Armed with Cameras [Hardcover]

Peter Maslowski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 1993

Drawing on years of interviews with surviving combat cameramen, a distinguished military historian explores the historic importance of cameramen on the battlefield, revealing the unparalleled excitement of the military photographers' experiences and the richness of their legacy. Photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Military historian Maslowski (co-author of For the Common Defense ), whose father became an Air Force combat photographer in 1944, here presents in comprehensive detail the virtually unknown story of how U.S. armed forces produced photography (still and motion picture) in WW II for intelligence training, public information and historical use. Included are cameramen's moving, risky personal exploits, often ahead of main forces. The author describes the travel, morale and supply problems they encountered. Drawing on archival research and interviews conducted over 20 years, Maslowski gives new insight into the making of wartime documentaries such as San Pietro and The Fighting Lady , and into the circumstances behind such coups as the photographing of the U.S. Marine flag-raising on Iwo Jima. Combat photography, the author recalls, helped in mapping enemy positions and boosted both war-industry production and War Bond Drives. Maslowski succeeds in giving proper due to these camera warriors, who at the time received little of the recognition given to their civilian counterparts.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

While it may overstate the case to call them "World War II's most unsung heroes," Maslowski's ( For the Common Defense , Free Pr., 1984) history does provide a much-needed record of the men who took on the onerous task of being "soldiers, skilled technicians, and artists" all at once. Moreover, most of their work was published without credit or byline. In each branch of the military, photographers were assigned everything from strategic and intelligence work to training films and "blood and guts" newsreels intended to raise the fighting spirit back home. Still photographers used the awkward Speed Graphics (unless they had a captured German Leica), while cinematographers, like the author's father, Karl, had to lug around incredibly heavy motion-picture cameras, often under fire and in miserable conditions. Loosely structured and too dependent on the informal reminiscences of the veterans, this is still a welcome addition to military history collections.
- Ron Antonucci, Hudson Lib. & Historical Soc. , Ohio
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; First Edition edition (September 27, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029202655
• ISBN-13: 978-0029202654
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #445,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable work of history., September 22, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Armed with Cameras (Hardcover)

Maslowski, in this book, has turned the journalist's eye back on itself, with remarkable results. He's brought the photojournalists of the Second World War to life with humor, affection, and detail - it's a story that's interesting, well-written, and well worth looking into.

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you for this book. They should not be forgotten., May 29, 2011

By 

M - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Armed with Cameras (Hardcover)

My father, quoted in this book, was not killed in the war, but the war damaged him permanently, as it did so many others. I wish I had known him as he had once been. Thank you, Mr. Maslowski for your thorough research and straightforward writing. These cameramen were one helluva bunch.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Insight into Those Photos and Films We've All Seen, March 1, 2011

By 

mastermindquiet - See all my reviews

This review is from: Armed with Cameras (Hardcover)

As I have mentioned before, I like books about the"what", "how" and "why" rather than the "who" and "when". I also prefer books that cover subjects that are off the beaten track of popular military history. So I was delighted to come across this book. Maslowski writes about the photographers and cameramen of the United States armed services, their duties and equipment. He also related stories of their activities both at the front and also behind the lines. Military photographers often went in harm's way to get the stills and movies that civilians saw in their newspapers, magazines and in the newsreels, but rarely were personally identified or credited. Maslowski describes the subject of documentaries like San Pietro that stirred controversy for their frank depictions of the realisms of battle. He also touches on the more technical aspects of the profession, such as film quality and the development of lighter, better cameras as the war progressed.

This book is a narrative history and is rather anecdotal at times, but is an easy read for those who wish to learn more about the subject.