Fighting Men of World War II: Vol.2, Allied Forces - Uniforms, Equipment & Weapons [Hardcover]

David Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2008

Designed to be the standard reference on Allied soldiers in World War II

Covers troops from the United States, Great Britain, Russia, and more

Original photos from museums and private collections as well as specially taken color photos of uniforms and equipment

This companion volume to Fighting Men of World War II: Axis Forces (978-0-8117-0277-5) offers a comprehensive, full-color look at the clothing (such as boots, pants, helmet, tunic, greatcoat, camouflage, and badges), equipment, weapons, and rations of Allied soldiers in World War II. Also included are popular items, such as lighters, that were carried by many troops but were not standard issue. The accompanying text describes the items and compares them to those of other armies. The result is a complete picture of the daily life and conditions of the fighting men of all Allied countries. It is an essential reference work for all military historians, collectors, and general readers.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

600 color illustrations

About the Author

David Miller is a former officer in the British armed forces who served in the Falklands, Germany, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and Singapore. He has also worked for Jane's Information Group, where he edited Jane's Major Warships 1997. He lives in England.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (November 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811703746
• ISBN-13: 978-0811703741
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #678,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-Illustrated Summary of Allied Gear and Garb!, July 21, 2011

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fighting Men of World War II Allied Forces: Uniforms, Equipment & Weapons (Hardcover)

The concluding volume in a two-volume set, David Miller's FIGHTING MEN OF WORLD WAR II: ALLIED FORCES; UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT AND WEAPONS is a comprehensive and colorful overview of the gear and garb used by American, British, Commonwealth, Russian, French, Chinese, Polish, Dutch, Belgian, Brazilian, Danish, Greek, Norwegian, Yugoslavian and Italian (Co-Belligerent) forces.

The bulk of ALLIED FORCES is devoted to U.S., U.K./Commonwealth and Soviet forces. After a very brief introduction to each country's military, Miller examines the various infantry forces that served that country in World War II along with the weapons and gear they utilized. The U.K. section, for instance, starts out with British Infantry, detailing their regimental system, battalion breakdown, ranks, uniforms, headgear, cold weather and tropical gear, boots, personal equipment, medical equipment, infantry weapons and so on. As might be expected, the text is informative but concise. While the emphasis is on nuts-and-bolts, Miller does include some historical information on the service seen by various units.

The book's biggest selling point - the hundreds of (mostly) color photographs of uniforms, rifles, machine guns, mortars, bayonets, grenades, mines, helmets, canteens, boots, radios, badges, mess tins, entrenching tools, etc. - offer fascinating looks at the world of the average GI, Tommy and Ivan. Full-size mannequis are used throughout. Included are some very rare items, many obtained from museums and private collectors. Visually, the book is a delight.

While it isn't definitive, FIGHTING MEN OF WORLD WAR II, ALLIED FORCES is an excellent one-stop shopping guide to the subject. And, given the wealth of photographs, the book is a steal at $19.99. Recommended.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fighting Men of World War II Volume 2- Allied Forces, December 16, 2008

By 

Christopher F. Nelson (mystic,ct usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fighting Men of World War II: Vol.2, Allied Forces - Uniforms, Equipment & Weapons (Hardcover)

This book compliments the earlier book on Axis forces. It covers the uniforms and equipment of the forces fighting on the allied side. For wargames it is a must have book. I do wish that it had covered the smaller powers - Polish, Dutch, Belgians in more depth but a good book anyway.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Seriously flawed, February 3, 2009

By 

Michael N. Ryan (Bel AIr, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fighting Men of World War II: Vol.2, Allied Forces - Uniforms, Equipment & Weapons (Hardcover)

Though this book is very well illustrated with lots of pictures its written information is seriously poor. So Poor I am appalled it has been published without necessary corrections.

Numerous factual flaws to be found.

1. Techs in the American army are not a class of NCOS nor were they created in 1942. Techs as a group were created in 1921 as a class of technically skilled High Privates of increased pay grade whose skills made them more important than ordinary Privates. The rank of Technical Seargeant was not a grade of Tech but actually a class of sergeant.

Warrant officers carried their rank on their shoulders like commisioned officers rather than the British fashion on their cuffs.

2. Soviets Employed women in the front line yet this book does not mention them nor do they mention Soviet Nautical Infanty made of beached navy personel employed as infantry.

3. Belgium did not equip its forces with copies of German Mauser rifles but with modernized model 1889s as well as their own model 36 Mauser style rifle.

4. Most of France's infantry at the time of Dunkirk still carried their model 1915 Lebel Mannlicher action rifle either in the original eight millimeter or modernized to seven point five millimeter. The Model MAS 36 was still in limited issue.

These flaws are the ones I know of, there might be others.

How this book got past quality control is beyond me.

Dire need of corrections and improvements. Perhaps more material could be added.