Product Description: A detailed description of the German soldier's field tunic throughout the Second World War, in all its aspects: history, symbolism, manufacturing, evolution, insignia, etc., from the pre-war dress uniform to the shabby utilitarian garment of 1945.
Jean-Philippe Borg and Laurent Huart are experienced collectors and historians, who have managed to bring together a large quantity of authentic pieces for this book, all of which are illustrated in full color. Their descriptions are soundly supported by period documents sourced from the German Bundesarchiv.
This book will be an essential reference work for all collectors of Third Reich uniforms as well as World War II military history enthusiasts.
REVIEWS
"...thoroughly satisfying study and certain to become a key title in any reference collection on German Heer uniforms of WWII."Military Trader/ Military Vehicles March 2008
Good, not as good as Pruett and Edwards Good photographs, but some concerns with the work. On page 41, the waffenfarbe for panzergrenadiere is misidentified as that worn by mountain troops - an error far too common in German Army collector's literature, suggesting that the research for this book was done by consulting the same secondary sources that have been circulating misinformation for the past few decades. But we wouldn't know, because there are no footnotes, and worse, no photo credits. However, there is a list of primary sources listed on the back page, and reference is made to this throughout the text.
There are a great many suppositions made and conclusions drawn from facts not in evidence. The cartoon on page 29, for example, shows a pattern of private purchase field blouse in use with turn back cuffs and buttons on the rear that the authors are unfamiliar with. Rather than accepting this contemporary evidence at face value, the authors have labeled it a "mistake". A check of other sources might have yielded better dividends. Private purchase field blouses with turnback cuffs in officers' quality cloth for NCOs were in fact permitted in the German Army, so this cartoon is not necessarily a "mistake". Try Angolia.
There are other examples of conclusions drawn from garments that have no provenance, but are being assumed to be wartime originals. There are also full page photos of such things as assault gun tunics and Waffenrocks, which seem to be mere filler.
Some nice colour photography up to the standards of MILITARIA magazine - though as one may guess, the models all look very clean and very French. Comes close to being as useful as Pruett and Edwards book on Panzer uniforms. A good overall effort and some useful details for collectors. Contemporary photos are clear and the large size format is welcome. Book is affordably priced, unlike others in the same genre.
Feldbluse Excellent book, but short. Wets your appetite for more. Excellent pictures & text - highly recommended.
Ordnung Muss Sein (There Will be Order) This book is exceptional for its size (128 pages). It has many excellent photographs of original tunics: exterior, front, back, interior showing lining, stitching patterns; ink stamps of tailors, garment firms, size and acceptance markings. There are photos of tunics lying flat with equipment, firearms, personal items, with extensive captions identifying all items. Other accurately exposed color photos have male models wearing the tunics with typical gear. The chapters are arranged in chronological order, 1933-1944, with B&W period fotos. Only drawback, only nine pages on officer's tunics. Otherwise, an exhaustive reference with attention to detail and vivid realism you will never tire of examining. A beautiful reference book with no fakes, war movie fantasies, or poor quality reproductions.
Feldbluse This book is by far the best ever written on this subject. The book is detailed with great information and color pictures of original garments.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
