Military Model Scene

Title: GI Collector's Guide, Vol 2
Author: Henri-Paul Enjames
Publisher: Casemate Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-63624-203-3

The second volume of this fantastic reference on the uniforms, equipment and much more of the American GI on service in NW Europe during WW2. Matching Vol 1, it is a large format hard-cover book of 272-pages. An English translation of a book first published in French by Histoire & Collections.
In the Introduction there is a useful set of tables with the Orders of Battle for US Infantry, Mountain, Airborne and Armored Divisions. This one then starts with all the items that were associated with being 'drafted' or called-up, to join the army and ends with material on leaving the army. In between is another amazing collection of items, which in many ways is quite staggering. The book is divided across 24 sections, many of which have further sub-divisions. Obviously there is way to much to even attempt to try and tell you everything you can find but I'll try and pick a few things that will give you an idea. Once they got to their training camps, equipment like a Foot Locker and even the chart on how it should be organised. ID cards and tags, insignia and decorations, even materials to write home. More uniform items, both officers and enlisted, boots, belts, webbing, the Assault Vest, early armoured crew padded helmet and more. For weapons, which were included in vol 1, now we have boxes of ammunition, holsters and ammunition bandoliers. Life on post features the likes of shaving kits, toothpaste, sewing kits and soap. In a section on Armored Troops, even the tubes of camo paste. Also in uniforms there are items for female service personnel, such as nurses uniforms. Amongst Medical Equipment are rolls of instruments for surgeons and dentists, all things which were necessary for an army in the field or at home. There are the specialist items for the Military Police, and even for the various Army Chaplains, Christian, Catholic and Jewish, plus Engineer Equipment, Gas Masks, Signals. Less warlike there are illustrations of rations, tobacco, cameras, boxes of cigarettes and even forms and papers for POWs. That's by no means all but hopefully it gives an idea of just how extensive, and how wide is the variety of materials needed for an army at war.
For the collector, the re-enactor and the modeller, this is another goldmine of references, all beautifully photographed. Add this to volume 1 and I can't imagine a more complete reference, and an insight into the challenge all this would have presented for the quartermaster service.
Thanks to Casemate Publishing for the review copy.

Robin