Read review, 'Elephant paths, combat history of sturmgeschutz-abteilung 203'

Kylie Newton

posted on 10 months ago

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This is the combat history of the StuGAbt 203 told by Thomas Anderson and illustrated with 291 rare and never before published photos, maps and documents.

Intro and basic facts

Elephant Paths: the title of this book refers to the unit symbol of StuGAbt 203, later redesignated StuGBrig 203, a charging elephant. The unit displayed this coat of arms proudly on their Sturmgeschütze and other vehicles during the often hard fighting on the Eastern Front.

Hardback, 190 pages, 210×295 mm, 1.1kg, if you're worried about your weight, all English, landscape format. This book recounts the combat history of StuG Abteilung 203 using captioned photographs supported by maps. All images, organization tables, and maps are in black and white. High quality paper that is low gloss.

There is an introduction and 6 chapters,

1. Establishment of Sturmartillerie-Abteilung 203

2. Transport to the East

3. B-tag the elephants go to war

4. To the Caucasus

5. Sturmgeschutz-Abteilung 203 relieving the 6. Armee

6. Strategic situation in 1944 the end of the war

There is very little reading to the book, each chapter has a few explanatory paragraphs which outline the subject, a couple pages of text, then it is into the images, which are the real strength of the book. Page after page of large, clear images focused on the men and machines of Sturmartillerie-Abteilung 203, with a few images of supporting vehicles, including Panthers and Panzer IV. For example, Chapter 3, 'B-tag the elephants go to war' opens with less than a page of text, an organization table, page 41, there is a page detailing the twin battles for Byalistok and Minsk, both subjects of multiple books in their own right, and 40 odd pages of images.

The text is clear and well written, and describes the subject at a macro level, whilst still conveying the gist of what is going on. The captions are detailed and tell the bulk of the story. Vehicles are identified correctly, and men are named where known.

There is a good balance between images of man and machine, and plenty of modelling reference or inspiration for the next diorama.

I pored over the book a couple of times, going cover to cover studying the images and seeing new detail each time. The images of the StuG in tropical camo is a real treasure.

Very recommended.