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Chapters: United States Colored Troops, Veteran Reserve Corps, United States Volunteers, Bureau of Military Information, Galvanized Yankees, U.s. Ambulance Corps, U.s. Military Telegraph Corps. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 39. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: The United States Colored Troops (USCT) were regiments of the United States Army during the American Civil War that were composed of African-American soldiers. The men of the USCT were the forerunners of the famous Buffalo Soldiers. The U.S. Congress passed a confiscation act in July 1862 that freed slaves of owners in rebellion against the United States, and a militia act that empowered the President to use freed slaves in any capacity in the army. President Abraham Lincoln, however, was concerned with public opinion in the four border states that remained in the Union, as well as with northern Democrats who supported the war. Lincoln opposed early efforts to recruit black soldiers, even though he accepted their use as laborers. Union Army setbacks in battles over the summer of 1862 forced Lincoln into the more drastic response of emancipating all slaves in states at war with the Union. In September 1862 Lincoln issued his preliminary proclamation that all slaves in rebellious states would be free as of January 1. Recruitment of colored regiments began in full force following the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1863. The United States War Department issued General Order Number 143 on May 22, 1863, establishing a "Bureau of Colored Troops" to facilitate the recruitment of African-American soldiers to fight for the Union Army. Regiments, including infantry, cavalry, light artillery, and heavy artillery units, were recruited from all states of the Union and became known as the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Approx...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=298234 ... Read more

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Chapters: Spetsnaz, Mechanized Corps, Russian Commando Frogmen, Leningrad Narodnoe Opolcheniye Army, Theater, Front, Spetsnaz Gru, Formations of the Soviet Army, Russian Guards, Vympel, Cavalry Mechanized Group, Russian Hatsavita Mountain Warfare Training, Omsdon, Rifle Troops, Institute 22, Front Mobile Group, Grivnik Brigade. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 83. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: A mechanized corps was a Soviet armoured formation used prior to the beginning of World War II. In Soviet Russia, the term armored forces (thus calledBronevyye sily) preceded the mechanized corps. They consisted of the autonomous armored units (avtobroneotryady) made of armored vehicles and armored trains. The country did not have its own tanks during the Civil War of 1918-1920. In January 1918, the Russian Red Army established the Soviet of Armored Units (Sovet bronevykh chastey, or Tsentrobron), later renamed to Central Armored Directorate and then once again to Chief Armored Directorate (Glavnoye bronevoye upravleniye). In December 1920, the Red Army received its first light tanks, assembled at the Sormovo Factory. In 1928, it began the production of the MS-1 tanks (Malyy Soprovozhdeniya 1, 'Small Convoy 1'). In 1929, it established the Central Directorate for Mechanization and Motorization of the Workers and Peasants Red Army. Tanks became a part of the mechanized corps at this point. During this time, and based on the experience of the Civil War with its sweeping movements of horse-mobile formations, Soviet military theorists such as Vladimir Triandafillov born in Pontus of Greek parents and Konstantin Kalinovsky elaborated the principles of combat use of armored units, which envisioned a large-scale use of tanks in different situations in cooperation with various army units. In the ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=5073888 ... Read more

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Chapters: Long Range Aviation, Narodnoe Opolcheniye, 1st Air Army, Baku Air Defence Army, Karelian Fortified Region. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 26. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Long Range Aviation (Russian: , Dalnaya Aviatsiya, or , DA) was the branch of the Soviet Air Forces tasked with long-range bombardment of strategic targets with nuclear weapons. During the Cold War, it was the counterpart to the Strategic Air Command of the United States Air Force. Comparison of Soviet Strategic Aviation aircraft towards the end of the Cold WarThe first three Air Armies, designated Air Armies of Special Purpose were created between 1936 and 1938. On 5 November 1940 these were reformed as the Long Range Bombardment Aviation of the High Command of the Red Army (until February 1942) due to lack of combat performance during the conflict with Finland. Strategic bombers initially a part of the Long Range Aviation divisions of the reserve of High Command, but were reformed as the 18th Air Army (Vozdushnaya Armiya VA) in December 1944, and were grouped within the Long Range Aviation of the Armed Forces (DA VS) in April 1946. The DA VS (Dal'naya Aviatsiya Vozdushnikh Syl - Longrange Aviation of Air Forces) consisted of the 1st Air Army DA in Smolensk, which was reorganised as the 50th Air Army in Jan 1949, the 2nd Air Army DA in Vinnitsa reorganised as the 43rd Air Army in Jan 1949, and the 3rd Air Army DA in Khabarovsk reorganised as the 65th Air Army in Jan 1949. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Air Armies had previously been active providing direct support the land forces during the Second World War, and thus the new DA air armies with shorter lineages were renumbered as the 50th, 43rd, and 65th. As the 1940s closed and the Cold War dawned, the Soviet Union scrambled to develop an instrument of de...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=8405296 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Tennesseans in the Civil War - Part 2
This Part 2 is an absolute MUST as a companion to Part 1, this is possibly one one the most complete rosters of the Union and Confederate Armies of Tennessee, and includes soldiers from other states who either joined or theunits were combined with the Tennessee Armies.Is a must have for any typeresearch on the Civil War, which no Civil War buff or genealogy researchershould be without.. I highly recommend both volumns.

Tennesseans in the Civil War - Part I
This is an awsome account of the Military Histories of the Union and Confederate Armies in Tennessee and also includes information on other State's Armies,both USA ans CSA, as they were combined for differentencounters.. This has got to be a MUST for anyone researching anythingconcerning the Civil War, as so much history of the War includes the Armiesof Tennessee, which fought in battles and encounters in other States andincludes soldiers enlisted from other states.. and see Part 2 as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A thorough listing of personnel
This is the second of a set of two books by the Civil War Centennial Commission of Tennessee originally published in 1965.This volume (600 pages) is exclusively 2 alphabetical listings of personnel in TennesseeConfederate and Union civil war units.This volume does not containanything except lists of personnel.If you are looking for such listings,this is your book. ... Read more

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Raised from Rhode Island farmers and millworkers in the autumn of 1861, the Union soldiers of Battery G fought in such bloody conflicts as Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania, and Cedar Creek. At the storming of Petersburg on April 2, 1865, seven cannoneers were awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in the face of the enemy. This history captures the battlefield exploits of the "Boys of Hope" but also depicts camp life, emerging cannon technology, and the social backdrop of the Civil War. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A great history and reference about Union Artillery & the soldiers lives
I was a bit worried about getting this book because of the price and it turning out to be a dud. This is a great buy! This covers more then just union artillery training and tactics. This covers how the AoP evolved it's use of artillery and it's command of artillery. How Rhode Island turned out the best cannoneers during the Civil War and how this group of young boys grew up and became some of the bravest and toughest of them. It is also very easy to understand the story Mr Grandchamp is telling. He does not stray to far from the lives of the cannoneers of battery G when he puts the context of what is happening around them in the AoP during the war. He only show some favoritism for the generals from RI. I do think a new reader who whats to get into the Civil War readings, this should be one of their 1st books. ... Read more

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Chapters: Streltsy. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 48. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt:Kievan Rus' Grand Duchy of Moscow / Tsardom of Russia Imperial Russia White Movement RSFSR / Soviet Union Russian Federation StreltsyStreltsy (Russian: , streltsy, literally "shooters"; sg. , streléts) were the units of Russian guardsmen in the 16th - early 18th centuries, armed with firearms. They are also collectively known as Marksman Troops ( ). The first streltsy units were created by Ivan the Terrible sometime between 1545 and 1550 and armed with the arquebus. They first saw combat at the Siege of Kazan in 1552. Initially, the streltsy were recruited from among the free tradespeople and rural population. Subsequently, military service in this unit became lifelong and hereditary. Thus, while initially an elite force in the sixteenth century, their effectiveness was reduced by poor training and lack of volunteerism in recruiting. Streltsy were subdivided into viborniye (), or electives (later of Moscow) and gorodskiye (), or municipal (in different Russian cities). The Streltsy of Moscow guarded the Kremlin, performed general guard duty, and participated in military operations. They also carried out general police and fire-brigade functions in Moscow. Grigory Kotoshikhin, a Russian diplomat who had spied for and then defected to Sweden in the 1660s, reported that they used axes and buckets and copper pumps as well as hooks to pull down adjacent buildings so the fire would not spread, but Adam Olerius, a Westerner who traveled to Russia in the seventeenth century, noted that they never used water. The Municipal Streltsy performed garrison and border duty and carried out orders of the local administration. Streltsy subordinated to the Streltsy Department ( , or Streletsky prikaz), however, ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=361185 ... Read more

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Chapters: List of Soviet Union Divisions 1917-1945, List of German Divisions in World War Ii, List of Allied Forces in the Normandy Campaign, List of British Divisions in World War Ii, List of Units Using the B-26 Marauder During World War Ii, List of British Brigades in World War Ii, List of B-29 Superfortress Operators, List of Hawker Hurricane Operators, Armies of the Imperial Japanese Army, Formations of the United States Army During World War Ii, List of Officially Accredited Battle of Britain Squadrons, List of Polish Divisions in World War Ii, List of German Corps in World War Ii, List of Italian Divisions in World War Ii, List of Polish Armies in World War Ii, List of Japanese Infantry Divisions, U.s. Divisions Active in the Normandy Campaign, List of British Commands and Army Groups, List of Australian Divisions in World War Ii, List of Finnish Divisions in the Continuation War, List of British Colonial Divisions in World War Ii, List of British Corps in World War Ii, List of Canadian Divisions in World War Ii, List of British Armies in World War Ii, List of Indian Corps in World War Ii, American Army Groups in World War Ii. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 199. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: The Soviet Union's Red Army raised divisions during the Russian Civil War, and again during the interwar period from 1926. Few of the Civil War divisions were retained into this period, and even fewer survived the reorganisation of the Red Army during the 1937-1941 period. During the Second World War 400 'line' rifle divisions (infantry), 129 Russian Guards rifle divisions, and over 50 cavalry divisions as well as many divisions of other combat support arms were raised in addition to the hundreds of divisions that existed in the Red Army before Operation Barbarossa. Almost all the...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=10698279 ... Read more

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Chapters: 11th Infantry Regiment, 14th Infantry Regiment, Union Army Balloon Corps, Confederate States Army, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 12th Infantry Regiment, Confederate States Navy, 46th Pennsylvania Infantry, 54th Regiment Indiana Infantry, Confederate States Marine Corps, 1st Ohio Cavalry, Army of the Potomac, 4th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, 24th Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Confederate Secret Service, 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, Battery D, 1st Ohio Light Artillery, 26th Ohio Infantry, 4th Ohio Cavalry, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, 19th Ohio Infantry, 2nd Ohio Infantry, 13th Ohio Infantry, 2nd Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, 11th Ohio Infantry, 17th Ohio Infantry, 33rd Ohio Infantry, Virginia State Navy, 15th Ohio Infantry, Louisville Legion, 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, 7th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, 65th Ohio Infantry, 64th Ohio Infantry, 8th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry, 49th Ohio Infantry, 14th Ohio Infantry, 9th Kentucky Infantry, 51st Ohio Infantry, 31st Ohio Infantry, 7th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, 5th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, 38th Regiment Indiana Infantry, Battery A, 1st Ohio Light Artillery, 10th Ohio Infantry, 5th Independent Battery Indiana Light Artillery, 59th Ohio Infantry, 18th Ohio Infantry, 3rd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, 36th Regiment Indiana Infantry, 4th Kentucky Infantry, 6th Ohio Battery, 42nd Regiment Indiana Infantry, 21st Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, 15th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Confederate Home Guard, 1st Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, 9th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Battery C, 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Governor General's Foot Guards, 5th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, 2nd Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, 38th Ohio Infantry, 6th Kentucky Infantry, 24th Ohio Infantry, 40th Regiment Indiana Infantry, 31st Regiment Indiana Infantry, 1st Regiment Tennes...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=8788599 ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: This is a list of regiments from the U.S. state of Louisiana that fought in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861-1865): ... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=18958823 ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Teichmüller was born in Nordhausen. He studied at the University of Göttingen and received his doctorate in 1935 under Helmut Hasse. He was a passionate Nazi, joining the NSDAP in July 1931 and becoming a member of the Sturmabteilung in August 1931. In 1933 he organized the boycott of his Jewish professor Edmund Landau. In 1936 and 1937 he attended lectures by Nevanlinna who sympathized with the Third Reich, where he was a guest professor and, like Brouwer was also considered by the Nazis as "politically reliable" (Rudolf Heß was in charge of the assessment). Under the influence of Nevanlinna he specialized in geometric function theory. Upon personal authorisation from the Führer, he joined the Wehrmacht in 1939 and was killed in fighting on the Eastern Front. Much of his work was published in Deutsche Mathematik, a highly ideological journal founded by Ludwig Bieberbach that contained not only scholarly articles but also race propaganda. Because of the nature of the journal, his papers were hard to find in modern libraries before the publication of his collected works. ... Read more

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Over 43,000 Il-2/10s were built between 1941 and 1955, more than any other combat aircraft in history, making this one of the most important Soviet aircraft deployed in World War 2. Built originally as a two-seater, the Il-2 had lost the rear gunner's position by the time the aircraft started to reach frontline units. Armed with ground-attack rockets, the aircraft proved deadly against Wehrmacht panzers as pairs of Il-2s roamed the frontline at low level. However, the Shturmoviks (armored attackers) were vulnerable to attack from the rear by enemy fighters, so Ilyushin reverted to the two-seat layout in September 1942. Oleg Rastrenin provides a fascinating account of the complex development history of a plane that was crucial to Russia's defense. From Stalingrad to Kursk to Berlin, this book charts the airplane's vital contribution to the most famous battles of the Eastern front. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Story of a true flying artillery
We must rememberSoviet Union in World War2 developed remarkable planes. IL-2 represents highest achievement in Soviet aviation technology. IL-2 was an armoured low-flying attack aircraft. First armoured plane in history, a true flying tank.The crew cabin, engine ,fuel tanks were sheathed in armour.Only fuselage/tail section remained unarmoured. When bullets hit the glass covering which enclosed crew cabin it left only small cracks though fired from extremely close ranges. Because glass had a thickness of 63 mm which explains why plane could absorb such an enormous amount of punishment. Not because of what author says its mixed metal /wood construction.


IL-2 Shturmovik is predominantly an offensive weapon. Soviets developed the aircraft to strengthen offensive capabilities of its aviation armies.Plane's mission was to destroy enemy aviation in the ground besides striking at other targets. One can appreciate this fact by reading Red Army Field manual which has clearly specified the role of attack aviation.


June 22, 1941 Wehrmacht swept USSR in a surprise attack. Soon Shturmoviks found itself entangled in dogfights with Luftwaffe fighters and suffered heavy losses. This was not because aircraft was obsolete dubbed by some people in the west. Plane was pressed into a role for which it was not suited. But as Germans continued to advance deep and deeper into enemy territory, Soviet air force started using Shturmoviks for mounting attack missions. IL-2s tried to blunt German bid to seize Leningrad, Moscow, Stalingrad by attacking panzer spearheads, motorised infantry.Enemy supply columns, airfields,roads, bridges were also targeted.


At Kursk Shturmoviks proved its mettle. Afterward used extensively in tank busting operations was fitted with weaponry which proved very lethal for German armour. These were PTAB 2.5-1.5 ANTI-TANK BOMB AND 37 MMNS-37cannon both had excellent armour- piercing qualities and could knock out any German tank.Morale of German crews plummeted.


After regaining strategic initiative Red Army initiated a sprawling offensive across whole length of the Soviet- German front.Shturmovik units were involved in providing fire support for advancing ground forces .Defending enemy forces , its artillery armour along the flanks had to be neutralised . Then faced a daunting task which was to find and suppress previously undetected enemy artillery emplacements and armour,for these occasionally halted Soviet advance.


In order to enhance co-operation between air and ground units air division commanders were embedded within Observation Posts of ground units,Spotters were also attached to units f first echelon.Their first job was ti pin-point FLOT ( Forward Line of Own troops) to avoid friendly fire.Equipped with VHF/UHF radio sets they relayed target designation information to Shturmoviks flying overhead.


From mid-1944 system worked at its peak of efficiency which resulted in considerable advance.However it should be noted growing scale Allied bomber offensive against Germany pulled Luftwaffe fighters away todefence of the Reich.As war reached its climax ,author rightly argues,IL-2 transformed into a highly lethal airborne artillerycapable of destroying enemy strong points with pin-point accuracy.Shturmoviks became scourge much vaunted panzer units of Wehrmacht.


One thing I like in this book is author's frankness in admitting Soviet defeats which communist censors often try to conceal.Book carries photos seen for the first time.Contains sketch drawings, colour illustrations made possible by excellent art work. Shturmoviks carried unit designations such as SAD,ShAP,ShAK.ShAD read for the first time.Then some of the Russian names are tongue-twisting,but I relish the challenge of pronouncing such names.For a long time I was was seeking more information about remarkable plane.Rastrenin's book almost fills this void.

Good quick read but a bit dry
Excellent photos and drawings of the IL-2 and variants, but the text is a bit dry. It pays to be really into Soviet WWII aviation history to enjoy it, although I must say that some of the exploits of those brave pilots were amazing! Ramming enemy aircraft to bring them down when your ammunition runs out? Wow!

More of a running commentary than anything else, it does document an important part of history but the general public will probably enjoy it most for the photos and illustrations.

IL-2 Shturmmovik ! Fighting,Deffenders of Stalingrad,Deccessive,Leading Battle of Kursk, and final voictdor of Berlin !






IL-2 SHTURMOVIK GUARDS UNITS OFWORLD WAR 2
IL-2's! Fighting Deffenders of Stalingrad,Deccessive, leading Babttle of Kursk,
and final victor of Berlin !

I am a americcan historian. Now,I intoduce Review of Young Ki Moon, Seoul,korea.
Before WW11,Attack Aviation was considerd as sperahead of Red Army.
The armoured IL-2(2 Seat AM-38 variants) wasfirst purpose-designed Air Attacker.
Sergei Illyushin at Soviet Control Design Bureau(TsKB) produced a new design,
two-seat aircraft designated the TsKB-55 which first flew inDec,1939.
On 22,June,1941,when Germay aattacked the USSR,"Barbarossa",
Soviet AF's main aim was based on Heavily -Armoured, Grount -Attack monoplane's
Soviet Ground supportlng Attackers. Single seat Attacker started from !@,Oct,1940,
By experience of fleud pilot was unfavourable due to vulnerable back side of cockpit
from threre, enemy Fighter like start attack! With one pilot,attacking,measureing,
piloting using Radio transmmissions. They srongly requested 2-seat variant with
operating flexibly mounted machine guns against attacking German Fighters.
one of croiteria of success was it'ssurvivability due to protection of main parts
of body, structures, guarding pilots,engine,fuel tank, bomber bay and cooling system
(Many German Aces disclosed main weak point of famous US p-51Mustang was
vulnerability of liquid cooling system damage with the Merlin liquid-cooled engine
Quoted from P-51 Mustang VS Fw-190. by Martin Bowman,2007)
They like yo use from low --level flight, from 100~200m Altitude,start gentle, 10~15 degree
Glide follwing Bombing with/without 4-Rocket attacking, and Strafing with
determined tlme interval.
They created IL-2 specific techacics like"closed loop","loose circle","Scissor's
Maneuuvr", " Fllattened V-shaped formations,basically keeping "in Pair"Operations.
Close cooperation between IL-2 and ground forces(Radio Target Infor mations) and
HQ of IL-2. Particular attack on German tank was by IL-2with 37mm NS-37 cannon and
PATB-2.5-1.5shaped-charge-anti-tank bomb-great success in Battle of Kursk.
After the experiences ShAK 20mm cannon changed to VYa 23mm cannon which made
more density of fire onthe ground.Also AZh-2 cluster bomb used on enemy Artillery positions.
Most crucial battle of il-2 was Stalingrad,under the severe AAA,extremly low flight,
among demolished building,they hunted weaoon implacement in specifif street, home,
prior to bdestroying them. !

Great Primer
The IL-2 series was the most successful and numerous ground attack aircraft of WW2. The IL-2 was infact the A10 of it's day. This title while ostensibly about the Guard units actually reads as a battle history of the IL2 aircraft, it's development and the evolution of it's combat roles.

The IL-2 had a reputation for being able to survive serious damage and there are plenty of photos in the book which demonstrate this. One in particular show's how the Pilot's rear head armour stopped two 20mm cannon rounds. From the summer of 1942 the addition of rear gunners also alleviated losses.

The IL-2's effectiveness was also due to it's weapon systems; a mix of cannon, rockets and bombs. The anti armour PTAB bomb's were very effective, especially when used in large numbers.
The Il-2 truly became a nightmare for the Germans from 1943 onwards as the Soviets were able to achieve local air superiority and improvements in pilot training, ground organisation and forward air control took effect.

The IL-2 could also catch out the unwary Luftwaffe fighter pilot who was in danger not only from the rear gunner but also from the IL-2's main guns if the fighter overshot on it's attack run.

Oleg Rastrenin has managed to pack in an incredible amount of information into this 96 page title . He also has a great writing style which is not only informative but also enjoyable to read. Many of the operation's flown by the IL-2 squadron's and tactic's used are described and individual crews named.
While Osprey titles can vary wildly in quality this is definitely one of their very best and I would highly recommend it.

My only minor criticism of the book would be that the plates have a slightly washed out look.An illustration of the revised battle tactics in use would have been nice too.
Also in the line drawings the IL-2 M-82 is shown but no description or use of this aircraft is given. I've not seen this aircraft before and would be interested to know more about it.

Famous IL-2 Units of the Great Patriotic War!
During WWII, Russian air force units that had particularly distinguished themselves in combat were awarded the 'Guards' title. Oleg Rastrenin's new volume for Osprey, #71 in their 'Combat Aircraft' series, traces those IL-2 units who received this most coveted award. IL-2 SHTURMOVIK GUARDS UNITS OF WORLD WAR 2 really lifts the lid off Russian Air Force combat in WWII to show readers some incredibly brave men in action.

As revealed in Rastrenin's book, it took horrendous IL-2 losses before VVS Shturmovik units developed effective ground-attack tactics. The book is replete with countless missions where poorly-trained IL-2 crews, usually without fighter escort, hurled themselves at Axis forces only to be slaughtered by flak and Luftwaffe aircrews. Initially developed as a two-seater, the IL-2's rear gunner position was dropped due to the design's poor performance, a decision that only increased the IL-2's vulnerability. Nevertheless, as documented in Rastrenin's book, the IL-2 was eventually transformed into an aircraft hated and feared by Axis ground forces, an aircraft labelled 'Black Death.'

'Combat Aircraft #71' certainly offers a fascinating account of IL-2 units - in this case Guards units - in action. You can't help but admire the courage and determination of the Shturmovik pilots and gunners even as you're saddened by the terrible losses they suffered. Rastrenin's books gives endless examples of why Stalin declared that "the Red Army needs the IL-2 as it needs air and bread."

The book features 80 black & white photographs of aircrews, aircraft, destroyed Axis equipment, etc. (Some of the photos that show flak-damaged IL-2s that made it back to base have to be seen to be believed). Along with four-views of various IL-2 models, eight pages of color profiles by Andrey Yurgenson illustrate the Shturmovik in all its glory.

Though I gave the book five stars, I do have two criticisms. First, in too many cases Rastrenin does not present actual German losses suffered in IL-2 attacks as opposed to what the Shturmovik crews claimed. Second the narrative sometimes reads like a textbook, being on the turgid side.

That said, there simply is no other book available offering aviation enthusiasts such an authoritative, comprehensive account of Guards units in action. Highly recommended.
*****

IL-2 fans should check out Yefim Gordon's wonderful IL-2/IL-10 book for Crowood Press and Hans-Heiri Stapfer's earlier book for Squadron/Signal. ... Read more

Product Description
The Essential Vehicle Identification Guide: Soviet Tank Units, 1939-45 offers an highly illustrated guide to the main armored fighting vehicles used by the Red Army during World War II. This compact volume includes sample unit structures and orders of battle from company up to corps level, providing an organizational context for key campaigns throughout the war.

Customer Reviews (4)

Soviet Tanks in World War II
This book is an excellent guide to Soviet Tanks in World War II. Full of facts & figures regarding some little known tanks & subsequent developments during the War on the Eastern Front. It has some nice artwork & covers lend lease tanks provided to the Soviets by the Allies. There are lists of early war Mechanized Corps, their commanders & later tank brigades plus organisational charts. Short articles on the Spanish Civil War, the Soviet-Japanese clash at Khalkin Gol (Nomonhan) & the 'August Storm' Soviet Manchurian Offensive & with photographs on key campaigns give tasters for the reader to get other more detailed books later on. The book is completed with detailed armoured production & lend lease tables. I have three other books on the German armoured formations in my collection & in my opinion this is the best one yet. It is not & will never be a complete & absolutely detailed reference library on Soviet Tanks but it is a valuable addition to anyone who is interested in World War II & collects books on the subject especially the Eastern Front. If you want more information get more books!

Competent introduction of Soviet Armor
In the Preface, the author considers his book an introduction to Soviet Armor and its history; its not intended to compete with the huge encyclopedias that are available. As an introduction, it was rated 5 stars for its comprehensive assortment of illustrations, graphic tables depicting the complement of tank units from company level upwards, battle summary and photos.
The illustrations include light, medium and heavy duty tanks, antitank and the variations that developed throughout the war. It also covered armor cars, trucks, rocket launchers, ambulances, staff cars, jeeps and cycles. Lend lease tanks and trucks as well as tractors and towing vehicles round out the list.

To my surprise, Mr Porter also includes a brief history of Russian armor which started around the time of the revolution and continues its coverage to the start of the war. The summary includes Marshall Tukhachevsky and his driving force in improving war doctrine and Red Army modernization in the early and mid 1930s. Stalin's purges were also covered.
The author also provides a brief but helpful summary of key tank battles during the war. It includes the engagements at Dubissa River, Bialystok, Minsk, Kiev, Moscow, Rzhev, Vyazma, Kharkov, Stalingrad, the Caucasus, Uranus, Bagration, Lvov, Berlin and even Manchuria. Before Barbarossa, the Spanish Civil War, and the invasions of Poland and Finland are mentioned.
The Appendix includes tables of Lend-lease production and delivery quantities. It shows losses of T34s by year as well as Soviet tank production figures by year. A table also shows a comparison of German and Soviet tank strengths for various campaigns. In addition to the illustrations and tables, a good number of battlefield photos are presented.

This is a competent primer that for many would probably be an excellent starting place to learn before moving up to the giant 500 plus page encyclopedias.

Great reference book.
This is the latest in a series of identification guides of various armies and formations.As a source of accurate, full-colored paintings they can't be beat.All of them have a large selection of various vehicles in many different color schemes, from the early war gray to the various "ambush" patterns.In addition, they have many organization charts showing actual vehicle paintings which give a much better "feel" of what an organiztion really looked like.

There are many photos as well, and a concise unit or type history.Highly recommended for the model or war-game enthusist.

An almost perfect book for Russian tank fans
This history of Soviet tank units in World War 2 has a lot going for it...excellent artwork, good organization, and engaging text.It does a great job of laying out the basic organization of Soviet tank units from the pre-war era to the end of the war. Kudos to the author, too, for including sections on Soviet operations in Finland (the Winter War),the often neglected conflict in Manchuria in 1939 and the "August Storm" offensive in Manchuria in 1945.The sections on "non-tanks" such as the multiple rocket launchers and artillery tractors are a nice touch, too.

It probably is a nitpicky complaint given that the book is about Soviet tank units and not the tanks per se, but there is little data about the tanks themselves other than a short specifications box with each drawing.Also lacking is any real treatment of how the tanks performed in battle.As mentioned, the text is engaging but it treats the campaigns outlined at a very strategic level so the reader will have to go to other sources for a more detailed examination.

Those minor complaints aside, this book is well worth the very reasonable price. ... Read more

Product Description
This book traces the combat history of the Luftwaffe fighter units deployed to Russia during World War 2. Major aircraft types are all covered, and their missions detailed. Aircraft markings and aircrew uniforms are shown in full colour illustrations. ... Read more

Product Description
Covers the aircraft and many pilots of JG 3, JG 5, JG 51, JG 52, JG 54 and JG 77. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A marvellous overview of Luftwaffe fighters in the East
This is a collection of hundreds of rare photgraphs of German fighters in Russia during World War II all with very interesting captions. The reader gets the impression that he walks among the great aces with triple digit scores of victories and in the primitive airfields set in the Russian steppe. The youthfull faces of countless German pilots with the Knight's Cross around their neck fill this book, as well photos of the famous Bf-109s and Fw-190s, some of them showing the interesting artwork on their rudders depicting very impressive victory scores. The book is highly recommended to anyone interested in the Luftwaffe aces!! One wonders how the Red Air Force survived after the merciless slaughter it suffered at the hands of those terrific aces. ... Read more