Military Model Scene

Title: Atlas of the European Campaign 1944-45

Author: Steven J. Zaloga

Publisher: Osprey

ISBN: 978-1-4728-2697-8

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This new high quality hardback, complete with board slip case from Osprey has been written by one of my favourite authors, Steve Zaloga.  Steve has written a large number of books on WW2 history and more modern subjects, but can always be relied on for a knowledgeable and readable text.  The slip case has a yellow ribbon inside, to help extract the book from the case, and the book itself has another narrow ribbon in it, to mark your page.

The book is split into 6 chapters, each holding a number of maps, with each one accompanied by a page of explanatory text.  In total, the book holds 127 maps.  It all starts with an Introduction which has the first 5 maps.  That is followed by chapter 1, The Invasion Front, June 6th 1944.  This one involves the next 19 maps and covers the invasion front from one end to the other.  Chapter 2 deals with The Battle for France, June-August 1944, and this is broken down into another 36 maps, which does also include the campaign in Southern France, with Operation Dragoon.  In chapter 3 we get to The Battles Along the German Frontier, September - December 1944.  Another 30 maps, dealing with operations such as the Channel Ports, Arnhem, the Hurtgen Forest and many more.  Chapter 4 is devoted to the Ardennes Campaign, December 1944 - January 1945, split across 14 more maps.  For chapter 5 the topic is Battles for the Roer and Rhine, February - March 1945, another 6 maps.  The final chapter 6 considers Endgame Against the Reich, April - May 1945, the final set of 16 maps.

In addition to the explanatory text, there is some variation in the maps themselves, from strategic situations across Europe, to tactical maps of a smaller area, including unit locations, down to more detailed maps of smaller locations, such as Arnhem, St Vith, Marseilles and the Pointe du Hoc among others.  It is a great way to get an understanding of the progress of the campaign in Europe after D-Day 6th June.  It repays the production quality of this book and slip case, an ideal gift for the military historian as something special for an occasion such as a birthday, or maybe father's day.

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Thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review copy.

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Robin