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This entry in the Images of War series contains German photographs taken during the first six months of the invasion of the Soviet Union. The pictures are organized by theme (rather than by their origin, as is sometimes the case), with chapters on the initial invasion, the German victories in the summer of 1941, the failed attack on Moscow and the first winter on Eastern Front.
What stands out most is the cheerful, optimistic pose of most of the German soldiers in the summer of 1941, as they advanced across the western areas of the Soviet Union, winning victory after victory, while dressed in shirt sleeves. This changes as the mud, and then the snow, slows and stops the German advance. In these later pictures the lack of any winter cloths or proper camouflage for snowy conditions becomes very apparent.
The pictures are supported by brief chapter introductions and informative captions, some explaining the context of the pictures, others providing details of the equipment on view. The pictures are interesting in their own right, but these well researched captions greatly increase the usefulness of the book.
Chapters
1 - Invasion Unleashed
2 - Summer Battles
3 - Operation Typhoon
4 - Winter Warfare
Author: Hans Seidler
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 175
Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
Year: 2010