Introduction

The following introduction is taken from the Tankograd website:

Shortly before World War One, the German Army High Command began a massive project to test the suitability of agricultural tractors and ploughs possessing internal combustion engines for a potential role as future Artillerie-Zugmaschinen artillery tractors. The aim was to make even heavy artillery more mobile. Numerous German manufacturers responded to the call, and they supplied products for these trials. Based on evaluation findings, key data relating to a militarily usable artillery tractor began to be defined, which led to new and improved designs from 1916 onwards.

This publication is the first monograph on the subject, and it presents in detail the history of these impressive motor vehicles with benzol engines in numerous fantastic photos. The vehicle types covered include the manufacturers Büssing, Dürkopp, Lanz, Podeus, Pöhl, Daimler, Benz, Standard-Motorpflug (Arator), Fürstlich Stolberg'sches Hüttenamt (Ilsenburg), Kaelble, Horch, Sendling, Hanomag, Stock and Ehrhardt. An additional chapter covers the artillery load distribution trailer, the Lastenverteilergerät System Bräuer.

Review

This offering from Tankograd publishing is what I have always considered as a special offering from Tankograd as the book is much thicker, with this title offering 96 pages of a good quality paper with a good quality card cover. The author of this release is Jochen Vollert who authors titles that I believe hold personal interest for him. This title looking at the artillery tractors of World War I in use with the German army explains why they are called tractors, in that agricultural tractors were initially tested for this purpose. The written information in the title is provided in English only, with a good write up at the start of each section. Now if I know many modellers, it is not the write up that you are really interested in it’s the photographs and as usual Jochen Vollert spoils you all with 215 high quality black and white period photographs plus 10 graphics. What I appreciate about Tankograd generally and this title specifically are the captions that are provided with images. The photographs contain a great deal of information, on not just the machines but the men, the conditions and the environment in which they were used. While I am not aware of many models of WWI artillery tractors, this is a very nicely put together and presented title to have in your reference library.