From the moment Germany launched its invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, code-named Operation Barbarossa, Hitler was fixated on the capture of Moscow. Yet his fear of exposing the flanks of the German Central Front led to costly diversions north and south at Leningrad and Kiev, delaying the assault on the Russian capital. When the Battle of Moscow – Operation Typhoon – finally began on 30 September, the Panzerwaffe was already weakened while Soviet forces had fortified their defence...

A pictorial history of the Nazi special forces group, their training, and the action they saw during World War II.Hitler's mountain troops or Gebirgsjager were a group of elite soldiers ready for battle, whatever the conditions. These mountain men were trained to ski, climb and endure long marches, survive appalling conditions and were given a role as crack shock troops. Yet many of the campaigns in which the Gebirgsjager fought were on level ground where they had l...

Graphic, contemporary images show the bitter fighting between Hitler's SS armored units and the Allies in harsh terrain and winter conditions during WWII.In late 1944 under extreme pressure on both the Eastern and Western fronts, Hitler realized he needed to force the Allies into negotiating a truce thereby saving Germany from total defeat. Using the Christmas period to enhance the vital element of surprise, he ordered a devastating attack through the rugged and mo...

From the Images of War series, a pictorial history of Nazi Germany's elite fighting force on World War II's Western and Eastern Fronts.With extensive text and many unpublished photographs with in-depth captions, this book describes the Division's fighting tactics, weapons and uniforms. It traces how the Division became an elite fighting unit both in offensive and defensive battles.The Division is shown as it battled its way through Poland, the Low Countries, ...

When the German war machine launched its attack against the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, Adolf Hitler had given priority first to the capture of Ukraine, which was against the advice of his generals. In order to secure Ukraine quickly and effectively the German Army Group South entrusted its powerful Panzer Group 1 to lead the spearhead through the country. It included the III, XIV and XLVIII Army Corps (motorized) with five Panzer divisions and four motorized divisions (two of them SS) e...

Nazi missile ventures ushered in a deadly new era of warfare and terror.When Nazi Germany invented long-range missiles, the world entered a new era of warfare. In a desperate bid to turn the tide of the Second World War, Hitler pinned his hopes on a terrifying arsenal of so-called Wunderwaffe – ‘wonder weapons’ – designed for mass destruction and psychological terror.This richly illustrated Images of War book offers a comprehensive look at the V-1 flying bo...

The German Wehrmacht: Equipment, Weapons, Uniforms and Insignia offers a highly illustrated record of the German soldier in the Second World War. Starting with the early victories in Poland in 1939 and concluding with the desperate final defences of 1945, this volume provides an in-depth visual exploration of the uniforms and insignia worn by the Wehrmacht at that time.Featuring over 300 rare and previously unpublished photographs, 50 of which are presented in full colour, this boo...

"German Guns of the Third Reich is an illustrated record of German light and heavy artillery, heavy mortars, anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns at war. Using previously unpublished photographs, many of which have come from the albums of individuals who took part in the war, it presents a unique visual account of the various German guns that were deployed for action between 1939 and 1945.The book analyses the development of the German gun at war and shows how it became of decisive importance ...

A pictorial history of the Nazi German army expeditionary force deployed to North Africa during World War II between 1941 and 1943.Afrika-Korps is an illustrated record of Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel and his desert troops that fought in North Africa against British and Commonwealth forces between 1941 and 1943. Using previously rare and unpublished photographs, many of which have come from the albums of individuals who took part in the desert campaign, it pr...

From the beginning in 1935 this attractive book describes the different elements that went into the Panzer-Divisions. It describes how the Germans carefully built up their assault forces utilizing all available reserves and resources into making an effective fighting machine. It depicts how these awesome formations grew to be used four years later in war, and provides much historical information and facts about the vehicles and its components that fought in all the campaigns of the war fro...

The Crushing of Army Group North 1944-45 on the Eastern Front tells the story in words and images of the last bitter months fought on Russian soil and the battle of the Baltic States that ensued. Drawing on rare and unpublished photos it reveals in detail how remnants of Army Group North were driven back to the borders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In the battles that followed, the retreating German Panzer and infantry divisions were encircled and annihilated. With the remnants were pu...

Provides a shocking insight into the widespread use of ‘overseers’ by the Nazis’ concentration network written by a leading contributor to the Images of War series.The Nazis’ vast concentration camp network and, later, the ‘Final Solution’ programme made heavy demands on the SS whose responsibility it was. The use of ‘overseers’ minimised costs and enabled the camps to run with fewer SS personnel. As this well researched book describes, there were three principal g...