Below are some of my favorite Reference Books...
... There have been a lot of good reference books printed over the years and some mighty bad ones too. Here are a few of the ones that have really helped me over the years, which you might still be able to find through various sites online.
German Soldiers of World War Two
Jean de Lagarde
Histoire & Collections
136 Pages, Color
Hardback
This books looks at German Uniforms and Equipment through the use of reenactors shot in color photography. The book covers both field and dress uniforms for a variety of campaigns and time periods throughout the war. It is done by the folks that produce Militaria Magazine.
Histoire & Collections
136 Pages, Color
Hardback
This books looks at German Uniforms and Equipment through the use of reenactors shot in color photography. The book covers both field and dress uniforms for a variety of campaigns and time periods throughout the war. It is done by the folks that produce Militaria Magazine.
6 JUNE 1944 - Soldiers in Normandy
Philippe Chardonnier
Histoire & Collections
160 Pages, Color
Hardback
This is another great source on Uniforms and Equipment used during the Normandy Invasion by the Militaria Magazine folks. The emphasis is on Allied Troops in this one with features on American Airborne, British Airborne, Canadian and British Soldiers, Navy Beach Personnel and American GIs. There is also a section on Waffen SS. This is just a fantastic book with beautiful color plates of reenactors in full uniform and gear and spreads of gear. The book was created from several Militaria Magazine features and is translated into English from the original French articles.
Histoire & Collections
160 Pages, Color
Hardback
This is another great source on Uniforms and Equipment used during the Normandy Invasion by the Militaria Magazine folks. The emphasis is on Allied Troops in this one with features on American Airborne, British Airborne, Canadian and British Soldiers, Navy Beach Personnel and American GIs. There is also a section on Waffen SS. This is just a fantastic book with beautiful color plates of reenactors in full uniform and gear and spreads of gear. The book was created from several Militaria Magazine features and is translated into English from the original French articles.
Allied Soldiers of World War Two
Philippe Chardonnier
Histoire & Collections
128 Pages, Color
Hardback
Much like the other books, this one features reenactors in uniform and gear with detail plates on the gear. I don't like this one as much as the Soldiers in Normandy book, but it is still a very good reference looking at American, French, British and Russian troops in various theaters, throughout the war.
Histoire & Collections
128 Pages, Color
Hardback
Much like the other books, this one features reenactors in uniform and gear with detail plates on the gear. I don't like this one as much as the Soldiers in Normandy book, but it is still a very good reference looking at American, French, British and Russian troops in various theaters, throughout the war.
THE WORLD WAR II GI - 1941-45
RICHARD WINDROW AND TIM HAWKINS
Motorbooks International
143 Pages, Color
Hardback
This book is a particular favorite of mine because it covers the American GI throughout the war, looking at various theaters of operation. This is done with great color photographs of reenactors in a variety of environments; everything from the chow line to the beaches of North Africa. It is really well done and pretty much covers the fighting troops - Airborne, Infantry and some Mechanized.
Motorbooks International
143 Pages, Color
Hardback
This book is a particular favorite of mine because it covers the American GI throughout the war, looking at various theaters of operation. This is done with great color photographs of reenactors in a variety of environments; everything from the chow line to the beaches of North Africa. It is really well done and pretty much covers the fighting troops - Airborne, Infantry and some Mechanized.
Nazi Regalia
E.W.W. Fowler
Chartwell Books
159 Pages, Color
Hardback
This is probably a borderline book as reference books go, but I have found it helpful over the years for various projects. There are a lot of examples of various tunics pictured throughout the book and that is probably its best feature. There is a lot of text too. But it is not a bad book overall.
Chartwell Books
159 Pages, Color
Hardback
This is probably a borderline book as reference books go, but I have found it helpful over the years for various projects. There are a lot of examples of various tunics pictured throughout the book and that is probably its best feature. There is a lot of text too. But it is not a bad book overall.
Die Wehrmacht
VOLUME 1
Ryton Publications
173 Pages, Color and Black and White
Hardback
No Author Listed
This one is part of a series, though this volume is the only one that I have ever seen. This particular one is on infantry weapons. It is incredibly thorough and covers all of the infantry weapons that most of us are familiar with. I found the section on the K98 particularly informative since I have a real one.
Ryton Publications
173 Pages, Color and Black and White
Hardback
No Author Listed
This one is part of a series, though this volume is the only one that I have ever seen. This particular one is on infantry weapons. It is incredibly thorough and covers all of the infantry weapons that most of us are familiar with. I found the section on the K98 particularly informative since I have a real one.
Signal, Years of Triumph 1940-42
S.L. Mayer
Prentice-Hall
No page numbers, Black and White with a little color
Hardback
I don't know that I would consider this to really fit into the reference book category, but I have found the information helpful to a number of projects that I have worked on, though not necessarily modeling projects. It is an interesting read though and provides a lot of background into the mindset of the German propaganda machine.
Prentice-Hall
No page numbers, Black and White with a little color
Hardback
I don't know that I would consider this to really fit into the reference book category, but I have found the information helpful to a number of projects that I have worked on, though not necessarily modeling projects. It is an interesting read though and provides a lot of background into the mindset of the German propaganda machine.
GOVERNMENT ISSUE - Army Service Forces Catalog
Henri-Paul Enjames
Histoire & Collections
270 Pages, Color
Hardback
Without a doubt my favorite WWII American Army Guide. This is the definitive guide to gear for the American Army in WWII. Covering a multitude of subjects from Airborne to Weapons, it has color plates on just about everything you can imagine. Want to put together a field telephone exchange? Well there are good pictures of it in this book. Looking for information on Medical Supplies? It's all here. You cannot find a better reference guide for the European GI than this book in my humble opinion.
Histoire & Collections
270 Pages, Color
Hardback
Without a doubt my favorite WWII American Army Guide. This is the definitive guide to gear for the American Army in WWII. Covering a multitude of subjects from Airborne to Weapons, it has color plates on just about everything you can imagine. Want to put together a field telephone exchange? Well there are good pictures of it in this book. Looking for information on Medical Supplies? It's all here. You cannot find a better reference guide for the European GI than this book in my humble opinion.
German Army Uniforms of World War II
Wade Krawczyk
Motorbooks International
126 Pages, Color
Hardback
Very similar to the book, German Soldiers of World War Two. If you have one, you probably don't need the other. If memory serves, this one is a little more specific in that you will only find Regular Army troops featured in this guide. Still, a very nice guide with great color plates.
Motorbooks International
126 Pages, Color
Hardback
Very similar to the book, German Soldiers of World War Two. If you have one, you probably don't need the other. If memory serves, this one is a little more specific in that you will only find Regular Army troops featured in this guide. Still, a very nice guide with great color plates.