As featured in.

The Society for Army Historical Research 2015 Christmas Book List

Charles Messenger is a magnificent storyteller and a master of drama. Throughout his lengthy account of von Rundstedt’s life, the author’s clear and elegant style, coupled with his keen attention to detail will keep the reader captivated till the very end.


The book describes in great detail the traditions and legacy of the Prussian officer corps and how this contributed to von Rundstedt’s character and judgment on different events.

The author recounts and scrutinizes the multiple events which had shaped von Rundstedt’s life in sufficient detail: from his early life to his participation in two world wars and finally his detainment as a POW in Britain and his trials as a war criminal.

Special attention has been devoted to von Rundstedt’s character, his relationship with the troops and his fellow officers and especially with Hitler. The author thoroughly analyzes the reasons as to why von Rundstedt kept his distance from the 1944 Bomb plotters, his participation in the Court of Honor, his famous Commando Order, and finally how much he knew about the atrocities committed behind the frontlines.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Field Marshal’s life and the WWII enthusiasts.

Great Models

A welcome reprint of a balanced and most interesting account of the life of Field Marshal Gerd von Runstedt.

The Long, Long Trail

This book should be read and re-read as necessary: we have still much to learn from it.

British Commission for Military History

I found this book to be very interesting. I was enlightened on the conduct and code of honor that the old Prussian General Staff represented as they were the last of the gentlemen warriors from an earlier time.

The Lone Star Book Review

.. this is a much welcomed outstanding biography of one of Germany’s foremost commanders. Personifying the traditional Prussian image, the Allied regarded him as one of the most outstanding German generals. Thos who plotted against Hitler saw in him a possible successor and leader. After service in the Great War he rose steadily through the ranks. This is his story.
A first class biography. 10/10.

The Great War Magazine, May 2012

A Biography of Field Marshal Gerd von Runstedt by Charles Messenger
Old soldiers never die, they only fade away. In this timely re-issue, Charles Messenger recounts the life of a man who was first and foremost a soldier of the old school; an officer and a gentleman. Gerd von Runstedt appears in so many episodes of the collective dramas which make up World War II. But there was so much more to the man: His lineage, his career in the Great War, his stature as a staff officer and as a cavalry leader. He oozed tradition and was the embodiment of the Junker spirit. There is so much to admire.
For me, the account of Runstedt’s capture and imprisonment is so well documented it becomes compelling. That the post war British were muddled and quite ill at ease with their undignified plans to offload him and other field marshals for others to try as war criminals is something to take no pride in. Britain was as worn out as the generals it locked up and the new era was kind to none of them.
I’ve had the pleasure of attending some of the author’s lectures and can attest that he has a solid no nonsense approach to his business as a speaker and a writer. There is no gloss, just a well directed stream of facts and analysis. He is good value. This is an excellent book which will fill in a lot of the blanks you may have in your knowledge of the one field marshal whose name always crops up in major events.

War History Online