Author: David Mitchelhill-Green
Published by Pen & Sword Military, 2017
230 pages, over 400 images

Basics

This is a paperback book measuring 7.40”(w) x 9.60”(h) x 0.70”(d) and is part of the publisher's Images of War series. It can be found in most bookstores and on the internet for around $20 (US). The pages are of good quality paper with large print. The images are large, in focus and take up more of the book than the text.

Chapters of the book:

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Notes on Photograph Sources
Introduction
Chapter One: Hitler's Sunflower
Chapter Two: An Unfamiliar Land
Chapter Three: The 'Desert Fox'
Chapter Four: Towards The Nile
Chapter Five: Kriegsgefangene (PoWs)
Chapter Six: Beutefahrzeuge
Chapter Seven: Artillery
Chapter Eight: Fur Deutschland
Bibliography

review

While this is a book about the famous German General, Erwin Rommel, it is also a tremendous resource for modelers. Boasting over 400 images in just 230 pages, this publication has more images than text! There are countless images providing examples of weathering, chipping and vehicle markings. Also the range of clothing worn, from shorts to greatcoats with uniforms of German, Italian and British soldiers all captured as they existed in the elements. In this book you'll also find inspiration for unique dioramas containing soldiers, locals and of course, equipment.

The book begins with the arrival of the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) to North Africa showing Pz. Kpfw I's and Pz. Kpfw III's being unloaded from ships in Tripoli. Still in the Dunkelgrau (dark grey) paint schemes, a caption under one of these images states, “The dark grey base colour of these tanks would soon be oversprayed in Sandgelb (sand yellow, RAL 8000), and possibly Graugrun (grey green, RAL 7008), for disruptive camoflouge patterns. In the absence of suitable paint, vehicles were sometimes sprayed with oil and then covered with sand. Mud was also used.”

There is not only information about the equipment used but also the origin of the equipment. For example there is a chapter titled, “Beutefahrzeuge” (loot vehicles) highlighting British, Canadian and American manufactured transport vehicles, tanks and artillery pieces captured and being used by the Afrikakorps. Of course, the captured 4x4 British AEC 'Dorchester' armoured command vehicle used by Rommel is in several images.

conclusion

This book is a great resource for modelers and historians alike, formatted well with large pages full of images. I also like the chronological progression of the book as it follows Rommel through North Africa. The price is a great value in my opinion. Although the images are numerous and of great quality, they are black and white. I would like to have seen some color images. This is a great book to add to your modeling library. There are sure to be numerous pictures that you've not seen before, providing great inspiration for modeling.