The remarkable war effort of the German armed forces on three fronts between 1939 and 1945 was recognised by a wider range of insignia than seen in the Allied armies. While the Wehrmacht displayed fewer unit insignia than the Allies, a glance at a German soldier's tunic could reveal much more about his actual combat experience. In this book an experienced researcher explains and illustrates the Battle and Assault Badges of the Army, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe ground troops of World War II; the sleeve shields and cuffbands issued to mark service in particular campaigns; wound badges, commemorative medals, and other types of insignia.

In the years after World War I, the defeated and much-reduced German Army developed new clothing and personal equipment that drew upon the lessons learned in the trenches. In place of the wide variety of uniforms and insignia that had been worn by the Imperial German Army, a standardized approach was followed, culminating in the uniform items introduced in the 1930s as the Nazi Party came to shape every aspect of German national life. The outbreak of war in 1939 prompted further adaptations and simplifications of uniforms and insignia, while the increasing use of camouflaged items and the accelerated pace of weapons development led to the appearance of new clothing and personal equipment. Medals and awards increased in number as the war went on, with grades being added for existing awards and new decorations introduced to reflect battlefield feats. Specialists such as mountain troops, tank crews and combat engineers were issued distinctive uniform items and kit, while the ever-expanding variety of fronts on which the German Army fought – from the North African desert to the Russian steppe – prompted the rapid development of clothing and equipment for different climates and conditions. In addition, severe shortages of raw materials and the demands of clothing and equipping an army that numbered in the millions forced the simplification of many items and the increasing use of substitute materials in their manufacture. In this fully illustrated book noted authority Dr Stephen Bull examines the German Army's wide range of uniforms, personal equipment, weapons, medals and awards, and offers a comprehensive guide to the transformation that the German Army soldier underwent in the period from September 1939 to May 1945.

These ground-breaking volumes present, for the first time, a comprehensive view of the World War II German Army's most elite formation: "Großdeutschland". Exceptional detail of rare uniforms and unique insignia are woven with Großdeutschland's history and development from an independent motorised regiment in 1939 to a panzergrenadier division within a corps that adopted its name in 1944. Its two closest sister units, the "Wachbataillon Berlin" and the "Führer Begleit Battalion" are also covered in the same superb level of detail. Awards, decorations, portraits and personal effects of common soldiers and noted personalities, covering every arm of service within the units, are presented in over 3,000 spectacular colour and black-and-white images.

Orders, medals and honor insignia were extremely important symbols among German military forces during World War II. Easily recognizable, the decorations on the uniform provided an instant history of the wearer. German Insignia of World War II is a fascinating exploration of these symbols, which were used to bind German military to Hitler and the destiny of the Third Reich. This book provides a definitive guide to the symbols, both military and civilian, of the Third Reich, which served to inspire Germany's war effort in World War II.

The remarkable war effort of the German armed forces on three fronts between 1939 and 1945 was recognised by a wider range of insignia than seen in the Allied armies. While the Wehrmacht displayed fewer unit insignia than the Allies, a glance at a German soldier's tunic could reveal much more about his actual combat experience. In this book an experienced researcher explains and illustrates the Battle and Assault Badges of the Army, Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe ground troops; the sleeve shields and cuffbands issued to mark service in particular campaigns; wound badges, commemorative medals, and other types of insignia.

This book examines the uniforms and badges of an almost forgotten group of soldiers - Don, Kuban, Terek and Siberian Cossack units that fought with the German Wehrmacht during World War II. With the cooperation of former members of many Cossack units the authors have collected a great deal of material - much of the information I this book appears in print here for the first time. Among the subjects covered are: Cossacks in the Imperial Russian Army; the uniforms and badges of the Cossacks in the Wehrmacht in World War II, including collar insignia, Cossack headgear, sleeve badges (arm shields), Cossack qualification badges, decorations awarded to Cossacks; flags and command symbols of the Cossack units.

The German Stahlhelm is perhaps the most recognizable image of World War II. Manufactured in its millions, it was used or copied by many countries. It is still one of the most collected relics of the war; but despite its relative availability, prices have reached levels that challenge collectors to protect themselves by acquiring in-depth knowledge. This book, by a collector of 30 years' standing, offers a detailed masterclass in the patterns, component parts and finishes of the combat helmets used by the German Army, Navy and Air Force. It is illustrated with a superb selection of rare period photos, colour photos of collected examples, and striking colour paintings.