Military Model Scene

Title: The Dutch Resistance 1940-45
Author: Michael Wenting LLM & Klaas Castelein
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-4802=4

Sub-titled WWII Resistance and Collaboration in the Netherlands, number 245 in the Osprey Elite series. A 64-page soft-cover book in the familiar Osprey style, along with plenty of archive photos and more of the marvellous artwork that Osprey are so well known for, with in this case no less than 8-pages of detailed uniform illustrations by Mark Stacey.
The book is split into 6 main sections, covering Fascism in the Pre-War Netherlands; the Military Occupation 1940-45; the Security Apparatus; Growth of Resistance 1940-44; Open Warfare, from September 1944; and finally Allied Liberation Operations, 1944-45. All of these, with the exception of the final section, are sub-divided into a number of sub-topics. At the start there is the bulk of the information on Dutch organisations that were in support of the German Fascists, and this increased once the country had been occupied in 1940. Then it moves on to the period of occupation when there was both an increase in those who worked with/for the German occupiers and equally of those who resisted the occupation forces in one way or another. When it come to the final stages of the war, members of the Dutch Resistance assisted the Allied advance, as well as helping evaders and more. In the closing stages, some people effectively 'changed sides' and some of the new recruits used their new roles as an excuse to commit some crimes which were open to question. The illustrations include 8-pages of artwork illustrating uniforms worn by both Collaboration and Resistance units, some of which are just civilian clothing with the addition of a particular armband to identify them.
While many of us interested in the history of WW2 are familiar with the efforts of the French Resistance, I am sure others like me were less familiar with the movement in the Netherlands. I found this taught me a lot that I had not known before, so a good value addition to your references, and with artwork which is likely to attract many modellers with the inspiration/reference of some less familiar uniforms to try. I am a fan of this series and the topic here is one that makes an interesting addition to your references, and at a good value for money price.
Thanks to Osprey for our review copy.

Robin