the tide turned their people suffered as their enemies had previously ! Revealing and sad because of the inhumanity of man to man and the selfishness that prevailed.

If you like non-fiction, war stories, or even first-hand accounts, I think you'll enjoy this book. The author is factual about his experiences, but also very good at describing the landscape, weather, and other facets of information, not just the horror of war.

Well worth the purchase and the read. "Book" it is not. Operational level after action report would be more accurate. For someone interested into a glimpse into a very dark and hidden area of WWII history I highly recommend it as it provides a straightforward look at the final days of the German military.

Wow... just wow. You feel like you were honestly there. The fumes, the sounds, the atrocity of it all written from the first hand account from within one of the Mightiest War-machines of it's Era. The author holds nothing back from his experience on the Ostfront, inhumanities both suffered and delivered in equal measure makes this the book not for the faint of heart.

For an armor enthusiast or history buff it is a MUST read. I am reading The Last Panther next.

The beastial battles and human sacrifice in one small sector of the Eastern Front as a German Panzer group goes from a victorious advance to struggles to fall back and preserve a vital River Crossing. Documented by a Tiger Tank Driver who survived the carnage.

An incredible window into the relentless and incomprehensibly violent combat associated with the Nazi retreat from the USSR--and the psychological manifestations this produced in the participants. A unique insight into an extreme of human capacity and adaptation. A must read for all combat warriors, their families, and those involved in the psychological interventions they sometimes require

Too much detailed action for a memoir, although it's stated that the account is semi-autobiographical. It's lacking in details (what part of Russia, what was the name of the River, what year was) which means it could have happened anywhere in Russia after Kursk, adding a somewhat universal characteristic to the memoir. The book shines when it comes to paint the small details of the Tiger crews life in combat. The action is fluid and the descriptions are pretty visceral - something which brought Sven Hassel's works to mind.

Reading this book was like watching "Saving Private Ryan"! If one saw that movie I can tell that this book is the same or better.
I started reading war books at early age and in next 38 years read many of them. Eastern front, Europe, Pacific naval battles, island campaigns, U boat war, Africa, Vietnam ... you name it I read it. However this book was so intense that I hardly could put it down before ending a last page. I have it in Kindle, but will order paper copy to join my history books collection.
Only complaint I have is that it could be longer with more to read. But you know, it is what it was. Wolfgang Faust experienced deadly tankers duels from first person perspective driving a Tiger tank. No sugarcoating, lengthy describing a nature or BS of any kind, just action with almost no void space in between. Crashing rounds, burning tanks, turrets blown into air, Katyusha rockets, tanks ramming after firing last round, infantry engagements around tanks fighting, equipment breakdowns, hot, cold, no food ... it is all in there. Vividly described with amazing details of action.
I did not know that tank German tank engine and transmission had to be replaced every 800-1000 km. Many did not survive no riding around since they were thrown into the battle right from the railroad cars and promptly destroyed in first engagement.
I am reading now Faust's second and last book "The Last Panther" describing last days of WWII from his perspective. He survived against all odds, many of his comrades and Russian tankers were left behind burning in their machines. We are lucky that author had superb talent to write an compelling experience for us to read about. We can't tell him to write more books. Unfortunately he didn't live long enough to see his work published. Written word will still survive all times

Its well written, but its fiction . This book really moves a long but like Sajers FORGOTTEN Soldier it lacks verifiable details. No names,unit numbers, or specific locations. I hear it was written in the early 50's and its author made it up. Sprecht ? Media published several fictional accounts -Tiger Tracks and The Last Panther are two of them.
My father was a US Artillery veteran of North Africa ,Kasserine Pass, Sicily, Italy, Salerno, Anzio, Cassino, France and Germany. His experiences and comrades names were burnt into his memory. If he wrote a book, it would be verifiable. This makes me sure that lack of details is a sign of fiction.

An interesting memoir from "the other side". An extremely detailed version of events which makes one wonder if, during the clamour and stress of battle so much detail could be set to memory. However, though perhaps not a hundred percent accuracy was achieved it brings home the utter futility of war and the horrors suffered by the men who wage it on behalf of those in high places who profit by it.

I read both of Wolfgang Faust's books, "Tiger Tracks" and "The Last Panther." While they were entertaining, and informative, I agree with the other reviewers that they should, at best, be labeled Historical Fiction. I'll leave it to those better informed than I about WW II and tank warfare, but the more I read, and the more detailed the book descriptions became, I started to question the authenticity of the narrative. Especially when they, just by chance, took a lovely Russian Army lady as prisoner. Reeks of too much Hollywood in here for my taste.

It's refreshing to read about the personal side of so-called "great battles" from the perspective of someone fighting for survival in their own small corner of the grand strategies that often neglect the human element of warfare.

When other histories of the eastern front war mention heavy fighting, this book spells out in graphic, unsentimental detail just what heavy fighting was about. I understand now why combat veterans often cannot talk about their experiences.

Very descriptive events on the Eastern front from a common soldiers perspective and very well told! The descriptions were so vivid I could see each battle and thought what a great movie this would make! Facts and history are more interesting than fiction!

Very well-written first-person history. I could not put it down, resulting in going to sleep long after my bedtime, too close to wake-up time. Highly recommended for fans of the Tiger tanks and their crews.

No other book can put you inside the armored hull of one of the most storied fighting machines such as this story does. More than a story, it is the real life account of those who lived, and died through it.

A good insight to the mind of a retreating German Panzer driver. He (they) knows the war is lost and and the only chance they have to survive is to fight as hard as they can as they retreat to Germany.

My first thoughts was can this really happen to somebody and they survive! A book for the soldier who was glad he wasn't the driver and he should be glad he wasn't there. A can't put down and go to sleep book.

Basically this a western style book with more blood than most. It was interesting to see the German mentality of this time and the style of writing it brought about. Beyond that, there was not much depth, just all killing and running.

I found this book very interesting. It was told from a point of view we rarely hear, the enemies. It is violent, but based on the documentaries I've seen, it's accurate. The violence they inflicted, as well as the violence inflicted against them, is set out in detail. If you are interested in WWII stories, this book is a good read.