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Osprey New Vanguard #325
German Field Artillery of World War II
An illustrated study of the big guns of Hitler's army – the Wehrmacht's field artillery, its capabilities and its role in German fighting units of World War II.
Often overshadowed in military history by the tanks and aircraft of Blitzkrieg, Germany's artillery was key to its methods of waging war throughout World War II. Field artillery remained the primary killer on the battlefield, often responsible for three-quarters of combat casualties inflicted.
Redressing the balance, this book surveys the major Wehrmacht guns of the war, and the basic organizational structure of the German field artillery. Its primary focus is on the divisional field guns, especially the lFH 18 10.5cm field howitzer and the 15cm sFH 18 field howitzer that formed the backbone of German artillery. A brief survey is also made of the infantry guns used at the regimental level, and of corps-level heavy artillery. The issue of the use of"Beutewaffen,” captured war-booty field guns, is also looked at, as is the Nebelwerfer and schwere Wurfgerät rocket artillery.
With archive photos and meticulously detailed new illustrations, this book provides a concise study of the German Army's big guns of World War II, how they were organized and how they were used, both on the Eastern and Western fronts.
Often overshadowed in military history by the tanks and aircraft of Blitzkrieg, Germany's artillery was key to its methods of waging war throughout World War II. Field artillery remained the primary killer on the battlefield, often responsible for three-quarters of combat casualties inflicted.
Redressing the balance, this book surveys the major Wehrmacht guns of the war, and the basic organizational structure of the German field artillery. Its primary focus is on the divisional field guns, especially the lFH 18 10.5cm field howitzer and the 15cm sFH 18 field howitzer that formed the backbone of German artillery. A brief survey is also made of the infantry guns used at the regimental level, and of corps-level heavy artillery. The issue of the use of"Beutewaffen,” captured war-booty field guns, is also looked at, as is the Nebelwerfer and schwere Wurfgerät rocket artillery.
With archive photos and meticulously detailed new illustrations, this book provides a concise study of the German Army's big guns of World War II, how they were organized and how they were used, both on the Eastern and Western fronts.
48 pages, Paperback
Published December 19, 2023
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About the author
Steven J. Zaloga
381 books77 followersSteven Zaloga is an author and defense analyst known worldwide for his articles and publications on military technology. He has written over a hundred books on military technology and military history, including “Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II”, one of the most highly regarded histories of the Sherman Tank. His books have been translated into Japanese, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Russian. He was a special correspondent for Jane’s Intelligence Review and is on the executive board of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. From 1987 through 1992, he was the writer/producer for Video Ordnance Inc., preparing their TV series Firepower. He holds a BA in history from Union College and an MA in history from Columbia University.
Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.
Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 19, 2024
Stephen Zaloga is a legend in the Military history world- and he is back again with this explanation of German Field Artillery in WWII, number325 in Osprey Publishing's 'New Vanguard" Series. Field Artillery is the heavy firepower, mostly indirect that makes the way for the Infantry and Tanks on offense and protects them on defense. The Nazi Armies began the war with excellent artillery- albeit mostly horse drawn. Zaloga tells the story of an arm of the Wehrmacht that waned as the war went on- eventually losing its advantages on both the Western and Eastern fronts. Between Zaloga as the author and the Osprey approach with a wealth of photos, colour plates and diagrams/tables, the reader is given a strong presentation and will be well informed on the topic.
Zaloga is thorough, addressing all the Artillery available to a Nazi General- not just regimental and divisional guns but the longer range weapons attached to Corps and Army level formations, as well as Nebelwerffen, the rocket artillery the allies called "Screaming Mimis". As the war went on, the Nazis armed later formed divisions and Corps with more and more captured weapons - with the follow on nightmare of logistics one might infer. In the later battles, where Allied mobility was exploited, the horse drawn German Artillety found itself destroyed or bypassed all too easily.
Not too many adult themes and no graphic injury passages make this a good book for the Junior Reader over about 11/12 years. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast this is an uneven find. For the Gamer, this is really more on background- unless you base your scenarios/campaigns on the heavy guns. This is interesting for the Modeler- although I think one would need more for build/diorama development. The Military Enthusiast is the big winner again- getting a Zaloga explanation of a key part of the Nazi war machine. If you want to look into this topic- this is a good place to start.
Zaloga is thorough, addressing all the Artillery available to a Nazi General- not just regimental and divisional guns but the longer range weapons attached to Corps and Army level formations, as well as Nebelwerffen, the rocket artillery the allies called "Screaming Mimis". As the war went on, the Nazis armed later formed divisions and Corps with more and more captured weapons - with the follow on nightmare of logistics one might infer. In the later battles, where Allied mobility was exploited, the horse drawn German Artillety found itself destroyed or bypassed all too easily.
Not too many adult themes and no graphic injury passages make this a good book for the Junior Reader over about 11/12 years. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast this is an uneven find. For the Gamer, this is really more on background- unless you base your scenarios/campaigns on the heavy guns. This is interesting for the Modeler- although I think one would need more for build/diorama development. The Military Enthusiast is the big winner again- getting a Zaloga explanation of a key part of the Nazi war machine. If you want to look into this topic- this is a good place to start.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews