History and Archaeology

Presented here are the biographies of the 130 men of the Fallschirmjäger—Hitler’s elite paratroopers, who won the Knight’s Cross and its higher grades. These men fought on nearly every front during the Second World War, from their first action in Denmark in April 1940, to their last major battle at Monte Cassino. A total of twenty-four Knight’s Crosses were awarded to Fallschirmjäger troops during

Developed in the 1960s/1970s, the Tu-144 was the Soviet Union’s only practical venture into supersonic commercial aviation. Though its career was all too brief, it was a major technological achievement for the Soviet aircraft industry. The book provides in-depth coverage of the “Concordski,” including projected versions, the Tu-144’s production and service history, and a comparison with the Concor

Based on research and personal interviews, this book presents the most successful North Vietnamese pilots’ careers from their training years to their missions and aerial victories. There were nineteen aces in the Vietnamese People’s Air Force during the war. An additional eight MiG pilots were also successful in dogfights; each claimed four aerial victories. More than 240 illustrations feature rar

During the times German soldiers weren’t involved in combat operations, they felt some return to a normal existence and a temporary break from the horrors of war. Relying on wartime British, American, and German references, this book sheds light on the day-to-day life of the German soldier, a topic that has only received passing coverage in many publications. Using the successful formula of the au

This is the first major work in the English language devoted entirely to the uniforms, insignia, and history of the female auxiliaries that served in the German armed forces during WWII. Using wartime photographs and references, along with contemporary sources and examples the author presents an in-depth look at the contributions of female auxiliaries to Germany's war effort. Interrogations of Ger

Kimono is a generic term for traditional Japanese clothing; it means “thing to wear.” This revised and expanded second edition provides an overview of various traditional garments, introduces types of designs found in twentieth century kimono that are still available, and presents wearable art and home décor inspired by kimono from contemporary artists. Because wearing kimono is diminishing and ki

This is part one of a comprehensive two-volume reference that shows all the camouflage uniforms of the Waffen-SS. Using predominately modern color photographs, Volume 1 covers SS camouflage helmet covers and smocks. Each example is displayed on a full mannequin with numerous photos showing how the clothing appeared from various angles. In addition, detail images are used to clearly expose key feat

This is part two of a comprehensive two-volume reference that shows all the camouflage uniforms of the Waffen-SS. Using predominately modern color photographs, Volume 2 covers SS camouflage M44 Drill Uniforms, Fallschirmjäger Uniform, Panzer Uniforms, Winter Clothing, SS-VT/Waffen-SS Zeltbahnen, and concludes with a detailed look at each camouflage pattern including samples. Each example is displa

Project Mercury was America's entry into the manned spaceflight program. When the program began in 1958, the Soviet Union was far ahead of the US in the race for supremacy in space. With immense effort, and in record time, NASA, the newly created spaceflight organization, developed a space transport system with orbital capsule and booster rockets. They used it to send Alan Shepard on a first subor

In just two-and-a-half years, beginning in 1964, two unmanned and ten manned flights took place in the Gemini program. This program was the turning point in the space race with the USSR; from then on the Americans took the lead. Flights lasting two weeks, into the Van Allen Belt, the first extravehicular activities, rendezvous maneuvers and docking with other spacecraft—all of this was achieved by

This is the amazing story of legendary WWII U-boat commander, and Knight's Cross recipient, Peter Cremer. Cremer was appointed commander of U-333, a type VIIC submarine with a close-knit crew. During his first North Atlantic patrol U-333 sank three ships; unfortunately, the third victim was actually a German blockade-runner. Cremer was acquitted before a court martial. During his second patrol, th

This book is a detailed history of the 27th Waffen-SS Division “Langemarck,” the Flemish volunteer SS combat formation. “Langemarck” was employed chiefly on the Eastern Front, first in the Ukraine in early 1944, then participating with a combat group in Estonia along the Tannenberg Line in the summer of 1944, alongside other European Waffen-SS volunteers subordinate to III.SS-Pz.Korps--covering th

This book is a detailed history of the 23rd Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier Division “Nederland,” the Dutch volunteer SS combat formation. Employed exclusively on the eastern front, except for a brief period in Croatia, the “Nederland” formations participated in many of the most difficult defensive battles on the northeastern front: Leningrad, the Narva bridgehead, the Tannenberg line, Dorpat in Kurland

Drawn from some of the world’s most prestigious collections, this comprehensive work is a visual and historical reference exploring the craftsmanship and technical progress of German pistol development from 1871 to 1914. Using specially commissioned color photography, these ultra-rare and priceless side arms, many of which are shown for the first time, are portrayed in stunning detail, highlightin

This book is a first-of-a-kind comprehensive, photographic essay regarding surviving artifacts of Custer and the Battle of the Little Big Horn – some never before published. Years were spent photographing and acquiring artifacts in museums and private collections, which are presented here in vivid, high-resolution color photographs, shot from various angles with the researcher and collector in min

This is the story of 150 of the most adventurous scouts, gold prospectors, gunslingers, buffalo hunters, and Civil War veterans of both sides—they may have been the deadliest collection of shooters to ever hit the trail. This is the most detailed work ever produced on the obscure legend of the 1874 Yellowstone Wagon Road Prospecting Expedition in the Montana Territory—the product of multi-year res

Originally one of the paramilitary groups that arose in Germany's turbulent 1920s , the SS grew from its original protection activities into the"Death's Head" troops and the Verfugungstruppe, and later during WWII, the Waffen-SS. During its evolution, the SS changed from its black uniform into a variety of uniforms that eventually resembled those of the German army, in various types of fabric, and

All of the uniform-specific insignia used by the Waffen-SS in World War II are presented in this concise, all-color book. Included are sleeve and cap eagles in their various versions, collar tabs, sleeve shields, and cuff titles, as well as shoulder boards and straps, and rank insignia. Using nearly 300 color photographs, this book shows the scope in insignia the Waffen-SS achieved by war's end, a

The story of the French units of the Waffen-SS in World War II—the Französische SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment; Französische SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade, Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade der SS “Charlemagne”; 33. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS “Charlemagne”—is told in this concise and detailed book. Examined first are the many fascist and national-socialist movements that existed in France at the b

This book is a rare look at Soviet combat divers from the 1930s up to the end of World War II. The initial formation of the military diving services, including diving reconnaissance and sabotage units of the navy, and Red Army during the prewar years are described in detail. The training of divers during the war years—including underwater exploration and sabotage, mine clearance, emergency rescue,