Total Detail Sd Kfz 250 alt Vol. 1: GD Living History

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Total Detail Sd Kfz 250/1 Alt "GD" Living History

Original Sd Kfz 250/1 alts
Original Sd Kfz 251/1 ausf D
Original Kubelwagen
The best living history GD re-enactors
Detailed history of Grossdeutschland reconnaissance unit
Detailed maps & archive pictures
Uniforms & full infantry kit in colour
Ordnance section in colour
Incredibly realistic scenarios from detailed research
Quick time ‘go to” colour reference finder throughout
Cross referenced to volumes 2 and 3 (also available for sale)
Translated original ‘pay book’ pages
Rare and unusual items of interest

This book will re-define the use of reinactors and original vehicles from the war. The author has gone to great lengths to research the history of GrossDeutschland’s reconnaissance battalion and particularly the 2nd company who used the Sd Kfz 250 half track to re-create accurate both in detail and atmosphere non-combat scenes from the war. The lads who took part, took this as a challenge right down to the pencil or packet of cigarettes in their pockets or the contents of their rucksack and bread bags which were full of original items that would have been carried by a Wehrmacht soldier from GD. There is even a chapter that uses the very same locations in Poland along GD's original retreat lines north up to Koenigsberg to further add realism into the black and white section of the book.

100 pages of superbly realistic scenes are then backed up with 200 pages with over 450 colour photographs to provide you with the ultimate in details about the uniforms featured, the ordnance, the food, the personal items, translate and explain the Soldbuch, create five chapters featuring all that a German soldier would have carried into battle with or kept stowed in his rucksack inside the 250. This includes the board-games he could have received from home, genuine comic books, his underwear and socks to the foot powder he would have used the kind of stove they could have stolen from the station-master’s office on there way up to Poland, the coffee grinder, the ration bread and original bottles of wine sent to the frontline soldiers.

All of this alongside or featured inside a beautifully restored Sd Kfz 250/1 Alt half track, An Sd Kfz 251/1 Ausf D plus a Schwimmwagen and two Kubelwagens.

In this book the author takes you inside the 250 half-track to show you just what it must have been like to live in and fight out of one of these fantastic but very cramped vehicles. He has created the very pictures that are simply not available from the archives and done this so well that there is nothing out of place or inaccurate about what you will see.

Richard Stone
Large format hardcover 300pp with over 450 colour & 250 b&w photos 2004

source: www.worldwartwobooks.com

Total Detail Sd Kfz 250 alt Vol. 1: GD Living History
This book will re-define the use of reenactors and original vehicles from the war. The author has gone to great lengths to research the history of GD’s reconnaissance battalion and particularly the 2nd company who used the Sd Kfz 250 to re-create accurate both in detail and atmosphere non-combat scenes from the war. The lads who took part, took this as a challenge right down to the pencil or packet of cigarettes in their pockets or the contents of their rucksack and bread bags which were full of original items that would have been carried by a Wehrmacht soldier from GD. There is even a chapter that uses the very same locations in Poland along GD's original retreat lines north up to Koenigsberg to further add realism into the black and white section of the book. Highlights include: Over 300 PAGES, Over 250 black & white photographs, Over 450 colour photographs Original Sd Kfz 250/1 alts, Original Sd Kfz 251/1 ausf D Original Kubelwagen, The best living history GD re-enactors Detailed history of ‘GD’s reconnaissance unit, Detailed maps & archive pictures, Uniforms & full infantry kit in colour, Ordnance section in colour, Incredibly realistic scenarios from detailed research, Quick time ‘go to” colour reference finder throughout, Cross referenced to volumes 2 and 3, Translated original ‘pay book’ pages. Rare and unusual items of interest
source: Blue Max Militaria

This whole series promised a great deal, and unfortunately the most important volume (for me anyway) was cancelled for whatever reason. I would gladly have foresaken this volume so the Technical volume could've seen the light of day.
I don't think this volume serves as a very good reference for the 250 Ausf. A.
It should really have been simply titled 'GD Living History' as the entire book essentially revolves around the soldiers, their equipment and their environment. The 250/1 serves only as a pretty backdrop for the greater portion of the book.
It's very oriented toward those who're finishing a build rather than engaged in one.
There's no doubt it's a nice addition to a library but shouldn't be considered as any kind of primary reference source for the vehicle itself. Particularly for the money, you can get far better for cheaper.

For most part, I'd have to agree with you.
It does little for the real vehicle, back in the days. It is a nice book to see through, but for serious researchers of lesser value.
On the other hand is this book a very welcome source of reference for modellers, like me, because it does show how the crew might have lived in and around it.

You're absolutely right. Which is why I said it's oriented more towards those who're finishing a build rather than engaging in one.
I think it's also important to keep in mind that there is a strong motivation in the book to present as much as possible within the allocated space. Jam as many visual treats in an image as possible if you know what I mean.
I think my one major gripe with this, and the other two volumes, is the relatively poor and inconsistent quality of the photos. I find many of them washed out with some really poor resolution in some instances.