PublishedAndrea Press, October 2013 |
ISBN9788496658394 |
FormatHardcover |
Dimensions21cm × 19.7cm |
The 8th of May, 1945 was not only the day that marked the end of the war in Europe, but also the final point of one of the most unique and fascinating eras in the history of military aviation. This book is intended to give anyone with an interest in the history of the Luftwaffe a clear visual idea of the men who fought in the German Air Force through one of the most captivating aspects of their wartime experience: their uniforms, flight gear and equipment.
It comprises a detailed compilation of some of their "tools of the trade", with a special emphasis on the visual aspect of the objects described; showing highly detailed photographs of some of the most prominent pieces of uniforms and equipment used by the men who flew in the German air force during the Second World War. The use of color throughout the book gives the reader the opportunity to appreciate the different varieties of materials and fabrics produced during the war, in the hope that it provides useful information to a wide range of readers including militaria collectors, modellers, illustrators and studio wardrobe departments.
The book is intended to give a brief overview of the most identifiable elements, and by no means a profound study or systematic display of each and every piece of equipment and uniform, a venture that would require several books to accomplish and is well beyond the scope of this book. The authors have limited the identification data and the captions to the basic information in order to include as many photographs as possible. The difference between this book and others that have been published before lies in the fact that the emphasis has shifted from quantity to quality. Out of the vast collection of artifacts at our disposal, the task of choosing which items would appear in the book and which would be discarded was not an easy one to make. It was finally decided to showcase those pieces that were most commonly used by the average German pilot and crewman, and in some cases a rare or unusual artefact of clothing or equipment which the authors believed would be appealing to more advanced connoisseurs and enthusiasts of Luftwaffe militaria.
