Osprey Men-at-Arms 336 : The German Army (5) 1939-1945 : Western Front 1943-1945

The German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht) consisted of the Army (Heer), Navy (Kriegsmarine) and Air Force (Luftwaffe) under Chief of the Armed Forces High Command (Chef des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht - OKW) GFM Wilhelm Keitel. The Waffen-SS, officially established in November 1939 under Reichsfürer-SS Heinrich Himmler, was an independent arm, but its field units operated under Army command. There were also paramilitary units in the Police (Polizei), Border Guards (Zollgrenzschutz), Stormtroopers (SA), National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK), State Labour Service (RAD), Todt Labour Organisation (OT), and from 25 September 1944 the German Home Guard (Deutscher Volkssturm): and these all provided the Army with scratch units to defend western Germany from October 1944. This final book in a series of five books on the German Army of World War 2 details the units of the Wehrmacht that fought in the West. From Sicily into Italy, and from the beaches of Normandy across France and into the heart of the Reich, the Germans resisted with dogged determination. Despite disastrous defeats, they proved tenacious in defence and bold in the attack. Nigel Thomas's text is supported by tables and charts detailing rank insignia and unit organisation, and by eight plates of colour artwork by Stephen Andrew showing the uniforms and equipment of these remarkable soldiers.

Contents

• The Context of the Western Front 1943-45
• The Development of Army Units
• Campaign Summary 1943-45
• Army Uniform
• The Plates