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This intriguing book for the military historian consists of 125 contemporary photographs of the German Elite paratrooper regiment the Fallschrimjager during World War II. The photos are the personal collection of first Sgt Wilhelm Plieschen who severed with the machine gun battalion. The photos are often poignant and give a fantastic insight into the real life of the German paratroopers during their campaigns, the fact that most of the photos aren’t posed and show aspects of military life not normally photographed adds great value.
The photos follow in mostly chronological order the campaigns through Greece and the Balkans and the massive airborne assault on Crete and finally the Russian front. The most fascinating section is the section on the battle for Crete. Here the photos offer many interesting views of one of the largest airborne operations in World War II and are certainly the strongest part of the book giving a real flavour and feel of the battle. The accompanying text to the photos places them in context and often (but not always) explains what is shown in the pictures.
For most people the text offers very little information apart from placing the photos in context and the book is a fairly light read but then it is intended as a visual record rather than a serious discussion of the campaigns / subject. As a companion book to a more serious study of Hitler's Fire brigade this book will be a nice addition if you are looking for depth and detail look elsewhere.Author: Jon Sutherland and Diane Canwell
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 176
Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
Year: 2010