Casemate

SNIPER ACE from the Eastern Front to Siberia (Bruno Sutkus)

Throughout World War II, German snipers were obliged to carry a 'Scharfshützen Buch' which recorded every kill. Each success noted had to be verified by a witness and signed by a superior officer.The journal of Sutkus is one of only a few such books to have survived the war. It records more than 200 kills, placing him as one of the war's most successful snipers. A large part of his journal is reproduced for the first time here.

As a Hitler Youth member his skill as a marksman was quickly noted and, in July 1943, aged 19, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht. A month later he was sent on a five month sniper's course in Wilna, after which he was posted to the Eastern Front.

He was so successful that his superiors sent him to crucial positions. Despite his age, he was regarded as one of Germany's best snipers and in November 1944 he was awarded the Scharfshützenabzeichen 3 Stufe -the highest award for a sniper.

After being wounded in January 1945, Sutkus was given time to recuperate away from the Eastern Front. During this time he met a Red Cross nurse, to whom he gave all his journal.

When the war finished, Sutkus was forced to join the Red Army. He deserted to join the Lithuanian resistance fighters. After being captured again he was tortured by the KGB and deported to Siberia to endure forced labor. It was not until the collapse of the Soviet Union that he was able return to Germany and find his journal, still in the hands of the same nurse.Introduction written by David L. Robbins.

Hardcover, 6 x 9, 256 pages, 50 pages of illustrations

Price: $33 USD / $37 CAD

FALLSCHIRMJAGER - Storming the Gran Sasso - The Liberation of Mussolini 12 September 1943

 “On the night of the 11th to 12th September, I was made to understand that the allies would not keep me alive in their hands... It was 14:00 hours when I saw the first glider land, followed by others and then groups of men approached the refuge, prepared to eliminate any resistance. The guards watching over me couldn't understand what was happening and didn't fire. The whole thing lasted five minutes. The enterprise, example of the German's organization, decision and sense of initiative would be remembered in the history of the war. In time it will become legendary.”

With these prophetic words, Mussolini himself described the audacious Operation Oak raid by German Waffen-SS that freed him from his captors in the Hotel Campo Imperatore.

Yet it was not without cost. This book provides a complete, illustrated account of the controversial and dangerous liberation of one of history's most infamous leaders, Mussolini.

Soft cover, 7" x 10", 64 pages, 72 b+w photos and color profiles.

Price: $18 USD / $21 CAD

Military Vehicles and Tanks In Detail Series:

This series of reference books is comprised of small format, 96 page, soft cover books with dozens of black and white period photographs, several color photographs of preserved vehicles, numerous line drawings, excellent text and some color artwork (for the vehicle insignias). The books are similar to the Osprey New Vanguard Series but while they lack the color vehicle profiles included in that series, these books contain far better detail photos of both the exteriors and interiors of the tanks dealt with in the series.  Very highly recommended.

Panzerkampfwagen I/II

After World War 1, Germany was forbidden by the treaty of Versailles to possess or produce tanks. However, during the 1920s a variety of weapons, including AFVs, were developed in secret and, with the connivance of the Soviet Union, were tested at Kazan in Russia.

After the rise of Hitler, rearmament was accelerated and plans were laid for the development of purpose-built battle tanks that eventually emerged as the Panzers III and IV.

As an interim measure, a vehicle was required for the training of the nascent armored forces and, in 1933, prototypes of a simple, cheap and easy to manufacture tank were invited from a number of firms. A design by Krupp, based on the Carden-Lloyd tankette, was selected and production began in 1934 under the code-name Landwirtschaftlicher Schlepper or ‘agricultural tractor’. Later designated Panzerkampfwagen I it was 13ft long and weighed 5.4 tons, with a crew of two. Armament was two 7.92mm machine guns and 3,125 rounds of ammunition were carried. In 1935 a further stopgap machine, the Pzkpfw II, was produced, weighing 10 tons and armed with a 20mm Kwk 30 gun with a co-axial 7.92mm machine gun. Blooded in the Spanish Civil War, these erstwhile training machines were numerically the most important tanks during the early campaigns of World War 2 and their contribution to the success of Blitzkrieg warfare was considerable.

Soft Cover, 9 x 12, 96 pages, 170 b/w & color photos. Price: $30 USD / $33 CAD/INT

Panzerkampfwagen 38(t)

One of the most successful of prewar light tanks was the Czech LT-38 (TNHP). Built by CKD of Prague. A compact and reliable vehicle, it was sold to Iran, Latvia, Peru and Switzerland and was also built under license in Sweden. After the German annexation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 all serviceable Czech tanks were absorbed into the German Army.

Redesignated the Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), the Germans were well pleased with the LT-38 as, armed with a 37.2mm (SKODA A7) gun of good armor-piercing performance, it was clearly superior to the Panzer I and II's that formed the bulk of German armor at that time. In the battle of France, the 7th and 8th Panzer Divisions were composed almost entirely of ex-Czech tanks; indeed during 1940-41 they formed a quarter of all German tank strength.

On the Russian front, it was completely outclassed as a gun tank but production of the chassis continued as the basis of several improvised anti-tank self-propelled guns, such as the Marder III, and later as the efficient tank destroyer, Jagdpanzer Hetzer. The gun tank continued to serve late into the war with armored train units; the tanks being carried on flat cars for dismounted action against partisans.

Soft Cover, 9 x 12, 96 pages, 170 b/w & color photos. Price: $30 USD / $33 CAD/INT

#3 US Half-tracks M2-M3-M5-M9. 96 black and white photos, 21 color photos, 7 line drawings and 1 page of color artwork showing ammunition types for the 37mm and 50mm guns plus 81mm mortar.  Price $20 USD/ $22 CDN/INT. 

Spearhead Series of Divisional Histories:

7th Armoured Division-The "Desert Rats"  By George Forty. This famous division which lives on as the 7th Armoured Brigade, fought against the Italians and then the Germans as well in North Africa, participated in the landings at Salerno and was subsequently withdrawn to the UK to be landed in Normandy on June 7/44. The division advanced through France and Belgium and took the surrender of Hamburg. Nicely done.

80 color and black and white photographs plus numerous maps and organizational tables. Price $20 USD/$22 CDN/INT.

1st.Infantry Division: "Big Red One" (Ian Allan/I. Westwell).

A reasonably comprehensive look at this well-known division that includes chapters on its World War I origins, World War II operations and post-war activities. Like the other books in the series, clothing and insignia are also detailed.

Soft cover, 7 x 10, 96 pages, English text, 83 B&W photos, 14 color photos of reenactors, 10 maps, orders of battle and tables.  Price $20 USD/$22 CDN/INT.

Leibstandarte: Hilter's Elite Bodyguard (Ian Allan/M. Sharpe & B. Davis) A reasonably comprehensive look at this well-known division that includes chapters on its origins and World War II operations.  Like the other books in the series, clothing and insignia are also detailed.

Soft cover, 7 x 10, 96 pages, English text, 89 B&W photos, 7 color photos of reenactors or uniform items, 8 maps, orders of battle and tables. Price $20 USD/$22 CDN/INT.

21. Panzer-Division: Rommel’s Afrika Korps Spearhead (Ian Allan/C. Ellis) A reasonably comprehensive look at this well-known division, concentrates mainly on the African campaign. Includes chapters on personalities and markings.

Soft cover, 7 x 10, 96 pages, English text, 75 B&W photos, 13 color photos, 12 maps, orders of battle and tables. Price $20 USD/$22 CDN/INT.

82nd Airborne Division: “All American” (Ian Allan/M. Verier).

An inclusive, though necessarily, brief account of this elite division from its inception to the present — with the emphasis on WW II.

Soft cover, 7 x 10, 96 pages, English text, 80 B&W photos, 8 color photos, 5 maps, tables and charts. Price $20 USD/$22 CDN/INT.

Großdeutschland: Guderian’s Eastern Front Elite (Ian Allan/M. Sharpe and B. Davis)

A fairly good account of the “Großdeutschland” that fought exclusively on the Eastern Front after 1941. Germany’s most powerful army division which also formed the basis for a number of other divisions and eventually a Panzer-Korps. Oddly enough the bibliography does not include our 3 volume “official” history of the Großdeutschland  or of the Großdeutschland Panzer-Regiment, guess they do not like competition.

Soft cover, 7 x 10, 96 pages, English text, 85 B&W photos, 7 color photos, 10 maps, charts and orders of battle.  Price $20 USD/$22 CDN/INT.

7. Flieger-Division, Student’s Fallschirmjäger Elite (Ian Allan/C. Ellis)

Quite good coverage of this formation at a reasonable price.

Soft cover, 7' x 10", English text, 96 pages, 95 B & W photos (11 in color), 6 maps, orders of battle, list of Knights Cross winners.Price $20 USD/$22 CDN/INT.