In the Second World War, Poznan was a key river crossing and railway junction on the Polish-German border. When the alarm was given indicating the Red Army's approach in January 1945, the city's 80-100000 German civilians were speedily evacuated, leaving a garrison of some 15000 men, mostly poorly-armed infantry, to face the rigours of a siege conducted by a massively superior and ruthless enemy anxious to acquire this transport centre, which was vital for the advance on Berlin. This is the account of Eastern Front veteran Richard Siegert, the gunner and later commander of the defenders' sole Tiger tank. Since the death of the driver in a futile attempt to escape from a PoW camp in Russia just after the end of the war, Siegert is the only survivor of that crew able to pass its record on to posterity. His account details how the crew fought gallantly against impossible odds, even when the Tiger was immobilised and could only act as a stationary anti-tank gun post or pillbox during the last heroic days' fighting for the citadel.
His report describes how the crew fought bravely against impossible odds, even when the "Tiger" was immobilised and could only act as a stationary anti-tank post or bunker during the last heroic days of fighting for the citadel.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Siegert, Richard
Title
The Tiger from Poznan
Details
English text, 50 bw-illustrations and maps. 140 pages.
State
new
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Church Street 47 S70 2AS South Yorkshire Vereinigtes Königreich