"Your book is very different and unique in its type. You have commemorated the people. I found the combination of extracts from the war diaries, contemporary witness accounts, documents, photos and militaria items very interesting. As a collector of militaria of the German Armed Forces, I naturally found the illustrations of original items in a very good condition extremely appealing. It was also the first time that I read about RAD (Reich Labor Service) members as fighters and not just as workers”
Julien Panosetti, Carouge / Switzerland – March 2007 -

"In my opinion Mr. Kindel, you have managed to produce a book about the life and death of the 8th Panzer Division that is comprehensive in depth and breadth and also covers the adjacent levels. The detail accuracy of many aspects, the photo material and the contained contributions on the individual members of the 8th Panzer Division and the valuable contemporary witness accounts make the people visible. It makes me recall the Brandenburg poet, Theodor Fontane, who said: “History is best told by stories.”
Henning Annas, Stahnsdorf – March 2007 –

"The long-expected Volume II of the troops history of the 8th Panzer Division is finally available. And I can say that it was worthwhile waiting! Especially the brilliant mixture of historical facts, associated meaningful contemporary photographs and the illustration of the variety of the still existing, original collectors' items makes this documentation so valuable for me. Those who have tried to gather such facts before know how much effort, patience and perseverance such work entails. There is also a well-balanced price-performance ratio, from which some publishing houses can learn a thing or two!"
Juergen Wilhelm, Zellingen - 26 July 2007 –

"I have meanwhile read both volumes of the documentation on the 8th Panzer Division. I find the complete works excellent and, above all, very interesting because of the diversification of the areas associated with the topic! The personal stories and the pictures of death make the individual fates of the soldiers unforgettable despite the broadly covered topic. One is constantly aware that thousands of individual fates are being described. Well, I wanted to briefly praise you for your work. Both volumes are really recommendable!"
Oliver Loerscher, Trier - 26 July 2007 –

"At the age of nine, the author lost his father, Captain (Hptm.) Oskar Kindel, Fhr. I / Pz.Gren.Rgt.8 of the 8th Pz.Div., in the mid-section of the east front in 1943. He has survived bomb attacks and low-flying aircraft attacks and experienced the invasion by the French in 1945. He regards himself as contemporary witness and compiled and published this comprehensive, high-quality and patriotic book in remembrance of his father and in recognition of the German generation of that time. This piece of work can only be warmly recommended, also because of its well-balanced price-performance ratio."
KAMERADEN, independent magazine for old and young soldiers, issue 644 - Oct. 2007 -

"I have read an infinite number of books covering the same or similar contents during my meanwhile 17 years of activity in the Association of Knight's Cross Holders. Your two books, however, are definitely an absolute exception. Presentation, quality of the photo and text contributions and the complete scope are simply impressive. This also justifies the price. I hope that your work, which one can certainly also describe as your lifework, will find appropriate circulation and recognition."
Dipl.Kfm. Jürgen Heinze, Berlin - 6 November 2007 -

"5 Stars for: The 8th Panzer Division, Development and Proof in Battle 1939 - 1945!
In a large and excellent work, Richard K i n d e l, born in 1934, achieved the detailed portrayal of the history of the 8th Panzer Division of the German Army. In word and picture, in two wonderful green linen hardback books. The author needed almost 10 years to view, sort and share the comprehensive material with interested readers. On not less than almost 1500 pages of the finest paper and printing method, the reader experiences the everyday soldier life, both in peacetime during the formation of the motorized and armored divisions of those times and in wartime, and, after the start of the Poland campaign in 1939 and the transition to WW II, the battles of the division in France, Yugoslavia and above all the prolonged one in Russia. In numerous black/white photos, soldiers of all ranks of this elite division portray the strenuous soldier life around the clock in different seasons and in almost all life situations, including the lethal bullet. The development of modern infantry weapons, paired with new tank types, which were on par with the Russian 'T34' standard tank on the battlefield, is described very comprehensibly. Besides the soldier's hardship during the retreat and in severe winters, the reader also experiences the Russian people and the captured soldiers. The two volumes supplement each other excellently and also include contributions from other arms of the forces, like Navy and Air Force. Besides the medical service, also organizations that directly supplied and cared for the troops in the field. Besides readers interested in history and war history, the author also aimed his portrayal at the comrades and their families who had to participate in this dreadful war and often paid for it with death or numerous injuries. On the other hand, the text and picture material is also a challenge for the meanwhile two younger generations to perceive and understand how their grandfather or father and others lived in almost six years of war and survived or died with belief in a good cause. Two easily readable and clearly arranged volumes with historically explosive content as learning material for descending sons, grandsons and great-grandsons. "
Dr. Eberhard Scharffetter, Bremerhaven - 6th September 2009 -