Military Model Scene

Title: SS Specialist Units in Combat

Author: Bob Carruthers

Publisher: Pen and Sword

ISBN: 978-1-47386-848-9

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Another addition to the extensive Images of War series which takes the SS for the subject.  The Waffen SS are well known for their Panzer, Panzer Grenadier and Infantry units but this one extends our knowledge of the organisation by focussing on their specialist support teams, such as cavalry, engineers, artillery, signallers, medics, bakers and more.

It starts off with an Introduction which tells us about the background to the SS as an organisation and its' various leaders.  That is then followed by an extensive collection of archive photos.  Helpful captioning, though it is all put together as a single collection, it isn't split up into chapters/sections in any way.  Leading the way were the reconnaissance troops, the despatch riders and motorcycle combinations along with combat engineers.  Then we get thing like a vast stack of bread and inspectors checking the quality of sausage meat before it is fed to the fighting troops.  We get to see the supporting artillery troops, along with their equipment, bridging operations, medics in action and paratroopers.

So we get to see some of the essential support services available to the Waffen SS, with detail of their uniforms and field equipment over the years of the war.  Add heavier equipment such as artillery, assault boats and more, modellers will like this in particular.  The SS are always a difficult subject as they are well known for their various war crimes on both Eastern and Western fronts, but that isn't the entire story.  My father fought against them in Italy and NW Europe.  He always remembered them as particularly tough opponents but never saw their atrocities at first hand.

 

Thanks to Pen and Sword for this review copy.

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Robin