Reference Books

[Akira Takiguchi]

Congrat to the new forum!

I believe everyone who has interests in Wehrmacht history should become familiar to <i>Tessin</i>, <i>Kannapin</i>, and <i>Mehner</i> etc. In this thread I will try to explain to newbies what kind of publications there are for you to check out the history of your beloved items. My collection of books is limited to rather normal ones (aside from a couple of rarities). I hope others will join me to show the pictures of their favorite (or secret ) reference books. I hope this is somewhat useful.

[Akira Takiguchi]

Tessin / Verbaende und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und der Waffen-SS ...

<b>Title</b>: Verb&auml;nde und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und der Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945.
<b>Author</b>: Tessin, Gerog
<b>Publisher</b>: Biblio Verlag
<b>Availability</b>: YES, about $50 per Band.
<b>ISBN</b>: 3-7648-0941-8
URL: http://www.militaria-biblio.de/Verla...X5F12-453.html
<b>Description</b>:
Band 1 contains general information regarding various unit types. If you read German but you can't afford all you should get this piece. Band 2 through 14 lists all german units up to batallion ordered by number (for example, Band 1 contains all units from 1 to 5). Latter volumes contain KStN, taktical markings, and list of towns with all units related to the towns!
<b>For example</b>:
if you know the regiment number and want to know to what division she was subordinated, you need only a few seconds. And you'll know in what theater she fought.

<img src="http://www.history.jp/books/Reference-Books-001.jpg">
Cover of the first volume.

<img src="http://www.history.jp/books/Reference-Books-002.jpg">
A page from "1".

<img src="http://www.history.jp/books/Reference-Books-003.jpg">
You can tell from some distance that the row of books are Tessin!

[Akira Takiguchi]

Kannapin / Die deutsche Feldpostuebersicht 1939-1945

<b>Title</b>: Die deutsche Feldpost&uuml;bersicht 1939-1945
<b>Author</b>: Kannapin, Norbert
<b>Publisher</b>: Biblio Verlag
<b>Availability</b>: YES, about $220
<b>ISBN</b>: 3-7648-1183-8
<b>URL</b>: http://www.militaria-biblio.de/Verla...X5F12-225.html
<b>Description</b>:
Lists all field post numbers, ordered by number.
<b>For example</b>:
If you have a <i>Feldpostbrief</i> and the time when it was sent, these books give you the unit name immediately!


<img src="http://www.history.jp/books/Reference-Books-004.jpg">
These indispensable three books!

<img src="http://www.history.jp/books/Reference-Books-005.jpg">
A sample page.

[Akira Takiguchi]

I have made scans of several more books, do you think I should continue? I know for most of you these are "common sense", but sometimes some people need them...

[Ian Jewison]

It's up to you Akira, but it may be worth while showing other references for those that do not have them!
I see your set of Tessin looks clean! Mine is now rather grubby with the amount of references I have made...the same can be said for my Kannapin set as well!

/Ian

[Bill Gracie]

Akira,

Please post your other books I'm interest as I'm sure others are

Bill

[Akira Takiguchi]

>I see your set of Tessin looks clean! Mine is now rather grubby with the amount of references I have made

Your observation is correct; until two years ago I relied on somebody else's Tessin et al but I decided to buy them myself so that I can get info immediately when necessary...

[Akira Takiguchi]

Die Generale des Heeres 1921-1945

<b>Title</b>: Die Generale des Heeres 1921-1945
<b>Author</b>: Bradley, Dermot / Hildebrand, Karl-Friedrich / R&ouml;vekamp, Markus
<b>Publisher</b>: Biblio Verlag
<b>Availability</b>: YES, about $90 per volume
<b>ISBN</b>: ISBN 3-7648-2422-0
<b>URL</b>: http://www.militaria-biblio.de/Verla...ml#MARKER-9-14
<b>Description</b>:
List all army generals with photos and detailed biography! Not completed yet (as with many other Biblio references...), unfortunately. 6 volumes have been published. Also available are Luftwaffe generals and Navy admirals books (complete!)
<b>For example</b>:
When you find a named general in your photo album and if his name starts with A-H, you're in good luck.

<img src="http://www.history.jp/books/Reference-Books-006.jpg">
The same look and feel as other Biblio books

<img src="http://www.history.jp/books/Reference-Books-007.jpg">
A sample page.

[Akira Takiguchi]

Schmitz/Thies / Die Truppenkennzeichen der Verbaende und Einheiten der ...

Title: Die Truppenkennzeichen der Verbände und Einheiten der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS und ihre Einsätze im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945
Author: Schmitz, Peter / Thies, Klaus-Jürgen
Publisher: Biblio Verlag
Availability: YES, about $60 per volume
ISBN: 3-7648-1498-5
URL: http://www.militaria-biblio.de/Verla...X5F12-402.html
Description:
The standard reference work for german unit markings from all branches, with their concise history. B/W but "colored" with standard heraldic method. Not completed yet (4 out of 6 published), but 4-6 are correction and expansion to the early 3 volumes, so try to get the first three. Inherits a few errors from earlier works but this book is also an indespensable one! The book I open more than Tessin.
For example:
Just view all pages, make you familiar with all those symbols! Unlike the Christoph Awender's great page, markings are not sorted in any way (ordered simply by branch and number). In a sense, it's not a dictionary, but a graphic book to read on!
Also: remember those "unidentified" symbols and find one in your collections!



Four volumes available.



A sample page from volume 4.

[Mark Yerger]

Texts

Might want to mention Tessin set totals some 18-20 vols total. Biblio Verlag is slow with all sets and listed numerous items for years before released (as they are doing now). They also have vols on Blue Max winners, members of the Greater German General Staff 1939-45, a good single interwar units volume, and a variety of Generals biographies of which many are the only one on the individual available. Also their series on KC holders (by service catagory) is excellent. KC vols done include paratroops, assault guns, several vols of infantry, Flak, Navy ships (surface and U-Boats). Multiple photos and detailed documentation for each, though text is in German. The Luftwaffe Generals series is 3 vols, Admirals is 4 (icluding administrative).

Another source is NARS microfilm rolls. Tens of thousands of rolls (500 + pages per roll) on a variety of topics, SS, Navy and Army unit/personnel records available, NSDAP, etc. Guide rolls needed by the buyer for specifics.

A lot of good SS book material exists though some only available in German. Some of the Munin titles available in English, though the publisher for the English editions is slow. After over 15 years of having the rights to translate, we still wait for the final 2 vols of "Das Reich" by Weidinger.

Reasonably accurate and detailed texts exist on the following SS divisions in English:
1,2, 3 (1 old, 1 coming, neither as good as Vopersal), 5,7, Cavalry Brigade, 12, 13, 14, 15/19 (together), II.SS-Korps (second phase), III.SS-Korps. Divisions 31 and several others coming in the next few months.

Detailed and accurate biographies exist on the following SS individuals in English (them alone or for the most part when covering other tangent): Bormann, Himmler, Kaltenbrunner, Heydrich, Dietrich, Peiper, Wittmann, Kumm, Weidinger, Krag, and several camp commandants. Also SS KC winners, division/corps commanders, German Cross in Silver holders available in single or pairs of vols covering all within the topic.

Anyone looking for specifics regards SS references let me know, will do my best to help with titles. Among best places to search and price compare is www.abebooks.com

Mark

[Stijn David]

very good thread

Hello,


This is a very good initiative from you Akira , did anyone ever had the crazy idea of collecting all the German Divisional books that where written during the last 30 years in Germany ? ( im sure that mlust also be a awsome library )


Cordial Greetings,

[Tommy]

Books

Hello at all....

The Tessin is with 17 Books very good.The Truppenkennzeichen from Schmid/Thies is very good for the Division signs....
For Divisions history and Regiment History in germany has M.Held
a book write.It helps you to find the Name the Year and the writer of the book(Division History)....
Old Divisions and Regiment history books very high with the price...
But there is in Germany a CD-Rom with the books from Tessin and Kannapin....Easier to find a Division, Place,Date and his 'Gliederung'...

For example:

Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 150

1. Aufstellung:

* 24.11.1939, die 1. aus der Panzer-Abwehr-Ersatz-Kompanie 69 (Wehrkreis VI), die 2. aus Panzer-Abwehr-
Ersatz-Kompanie 211 (Wehrkreis VI), die 3. aus Panzer-Abwehr-Ersatz-Kompanie 209 (Wehrkreis IV);
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 150 seit 16.3.1940; 1.2.1944 umgegliedert: die 2. wurde 3. (Fla)Kp die 4. zur 2.
(Sturmgeschütz-)Kompanie; Mai1944 bei Sewastopol vernichtet. Wiederaufstellung im Raum Perleberg
1.6.1944; die 2. Kompanie als Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1150.


2. Unterstellung:

50. Infanterie-Division:
1940 Frankreich
1941 Rumänien, Nordgriechenland (Saloniki), Juni Südrußland
1942 Krim, Kaukasus
1943 Kuban, Krim
1944 Sewastopol; nach Wiederaufstellung Ostpreußen


3. Ersatz:

3 Potsdam; 1.3.1940 E 43 Spremberg, Wehrkreis III

[Chrvip68]

Tommy,

Where can someone buy this cd?

[Tommy]

Hello Chris

I saw the CD by Mr. Hüsken in Hamburg....Quanta Costa 480 Euro...But by heinz Nickel(Verlag in germany) cost 199 Euro....

When you need this CD i can look for this CD....

[Rick White]

Hi Tommy,

I know that the Tessin Volumes were available on CD-ROM, but I did NOT know you could get them for 199.00. Please let me know the details of ordering. I had always been quoted the 490.00 price for it - which is still half the price of the books!

Rick