Victor Davis Hanson Features American Heritage Museum Leaders in New Episode on WWII Tank Myths
New video explores the real story behind “superior” German armor in World War II
The American Heritage Museum is featured in a new episode of Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words on YouTube, where renowned historian Victor Davis Hanson sits down with American Heritage Museum President Rob Collings and Board Member Bill Boller to tackle one of World War II’s most persistent legends: the supposed battlefield superiority of German tanks.
In the episode, “Debunking Myths Around WWII German Tank Superiority,” Hanson, Collings, and Boller dive into how wartime propaganda, postwar memoirs, and pop culture helped create the enduring image of invincible German armor—especially vehicles such as the Tiger and Panther. Drawing on the American Heritage Museum’s extensive collection of WWII tanks and armored vehicles, they discuss how factors like reliability, production numbers, logistics, crew training, and combined-arms tactics often mattered far more than sheer armor thickness or gun size.
The conversation highlights how American and Allied tanks—such as the M4 Sherman and others represented in the museum’s galleries—performed in real combat conditions, and why the narrative of “technically inferior” Allied armor overlooks decisive advantages in mobility, maintainability, and industrial support. The episode also uses specific vehicles from the museum’s collection as case studies, underscoring why the American Heritage Museum is recognized as one of the premier destinations in the world for understanding WWII armored warfare firsthand.
“We’re always working to separate myth from reality,” said Rob Collings in the discussion. “When you stand next to these tanks, see their engineering up close, and study the archival record, the story of World War II armor becomes far more complex—and far more impressive—than the simple ‘super tank’ narrative suggests.”
Bill Boller adds critical context from the perspective of design tradeoffs and battlefield experience, helping viewers understand why no tank can be evaluated in isolation from doctrine, terrain, logistics, and the broader war effort.
The collaboration with Victor Davis Hanson builds on the museum’s mission to bring history to life through scholarship, artifacts, and immersive exhibits—connecting armchair historians and first-time learners alike with a more accurate, evidence-based understanding of the past.
Watch the episode on YouTube:
Victor Davis Hanson: Debunking Myths Around WWII German Tank Superiority
Visitors who want to go deeper after watching the discussion are invited to explore the American Heritage Museum in person in Hudson, Massachusetts, where dozens of original WWII tanks and armored vehicles—Allied and Axis—are displayed in dynamic, story-driven exhibits that illuminate the real history behind the machines.
For museum hours, tickets, and upcoming events, visit the American Heritage Museum website at www.AmericanHeritageMuseum.org.
