Written by Bruce Culver Illustrated by Don Greer Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1115 Crowley Drive, Carrollton, TX 75011-5010 Papercover, 96 pp., 237 black and white photos, 16 color illus. (No bibliography) Price: $8.95 ISBN 0-89747-156-3 Audiences: modelers, wargamers, historians of armored vehicles and units of the Third Reich The symbol of Hitler's ground forces in World War II had to be the Panzers, the tanks which led the advances and fought the major battles of the Third Reich. As powerful a weapon as they were, part of their lasting remembrance could be the unique markings which distinguished German tanks from those of any other army. To improve their survival on the battlefield, many Panzers were decked in camouflage color schemes, some in subtle tones, others in bizarre patterns. Tactical emblems to distinguish different units and individual vehicles within each formation reached a thorough diversity which only a teutonic mind could devise. Psychological support for tank crewmen was sought by additional markings, such as killrings on the gun tubes and illustrations of the names of mascots and sweethearts on prominent locations. Somewhere in this plethora of designs and colors, room was found for the national symbols of the German nation. In this, the third volume on the subject, Mr. Culver has gathered together an impressive selection of examples of the different markings found on German Panzer vehicles. Contemporary photographs, many taken by the crewmen themselves, are supplemented by vivid plates which detail both color schemes and intricate tactical symbols. Besides examples from the German army, selections are shown for the armored formations of the Waffen SS and the Luftwaffe. The text and captions to the illustrations explain not only the markings of the vehicles but also the evolution of the weapons and units of the Panzer corps. Battle actions are recounted to add to the historical significance of the illustrated material. More Book Reviews Castles in the Air: The Story of the B-17 Flying Fortress Crews of the U.S. 8th Air Force Panzer Colors III: Markings of the German Panzer Forces, 1939-45 Back to Table of Contents -- Game News #11 To Game News List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1986 by Dana Lombardy. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com