Men of World War II: Axis Forces

Men of World War II: Axis Forces is the first in a two-volume series (Allied Forces is also available), and aims to examine the weapons and equipment of the common soldier in Germany, Japan and Italy, as well as other countries such as Finland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, which formed the Axis forces. In this book we cover a wide range of common, everyday equipment, including binoculars, goggles, radios, water bottles, fuel canisters, medical bags, sleds, wire cutters, and detonators. We also provide detailed specifications for weapons such as pistols, rifles, bayonets, combat knives, grenades, landmines, flamethrowers, mortars and light artillery. The clothing sections include headgear, from the feathered hats worn by the Italian Bersaglieri snipers, to the Stalheim sturdy hat worn by German soldiers. We also cover different types of shoes, such as polished officers' boots, cavalry boots, parachutists' boots, and Japanese canvas "tabi" boots. The spotlight is on the full military uniform, including jackets, shirts, trousers and coats, as well as all-weather gear, gloves, raincoats and parts of shelters, such as the German Zeltbahn tent. Camouflage variations, rank insignia, unit insignia, and medals are on display. Personal items are also on display, such as cigarettes, lighters, letters and postcards, camping chairs, fans, ID cards, repair kits and cutlery. Most of these exhibits have never before been published in a book, and have been carefully selected from museums and private collections to provide a unique reference for the general reader, collectors, military history enthusiasts, historical reenactment enthusiasts, and model builders. The soldier is placed in the context of his unit's organization, while carefully crafted archival photographs show the soldier using his weapons and equipment in combat. Written by veteran military expert David Miller, this text is the result of meticulous research backed by his military experience in the British Army, which has earned him the qualifications necessary to understand the needs and everyday concerns of the ordinary soldier. David was assisted in this work by editor Graham Smith, who brought together all these diverse elements to provide one of the most important references in the field.