Panzer in Normandy Then and Now, by Eric Lefevre
Some basics: hardback book of 212 pages that contains maps, photographs, photographs, photographs, words, tables, you name it and it is there. The book is in portrait format on a larger than A4 page that is smaller than A3. The effort put in to the research is first rate and speaks volumes about the lengths the authors went to for the book. Well done. looking closely at the two images on page 94 (see below), I've no idea how these were matched up as there is very little in the first image, taken July 25, that is recognisable in the "current" image. Which itself is now old and probably different to how it looks today.
The images are for the most part large and clear, covering the vehicles and personalities that make up the Axis effort in Normandy 1943-44. A lot of the images are instantly recognisable from previous publications or the internet, and there are also a lot of new images that give context to what you may know about panzers in Normandy already. I also recognise a couple of the images from various kits box art, for example, the back cover with Panther '633' and the loader looking skyward, made famous by Tamiya in 1/35 scale... this vehicle is from 6. Kompanie, II Abetilung, Panzer Regiment 33, August 1944.
I particularly liked the supporting text and explanations, and several images of an abandoned Tiger 1 that just happens to belong to a certain SS Obersturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann.
The single biggest criticism I'd have of the book is, whilst a solid volume that is a benchmark of its day, there is a veritable mountain of information that has come to light since, and this book could easily be doubled, if not tripled, with new images, current comparisons, and more in-depth explanations.
Recommended, if a little dated.
Contents, something for everyone there.
Organisational tables
page 94, how do you match these images...
and here, too...
A Tiger table, if any were needed.
Panzer crews
and panzers.
