Reference Suggestions

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Guys!

My mom (yes my mom, Im still a kid remember ) is comming over to the states to vist in a few weeks. There is a super reference book store in the city where she lives (like 10 minute walk from our house!!)and they can get about any book out there, and she asked me if there are any books that I need, so I say ofcourse I need some, but the question is what.

I want to know what the best reference (for sculpting and painting) books are for

* German Uniforms (SS and Wehrmacht)
* US Uniforms regular GI's and Paratroopers.
* Great Northern War
* Ancient Greek era stuff, like Persian, Troy, Alexandre The Great stuff.

Also, any other book with just plain old WWII pictures, like a Time Magazine book that I looked at over at Johns house, with tons of pictures from the war.

Would appreciate any help! I don't know too much about searching for reference books, so any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[amherbert]

Well, you could get a long list...

For uniform references, I find the titles in the Europa Militaria series are great. Reenactors are photographed along with folks wearing the old uniforms. All color pics. The Camouflage Uniforms of the Waffen SS book is great for all that kind of stuff.

Histoire and Collections have published some excellent reference books. They have a few titles covering the Normandy campaign and beyond.

A great reference for that campaign (uniforms etc) is: "D-Day: Operation Overlord: From the landing at Normandy to the LIberation of Paris" from Smithmark books ISBN 0-8317-2188-X
Full of color photos of combat gear from both sides, paras, regular and elite troops. It is an excellent reference.

I have lots of other sources, but those I've mentioned above are the most useful.

Cheers
Andy

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Andy,

Thanks for your fast reply, I will check out the Normady book, sounds interesting!

I have a couple of the Europa Militaire books, the one on the Waffen SS is a good one. I think I read somewhere about the German uniform books (I think a 2 part series) that are like the 'bible' for German uniform fans, I dont know the title or the publisher though.

 

[amherbert]

Hi Anders,

I forgot to mention Brian Davis' "German Army Uniforms and Insignia 1933-1945" ISBN 1-86019-8694. A super book covering all aspects of the uniforms in use. Lots of detailed photos, and descriptions of the items. Includes all you want to know about waffenfarbe etc!

I know there is a massive tome from Schiffer on Waffen SS camo uniforms. Very expensive. I have seen it in Borders a few times.

I'm not sure of other 'bibles' for that stuff. There are some Militaria books that are useful too. They dwell on spotting fakes though, rather than showing a lot of period photos or actors in the uniforms. Seeing a guy wearing the gear is useful for sculpting and painting!

The best photo book I have on German WW2 stuff is "God, Honor, Fatherland" by Nipe and Spezzano from RZM publishing. Great big clear photos. It covers Grossdeutschland from late 1942 to early 1944. Superb book for seeing uniforms, equipment etc. I've not been as impressed with other titles from them, pricey and the photos aren't as good.

The Histoire and Collections books (like 21st Army Group, Battle for Brest etc.) cover Allied forces in a like manner.

Cheers
Andy

 

[RobH]

Hi Anders

What references do you have already?

Regarding the US, I listed some good references in my Hedgerow thread a while back:
The Normandy Campaign - Robert Hunt & David Mason 1976: horribly out of date but good pictures and cheap in a second hand shop.
The GI in Combat - Steve Zaloga + Ron Volstad (Concord)
Operation Cobra - Steve Zaloga (Osprey Campaign 88)
The WWII GI - Richard Windrow (W&G)
The Battle of the Hedgerows - Leo Daugherty (Ian Allen)

the bold titles are best uniform ones.

In addition, there are two simply superb Histoire and Collections books with good US stuff in:
Spearheading D-Day (an amazing book)
Normandy (this has LOTS of US para stuff, regular GI and the 12th SS HJ div as period photos and reconstructions)
It's a shame there aren't more books on later war subjects like this.

You may have some of these already

Rob

 

[Shane]

Anders,

For the Greek stuff:

Greece and Rome at War, Peter Connolly

Excellent with lots of good illustrations.

Shane

 

[Pete_H]

Anders,
Here's a list of my suggested references:

For Waffen SS uniforms ...
Beaver, M. Borsarello, J. (1997) Camouflage Uniforms of the Waffen-Ss : A Photographic Reference Schiffer.

For WWII US Army ...
Winrow, R. Hawkins, T. (1993) The World War II Gi: Us Army Uniforms 1941-45 in Color Photographs Motorbooks International.
Ross, R.T. 2000) The Supercommandos: First Special Service Force, 1942-1944 An Illustrated History Schiffer.
Gawne, J. (1999) Spearheading D-Day: American Special Units of the Normandy Invasion Histoire & Collections.


For WWII US Army Airborne ...
Rentz, W. (1999) Geronimo!: U.S. Airborne Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment in World War II Schiffer.
Bando, M. (2001) 101st Airborne: The Screaming Eagles at Normandy Motorbooks International.

Hope this helps ...

 

[Anders Heintz]

Thanks Guys!

Just what I needed!

I do have the spearhead book, but it lacks on detail shot of uniforms.

I will see if they have the Windrow Hawkins book as I am sure John needs his copy of the book back

Also on the list to get is Geronimo! And Camouflage Uniforms of the Waffen-SS : A Photographic Reference. I will also check out the Greece and Rome at War book by Peter Connolly.

Thanks guys!!!

 

[Pete_H]

Anders,
When it comes to US airborne, I cannot recommend Mark Bando's books enough. Even though they don't have photos of re-enactors, they include hundreds of never-before-seen photos as well as amazing stories as told by the men themselves.

 

[Einion]

Hi Anders, you in the market for any sculpting/anatomy books too or just uniform references for now? Titles currently in print only or OOP okay also?

Einion