German Mountain Troops 1942-45

When World War II began, the Wehrmacht had fifteen mountain divisions and a multitude of small units, including some Austrian units that had been incorporated into the German army after the Anschluss. These mountain units would operate in hostile environments on all fronts during World War II. Due to their training, equipment and adaptability, the Gebirgstruppen would be deployed to fight in almost every theater. In the last years of the war they would see action in North Africa, Italy, the Balkans, Norway and Finland, and in the West as the Allies pushed German forces back toward Berlin. This book, the culmination of four decades of research and the support of many veterans and collectors, describes the uniform, equipment, and operations of these specialist units during the later years of World War II. The text is complemented by period photographs taken at the front, including many colour photographs, and modern photographs of uniform details. A fully illustrated account of the deployment of German Mountain Units in the last years of World War II. AUTHOR: Yves Beraud comes from a family with a history of service in mountain units. He was a senior officer of the French Army. Now retired he has had several studies published, in a number of languages, focusing particularly on mountain troops. 150 photographs and illustrations