The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, Insignia and Organization

by Andrew Mollo, Malcolm McGregor (Illustrator), Pierre Turner (Illustrator)

Shows the military uniforms and insignia used by the Allied and Axis powers

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Military Fiction, Military History, 20th Century

324 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Michael Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This large and lavishly illustrated volume is amazingly comprehensive. It’s just what the title says -- a guide to uniforms and insignia (but not weapons or equipment, except incidentally), and to the Order of Battle of each of the nations that took part in the war, on both sides. It’s sort of the thing one would expect from Osprey, only much more so. The book’s organization is chronological, then geographical: First, the status of the belligerents at the beginning of things in 1939, then the Mediterranean theater, the Eastern Front, northwest Europe and the invasion, and then the Pacific. Nations that were involved in more than one theater, like Britain and the U.S., are covered more than once, with attention being given in each case to distinctive uniforms (tropical, cold-weather, etc). Within each of those chapters are sections on army, air force, navy, and special units. The color illustrations, of which there are more than 360, are obviously based on photos, some of specific individuals (Goring was the only Reichsmarschall, after all) but most of anonymous officers and enlisted men. And there are numerous photographs, too, which, like the artwork, include detailed explanatory captions. The illustrations of insignia, of all ranks and grades (of which there are more than fifty), are custom graphics for the book and are very detailed. The accompanying text through the whole volume is likewise extrtemely detailed, describing the many ways a military force can be organized (there were huge differences between the way the Western allies, the Soviets, and the Japanese and the Chinese did things) and the changes in size of the forces in each theater over time. Even if you know a good deal about the war and about military bureaucracy generally, you’re likely to learn something new on nearly every page, especially when it comes to the lesser participants, like Estonia and the Gurkhas and the Chetniks. I mean, who even knew Belgium had a navy? Or landlocked Hungary? Besides being a great time-sink for the interested reader, this is an excellent research tool for more serious students of the Second World War.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually, I was reading the 1981 publication, so I can only imagine that later editions only get better. 300+ pages of each theater (Europe early, Mediterranean, Eastern Front, Later Europe, Pacific), with sorts by country, showing all uniforms on mostly hand-drawn (VERY good job) combatants, plus extra actual-photos. Nice flow-diagram of country division structures from HQ on down. Nice short appendix of rank structure. Excellent resource for the military re-enactors.

[Mark Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what the title says! Thorough look at uniforms, insignia and organization of the combatants of the Second World War.