Latest book received

[Prof.Witchheimer]

thanks, Helen, I think I'm going to order both books.

And please keep up the showing your Africa book collection

[Helen]

Hi Alex, Many thanks and please keep showing your  artistic talents int he African period.

Any questions on the books please don't hesitate to ask.

[/img]

[Hammers]

There's our old friend Towel again! :-)

I thought i had a large collection of militariana but you're building quite an impressive library, Helen. My wife is nagging on me for having too many books whereupon I point to her scarves. From now on I think I will point to you, just for the sake of variety.

[poulppy]

I just read "sept psychopates" (seven spychos)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418qFlsqR2L._SS500_.jpg

The story is about seven english psychos who try to kill Hitler. A good comics. but sorry in french [/list]

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Hi Alex, Many thanks and please keep showing your  artistic talents int he African period.

Any questions on the books please don't hesitate to ask.

Hi Helen, fantastic, many thanks!!! That "Blockade and Jungle" book, is it a good one?

[Helen]

Hi Alex and Peder et al,

Firstly, Peder I've loads of books of interest, but I've also reduced my collection as I know there are a number of I'd not be able to read in my lifetime. At least I can say that I've read the majority of my book collection.

Alex, I've copied this book's review from an online reviewer so not to disadvantage you with my boring description

"Blockade and Jungle" by Nis Kock, edited by Christen P Christensen
(Published by Battery Press)
This book is based on the diaries of Nis Kock, one of the Danish speaking members of the German Navy who sailed through British Naval blockades under the neutral Danish flag to re-supply the forces of German East Africa. After a perilous journey there he and the rest of the crew were stranded and joined the Schutztruppe trekking across the mountains and jungles with Lettow-Vorbeck for the next few years. No amount of historical reading can compare with an eye-witness account of the events such as this, including vivid descriptions of everyday life and combat on the East African front.

I really enjoyed reading this book and especially some of the ingenious ways the Germans came up with to restrict the enemy in their operations against him.

Thanks guys and best wishes

[Helen]

Hi Folks, Here are some links to some of my books plus I've added some additional photos of my book collection.

http://www.sacktrick.com/igu/germancolonialuniforms/books.htm
http://www.scuttlebuttsmallchow.com/gwbksafrica.html




[/img]

[Plynkes]

This one took a bit of tracking down. Had to get this (British published) book via New Jersey. Why does everything seem to come from New Jersey?


Lovely colour plates. Almost every one had me saying "Ooh, he'd be nice to have in 28mm!" including a camel-mounted Tuareg (in case the Unfeasibly chap is reading this), Sanussi tribesman, Egyptians, Yemenis, Ottoman irregulars (and regulars), Sharifian regulars and Lord knows who else.

Simply put, someone turn this book into a range of figures, please.

[xeoran]

This one took a bit of tracking down. Had to get this (British published) book via New Jersey. Why does everything seem to come from New Jersey?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/Lawrence.jpg
Lovely colour plates. Almost every one had me saying "Ooh, he'd be nice to have in 28mm!" including a camel-mounted Tuareg (in case the Unfeasibly chap is reading this), Sanussi tribesman, Egyptians, Yemenis, Ottoman irregulars (and regulars), Sharifian regulars and Lord knows who else.

Simply put, someone turn this book into a range of figures, please.

Oooh...if they'd do the Ashraf Irregular I'd be a happy man. No real use for him but he looks great.

[Helen]

Hi Folks, Just continuing with the Africa Theme:






[/img]

[Driscoles]

very nice collection Helen.

May I ask if  you speak german ?
I`ll try to get this german book as well.

Greetings
Björn

[Helen]

very nice collection Helen.

May I ask if  you speak german ?
I`ll try to get this german book as well.

Greetings
Björn

Hi Bjorn,

Thanks for your lovely comments. No I don't speak German, but I've a friend who assists me plus I've accessed to a German Military dictionary which helps.
 

[Plynkes]

Do you think you have quite enough books on the Königsberg, Helen?   I don't have any specifically on that ship (though I have quite a good one on the Emden), just a few which cover its adventure in a single chapter amongst other topics.

If you had to recommend just one to get, which would you say? The most enjoyable read of the bunch?

Odd title that one: "The Germans who never lost." If I had had my ship sunk from under me in the Rufiji Delta, I may have considered myself to have lost. I could see how one might apply that title to a book about Lettow-Vorbeck and his men, but not really specifically to the Königsberg.

[Helen]

Do you think you have quite enough books on the Königsberg, Helen?   I don't have any specifically on that ship (though I have quite a good one on the Emden), just a few which cover its adventure in a single chapter amongst other topics.

If you had to recommend just one to get, which would you say? The most enjoyable read of the bunch?

Odd title that one: "The Germans who never lost." If I had had my ship sunk from under me in the Rufiji Delta, I may have considered myself to have lost. I could see how one might apply that title to a book about Lettow-Vorbeck and his men, but not really specifically to the Königsberg.

Hi Poly, Thanks for your comments and "no" I don't have enough books on the Konigsberg    - I'm still after a book in English if it does exists on Lt Wenig, but I digress alittle, steering back to the question at hand and the book I'd say would fit the bill would be all of them! Why? Because they all have their own qualities from the authors in question. If Lochner's book was available in English then I'd say this one as I've the English version of the Emden (The Last Gentleman of War) which is a fab read and I love the writing style of the author.

Hoyt's book has been critised for its factual content (by other authors), however, it covers the land aspect of the campaign with the lake as well. This one I did really enjoy because it covers everything and one I think you would enjoy with the intrigues of power play amongst Loof, the Governor and Lettow. I believe this book would be more readily available, however the price might be on the up side due to its rarity.

Keeble's book on the Konigsberg is very good and this covers the lake campaign as well.

The Severn's Saga by the same author covers its exploits during the war and as you are aware was at Gallipoli, East Africa for the blockade and assault on Bagamoyo. (if you go to the Wargames Illustrated No 72, there is a scenario on the Capture of Bagamoyo that would be right down your line of gaming! I'll do this one day myself) The Severen was also in the Middle East and I'll scratch build this monitor one day - God Willing!

Kevin Patience's book (I've been in contact with this author, who is lovely to chat with) covers the ship in detail including the blockade, British avaition and some stories from both sides and details the 4.1 inch guns on land and their locations plus the book briefly covers HMS Pegasus (sunk by the Konigsberg in Zanzibar Harbour) guns on land as well from the Royal Navy. The British in turn salvaged their guns from the Peggy and fitted them for land use.

Lochner's book which is in German is good for factual information (from what i've read and a number of interesting photos I've never seen before and this book I'm sifting through at lesiure with my German friend here in Canberra and with the aid of a German Military Dictionary.

So Poly I hope I've been of some assistance to you.

Best Wishes
 

[Plynkes]

Thanks, Helen. Something inside me foretold that you would say "All of them!"    Grrr!

Oh, and while we're about it, thank you so much for the John Biggins recommendation. I am enjoying these books immensely. It's that whole feeling of discovering a complete new world, the same as I got when first reading Flashman and Patrick O'Brian. It has truly been an enriching experience, and you are entirely to blame, ur, I mean to be thanked, for it.


Plus it has got me repeatedly going back to my "Ocarina boat" to make changes and upgrades to her, in an effort to make her more like Otto's. The discovery that Habsburg U-Boats carried a triangular sail to give them a little extra help in cruising (whether it is true or not) has left me scratching my head and deciding that despite what I may have thought, "UB40" is not finished, and still needs more modifications!