the book

Frituur Zorro from Narwal Press is both a quirky glimpse into the past in a 'where are they now' format, but also an important record for later generations of what arises from the futility of war, into the utility of hard working people. As with many an old soldier who lives and breathes amongst us, Theo Barten and Maarten Swarts understood they wanted to identify those heroes of freedom rarely thanked. They scoured Europe in the early years of the ‘70s in search of what many in Europe had grown up seeing as part of the lifting veil of war heralded by the Tommies and the Yanks riding 'softsides' on to Berlin to end the nightmare. These were the transports, the ambulances and command vehicles quickening the end announcing by their presence in the streets that war was to be over soon.

Sadly, like many warriors, these vehicles melted into memory, sometimes to be so well camouflaged by new owners as to seem garish or disrespected. Some were relegated to haul timber and scrap until they too ended broken and forgotten in a crowded back lot. Others found the footlights of the Carnivals travelling their final miles painted bright colors to be admired by ensuing generations of children not far removed from the horrors of a previous decade. Some still functioned in their roles as providers of comfort as with a lowly chip truck found between the covers of this fascinating book.

Theo Barten and Maarten Swarts drove criss-cross through Belgium, Northern-France, the Netherlands and the then Eastern-block countries searching out these forgotten soldiers. From their efforts the resulting black and white, and sepia-toned photographs capture these unique vehicles in the street scenes of that period. Especially interesting, the hand painted signs on some of the vehicles give the photos' a truly unique atmosphere.

For the modeler and armchair historian I am reminded of how we now see books of this caliber on such intrinsic subjects. The 169 pages bristle with diorama ideas while telling an important story often forgotten on the North American continent. Here, on this side of the pond, we were the lucky ones. Not only did we leave nations in ruins, but the vehicles we deemed not worth salvaging... unless that GMC was the only vehicle that might help you to eke out a living in post-war Europe.

conclusion

This addition to your library would certainly be one to start conversations with, while Theo and Maarten tell the stories of what and where and how they found these odd vestiges of waning memory with contagious enthusiasm.

As stated in the Introduction by H. J. A. Hofland, this homage to what he calls 'Emotional Metal' is also an important addition to the field of industrial archeology, a science that emerged almost too late to preserve the battlefields, ordinance and memories of recent history.

You may order this book directly from their website, but do so soon if you want to give it as a gift... even to yourself.