This landscaped, hardback book is the first in a new series of books by renowned and prolific unpublished photograph collector and author Tom Cockle, published through PeKo Publishing of Hungary. This is an incredible book with many previously unpublished photos of armored vehicles in depots, in the field and after combat. The next page reveals more surprises that the previous.

WW2 Vehicles Through the Lens is a new series of photographic albums presenting military and civilian vehicles used by the military during the Second World War. Each book will have six-eight chapters, each focusing on a different subject featuring mostly previously unpublished photographs. Volume 1 consists of the following six parts:

• Part One - Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 202
• Part Two - Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf.E (Sd.Kfz.181)
• Part Three - Lend-Lease Tanks
• Part Four - Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.A to F (Sd.Kfz.161)
• Part Five - Marder II (Sd.Kfz.131)
• Part Six - Miscellaneous Vehicles

Each page has a plethora of inspiration for modelers with German (and a chapter dedicated to Allied Lend-Lease armor in Soviet service) armored forces, scenery, and battle damage. The photographs place the reader in the pages before or after battle with maintenance, repairs, and everyday life. The book is a great reference for weathering and placing models in vignettes and dioramas. The post battle photos are amazing, and modelers can really let their imagination loose with extra detailing.

I cannot recommend this book enough for modelers of German armor. Tom Cockle’s photographs and concise captions are a benefit to readers. The photographs are shot from a German perspective, and there are a lot of candid photos in the 124 pages. Tom Cockle gives thanks to Holger Erdmann and his website, “Kfz der Wehrmacht” (www.kfzderwehrmacht.de) for the resources on vehicle information in Part Six. This is a great book for reference, or just being inspired and swept into the pages for a glimpse of that seminal conflict.

Profuse thanks to Casemate (https://www.casematepublishers.com) and IPMS/USA for providing the review sample.