Panzerjäger on the Battlefield, WWII Photobook Series Vol.15, by Jon Feenstra (Peko Publishing, 2017)

Panzerjäger on the Battlefield, WWII Photobook Series Vol.15, by Jon Feenstra (Peko Publishing, 2017)

Panzerjäger on the Battlefield, WWII Photobook Series Vol.15, by Jon Feenstra is about the famous German Tank-Hunters or Tank-Destroyers, mobile anti-tank weapons of the Wehrmacht. It contains large format black & white photos of all representative variants.

In this 15th volume, from Peko Publishing, we see not a single vehicle and subtypes, but several of the Wehrmacht’s tank hunters on the battlefield as a compilation. A variety of tank destroyers are included, from the small Jägers, fielded in the early war, to the giants, near the end of the conflict.

It is a hardcover book with a glossy finish in an A4 (11.6 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches/30 x 21,6 x 1,2 cm) landscape format. There are 103 full page pictures from the wartime archives – many not seen before. Several are part of a series of shots that further teach you more about the scene the vehicle is shot in. All relevant variants are featured: the Panzer Jager I, PZ.SFL 7.62mm & PZ.SFL2, the Marder II & Marder III Ausf. H, the Marder III Ausf. M & Hornisse/ Nashorn, the Ferdinand / Elefant and the Sturmgeschutz.

The photographs come from the private collection of Peter Kocsis and other archives & libraries. Most photos are new and unknown to us.

Each page has one large picture with a deft description in precise detail of the type of vehicle marque, the series and production factory, along with any vehicle details, including camouflage and markings info.

Using many photos the book takes a historical overview of this strategically important Third Reich anti-tank mobile weapon. Description and definition of all the different types are included, both within the introduction and captions. It applies recent findings to the analysis and commentary of the photographs. These include the author’s own research into unit and factory production differences, looking at the vehicles overall evolution. Information that should be invaluable to both historians and modelers.

The book comes with bilingual narration (Hungarian and English). The introduction takes two pages and here the author explains in detail the observations and factory specific features which will be then used to identify vehicles on the photographs.

The introduction is followed by 100 large size (almost full A4 page) photographs, each with with a large, explanatory caption, which points out important features seen on the vehicles, allowing identification.

The first part (twenty-one pages) features the very early war Panzer Jager I, the first attempt at building a dedicated anti-tank vehicle. Pictures of this small Panzer in the early war years are shown with text that describes what is happening and the particulars of each tank. The differences between the series one and series two tank destroyers are pointed out, along with different and individual tank’s markings, featuring town names and lots of other details, like full roof tarpaulins, gun covers, extra brake bands for the clutch, a Pz.Sfl1 having its gun barrel repaired (and another replaced using a hoist).

Next we get six pages devoted to the Pz.SFL 7.62mm Pak 36 & PZ.SFL2 Pak 36. The popular Marder II & Marder III Ausf.H are next to be shown. These two variants take up ten pages. The Marder II was used a lot in some of the battles after France, and we see some interesting snowy, whitewashed and muddy terrains in Russia. The crews around the tanks give a good idea of not only scale, but of the uniforms and crew attire of that period also. A heavy loaded Marder II (and another with an ammunition trailer with PAK 40 rounds) are clever ideas for a model or diorama.

From page 40 we are seeing photos of Marder III. Differences between the series 1, 2 and 3 are explained, along with lots of interesting pictures of this tank destroyer in action, travelling and at rest in many different climates and conditions. A Murder III is shown having additional side armor plates and extra stowage bins. The author tries to clarify camouflage colors and markings/division emblems in each caption.

Next comes the much more interesting Marder Ausf.H. The climates and surroundings change as the war moves theatres from Russian to France, Tunisia and Italy. Then we see photos of the Marder III Ausf.M (ten pages) and of course the famous Nashorn (Hornisse) with the 88mm gun. A late Ausf M, having a unique “amoeba” style camo of olivegrun spots outlined in rotbraun on dunkelgelb is very attractive, as other pictures showing Famo providing assistance to “short-tracked” Nashorns, for towing.

The Sturmgeschütz III is next over seven pages. We see several different versions of the Stug III, showing all the differences in a unit. The Stug IV comes next, with another seven pages showing a lot of these tanks, either hiding or blown apart or partially wrecked or immobilized. Some whitewashed Stugs are shown helping each other to brake free from the russian thick ice terrain. The last ten pages show the monster Elephant (Ferdinand) tank hunter in all its glory.

There is plenty of detail that would serve as a basis for your next model: unique features, original camouflages and various weathering effects seen on the photographs. For example winter vehicles show accumulations of mud and snow. We also see vehicles undergoing engine or general maintenance.

There are many variants featuring side skirts/zimerit/drive sprockets/stowage boxes variations and examples are shown camouflaged with local foliage. We also liked photos showing TDs partially covered by bushes and branches as camouflage. Crews and personnel are featured in many photos with great uniform detail.

In Conclusion…

Tank destroyer fans will love this book. Certainly an excellent source for modelling inspiration. If you like Panzerjagers, or you are building a model on this subject, do not miss this great photobook from PeKo. The images are new to us and narration from Jon Feenstra makes this book an excellent addition to any armour/modelling library. Truly original material – Highly recommended!

Panzerjager on the battlefield 2 - World War Two Photobook Series (Vol.15)

Author: Jon Feenstra

Dual Hungarian-English languages

Landscape Format (21,5cm height x 30cm wide)

112 pages, Hardcover

Price: €28.95

ISBN: 9786155583070

You can order it fast & easy on the PeKo Publishing website here.

It is really worth following Peko website to see what comes next.

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