Military Model Scene

Title: Beutepanzers of World War II
Author: Steven J. Zaloga
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-5938-9

Captured Tanks and AFVs in German Service, New Vanguard number 332 from Osprey, and another from author Steven Zaloga. A 48-page soft-cover book.
Beutepanzer, or 'war booty tanks', is a fascinating topic within the use of armoured vehicles during WW2. The German offensives against Poland, then France, the Low Countries and Scandinavia, let alone North Africa, the invasion of Russia in 1941 then after D-Day, there were thousands of vehicles captured by the German military. While many thousands went straight to the scrap yards to be melted down, many others were considered suitable for use by the German armed forces, though mainly for tasks such as airfield defence and policing duties in the occupied territories. While it excludes mention of the Czech AFVs captured before the start of WW2, there are sections on Polish, Dutch, Belgian, French, British, Soviet, Italian and American tanks and AFVs. Many were considered obsolete so were not used, some had their turrets removed for use in the fixed fortifications along the Atlantic Wall and others were converted into self-propelled anti-tank and artillery mounts. The French and Italian AFVs were most widely used, as the factories in both France and Italy remained in use, so could make the necessary spares to allow them to be kept operational. Others, such as a lot of Russian equipment, could only be used for a short time, until they became non-operational through a lack of spare parts. It does of course include reference to the array of Becker conversions of French tanks, which were used by 21st Panzer Division in Normandy.
Illustrated throughout with archive photos and some super artwork from Felipe Rodrigues Nanez (aka Filipe Rodna). One of the many data tables I found interesting is one which explains and lists the system of identification numbers that Germany used to identify the extensive variety of Beutepanzer that they used. Armour historians and modellers will enjoy this one I have no doubt. The author has written a long list of titles for Osprey over the years, and this new addition to that list is very welcome.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin