Book Alert: Sturmgeschütz: Panzer, Panzerjäger, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe Units 1943–45

October 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Osprey has released a new hardcover book by German armor researcher Thomas Anderson titled Sturmgeschütz: Panzer, Panzerjäger, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe Units 1943-45.  Anderson has written several books for Osprey over the last few years on German tanks and armored units.  This book is a 272 page hardcover with over 200 images.

Publisher’s Description:

During the inter-war years a new kind of support weapon was recommended to the German general staff by Erich von Manstein: an armored assault gun designed to destroy prepared defensive positions and enemy tanks, laying the groundwork for an assault by the Panzers and Panzergrenadiers.

First rolled out in 1940, the Sturmgeschütz assault gun was an instant success, and played a vital role in the Wehrmacht throughout the war. Cheaper and quicker to produce than the German Panzers, it was deployed widely and with great success, particularly in the later years of the war, forming an integral part of armored units as well as its more traditional infantry support role.

This book traces the story of the Sturmgeschütz from its original design in the 1930s to its use in the last desperate days of the German war effort. Drawing on original material from German archives and private collections, and replete with over 200 images, Sturmgeschütz tells the thrilling story of the Wehrmacht’s unsung workhorse.

 

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Book Alert: Panther

September 28, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Osprey has released a new book by German author Thomas Anderson on the Panther tank, simply titled Panther.  This is a 224 page hardcover with photographs and illustrations.  Anderson has written several books on German WWII armor, including volumes on the Tiger, the Ferdinand and the Sturmgeschutz.  Oddly enough, this is the second hardcover that Osprey has released in the past few years on the Panther, in 2012 they published Panther: Germany’s quest for combat dominance by Michael Green.

Publisher’s Description:

The German Panther is one of the most famous, and greatest, tanks of World War II. Often considered the most elegant tank design of the war, it embodied a balance of firepower, armour protection, and mobility unmatched by any other tank of the period. This new study by German armour expert Thomas Anderson draws upon original German archival material to tell the story of the birth of the Panther in response to the Soviet tanks encountered in 1941. He then analyzes its success on the battlefield and the many modifications and variants that also came into play. Illustrated throughout with rare photographs and drawings, many of which have never been published in English before, this is a unique history of one of the most famous tanks of World War II.

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Book Alert: Sturmartillerie: Spearhead of the infantry

August 16, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Fans of WWII German armor will be happy to know that on August 25, Osprety Publishing has slated for release a new book on the Sturmartillerie.  Titled Sturmartillerie: Spearhead of the infantry, this new volume is hardcover with 288 pages and authored by Thomas Anderson. Anderson is a specialist in the German armored fighting vehicles of World War II, having written books on the Tiger and the Ferdinand and Elefant Tank Destroyer for Osprey.  This new book appears similar in size and format to his previous Osprey hardcovers, at least based on the cover (yes, we know we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover!)  Mr Anderson also written for Osprey a history of the Panzerwaffe in two volumes.  The first volume is available now, the second volume will be available next year.

Publishers Description:

The Sturmartillerie was a key part of Germany’s armoured arsenal throughout World War II. Its armoured assault guns were designed to support the artillery on the battlefield, largely using the purpose-built Sturmgeschütz infantry support gun.
This new and exhaustive study details the development and operational history of this innovative force, as well as describing how its role and the tactics it employed changed from the glory years of Blitzkrieg through to the desperate defence of the last years of the war. It also describes the technical development and evolution of the vehicles employed, and includes combat action reports and excerpts from interviews with veterans.

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Book News: The History of the Panzerwaffe

December 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment

panzerwaffeEarlier in the year we posted that the book “The History of the Panzerwaffe Volume 1: 1939-1942” by Thomas Anderson would be released on October 20 of this year.  That date has been pushed back to December 17, 2015 according to the Osprey Publishing website.  Thomas Anderson has written several hardcover books for Osprey on German WW2 Armor.  This new book promises to be a substantial work, coming in at 304 pages.  And just in time for Christmas for all those Panzer fans out there.

Publishers Description:

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
The Germans transformed armoured warfare from a lumbering and ponderous experiment in World War I into something that could decide the outcome of conflicts. This technical and operational history is the definitive guide to the legendary Panzerwaffe, from its very infancy to the days when it made Europe its garden path at the height of Nazi German power. With rare and revealing combat reports, along with photographs sourced from previously unseen private and archival collections, it uncovers the technical and operational stories of the formidable armoured beasts that formed the backbone of the German war machine – tanks such as the Panzer I, II and 38(t).

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
A German national, Thomas Anderson is a specialist in German armored fighting vehicles of World War II. He has spent decades researching in archives throughout Germany and the rest of Europe to discover little known facts and never previously published photographs of the might of the Panzerwaffe. A modeler, he regularly contributes to popular modeling and historical magazines across the globe including Military Modelcraft International (UK), Steel Art (Italy), Historia Militar (Spain) and Batailles & Blindes (France) as well as many others.

CONTENTS
1 Laying the foundation – pre-war establishment 2 The seizure of Czechoslovakia – backing the Panzerwaffe 3 Poland – the ordeal 4 France – at eye level 5 The Balkans – the unwanted campaign 6 Russia – an overmighty opponent? 7 1942 – upgrading the Panzers 8 North Africa – defeat instead of superiority 9 Dark prospects – Waiting for the new tanks 10 Tank recovery and repair 1935-42

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Book Alert: The History of the Panzerwaffe Volume 1: 1939-1943

May 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment

panzerwaffeAmazon is listing a October 20, 2015 release date for the upcoming book “The History of the Panzerwaffe Volume 1: 1939-1943 by Thomas Anderson.  Published by Osprey, the book is listed as having 304 pages and is in hardcover.  In regards to books on armor, Osprey is primarily known for their “New Vanguard” series of slender soft cover books.  Over the past few years Osprey has published several hardcover books on armor as well, all of them focusing on German WW2 panzers.

Publishers Description:

This is the definitive history of the evolution of the feared German Panzerwaffe, from its earliest beginings to the height of its success. With rare and revealing combat reports and photographs sourced from previously unseen private and archival collections, it uncovers the technical and operational stories of the formidable armored beasts that formed the backbone of the German war machine–tanks such as the Panzer I, II and 38(t).

The Germans transformed armored warfare from a lumbering and ponderous experiment in World War I, into something that could decide the outcome of conflicts. This technical and operational history is the definitive guide to the legendary Panzerwaffe, from its very infancy to the days when it made Europe its garden path at the height of Nazi German power.

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Book Alert: Ferdinand and Elefant Tank Destroyer by Thomas Anderson

February 3, 2015 by 2 Comments


ferdinand ospreyOsprey Publishing is releasing a new hardcover book on the German WWII Ferdinand and Elefant tank destroyer on April 21, 2015.  This book is by Thomas Anderson.  In 2013 Osprey published a book by the same author on the German Tiger tank.  Guessing from the dust jacket, this new book on the Ferdinand will be similar in style to the Tiger book.  While Osprey Publishing’s recent hardcover book on tanks have been limited to WWII German vehicles (Panther, Tiger, Ferdinand), their New Vanguard series of softcover books cover a wide variety of tanks and armored vehicles.

Publishers Description: [Read more…]

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