Orlando Reyes

IPMS Number
6399

Reviews By Author

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12th SS PANZER DIVISION HITLERJUGEND Vol. 2

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Book Author(s): Massimiliano Afiero. Translated by Raphael Riccio
Company: Casemate Publishers

The book is part of the Casemate Illustrated series. This is the second and final book dealing with this unit of the German Army during WWII. The scope of the book extends from Operation Goodwood to April 1945. The book is divided into 9 sections along with an Epilogue, Bibliography, and Index. At the beginning of the book, you will find a section called "The Timeline of Events." This section recaps some of the actions in Vol.#1 and then talks about the contents of this volume. This is a very concise, yet informative section.

The narrative starts with Operation Goodwood, how the battle started, and explains what then developed and what units attacked the 12th SS Panzer Div. The story of this battle is followed by that of the Allied attack under the name of Operation Totalize.… more

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Panzerwaffe On The Battlefield 4, World War II Photobook Series

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Book Author(s): Jon Feenstra
Company: Peko Publishing

Volume 25 of this series is dedicated to the Panzerwaffe and its many variants/types. The Panzerwaffe ordered 54,147 vehicles/AFVs in 126 versions on 28 different chassis. The book gives you a small representation of the vehicles/AFV built by the Germans during WWII. Although it is true that the German vehicles/AFV were top of the art in their time, they could not compete against the sheer quantity of Allied war production. That being said, the Germans, although under a tremendous amount of pressure due to fighting against superior numbers, still made good use of the equipment provided to them. The German Panzerwaffe defeated Allied opponents in many cases through superior training, tactics and not infrequently, by sheer bravado of their troops.

The introduction of the book is… more

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The Soviet Destruction of Army Group South

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Book Author(s): Ian Baxter
Company: Casemate Publishers

This book is another offering of the Casemate illustrated Series and in this case deals with the destruction of the German Army Group South by the Soviet forces. The book offers five color maps, one for each section/area where the two armies fought. In addition, you will find 20 commanders’ profiles. Both sides are given 10 commanders each involved in the conflict. The book describes 5 main battles and each has the order of battle for both the Soviets and the Germans. Finally, there are 13 profiles for equipment used during the battle by both the Germans and Soviets.

As in every book of this particular series you will find a timeline of events at the beginning of the book, starting with the retreat of the Army Group South to the Dnieper River during August, 1943, and ending… more

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Elephant Paths Combat history of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 203

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Book Author(s): Thomas Anderson
Company: Peko Publishing

The book covers the history of the unit from its creation through the end of the war, and is divided into an Introduction and six sections, as well as a glossary of terms on page 2. The book refers to the unit designed first as StuGA.Abt.203 and later named StuGBrig.203. Book information was gathered from Russian archives as well as those located in Freiburg, Alexandria and Podolsk. The first chapter deals with the establishment of the unit and how they were trained. The second chapter deals with their transfer to the east. Many of the pictures in this chapter deal with the type of equipment used by the unit. These included both AFV's as well as soft skinned vehicles.

In the third chapter we are introduced to the unit at war. Some of the battles are given by dates, while others… more

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The G.I. Collector's Guide - U.S. Army Service Forces Catalog, European Theater of Operations. Vol #2

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Book Author(s): Henri-Paul Enjames
Company: Casemate Publishers

As the book title states this book is directed to the collector of U.S. Army Service Forces gear, focusing on the European Theater of Operations (ETO). The book is volume #2 of the series.

You will find everything that was used by the Gi's while in Europe! The book is divided into 24 sections with an Abbreviations section, as well as an Index.

The introduction starts by naming every unit in the ETO, including not only the infantry units but the Mountain, Airborne and Armored divisions in the ETO. The book starts with collectibles from the Wartime Draft, continues with Training Camps, and insignia, and continues with individual equipment, souvenirs of battle, and even the Chaplains' equipment. The book is a cornucopia of information for the collector and anyone… more

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Top Drawings #131 Fiat G.55 Centauro

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Book Author(s): Aniruth Rao
Company: Kagero Publishing

This is #131 of the Top Drawings series describing the G.55. The book consists of a total of 16 plan views and 5 profiles of the aircraft. The book is written in English and Polish. The first page of the book has a small history of the aircraft in both languages. You will find a single page drawing for a 1/32 scale aircraft, 3 for 1/72 scale, and 11 for 1/48 scale. There are two drawings in which 1/48 and 1/24 are combined and one in which 1/72 and 1/48 are combined as well. The large 1/32 scale drawing is a single sheet added to the book. This drawing is provided in a two-sided single page. The backside of the drawing has profiles of the aircraft for the single seat fighter as well as the trainer version.

The book does not limit itself to just one side profile. You will find… more

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SS Panzer Battalion 501, Tigers in the Ardennes

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Book Author(s): Hughes Wenkin & Christian Dujarbin
Company: Pen & Sword

The book covers the history of the SS Panzer Battalion 501 in the Battle of The Bulge (Ardennes for the Germans). The book is divided into 5 chapters with an Introduction, Conclusion, Notes and Bibliography at the end of the book. Each chapter in turn is divided into individual sections dealing with specific points. The book contains a total of 169 pages, 191 black and white photos, 7 maps and 1 order of battle table. The unit was attached to the 1st. SS Panzer Division Liebstandart Adolph Hitler (LSSAH) another unit of was the 12th. Panzer Division. The goal of the unit was to reach the port of Antwerp and thus divide the Allied units in two. The unit personnel were very experienced. One of the biggest problems the unit had was the great deal of maintenance and mechanical problems… more

Cross & Cockade 2024 Calendar

2024 Cross & Cockade International Calendar

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Book Author(s): Various
Company: The Great War Aviation Society

This is the 2024 Cross & Cockade Calendar published by The Great War Aviation Society located in England. The organization focuses on WWI aircraft and provides more than 50,000 pounds British Sterling toward the maintenance of the British Air Services Memorial at St-Omer, France, through annual calendar sales.

The calendar consists of 12 beautifully detailed artworks of WWI planes. Each painting has been done by a different artist. They include the well-known "kites" in their normal environment - flying, and on the ground. Only two paintings show them in a battle/combat situation. Other lesser well-known aircraft are also featured.

The renditions are superb and the subject descriptions are also good. Each painting will look great framed!

I will recommend this… more

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Hitler’s Death Trains - The Role of the Reichsbahn in the Final Solution

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Book Author(s): Ian Baxter
Company: Pen & Sword

The book is part of The Images of War series published by Pen & Sword in Great Britain. The book contains a total of 138 photos with 127 taken from wartime archives and the last 11 taken by the author's nice during her visit to Auschwitz in February, 2022. All photos are in black and white. The book is divided into an Introduction, 6 chapters, and an Aftermath. The chapters are as follow: Plans for the Genocide, Special Trains, Destination: The Reinhard Camps, Transport Across Europe, Western Deportations and Hungarian Transports. The book contains more than enough photos showing the deportation of the Jews across Europe with many photos showing them waiting for transport to the trains, walking to the stations, their belongings waiting to be sorted out, as well as several pictures… more

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Air Power & The Arab World, 1909-1955, Vol. 9 The Arab Air Forces & A New World Order, 1946-1948

Published:
Book Author(s): Dr David Nicolle and Air Vice Marshal Gabr Ali Gabr
Company: Helion & Company

This is book #59 of the Middle East at War series and Volume 9 of The Air Power and the Arab World, 1909-1955 series. The book covers only the years between 1946 through 1948. The book contains 10 sections/chapters, as well as an Introduction, a Bibliography and small bio of the two authors.

The first four chapters are dedicated to the air forces of Egypt, Syria, Iran as well several other small air forces from smaller Arab countries. The other chapters deal with the Palestine situation, the Arab Militaries of 1947, the situation of the Arab World during 1947-1948, and Egypt's mobilization, the Iranian preparations, Syria's heroes/Volunteers, the Royal Egyptian Air Force (REAF), and extends from the end of WWII through 1946. The chapter touches on the problems and challenges of… more