Silver Wings & Leather Jackets is the sixth book in Jon Maguire`s definitive series on the uniforms and insignia of the U.S. Army aviation from World War I through World War II. This volume focuses on rare and unusual items not covered in the author`s previous books. For this book aviation museums and private collectors throughtout the U.S. have generously opened their collections of extremely rare: AVG, Eagle Squadron, Aces, A-2 jackets, attributed general`s items, OSS material, First Air Commandos, World War I wing badges, CNAC, paper items, and many other interesting and unique artifacts. Covers the rarest and most sought after AAF collectibles. Size:11"x9", over 800 color and b/w images, Pages:272,Hard Cover. Price - $89.99

 

This title is a complete history of the division, from its activation in France in October 1941 to its surrender in Austria in May 1945. The 23 PD fought exclusively on the Eastern Front, and gained a reputation as a reliable unit in some of the toughest battles of WW II. The list includes: Kharkov 1942, Caucasus, Rostov, Mius July 1943, Dnepropetrovsk and Kirov Oct 1943, Dnepr Bend Jan-Mar 1944, Jassy, Romania Apr 1944, Poland Summer 1944, Transylvania Sep 1944, Debrecen, Hungary Oct 1944, East of Budapest Nov 1944, Stuhlweissenburg, Lake Balaton Jan 1945, Retreat into Austria Apr 1945, Surrender to British May 1945. The day-by-day coverage, over 100 maps and hundreds of excellent photos make this book an excellent read and a valuable reference for those interested in serious military history literature. The author was a member of the division and has assembled a fascinating document, with a human element, that contributes to the body of historical research. Hardcover,536 pages, 641 photographs, 104 maps and 8 pages of color armored vehicle drawings. Price: $95.00

 

 

n six chapters, the reader discovers what the concepts of Blitzkrieg (Lightning War) and Total War really were, as advocated by the German High Command from 1939 to 1941. The uniforms and materials of the Condor Legion in Spain, the Anschluss in Austria, the onslaughts against Czechoslovakia and Poland, the offensives in the West and in the East are all covered in the greatest detail. Hard cover, 9" x 12", 216 pages, 170 color photos and illustrations, 160 b+w photos and illustrations,  Price - $60.00     (FRENCH TEXT ONLY)                        

 

 

 

This release from Ryton publishing covers all aspects of the Panther Tank, all productions models are shown in cluding the Bergpanther recovery vehicle. It has brilliant color plates drawn by Uwe Feist, along with an excellent mix of wartime and present day museum shots. This is an excellent book that modelers will want. Hard cover, 12" x 9", 181 pages, hundreds of color and b+w photos.
Price: $49.95

 

 

Our new series of books, titled "Die Wehrmacht" will depict all the equipment, weapons, uniforms, and accessories utilized by the ground troops of the Wehrmacht from 1935 to 1945. Volume 1 covers an assortment of Infantry weapons and is heavily illustrated with original photos of the era and laced with color photos from museums or private collections. The captions are short and informative, and the overall series will eventually culminate in the depiction of the heavy equipment and weapons such as the 8,8 cm Pak 43, 32 cm Nebelwerfer 41, and the 60 cm Möser "Karl."

Directly from the table of contents, the following are covered in Vol.1:

Pistole P 08 Luger, Walter P 38, Walter P.P.K., Mauser Modell HSc, Mauser C 96, Astra M 1921 43, "Radom" 9 mm Pistole 35 (P), Gewehr 98, Karabiner 98k, 7,92 mm Patronen, Gewehr 33/40, Zielfernrohre - Sniper, Gewehr G-41, Gewehr G-43, MK b-42(H), StG. 44, MP 44 "Krummlauf", FG 42, MP 38, MP 40, MP 41, MP Modell EMP, MP 18, MP 28/11, MP 34/1, MP 34 (ö), MP 738 (i) Beretta, Volksgewehr VG, MG 08 machine gun, MG 13, MG 15, MG 34, MG 34/41, sMG 34 heavy machine gun, MG 42, sMG 42 heavyt machine gun, ZF 40 optical sight, ZB 26(t) light machine gun, MG 37(t) heavy machine gun.  Hard cover, 9"x12", 173 pages, over 400 color and B&W photos.  Price: $55.00

 

Flare Pistol

Rifle Grenade Launcher

Hand Grenades

Flame Thrower

Panzerfaust

Panzerschreck

Nebelwerfer

Landmines

Goliath

Recoilless Rifles

Historian, artist, and publisher of Ryton Publications Uwe Feist is a world-renowned expert on military weapons and equipment, especially those used by Germany in World War II. Uwe's attention to detail is evident in every Ryton title, making these books much sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. Each book is the pinnacle of brilliant photography, artwork, and design. And best of all, new titles and reprints of classics are forthcoming.  Hard cover, Size: 9" x 12", 176 pages, over 400 color and b+w photos.  Price: $55.00

German Paratroops in Scandinavia Fallschirmjäger in Scandinavia  Denmark and Norway April-June 1940 The German conquest of Denmark and Norway in spring 1940 presents an interesting study of joint strategy between ground, air, and sea forces. In this campaign, the Germans placed great emphasis on mobility, speed, and surprise. The Fallschirmjäger of 1940 was a well-trained, highly-motivated force, and their participation in Operation “Weserübung” – the codename for the Wehrmacht assault on Denmark and Norway – is this subject of this book. Among the topics discussed are German paratroop operations (some of the first combat jumps of the war) against the main Danish and Norwegian bridges and aerodromes, the jump on Dombås, behind enemy lines, and also their tenacious on the snow-covered grounds of  Narvik. Illustrations: over 160 color/bw images,  Pages: 192 . (sch) Price: $45.00

 

 

 

Totenkopf 

The author traces the complete history of this SS armored division whose core was originally formed to guard concentration camps. It fought in France in 1940 and then almost exclusively on the Eastern Front from 1941 to 1945. It participated in the most fierce East Front battles such as Kharkov, Kursk, Warsaw and Vienna, to name a few. It surrendered in May 1945 to the Americans who immediately delivered them to the Soviets. The division's history has been punctuated by atrocities, the best know of which is the massacre of British prisoners in May 1940 but other bloody crimes are also recounted in detail in this book.

Using eye-witness testamonies the author has reconstructed the exact route of the division in France. There are also first-hand veterans accounts of combat on the Eastern Front. Finally, to complement this history, there are very detailed organizational charts of the division including all heads of regiments, battalions and companies and executives General Staff through the battalion level and an exhaustive list of all officers of the division who served in concentration camps.

Charles Trang, is a 45 year old pharmacist who has been fascinated since childhood by the history of the Second World War. In 2000, he published his first book with Editions Heimdal which was devoted to the SS cavalry division "Florian Geyer" and he has contributes regularly to Heimdale's "39/45 Magazine." Although not a historian by profession, he still analyzes the different subjects in great detail using original documents from archives in Germany (Berlin, Freiburg and Koblenz), American (Washington), France (SHAT and IHTP) and Czech (HAV of Prague). Hard cover, 8.5" x 11", English text, 400 pages, 1100 photos and documents!!!  Price - $69.95

 

 

 

 

Already highly acclaimed in its German version, the English edition is an important and indispensable addition to every collector's library. On over 250 pages all known variants of the Infantry Assault Badge are discussed and more than 1000 pictures explain every detail of this highly collectable award. Packages and documents are also covered in depth. Hard cover, 7" x 9.5", 250 pages, Over 1000 color and b+w photos, diagrams, charts, English Text. Price: $90.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first volume in a three part series. Contains 344 pages, including 72 pages of color line drawings and 3D drawings, 260 photographs, and 354 2D/3D b+w drawings. The volume covers the following vehicles: Panzerjager I, All vehicles referred to as Marder, based on the chassis of the Pz.Kpfw.II and Pz.Kpfw.38 (t) tanks, that is, Sd.Kfz. 131, Sd.Kfz. 132, Sd.Kfz. 139, Sd.Kfz. 138 (Ausf. H and Ausf. M), Hetzer, Hornisse (Nashorn), The prototype vehicle 10.5 cm Pz.Sfl.Iva. Price: $115.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

This companion volume to Fighting Men of World War II: Axis Forces 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. Hard cover, 9 x 12, 384 pages, 600 color photos.  Price: $49.95

 

 

 

 

After the release of Volume 1, many readers and collectors pointed out several pieces they possessed which were missing from the book. Although including each and every item issued to the American soldier is a near impossible goal, the author started making a list of what should included in a reprint.  All chapters from volume 1 have been revised and updated (among others: uniforms, signal and medical equipment) and new sections have been added, including personal equipment, Stateside training, and the life of POWs in German camps.  More than 1,000 new artefacts with detailed captions are featured in this completely revised new work. Volume 2 of the G.I. Collector's Guide provides a complete and unequaled source of American ground force documentation for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Hard cover, 9" x 12", 276 pages, full color. Price: $65.00 

 

 

 

This classic, definitive series continues with this volume on Czech panzers and armored vehicles in German use from 1920-1945. Spielberger, a leading expert in the field of German military vehicles, presents the wide variety of variants on the 35(t) and 38(t) chassis: self-propelled artillery, anti-tank guns, flak, mortars, flamethrowers, Hetzer, half-tracks, trucks, personnel carriers, etc.
Hard Cover, 8.5" x 11", 176 pages, over 600 b+w photos, line drawings.
Price:$69.99

 

 

During the preparation of the Normandy Invasion, the American high command realized soon enough that the 8th Air Force, which was wholly committed to strategic bombing, could not undertake the close support of ground units in this major offensive. The keystone of operation "Overlord" would indeed be mastery of the skies: tactical aviation had to be able to intervene quickly and precisely, and to operate from bases on the Continent.  The heavy bombers, as they were dependent on large and permanent airfields, could not be called upon for such tasks. The concept of on-call tactical air support was therefore paramount in the Overlord plans and the 9th Air Force was transferred to England for this purpose. The hundreds of hitherto unpublished photos copied out from the pilots and crews' albums, and the full-color reconstruction of their flying gear are a unique testimony to the day to day life of 9th Air Force personnel and the missions of combat crews. Let us look at these men's faces, they belong to the Past but we owe them our Freedom.  This book is dedicated to the memory of the airmen and soldiers of the Ninth Air Force who gave their all for the Liberation of Europe. Hard cover, 9" x 12", 196 pages. Price: $59.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Formed in 1936, Panzer Regiment 8 served in both the 10th and 15th Panzer Divisions and saw action in Poland, France, and in May 1941 with the famed German Africa Corps, under the legendary Rommel. The regiment went on to serve with high distinction in every major battle fought in Africa until May 1943, when out of fuel and ammunition, the regiment's ability to fight on came to an end. This book sheds new light on the history of the German Panzer arm and gives in depth detail of the lives and battles that were fought by these proud Swabian troops. Hard Cover, 8.5" x 11", 240 pages, over 170 b+w photos.
Price:$59.99

 

 

 

 

Since the end of WWII, stories and legends about the cricket's employment have grown and flowered, as such stories will. Many untruths were hawked by various media and other sources leading not only to deformation of history but also to an erroneous presentation of one of the most unwarlike and incongruous items of "battle gear" carried by the American parachutist ! This booklet, profusely illustrated, based on historical facts, interviews of key personalities related to the introduction of the cricket within the airborne units, and vintage documents tries to dismiss the generally accepted ideas and report the true history of the legendary cricket of D-Day. Who initiated it all, where were the crickets produced, and who produced them? What type was official issue and which units used them? For the first time, these questions have now been answered.

Supplied with an exact scale reproduction of the cricket as used on D-Day!    Soft Cover, 6" x8", 16 pages, Full color.  Price: $15.00

 

This is the first in-depth study of the amazing series of events which took place during the last chaotic months of Adolf Hitler's "Thousand Year Reich".
The war was already lost for Germany before the idea of a "People's Army" gained any sanction. The six million old men and boys of the Volkssturm were initially equipped with shotguns, drillings, hunting rifles, military training rifles and handguns scrounged from the German populace. These few arms were bolstered by foreign rifles and carbines captured during Germany's early wartime advances, and many collectors and historians may be surprised to learn that the rifle issued in the greatest numbers-the "true Volksgewehr"-was the Italian Carcano, some numbers of which were converted to fire the powerful German 7.92x57mm rifle cartridge!
In addition, seven types of Volksgewehre were specifically designed for manufacture by German industry during the last months of the war. All are covered in detail, and the book includes many previously unpublished photographs of original Volkssturm weapons, including prototypes and rare presentation examples.
Other Volkssturm weapons included the anti-tank Panzerfaust ("tank fist"), a single-shot, rocket-propelled shaped-charge device capable of defeating any Allied tank then in existence, and numerous "clones" of the British Sten machine carbine, which were hastily manufactured by a considerable number of German firms (a memorandum speaks of "30 subcontractors and 14 assembly points"). Programs were also begun to develop special Volkspistolen, made largely from stamped sheet metal.
In summing up, the author notes that even if the Volkssturm had been fully trained, well equipped and armed with the best weapons in the world-which they decidedly were not-they could have done no more than delay the inevitable, which in many cases, documented here, they actually did.
Hard cover, 8.5" x 11", 424 pages, 558 illustrations.(rzm)
Price: $69.95

This first volume of Fighting Men of World War II offers a comprehensive, full-color look at the clothing (such as boots, pants, helmet, tunic, greatcoat, camouflage, and badges), equipment, weapons, vehicles, and rations of Axis soldiers. 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 also 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 countries. It is an essential reference work for all military historians, collectors, and general readers. A second volume covering the Allies will be published in Fall 2008. Hardcover, 9" x 12", English text, 384 pages, full color, hundreds of color and b+w photos.(rzm)Price: $49.95