Military Model Scene

Title: Waffen-SS Soldier versus Soviet Rifleman
Author: Chris McNab
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-5798-9

Number 71 in the Combat series from Osprey. An 80-page soft-cover book in the usual style for this series.
Following an Introduction to set the scene, it goes on to set out the Opposing Sides, examining their ideology and recruitment, the differences in training and tactics along with the different weapons used by both sides. The comparison is then completed by detailing their performance in three battles. The first is at Rostov-on-Don, between (20-25 July 1942), then the third battle of Kharkov (1 February-18 March 1943) and finally the fourth battle of Kharkov (6-11 August 1943). The comparisons are rounded off with sections of Analysis and Aftermath, what happened later. There is also a handy comparison of their respective Unit Organisations as well.
There were changes over time, and Russian units may have suffered at the hands of their opponents, but they learned some hard lessons, and did increase the number of automatic weapons carried in their rifle units, and sheer numbers did tell in the end. As ever the text is accompanied by plenty of archive images along with the usual array of artwork which includes plenty of detailed maps illustrating the three battles that feature in the book, along with excellent pictures of both a German and a Russian trooper with their equipment plus some battlefield artwork as well.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin