Recommended reading on uniforms, headgear & insignia

[Marcus]

The idea of this sticky is to collect recommendations on good books dealing with the Axis uniforms, headgear & insignia.

Please post the title, author and a short (or long) explanation as to why you feel that particular title deserves to be included.

/Marcus



If you buy through the below links you not only get the books you want but you also support the forum while shopping!
* AHF Bookstore
* Amazon.com (UK, Germany)

[Luft300]

I would highly recommend the books written by the late Michael Beaver for Waffen-SS uniforms, particularly the camouflaged uniforms. The 3 volume set is a masterpiece. I only wish that Mike had been with us long enough to finish his books on insignia and headgear. God bless and keep him!

Luft300

[Mcalhau]

I've got Waffen SS camouflage uniforms & post-war derivatives by Daniel Peterson; Publisher-Europa Militaria

[hucks216]

I'd recommend the following:

Feldbluse - The German Soldier's Field Tunic 1933-45 by Laurent Huart & Jean-Philippe Borg (ISBN:978-2-35250-010-0) : A book with many photos on every page covering all the types of field tunics from pretty much every angle.

Waffenrock by Timothy J Curley & Neil G Stewart (ISBN: 932970-00-2-0) : If collecting Waffenrocks is your preferred area then you must not be without this book. Hundreds, if not over a thousand, photos of all the various Waffenrocks of the various Heer branches. Probably the bible on the subject in my opinion.

The Collector's Guide To Cloth Third Reich Military Headgear by Gary Wilkins (ISBN: 0-7643-1428-9) : Covers all the military services, insignia, the types of headgear, manufacturers, construction and reproductions.

Deutsche Soldaten by Agustin Saiz (ISBN: 978-1-932033-96-0) : New book and again loaded with photos on every page covering everything that the German soldier carried from tunics to can openers.

German Army Uniforms And Insignia 1933-1945 by Brian L Davis (ISBN: 1-85409-158-1) : A book that is probably on every collectors bookshelf.

Uniforms And Insignia Of The Luftwaffe vols 1 (1933-40) & 2 (1940-45) by Brian L Davis (ISBNs: 1-85409-106-9 & 1-85409-498-X) : Again, a book that is probably on every collectors bookshelf.

Badges And Insignia Of The Third Reich 1933-1945 by Brian L Davis (ISBN: 1-85409-512-9) : Shows examples of the many insignia worn in both photos and colour illustrations.

SS Steel - Parade And Combat Helmets Of Germany's Third Reich Elite by Kelly Hicks (ISBN: 0-912138-96-3) : Covers the subject matter from every angle.

German Military Cuffbands 1784-Present by Gordon Williamson & Thomas McGuirl (ISBN: 0-912138-74-2) : The must have book for collecting German cuffbands. Covers all the services and campaign cufftitles.

[Paul Hanson]

Addition recommendations:

Field Uniforms of German Army Panzer Forces in World War 2; ISBN 0-921991-15-0; and Field Uniforms of Germany's Panzer Elite; ISBN 0-921991-41-X; both by Michael H. Pruett and Robert J. Edwards

Uniforms & Traditions of the Luftwaffe, Vols 1 - 3; John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht. ISBN 0-912138-71-8; -64-5; -75-0; Great coverage of everything uniform or personal equipment for the Luftwaffe.

Uniforms & Traditions of the German Army 1933-1945, Vols 1 - 3; John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht; ISBN 0-912138-34-3; -30-0; -37-8 Just like thew Luftwaffe set; the same great coverage of everything uniform or personal equipment for the Heer.

German Uniforms of the Third Reich 1933-1945, Brian Leigh Davis and Pierre Turner; ISBN 0-7137-08861-6; A great reference for other uniforms like the Reichbahn or the German Tram. Bus and Postal Services. Probably OOP but can be found.

The H.J. Vols 1 & 2; John R. Angolia; ISBN 0-912138-44-0 & 048-3; Good references on uniforms and personal equipments of the HJ.

The Hitler Youth; David Littlejohn; ISBN 0-934870-21-7; A good compliment to the above two volumes.

Uniforms of the SS Vols 1-7; Andrew Mollo; ISBN 1-872004-90-3; -95-4; -66-0; -62-8; -51-2; -67-9; SNB 90162114-5 (V7); This was the bible until Michael Beaver's set and has the advantage of covering all branches of the SS.

Also suggested are:

the eleven or so books by Roger James Bender covering the W-SS, Luftwaffe, DAK, Panzertruppen and the Legion Condor.

The four volume Foreign Legions of the Third Reich by David Littlejohn

HTH;

[hucks216]

The 6 Volume set by Andrew Mollo Uniforms Of The SS

[Paul Hanson]

Hucks216;

It's actually a 7 volume set.

Paul

[hucks216]

Hucks216;

It's actually a 7 volume set.

Paul

I thought that but I have never been able to track down the 7th volume, so I stuck with 6 volume

[Paul Hanson]

That doesn't surprise me. My seventh volumn is actually the old one; it was never revised like the first six. The most important thing to me is that it's autographed by Andrew Mollo.

[hucks216]

Wasn't the 7th volume incorporated into the revised 6th volume or did they just never get round to doing it?

[Paul Hanson]

No. The 7th volume has significant cuff title and other insignia reference which is not in the 6th volume. It pretty much is stand-alone from the 6 new volumes.

[max1337]

Is there an absolute bible for recommended reading?

[von thoma]

DAS HEER,by Ricardo Recio Cardona with the collaboration of Antonio González Sánchez.
ISBN 9788484033073
Edimat Books S.A

The best book in spanish language of German Army Uniforms and Insignia.

dasheer2.jpg

First Cover.

dasheer.jpg

Second Cover.

[Schwarz Edelweiss]

These are the top reference books on the Waffen-SS headgear, uniforms and Wehrmacht Camoflague uniforms, there are another 24 volumes available as pdf files on various site for free download ( the Mollo W-SS headgear & uniform collection is available as pdf files ), that is about all you will ever need in the collecting world and reenacting of course ! Send a PM if you need links for the pdf files ( ebooks )

[von thoma]

27174.JPG

German Army Uniforms of World War II in Colour Photographs.
Author: Wade Krawczyk.
ISBN:1-85915-052-7
Publisher,Windrow & Greene Ltd. - London 1995.

A good photographic record in colour.