Customer Reviews

Blitzkrieg: Armour Camouflage & Markings, 1939-1940

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Steve Zaloga is one of the foremost armor historians alive, as well as a superb model builder. This book, originally published by Squadron in the United States and Arms and Armour Press in Britain (and frequently reissued), is an excellent study of the AFV markings and camouflage practices of all the combatants in the first phase of World War Two. As such, it is one of the only sources in English for French, Polish and Belgian vehicle schemes, and it has valuable information for British, German and Russian vehicles as well. Features an excellent selection of b&w photos, as well as color drawings of all major vehicle types. An excellent resource for model builders and vehicle restorers.

I first saw a copy of this book at a friend's house. We are miniatures wargamers and are getting into gaming the early part of WW2. This book has some very good photographs of obscure yet important (for the time period) vehicles. The neat thing about the photos is that they show the various AFVs and vehicles from different angles, allowing you the advantage of seeing all the different types of markings the equipment of the different nationalities utilized (or permitted, in the case of the more "personal" types of markings). The author has some intriguing and informative text, but the real value of this volume to me is the great amount of vehicle marking information, nomenclature, orders of battle of minor powers (Belgium, France, Poland) as well as the major players, and information on numbering and naming the AFVs in each army. Additionally you get color plates of the most significant vehicles, enabling you to visualize camoflage and standard paint markings. Overall this book is a gem for painters of miniature vehicles, and I feel it was an incredible value for the low price I paid. The seller shipped quickly, corresponded with me frequently every step of the way and was a real pleasure to buy from.

The information in the book is pretty good, there are some "Why was this included" moments, like the Reichwehr schemes and some other small problems but all in all, I was fairly impressed. I wish they had also gone into more detail about the Dutch. The impressions Zaloga gives don't mesh with later information. I think a rework of this book is long overdue.