Today I will review a new book from Luftfahrtverlag Start, Mit der Kamera an der Front. Als Kriegsberichter bei der I.(J)/LG 2 und dem JG 77. The title is quite a mouthful and the book is quite a book.
Luftfahrtverlag Start is a German publisher of exceptional books. This title is the third in a series of photographic journals titled Fotografiert von Soldaten. Each volume contains the personal photographs of a particular individual and so capture life as you don’t see it elsewhere. The first volume followed a young Panzer Soldier in Africa and Italy from 1942 to 45 while volume two follows a Medical Dr. in the 3rd Panzer Division.
Both incredible books with so much information and some really fantastic photography. The third volume is somewhat different though. It follows an unknown War Correspondent. who joined I. (J)/LG. 2 in 1941 on the English Chanel following them through their operations in the Balkans and Romania. He was then attached to JG. 77 in the Crimea.
The book is 240 pages long with 54 colour and 170 black and white photographs.
There are 13 very nicely done colour profiles and 14 colour maps. The book is 25 by 28.5 cm. The accompanying text is both German and English. The book is broken into 6 chapters and then a detailed list of victories. The breakdown is:
1 Formation, Poland Campaign, Defense of the Reich 1938-40
2 Western Campaign May to June 1940
3 Operations against England, June 1940 to March 1941
4 The Balkan Campaign and operations in support of the Airborne Invasion of Crete
5 Russian Campaign, June 1941 to January 1942
6 Major Gordon Mac Gollob in JG 77 until July 1942
In the foreword, it was stated that the pictures and information obtained was only a small portion of this camera mans work. If would be really nice if more could be found to as the quality and subject matter is excellent.
As I looked through the volume I was struck by quality but more importantly by the settings. Everyday life in the field with a fighter squadron. The number of British aircraft either brought down or left in the dash for the sea is outstanding. Normal maintenance activities, as well as combat, are captured by this mans camera. Again as in the previous two volumes, I learned things I never would have imagined. Whether the unusual victory markings on Wilhelm Hachfeld’s Bf 109 (2 victories in the air marked on the vertical stab, and 6 ground victories located on the horizontal stab just under the air markings) or photographs of Colonel Generals Yamashita’s visit to the Sqn.
I always like to look at a review book from the perspective of a history buff and as a modeler. Again this book would satisfy both. Full of interesting information and full of amazing pictures to satisfy any detail-hungry modeler. Colour schemes and markings are very clear and the maintenance pictures should provide lots of inspiration for any builder.
This book is another excellent addition and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in history or the Luftwaffe. It can be obtained straight from the publisher for 64,00 € here. For those in the United States, it can be found at RZM for $95.00.
I’m sure any good bookstore can obtain a copy for you also.
Thank you to the publishers for this copy.
MORE PAGES FROM THE BOOK
