Casemate Publishers

Deutsche Soldaten Uniforms, Equipment & Personal Items of the German Soldier 1939-45

by  Agustin Saiz

Reviewed By  Perry Downen, IPMS# 44000

MSRP: $55.00 ISBN: 978-1-932033-96-0 Web Site: www.casematepublishing.com Many thanks go to Casemate Publishers for graciously submitting this wonderful book to IPMS for review and IPMS for allowing me to review it. Simply put, this 8-1/2" X 12" hardbound volume is a museum in a book. The quality of the book is above average with an embossed cover and an attached bookmark ribbon. It contains 311 glossy pages and hundreds of color photographs covering those everyday items by which the German soldier lived and fought. Many, many books exist about German battles, tactics, weapons, leaders, etc. However, I am not familiar with any that go into this level of detail concerning the individual soldier's daily life. As a way of bringing the many and varied items into somewhat of a personal perspective, we are introduced to Anton Imgrund, born into a small town working class family not unlike many US soldiers. Some of Anton's personal documents and photographs bring this person to life. In the book's Introduction we follow Anton from his birth in Hosbach, Germany to his enlistment on April 14, 1939 in Aschaffenburg, Germany. From there, we begin our trip through the pages of Deutsche Soldaten with Anton by our side. The book is broadly divided into sections of equipment, clothing, and personal items. For example, the clothing items extend from head to toe, inside and out. Every piece of clothing Anton may have worn in hot or cold weather is covered. Some examples are: helmets, caps, tunic and trousers, working clothes, shirts, underwear, socks, and footwear. We are told what the items is made of, shown the manufacturing and size labels, see the inside pockets and the many snaps, hooks and buttons the item might use. Each item of clothing is described in great detail using many close-up photographs and notes. As an infantryman, Anton was familiar with only a few weapons. These are the weapons discussed in the book. They include rifles, pistols, machine pistols, ammunition, bayonets, and grenades. As with the clothing, many close-up color photographs and notes bring out details seldom seen before. Other topics covered include Health and Hygiene, Music, Tobacco, Decorations, and Documents to mention a few. Again, close-up photographs and detail notes fully describe these items that Anton used as he fought and rested. This review does not allow me to touch on all of the small and seemingly insignificant items that Agustin Sais has included and Anton frequently encountered during WWII. Deutsche Soldaten is possibly the very best reference book on WWII German infantry uniforms and field equipment ever written. The color photography of every item discussed is outstanding - only exceeded by actually having the item in your hand. I strongly recommend this book to the serious figure painter and diorama builder. For the collector of German WWII pieces, this book would be a necessity. For the rest of us, it is a fascinating read on the soldier's life from a perspective we have not seen before. Whatever happened to Anton, you ask? Anton's Wehrpass shows he was killed in action on December 1, 1943. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to review this book and thank Tara Lichterman and Casemate Publishers for their generosity in providing it.

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