The Book Review and Recommendation Thread.

[unimarc]

Hi Guys,

I am looking at buying a book on the EK1 of WW2.
I think it will be one of these 2, but since I haven´t seen any of them live, I am not sure which one to buy.
They both seems extremely detailled, one is english language and 600 pages dealing with 57 crosses too. The other one in german language, 1200 pages seems even more in dept with extreme details and variations !!
prices are 149 euros and 198 euros, not a big difference.

I don´t mind either english or german, thats not a factor !

I would very much appriciate any advice on which one to choose, personally i am leaning a bit towards the german one :-)

MFG
Marc

[unimarc]

Hi Marc, you will have to wait unitl next year for the new book by my friend George on the EKII:

The Iron Cross 2nd Class

by George Stimson.

Publishing date: Winter 2014

Cheers, Ade.

Hi Ade,
do you know if this mentioned book has been published yet ??
Can´t seem to find it anywhere .

MFG
Marc

[Adrian Stevenson]

I will ask George for you.

[unimarc]

Thanks Ade, I'm sure I'm not the only customer on the list ;-)

Mfg
Marc

[Watchdog]

Hi Guys,

I am looking at buying a book on the EK1 of WW2.
I think it will be one of these 2, but since I haven´t seen any of them live, I am not sure which one to buy.
They both seems extremely detailled, one is english language and 600 pages dealing with 57 crosses too. The other one in german language, 1200 pages seems even more in dept with extreme details and variations !!
prices are 149 euros and 198 euros, not a big difference.

I don´t mind either english or german, thats not a factor !

I would very much appriciate any advice on which one to choose, personally i am leaning a bit towards the german one :-) MFG
Marc

You are correct that these are two very good books and it very much depends how much detail you require. I do not specialise in EK collecting but I have a few and as we all know you may add "just one more" to your collection at any time !

Because of this and the fact that I love good reference books I actually have both on my bookshelf.

I bought the B&D book before Frank Thater published his and I thought it was enough. However, Franks book is far superior in just about every way.

Of cousre it is a much larger work being in two volumes and it aims to detail every known variation by every known maker and does this by detailing the product of each maker separately in the same way as the B&D book but in far greater detail. For example; the B&D book devotes 14 pages to CE Juncker whilst Thater uses 46 pages!
Both books deal with the history of the award, the award criteria, documentation, packaging,spangen, miniatures and 1957 versions. Fakes are not covered in any detail by either book but this is fairly pointless as it could never be an up to date or in any way complete reference. Better it is that one learns to identify the real thing. The B&D book has a short "quick reference" section covering hardware and spangen eagleheads but Thater goes into much more detail giving a photo comparison of swastikas, dates, beading, crowns (where relevant) and eagle heads of spangen. Although the Thater book is titled EKI von 1939 it does also (as does the B&D) include the imperial cross under the sections of those maker who produced it.

As I said, both are excellent books but if you only want one, the language is not an issue (I couldn't read a german novel but I have no problems with this book) and the cost difference is not the deciding factor then for me I would suggest the Thater every time.

I hope this helps.

Regards

Mark

[unimarc]

Thanks a lot Mark, exactly the kind of info i was hoping for :-)
I will stick to the german Frank Thater version :-)

Thanks again !
MFG
Marc

[Adrian Stevenson]

George tells me his EKII book is not out yet. He is also working on his KVK book.

Cheers, Ade.

[Watchdog]

Here's another much valued tome on my bookshelf;

The Para badges of the Third Reich are very highly faked and with originals ranging in price from expensive to almost priceless a mistake can be (to quote Capt Miller in Saving Pte Ryan) "Disconcerting" to say the least

That being so most of us need all the help we can get and short of a lifetimes experience in handling and researching these badges this book is just the job!

Tom Durante is a very experienced and well known collector in the TR combat awards field and is highly regarded by his peers.

A large format publication measuring 20.5 x 26cm and weighing about 5lb (about 2.3kg), it has more than 600 pages and 1200 pictures mostly in colour.

All known Army and Airforce badges are covered in detail with each badge shown in high quality colour images of the obverse and reverse reproduced at about three times life size.

The history and award criteria are covered as are documents, packaging, miniatures, cloth versions, the '57 version and of course the known fakes (well made and dangerous ones not obvious rubbish) as well as maker marks and their variations. Hardware and construction also features.

This is a big book in more ways than one and although it might seem pricey (because only 1000 were printed originally) it is still much cheaper than one bad badge!!

In Germany, I believe this dealer has it in stock;

Luftwaffe & Heer Paratrooper Badges of WW2

He attends the War & Peace show in UK and speaks excellent English. He is friendly, helpful and for you guys on the other side of the pond I know he does business in the US as well. If that doesn't suit here it is in the US;

Luftwaffe and Heer Paratrooper Badges WW2 German Paratrooper Badges 0981929524 | eBay

I am not likely to ever have as many as "a handful" of these badges and don't expect to have an army one any time soon but I would not be without this book in my collection. As we all know research is essential and here is a great prepacked lump of it!

Regards

Mark

[unimarc]

George tells me his EKII book is not out yet. He is also working on his KVK book. Cheers, Ade.

Thanks a lot Ade .
I think he should finish the EK2 book first ;-)
Mfg
Marc