Nigel ThomasThe German Army in World War I (2): 1915–17 (Men-at-Arms, 407)

Great item for painting aid and wargamers

Recommended

ANOTHER HOME RUN IN THE OSPREY SERIES "MEN AT ARMS." VOLUME 2 IS AS GOOD AS VOLUME 1. MILITARY MODELERS AND HISTORY JUNKIES CAN FIND IT ALL IN THE PAGES OF THIS LITTLE GEM. GREAT ART WORK, AND DETAILED TABLES OF UNIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. A CLEAR AND CONCISE NARRATIVE BY NIGEL THOMAS ADDS TO THE ENJOYMENT.

The entire Men at Arms series are fascinating books with incredible detail. If you are a newbee to military history or an expert, you will love reading these.

Great book

This book is the second volume in a three part series reviewing the organisation, uniforms and insignia of the German Army during the Great War. In particular it covers the uniforms and organisation of German Army during the period between the introduction of the German M1915 uniform on 21 September 1915 and the day before the opening of the British offensive at Arras on 8 April 1917.The book itself is very much a technical book dealing with both the broad strokes and the minutiae of the uniforms of the German Army of the period. Its printed text is both compact and dense and requires careful attention while reading.The volume's content consists of 48 pages (including plates)and it is divided into 4 principal sections and an index.Its first section deals with the German Empire and Army in 1915 and it covers the High Command and higher formations of the German Armies, Corps, Divisions and Divisional establishments. Its value is mostly historic.The second section deals (briefly) with German strategy and tactics on the Western, Eastern,Italian, West Balkan, Rumanian and Middle Eastern Fronts, but as might be expected in a publication of this size,it really only touches on 'grand strategy' (eg Verdun) and it barely touches upon German military tactics between 1915 and 1917 if at all.The third section covers the German uniforms of the period and here is where the true value of this publication lies. It overviews the uniforms of the Line infantry (Assault troops), second line infantry (Reserve, Landwehr and Landsturm), Light Infantry (Jagers, Rifles, Cyclists, Mountain Troops) Machine Gun units, General Officers and Staff, Cavalry (Cuirassiers, Dragoons, Hussars, Lancers and Light Horse) Technical troops (Engineers and Mortar troops) Communication troops, the Air Service, Supply troops, Medical and veterinary corps troops, Labour units, Military police and their insignia.This section also contains 8 pages of coloured plates which may be of assistance to wargamers and modellers alike.Section 4 contains the usual Osprey commentary on the booklet's central plates together with some addditional black and white photographs.Overall it is a useful addition to the expanding number of Osprey publications dealing with the First World War and it is likely be of some use to wargamers or modellers who are interested in this period.

Pleased with this book

well worth replacing or adding to the original single volume ww1 german forces book. Great colour plates & lots of new infomation

Excelente segundo título de la serie que Osprey dedicada al ejército alemán de la IGM en la serie Men at Arms.Como todos los de esta editorial es información básica pero rigurosa, entrando en este segundo volumen en continuar con la organización del ejército alemán tras el estancamiento del avance hacia Francia iniciado en 1914.Se repasan las operaciones más importantes llevadas a cabo en los frentes de combate durante los años 1915-1917.A continuación se recogen los uniformes y sobre todo los cambios habidos en los mismos en todas las unidades del ejército Imperial, tales como la aparición del casco de acero y la nueva guerrera de más austera confección y diseño.Las láminas de Ramiro Bujeiro como es habitual son de una gran calidad y recogen lo más importante descrito en el texto.

Very Informative