Concord No. 6513
This book is essentially a photo reference overview of the uniforms and equipment of German soldiers fighting on the Eastern Front in 1943 and 1944. With such a broad and varied subject to cover in just 52 pages I think it is fair to say that this is in no way an in-depth analysis of German uniforms and equipment, but more a good introductory outline for anyone who would like to learn a little more about what was being worn and carried in that theatre at that time.
After a brief, three page, introductory outline covering the genral make-up of German Infantry units, this gets straight into the photo collection, taking a brief break at page 25 for four full colour illustrated plates with in-depth discriptions of the uniforms they are wearing and the equipment they are carrying.
The photos are all very good, averaging three to a page with, it seems, only the best, clearest photos used and I did find the captions to be very informative. It is then from these that the reader has the chance to glean some very useful little morsels of information, as this book doesn’t have any other text sections, relying on the photo captions for the bulk of the information contained within.
Overall it’s a very good look at the uniforms and equipment of the German infantryman on the Eastern Front. It isn’t as in depth as many of the books which are more devoted to educating on the specifics of the uniforms and equipment, but the real value is in the small details bought out about through the photo captions, not to mention that the photos themselves do provide a wealth of good references.
So not a heavy read, and if you’re looking for something that at the end will leave you fully versed in the intricacies of German uniforms and equipment then this is not it. But it is an interesting read, and well worth the browse. Personally I find any photo collection book that when you finish reading through it leaves you feeling that you’ve learnt a few more little tidbits, even if they are just small ones, is well worth the read. And this one is worth the read.
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Author : Gordon Rottman & Stephen Andrew Publisher : Concord Publications Company Pages : 52 containing B&W photos and colour drawings Binding : Softcover Size : 217mm x 281mm ISBN : 9623611048 .Click on thumbnails to enlarge image.
