Osprey has released number 22 in their Combat series. This series deal with two adversaries, mainly infantry, from throughout history by comparing and contrasting them. Battles these two fought against each other are examined from both perspectives with split-screen artwork. This book deals with the German and American armored infantry that fought with armor units between July and Dec 1944.

Here is the summary from the back of the book:

“During World War II, the two pre-eminent mechanized infantry forces of the conflict, the German Panzergrenadier arm and the US Army's armored infantrymen, clashed in France and Belgium after the Normandy landings. These engagements went on to profoundly influence the use of mechanized infantry in the post-war world. Drawing upon a variety of sources, this book focuses on three key encounters between July and December 1944 including during Operation Cobra and the Battle of the Bulge, and examines the origins, equipment, doctrine and combat record of both forces. With specially commissioned full-color artwork and maps, this study sheds light on the evolving nature of mechanized warfare at the height of World War II.”

The book starts with a chapter entitled “The Opposing Sides.” The author makes the distinction between the German anzergrenadiers being mechanized or motorized. The mechanized rode into battle in half-tracks SdKfz 251, commonly called “SPW”, or in trucks. Only about 20% of the panzergrenadiers had SPWs, with only a few German armor divisions being fully mechanized. Most divisions have one in three infantry battalions riding in SPWs, the other in trucks. The American on the other hand were fully mechanized with the M3 half-tracks. In early 1944, American armor divisions were standardized in their organization with more armored infantry assigned to them, except the 2nd and 3rd since they were already deployed and remained tank heavy. The Germans keep changing their armor divisions, so no two were the same. This was a big disadvantage for logistics reasons.

Three battles between these two adversaries make up the next three chapters. The first battle is in July, 1944, during Operation Cobra – the breakout from the bocage region in Northern France. The infantry of Panzer-Lehr-Division fought the armored infantry of the 2nd Armor Division. Each soldier gets a two-page spread with a nice, detailed artwork and explanation their equipment. One interesting fact is that Panzer-Lehr infantry wore the field green Strumartillerie blouse that buttoned up the right side and splinter-pattern helmet covers. Most other German Army (Heer) units did not dress like this. The Americans wore the standard darker green 1943 battledress that took the place of the lighter khaki jackets worn in Italy and Africa campaigns.

Each battle chapter starts with a one page map explaining the battle on the opposite page with hour-by-hour key. There is also a “battlefield environment” section that explains the terrain and weather during the battle. This to me is a huge help in understanding how a battle develops. I referred back to the maps while reading the chapters to keep the battle clear in my mind.

There are a few color photos of half-tracks that will be useful in future projects. Also, the color artwork of the soldiers will be very helpful when painting figures from this timeframe.

The author, Steven Zaloga, has written dozens of these Osprey books and many others like “Armored Thunderbolt.” He is great at explaining the logistical facts that influenced armies to use certain equipment and fight the way they did. I really like how he explains the problems the Germans had suppling their units with proper equipment, then let them fight until annihilated.

I would like to thank Osprey and IPMS for the opportunity to read and review this wonderfully detailed book.