Robert Michulec

Good photo study covering most of the known Warsaw Pact vehicles. The name tickles me honestly, a counterpoint to the 'Arsenal of Democracy'. Weapons of the West that maim/kill are good; weapons of the East that maim/kill are bad. Mmmmkay?

Whatever you say Mr. Mackey.

In his previous volume, Robert Michulec examined the role of "Das Reich" in the invasion of France. This latest work provides an invaluable partner as it looks at the participation of "Das Reich", now established fully as a Waffen SS division, on the Eastern Front. The volume commences with a description of the "Das Reich" Division as it took part in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union from 22 June 1941 onwards. What followed was a stunning series of victories that swept show more "Das Reich" and other German units across the vast Russian steppes to the very gates of Moscow. However, stiffening Soviet resistance and frigid winter conditions brought the momentum of the assault to a grinding and deadly halt. After refitting in France, the division returned to the Eastern Front and participated in combat in places like Kharkov and in the momentous Battle of Kursk in July 1943. After this, "Das Reich" was involved in the bitter retreat back to the borders of the Fatherland, including episodes such as the effort to relieve the Korsun Pocket, as well as combat in Hungary.

The book documents the waxing and waning fortunes of "Das Reich" in a rich collection of black and white photographs. Pictures show troops in the lead-up to the invasion of Russia, as well as in combat in the vast Soviet interior. These photos show troops, equipment and vehicles in all sorts of conditions from the summer dust to autumn mud and winter snow. For example, motorcycles, cars, trucks, antitank weapons and tanks all find a place between the covers. In this book from Concord Publications' Warrior series, the fighting man of "Das Reich" naturally remains the focus, and it gives some indication of the kind of hardships he endured on the Eastern Front. show less

Book starts off with a brief history of Panzer Army's in the first three summers of the Russian Campaign, 1941 through 1943. There are over sixty pages of photos showing the Third Reich's armor in action. Wartime scenes. Brings you a view of war. There are also color plates that are great for the modeler.

Covers the SS-VT division which was renamed SS-Reich Division (Motorised) and begins with training photos in early 1940 and then documents the campaign in France. Contains close-up details of uniforms, personal equipment and personal weapons and includes "in-action" photos with auxiliary equipment such as motorcycles, wheeled vehicles, halftracks, armored vehicles and antitank weapons too.