I read this book over the course of a couple of months due to domestic pressures, not least of which was being away for work, but it held my interest when I was reading it, being well written, apolitical, and focused as per the title. The author keeps to the subject even as he glosses over accounts of combat or the larger strategic story unfolding around Schwere Panzer-Regiment "Bake".
The narrative moves at a fairly quick pace and in chronological order, broken down by date, for example "7 February 1944: the Soviet armored barrier strikes back", p.139.
There is good use of first-person accounts, from both sides, one example involves a certain SS-Untersturmfurher Wittmann, who catches his gunner asleep "and boxed me about the ears a few times. That's all there was to it, no shouting, no holding a grudge." p.88.
I was somewhat amused reading about a German armored column moving pass a Soviet armored column, who were indifferent to the German's presence. Also, the book is quite detailed, naming persons where known throughout the book, and quoting exact numbers of tanks destroyed, rather than using vague terms, and often gives the make and model, too. For example, American M4A3 or Valentine MkII.
The general theme running throughout the book is that no matter how many Soviet tanks the Germans destroyed, there were always more. In the foreword, it is documented that over 500 armored vehicles were destroyed, yet even that was not enough to make a difference to the eventual outcome.
It is worth noting, I liked the paper used for the text section of this book; rather than being glossy, it is a matt finish which made it easier to read. The images at the rear of the book are printed on glossy paper, which works for them.
Very recommended.
thank you PeKo Publishing for the review sample, I know I will be reading this again.