New Osprey Book out on "the Wall"

[Mike G.]

Very good Kevin.

As Mike C. already mentioned, this tid bit of information is just one of many morsels of mundane but otherwise interesting information about the frontier border contained in the new Osprey book.

[Soviet]

Funny, here is one Border sign with bird poo.

[Mike G.]

Likely removed from a border post on which the top had been broken. Or else the sign is a victim of West German Birds that were on a dive-bombing campaign.

[Mikhealc]

Birds

Well Bird poop is a problem for capitalist as well as communist. Nice job Kevin.

[iannima]

I have just received my copy of this Osprey book. I must confess I have not read it all yet but I am already not pleased at all ...
What made my blood boil was this photograph published on page 43



with the following caption:

"...A rather sloppy looking Grenztruppen Unterleutenant (junior lieutenat) in a service uniform at an encampment outside of East Berlin preparing for a parade. The NVA tended to display an appearance less than worthy of German military traditions, including longish hair..."


What?
to start off with that is NOT an Unterleutenant of the Grenztruppen because the piping is obviously white... as for his actual rank I sincerely doubt he is an Unter-leutenant, a Leutenant perhaps... but Unter unlikely...
Secondly, given that an ordinary NVA photograph was chosen, why not choose a Wachregiment one or of the FULL parade on Karl Marx Allee? I would want to see how that would square with ...an appearance less than worthy of German military traditions
The issue of the longish hair being allowed is something that has vexed me before, but it is also true that during the 1970s the hair arrangement of western armies too left a lot to be desired. This is just what one chooses to see...
It just seems to be that the NVA is the German army everyone loves to hate, whereas they all love the Waffen SS, especially at Osprey, given the sheer number of books they have dedicated to the subject, all with uniquely glamorous photographs ... with constantly non-judgemental captions...

[Viktor]

Genossen,

Moscow Centre has just released to this Command the New Osprey Book in the Fortress Series ( Nr 69)
The Berlin Wall and the Intra-German Border 1961 -89. Gordon Rottman

ISBN 978 184603 193 9
Most Interesting.. however his comments on Advance DDR Internal Combustion Engine Field Personnel Transportation Complexes will have to be Noted and he will be brought to book in a People's Court Room....

[olivyaya]

Funny, here is one Border sign with bird poo.

I think we've got the guilty bird !

[Ingsoc75]

Does anybody know where I can get info (detailed drawings etc.) of the layout for the DDR side of Checkpoint Charlie (the last type that you would of seen in 1989)?

[grossmacht]

I did find this....
Although, I definitely recommend purchasing the actual book...
This will give you a preview of what's inside, should you not be able to find it at your local book shop and are forced to buy from some behemoth online retailer.
MfG.
-dan

http://avaxhome.ws/ebooks/history_military/Fort69.html