Customer Reviews

Feldbluse: The German Army Field Tunic 1933-45

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is exceptional for its size (128 pages). It has many excellent photographs of original tunics: exterior, front, back, interior showing lining, stitching patterns; ink stamps of tailors, garment firms, size and acceptance markings. There are photos of tunics lying flat with equipment, firearms, personal items, with extensive captions identifying all items. Other accurately exposed color photos have male models wearing the tunics with typical gear. The chapters are arranged in chronological order, 1933-1944, with B&W period fotos. Only drawback, only nine pages on officer's tunics. Otherwise, an exhaustive reference with attention to detail and vivid realism you will never tire of examining. A beautiful reference book with no fakes, war movie fantasies, or poor quality reproductions.

Good photographs, but some concerns with the work. On page 41, the waffenfarbe for panzergrenadiere is misidentified as that worn by mountain troops - an error far too common in German Army collector's literature, suggesting that the research for this book was done by consulting the same secondary sources that have been circulating misinformation for the past few decades. But we wouldn't know, because there are no footnotes, and worse, no photo credits. However, there is a list of primary sources listed on the back page, and reference is made to this throughout the text.

There are a great many suppositions made and conclusions drawn from facts not in evidence. The cartoon on page 29, for example, shows a pattern of private purchase field blouse in use with turn back cuffs and buttons on the rear that the authors are unfamiliar with. Rather than accepting this contemporary evidence at face value, the authors have labeled it a "mistake". A check of other sources might have yielded better dividends. Private purchase field blouses with turnback cuffs in officers' quality cloth for NCOs were in fact permitted in the German Army, so this cartoon is not necessarily a "mistake". Try Angolia.

There are other examples of conclusions drawn from garments that have no provenance, but are being assumed to be wartime originals. There are also full page photos of such things as assault gun tunics and Waffenrocks, which seem to be mere filler.

Some nice colour photography up to the standards of MILITARIA magazine - though as one may guess, the models all look very clean and very French. Comes close to being as useful as Pruett and Edwards book on Panzer uniforms. A good overall effort and some useful details for collectors. Contemporary photos are clear and the large size format is welcome. Book is affordably priced, unlike others in the same genre.

I did expect to enjoy this book! Although a fairly descent book for its size, I would not pay the 37$ or so asked for it.Simply put, the pictures are o.k. but the info is not. It is a book that reminds me of a child's "zoo" book or something along those lines. I have read several good books on German Headwear, and of other things that are excellent, but I would not include this on my top lists. Keep in mind, this only includes the field tunic for OTHER ranks, such as your regular foot soldiers, and an NCO or two. With all that being said, save the money for a better book that examines the German tunic better. Trust me.

Excellent book, but short. Wets your appetite for more. Excellent pictures & text - highly recommended.

A relative new book on the scene published in 2007. A fantastic tome on the tunic of the German army, from the original incept date to the wars end, and then present modern design thats used as a walking-out uniform. The texts and pictures are really crisp in rendering a pure description of these tunics for each year, indeed the only thing that is missing the the scratch-n-sniff of the cloth.
In using this wonderful book, for modeling, war-gaming and the world of collecting, again a must have. From my own library, hold the original German book on the manufacture of these uniforms, being in black and white and explaining the cloth, the stitching and mass production thereof. Here in this modern book comes the absolute colour picture gallery presentation of this tunic, the cut, the identification and how worn. The advisors on this publication, besides the authors is a who is who in the knowledge world, a reference by the guys who had and have their hands on, priceless.
If you are into collecting of German and other so aligned units uniforms, don't borrow - buy it now.

Dr Syn 2011

This is a good comprehensive review of German ww2 EM/NCO tunics, well worth the price. Very good pics and descriptions.

This book is by far the best ever written on this subject. The book is detailed with great information and color pictures of original garments.

Don't feel compelled to write a wordy review - this is just the best book ever made on the in-depth examination of the German combat tunics of WWII bar-none. Outstanding book and well worth the money!