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Thursday, 13 February 2014

An interesting new book

Despite the current bad weather, Amazon managed to deliver a copy of the newly published HITLER'S BLITZKRIEG ENEMIES 1940: DENMARK, NORWAY, NETHERLANDS, & BELGIUM this morning.


The book was written by Nigel Thomas, illustrated by Johnny Shumate, and published by Osprey as part of their MEN-AT-ARMS series (No.493) (ISBN 978 1 78200 596 4).

Because the armies of the countries featured in this book were overwhelmed by the invading Germans, their histories, units, formations, and uniforms are little-known to most people with an interest in the Second World War. This book goes some way to filling that gap, and I am looking forward to reading it in detail later this week.

20 comments:

  1. Bob - the Kindle daily deal today is on Dreadnoughts - you might be interested??

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  2. Steve-the-Wargamer,

    Thanks for the heads-up. I shall pay a visit to Amazon forthwith.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  3. Bob,
    Am I being too sensitive in finding the title of this book, presenting these countries as if their only significance was as minor obstacles the Nazi blitzkrieg, a bit distasteful?

    But I suppose the alternative title: Victims of Nazi Aggression might not sell so well!

    Regards,
    Arthur

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  4. I'd say just a bit. The title refers to them as enemies, not victims.

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  5. Early War Miniatures do some nice figures for these forces.

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  6. Arthur1815,

    The title is somewhat insensitive and distasteful ... but I think that you are right that it might not have sold as well if it had had a more historically accurate title.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  7. Phf,

    The title is certainly less than historically correct. Perhaps a better title might have been VICTIMS OF BLITZKRIEG 1940.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  8. Nigel Drury,

    I did not know that. I will look out for them when I next visit a wargames show.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  9. Could have been worse - the title could have been "Blitzkrieg Speedbumps".
    It does look like a useful book - a lot of people seem interested in the 1940 battles.

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  10. Great minds think alike - I had been about to go with "Speedbumps of the Wehrmacht".

    When I started back into Historicals I only had one opponent and one who always played the Dutch, the Belgians and the army of Luxemberg.

    Two years of playing German paras does terrible things to a man.

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  11. Michael Peterson,

    In all fairness to the author, he does try to explain the title in his introduction ... but I would agree that it is not the best choice of title the publishers could have made.

    I suspect that the book will be very popular with wargamers who are interested in both the 1940 campaigns and the interwar years, especially those contemplating a VBCW-style of wargame set in another European country.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  12. Conrad Kinch,

    TWO YEARS A GERMAN PARA sounds like a film title to me!

    Who will play you in the film? Johnny Depp, Matt Damon, or George Clooney?

    All the best,

    Bob

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  13. Johnny Vegas?

    Though I have been told that I look like a younger, heavier Jack Dee.

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  14. Bob,

    Do browse http://earlywarminiatures.com/ They also have a growing WW1 range and in the "20mmzone" are the former Skytrex vehicles and artillery that they are now producing, but as resin/metal composite simple kits which are cheaper than the originals.

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  15. I really don't see the issue with the title. Is it the mention of "Hitler"?

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  16. Conrad Kinch,

    What about Jude Law? A man of action (in his films) and beloved by women. I think that describes you to a tee.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  17. Nigel Drury,

    Thanks for the link.

    It sounds like a range that I should be more aware of.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  18. Phf,

    I have a friend who works in publishing who tells me that a book with the words 'Hitler' and/or 'SS' in the title always sells well.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  19. Reminds me of the Alan Coren story, see -http://addiator.blogspot.co.uk/2008/01/golfing-for-cats.html

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  20. Nigel Drury,

    You could always rely on Alan Coren to get the level of ludicrous it-could-just-happen-but-it-won't just right.

    All the best,

    Bob

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