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The Germans virtually destroyed the Soviet Fifth Tank Army, primarily using a lone panzer division and despite a local Soviet numerical superiority

In light of the dramatic collapse of the French armed forces in 1940, it is hard to imagine that up until that point they had been recognized—including by the Germans—as the military masters of Europe.

German leaders like Balck and the famous Erwin Rommel provided fearless, even brutal leadership from the front.

The death throes of the Third Reich were not pretty and took many lives. Key Point: Berlin was doomed, yet they continued to resist. Here is how Nazi Germany finally came to its brutal end. In January 12, 1945, Hitler received the news he had been dreading—the Soviet Red Army had launched its winter offensive. He wasted no time. Within four days Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, commander in chief West, received the following order: “CinC West is to withdraw the following formations from operations [they were still involved in the Battle of the Bulge] immediately and refit them: I SS Panz...