WW2 Vehicles - Through the Lens, Volume 4

Published on
Review Author(s)
Book Author(s)
Jon Feenstra
ISBN
9786156602282
Other Publication Information
Hardcover (11.7” x 8.3”) 124 pages 120 black and white photographs.

Publisher/Photo Credits: Peter Kocsis, ECPAD, Fortepan, Imperial War Museum, Karlheinz Münch, Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum, National Archives, The Archive of Modern Conflict, Torsten Verhülsdonk, and Roger Viollet
MSRP
$41.95
Company: Peko Publishing - Website: Visit Site
Provided by: Casemate Publishers - Website: Visit Site

This landscaped, hardback book is the fourth in a new series of books by renowned and prolific photograph collector and author Jon Feenstra, published through PeKo Publishing of Hungary. This volume continues its proven formula of amazing photographs, many previously unpublished, of armored and soft skin vehicles in depots, in the field and post combat. Each page reveals more surprises than the previous. Previous editions of this great series have been reviewed:

The first volume in this series was reviewed here at WW2 Vehicles Through the Lens Vol.1.

The third volume here at WW2 Vehicles Through the Lens Vol.3.

Volume 4 consists of the following six parts:

  • Part One – Panzerkampfwagen II (Sd.Kfz.121)
  • Part Two – Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.J (Sd.Kfz.141)
  • Part Three – Panzerjäger III/IV für 8.8cm Pak 43/1 (Sd.Kfz.164)
  • “Hornisse/Nashorn”
  • Part Four – 15 cm Panzerwerfer 42 Sd.Kfz.4/1
  • Part Five – Sd.Kfz.251 mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen
  • Part Six – 38M Toldi I/II (A20)

Each chapter is roughly 20 pages each and has a plethora of inspiration for modelers with German (and in this book, Hungarian Toldi tanks) armored forces. With mid-to-late war German Panzers garnering a lot of attention, it is refreshing to see the focus on lesser covered, but just as important combat vehicles. The Panzer IIs and IIIs were the bulk of the Panzerwaffe early in the war, the Panzerjäger “Hornisse/Nashorn” (“Hornet/Rhinoceros”) were a German answer to the heavier Russian tanks encountered, the Panzerwerfer 42 gave German rocket artillery more mobility and survivability, the iconic Sd.Kfz.251 served everywhere with German forces after the initial European invasions, and the final chapter on the Royal Hungarian Toldi shows a lot of this diminutive tank. The photographs place the reader in the pages before or after the battle about maintenance, repairs, and everyday life; and this is a great reference for weathering and placing models in vignettes and dioramas. The post battle photos are amazing, and modelers can really get inspired by these photos for extra detailing.

I cannot recommend this book enough for modelers of World War II German armor and the Hungarian Toldi I/II. Jon Feenstra’s photographs and concise captions are a benefit to readers with a plethora of details about the subject being described.The photographs are shot from a German perspective, and there are a lot of candid photos in the 124 pages. This is a great book for combat vehicles in their environments. The fifth book in this series has been announced and has a Panther on the cover. Jon Feenstra has authored two of these books and the next book will be Tom Cockle’s third.

Profuse thanks to Casemate and IPMS/USA for providing the review sample.

Cover

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