Luftwaffe Field Divisions 1941-45 (Men-at-Arms) [Paperback]

Kevin Ruffner (Author), Ronald Volstad (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Men-at-Arms | Publication Date: November 22, 1990

Hermann Göring raised the Luftwaffe Field Divisions [LwFD] during 1942, when Nazi Germany was still making spectacular gains but was first feeling the pinch of its losses on the Eastern Front. The Reichsmarschall decided to raise his own divisions for ground service under the command of Luftwaffe officers. On 17 September 1942, Göring called for volunteers from throughout the Luftwaffe for combat duty in the East. Even before that date, however, some Luftwaffe troops were heavily engaged against the enemy in Russia in a ground role. Kevin Conley Ruffner's engaging text tells the fascinating story of the LwFD during World War II.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Packed with specially commissioned artwork, maps and diagrams, the Men-at-Arms series is an unrivalled illustrated reference on the history, organisation, uniforms and equipment of the world's military forces, past and present.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (November 22, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855321009
• ISBN-13: 978-1855321007
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.1 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,561,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Fact pacted"??, July 24, 2004

By 

Michael A Dorosh (Calgary, AB, CANADA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Luftwaffe Field Divisions 1941-45 (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

I'll make a general comment on the increasing utility of the Osprey Men at Arms series in general. Not one of the "older" titles, but still fading into the distant past with a publication date of 1990, this does represent the rise in quality of MAA titles. Volstad's colour plates need not be discussed in detail; these are as good as his always are. Even in 1990 he was raising the bar he himself set with the earlier IN ACTION series of the 1970s.

The text is especially useful in exploring this little known facet of German military history. While the Hermann Goering Division is understandably famous, many historians fail to grasp just how many Luftwaffe ground formations really existed - or what a drain on the German military they represented.

Excellent and concise description of all the divisions, with well written discussion of how they were equipped, why they came to be, and who was responsible for keeping them in the order of battle. Unusual for MAA to concentrate on units that were below average for the most part, but this only speaks to the all-encompasing nature of the entire series as a whole.

A good addition to those interested in this specific area of research; the Feld Divisionen fought on the west, east and southern fronts so anyone wanting to materially add to their understanding of, say, the Eastern Front in particular, will not find this volume a must read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great concise overview! (006), May 23, 2006

By 

Troy Tempest (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Luftwaffe Field Divisions 1941-45 (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

Kevin Conley Ruffner has done a great job with this handy book on Görings Luftwaffe Field Divisions (LwFD). As with all Osprey titles, they give a great overview for both the casual and dedicated reader. Ron Volstadt once again does brilliant work with the colour plates, and the accompanying text, while necessarily brief, non the less gives the reader a good working knowledge of this not so well known aspect of the German war effort. The book gives good insight into the political machinations that brought these formations into existance, and doesn't bog the reader down with masses of facts and figures. From their controversial creation during early 1942, through to the calamity of late '44 and through into 1945, Ruffner takes the reader through the highs and lows of another of Görings 'private armies'. Although often containing good men, they were ultimately sacrificed needlessly on the Eastern Front, in yet another example of the inter-service rivalries and personal egotism that plagued the Third Reich.

A top read!

3 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great illistrations, July 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Luftwaffe Field Divisions 1941-45 (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

When I saw this book I knew i had to buy it it was so fact pacted