New NVA Book

[Mike G.]

Does anyone have this book yet? If you do, can you comment on it further?

It has just appeared and seems to have been published in vast numbers.

The cover depicts what appears to be a representation of each branch of the NVA. I suspect the book is more a complilation on each of the units and less about uniforms and that sort of thing.

I'm sure it is done in the Coffee Table book tradition and in that vogue, will be full of pictures.
What I am interested in finding out is are the pictures inside new, or just a bunch of pictures taken from all the other books previously published over the last 40 years of the NVA?

Anyone know?

[iannima]

What I am interested in finding out is are the pictures inside new, or just a bunch of pictures taken from all the other books previously published over the last 40 years of the NVA?

I got it as soon as it was published more or less...
The answer is that MOST photographs are old ones recycled and on the whole rather small. I have not found much in it. Much much less than in -say- the autobiography of Stechbarth which was an excellent book, both in text and photographs.
This one is the sort of thing that I could not bring myself to pass on, but more for completeness sake than for anything else...

[Mike G.]

Thanks Matteo,

That is what I suspected.

Sense I have quite an extensive collection of books now, I think I will pass.

But for someone starting out, this sounds like it would be a great book to initially get.

[Kartofelpreußer]

Michael, I think you are very wise to pass. When I was recently in Berlin I saw this book for sale at the Wohltat'sche Buchhandlung in Alexanderplatz, and instantly decided I must have it. Before going to the counter, however, I was able to spend a few minutes thumbing through the display copy. Even for someone like me, whose collection of reference books is, I'm sure, a mere fraction of yours, I found it to be somewhat superficial and repetitive of things I already have, at least for the asking price. I ended up deciding against it, and don't regret not getting it.

[Mike G.]

Thanks,

I'm sure this discussion will save a lot of forum members from disappointment and unnecessarily being separated from their hard earned money.

[paul heath]

Members,

Thanks for the comments. I too was going to get this book but I will pass.

Does anyone have the book about the KSK? Is it worth the asking price?

[Dag]

Members,

Thanks for the comments. I too was going to get this book but I will pass.

Does anyone have the book about the KSK? Is it worth the asking price?

It depends what you want it for, I'd say. If your good at German, it is a very good book in my opinion because it covers the history of the KSK-18 from the beginning. There are many photos (b/w) and it was written by three of the former commanding officers of KSK-18.

This was a 'must have' for me, especially because I'm one of the few who saw them at the Volksmarine parade on 7 October 1989.

Dag

[Mike G.]

Can you provide additional information on this book?

What it looks like and where it is available. I'm interested.


Thanks,

[Dag]

Can you provide additional information on this book?

What it looks like and where it is available. I'm interested.


Thanks,

Here is the link to amazon.de:
http://www.amazon.de/Die-Kampfschwim...7411026&sr=1-1


The book is ca A4 size (21cmx29cm), 360 pages. It was published by 'Das Neue Berlin'.
it covers the OOB, the bases of the KSK-18 and the collaboration with local civilian and military institutions/units, the tasks and operational principles, the development of technical equipment, training etc.

Dag

[grossmacht]

Hi,
I actually ended up buying it.
It is really superficial, but an entertaining narrative. If anyone has already purchased its cousin as grosse Buch der Kampfgruppen" you already know what you're in for.
-d

[Mike G.]

Thanks Dag,

Very much appreciated.