DEUTSCHE SOLDATEN: The Uniforms, Equipment and Personal Effects of the German Soldier 1939-1945 [Hardcover]

Agustin Sainz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2008

There have been all manner of books written on the German Army since the end of World War II. Books on the men, their tactics, commanders, equipment, weaponry and histories of the major battles they fought in can be found on the bookshelves of almost all 20th Century history enthusiasts.

Deutsche Soldaten is a stunning visual history of the German soldier and provides a unique reflection of how the men lived, ate, and washed themselves on the front, or behaved when at rest, what were their pastimes, ambitions, worries and how they spent their leave, through the collections of personal items and other artifacts they left behind.

The author, an expert on 20th-Century military history and an avid collector of military items from many different armies, makes available to the general public for the first time all these artifacts which he has collected over the years in order to create this complete illustrated history.

This book can best be understood as a G.I. Collector's Guide (Histoire and Collections, 2005) for the German soldier. The treatment is very similar with page after page of pieces of uniform and equipment the even the most knowledgeable collector will find new items amongst. There are a great many close up photographs that will be invaluable for collectors looking to see what the genuine article looks like.

Lavishly illustrated with thousands of color photographs, this large format book is being jointly produced by Casemate and Andrea Press in Spain.

To gain a full understanding of the level of detail contained in the book, please visit our website where you can see a selection of sample spreads.

REVIEWS

"an interesting forensic look at the late 1930s/early 1940s through a modern look at the 'kit" of the average soldier. An invaluable reference...definitely recommended." Cybermodeler.com, 12/2008

"marvelous, educational collection offers an exceptional testimony of a man in the name of all men who were made protagonists very much in spite of themselves."Bill Stone. 12/2008

"...by far the best illustrated reference on the uniforms and equipment of the German Soldier in WII that I have ever seen. A must have for militaria collectors, re-enactors, illustrators and costumers."Larry Hama, 12/2008

"a fascinating book... invaluable to modelers as well as collectors and historians. Very highly recommended"Internet Modeler, 12/2008

"...possibly the very best reference book on WWII German infantry uniforms and field equipment ever written. The color photography..is outstanding... For the collector of German WWII pieces, this book would be a necessity. For the rest of us, it is a fascinating read on the soldier's life from a perspective we have not seen before."International Plastic Modeler's Society, 1/2009

"...an exceptional reference for modelers, Militaria Collectors and general Military History buffs as well. A Must Have."Armor Modeler and Preservation Society, 01/2009

"This lavish and generous publication is a visual feast produced to the very highest production standards to show the most incredible range of depth and detail....the most comprehensive and extraordinary collection packed with an unbelievable amount of detail..."AFV Modeler, 01/2009

"This book is indeed the most in-depth examination of the German infantryman during WWII and will surely become the "bible" for any modeler, re-enactor, historian, in fact anybody interested in the Second World War history.:Military Modeling, 01/2009

"...covers every detail you could have ever imagined possible... If you have any interest in the history of the WWII German Soldier then this book is a must have"Raider, 01/2009 "astonishing work...a close up and personal look at every aspect of the equipment, uniform and effects of the German Soldier in WWII... mesmerizing... the ultimate guide to the World War II German Soldier." Scale Military Modeler, 03/09

".Historians, researchers, collectors, etc will find the innumerable color photographs helpful and often decisive in identifying such varied articles...One gets a more refined idea of camp life as well as combat." Midwest Book Review, 06/2009

Product Details

• Hardcover: 356 pages
• Publisher: Casemate (October 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932033963
• ISBN-13: 978-1932033960
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > History > Europe > Germany

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deutsche Soldaten by Augustín Saíz, November 18, 2008

By 

Larry Hama "Larry Hama" (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DEUTSCHE SOLDATEN: The Uniforms, Equipment and Personal Effects of the German Soldier 1939-1945 (Hardcover)

Deutsche Soldaten
Uniforms, Equipment & Personal Items of the German Soldier 1939-45
By Austín Saíz

This is by far the best illustrated reference on the uniforms and equipment of the German soldier in WWII that I have ever seen. What I find particularly fascinating about this book is that every item depicted (in astoundingly clear color photographs) comes from the personal collection of the author (which must rival or surpass the collections of many museums.) The section on uniforms shows us clear views of Wermacht underwear, safety pins, and shoe trees as well as the usual blouses, camouflage smocks and greatcoats. The weapons section has brass fuses for anti-personnel mines, the instruction booklet for the panzerfaust, and the cardboard ammuntion boxes for the 98k rifle showing the labels and how the cartridges were packed inside. The health and hygiene section boasts evacuation labels (tags for the wounded) toothbrushes and even condoms. I am sure this is not a complete catalogue of Mr. Saiz's collection, but he has chosen his examples wisely and taken pains to have it all photographed with an eye to imparting the important details.
The descriptions and notes are concise, clear and supply history, insight into manufacture, and an explanation of normal usage. For example; a field dressing set in an inner pocket is not merely shown, it is noted that "the smaller bandage was used to wad the bullet entry wound while the other was to cover the exit wound--"
A must-have for militaria collectors, re-enactors, illustrators and costumers. It goes on my shelf alongside "The U.S. War Department Handbook on German Military Forces" (Louisiana State University Press 1990 [reprint of a WWII government text,) "Military Forces of the Third Reich" (Wild Mook #39 World Photo Press 1980,) and "Soldat" volumes I & II by Cyrus A. Lee (Pictorial Histories Publishing Company 1988.)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Collection on German Soldiers of WWII, December 9, 2008

By 

Mr. Truthteller (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DEUTSCHE SOLDATEN: The Uniforms, Equipment and Personal Effects of the German Soldier 1939-1945 (Hardcover)

This is a phenomenal book. It displays and explains in some detail the uniforms, equipment, and personal effects of German soldiers in World War II. Items are often shown from several angles, with close-ups of certain features. Variations in different items are also shown. The pictures themselves are sharp and clear, showing great detail.

(By the way. Don't be misled by the cover photo, the pictures of the actual items in the book are in color. There are not many black and white photos in the book and those that are used are put there simply for comparison purposes.)

Most amazingly, the items pictured generally look to be in new, or like-new, condition. The book is almost like a catalog in this respect. It is sure to become an essential, if not the essential, resource book of its kind.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The single best photo essay on the life of the typical Soldat!, March 12, 2009

By 

Nachtjager (Baton Rouge, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DEUTSCHE SOLDATEN: The Uniforms, Equipment and Personal Effects of the German Soldier 1939-1945 (Hardcover)

I cannot understand why anyone would give this book less than five stars. It is exactly what its title implies - an in-depth and exhaustive look at the everyday details of a typical WWII German infantry soldier, and nothing more. The photos are extraordinary and every little aspect of what the typical German soldat encountered and dealt with in everyday life are laid out in detail with full color photos. Everything from his foot powders to his snacks, to every aspect of uniforms and equipment, it's all covered here with wonderful photos. If you're a collector this is a magnificent book, and if you're a WWII reenactor, this is solid gold! I'd dare say this is the BEST one-stop reference book for getting a living history impression of a WWII German soldier down to perfection. I highly recommend this one, I don't know how it could've been done any better.