Career Assessment
Balck was a prime example of a class of German officers who rose rapidly through the ranks during the war, together with Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and Gerneralobersts Erhard Raus and Josef Harpe. Balck started the war as an Oberstleutnant (lieutenant-colonel) in 1939 and ended it as a General der Panzertruppe (lieutenant-general of the armored troops). Balck is often described as a very gifted commander of armoured troops, and his handling of 11. Panzerdivision and 48. Panzerkorps during 1942-3 would support this view.
Many of the battles Balck participated in are described in Generalmajor Friedrich von Mellenthin's Panzer Battles. Friedrich von Mellenthin was Balck's chief of staff for a long time and a fervent admirer of Balck with whom he had a very good working relationship. Balck's own autobiography is entitled Ordnung im Chaos .
His career, and in particular the lack of a conviction for war crimes, was contrasted in some detail with that of Jodl by Freeman Dyson (in Weapons and Hope).
Read more about this topic: Hermann Balck
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