Military Model Scene

Title: The Soviet Infantryman on the Eastern Front
Author: Simon Forty
Publisher: Casemate
ISBN: 978-1-63624-363-4

This is a new title in the Casemate Illustrated series, a 128-page soft-cover book, from author Simon Forty.
The book opens with a 4-page chronology of the main events of the story, from the formation of the Red Army in 1918 to the end of the war in Berlin in 1945, and an introduction. The rest is spread over 4 main chapters, each with further sub-sections. They cover The Soldier, Transport & Services, Strategy & Tactics, and Life in the Field, plus a Conclusion to round things off. Among the sub-sections there is coverage of things such as Rewards (medals etc), Propaganda, Training, Women Soldiers, Political Offices & the NKVD, Uniforms & Equipment, Ranks, Rifle Division structure, Mine Warfare, Urban fighting tactics and much more. Well illustrated throughout with archive images, modern photos of equipment layouts, re-enactors wearing uniforms to give colour references, Communications, Veterinary Services and plenty of charts and data tables with lots of basic information. There are also lots of personal accounts which record what it meant for the soldiers themselves.
Some interesting history of course, but I think all the great reference content it includes will get the attention of WW2 history enthusiasts, but especially modellers, wargamers, militaria collectors and re-enactors alike. I felt there was even more in here than I had expected when I actually got into reading it. Another good addition to the series.
Thanks to Casemate for our review copy.

Robin