Military Model Scene

Title: German Mountain Troops 1942-45
Author: Yves Beraud
Publisher: Casemate
ISBN: 978-1-61200-946-9

Another in the Casemate Illustrated series, this time looking at the topic of the specialist Mountain Troops of the German army in WW2, and the second part of a pair of books, this one covering the later war period, from 1942 through to the end in 1945. A 128-page soft-cover book, packed with archive images. It is another that was originally published in French, but now done in this English language version.
Picking up the story in 1942, the German Mountain troops were stretched from Norway and Finland in the North to North Africa in the South, and pretty much everywhere in between. Not the heavily equipped armoured divisions which usually attract so much attention, these are essentially infantry units, with specialist skills. The book starts with the end of the fighting in North Africa, when the surviving mountain troops had to surrender. Then it moves on to those who fought in Russia, fighting with other units in Army Groups North, Centre and South. In the south they were used in the Caucasus mountains and the Ukraine. That is followed by the units in Norway and Finland, then those in Italy, where they fought their way back up the Apennines in defence. More were used in the Balkans, in Yugoslavia, Albania and down to Greece. They were often used in the war against the Partisans, as some did in Southern France. Gradually they were forced back towards German territory, and they fought on both the Franco-Italian and the France-German borders, being involved with Operation Nordwind in the Alsace, early in 1945. Amidst the basic history of the units there are plenty of additional details, including uniforms and equipment, as well as events such as the conquest of Mount Elbrus.
Coupled with the first volume, these make an excellent refence on these specialist and highly trained troops makes for interesting reading. Add the fine details of their uniforms and badges, both historians and modellers will find some helpful references in here.
Thanks to Casemate for our review copy.

Robin