MUSHROOM MODEL MAGAZINE SPECIAL "BARBAROSA VICTIMS, LUFTWAFFE KILLS in the EAST"

Red Series Book No. 5102

by TOMASZ J. KOPANSKI

MSRP: $29.95
MMD's PRICE: $25.96
IN U.K.: 11.99 pounds

by Ray Mehlberger

This is the latest book to come to us from the editor of Mushroom Model Magazine (by the way, an excellent little publication). It is in the usual B5 size of 9 3/8" by 6 3/8" format with a soft cover. Like the previous books that I have reviewed by this publisher, this book was originally published in the Polish language. It is now in English.

A loose sheet, that was included inside the book, said that there are over 320 B & W photos in the book. I took actual count and it is 341. There are also eight pages of color profiles (20) of various types of aircraft that the Soviets were flying at the time of the Barbarosa invasion. One, lonely, war-time color photo adorns the back cover of the book.

Orders of battle, during the German attack, and – published for the first time ever – a table of all the Soviet aircraft captured during the initial phase of the war. Two maps of the German advances, German bases and Soviet Military Districts and bases. Details of Soviet and German losses during the first weeks of the Barbarosa Operation.

The book has a glossary of acronyms, and a bibliography.

This book is virtual picture album. 99% of it is photos with captions underneath. The photos mainly show wrecked Soviet aircraft, that were destroyed by the Luftwaffe during the attack.

It is vividly shown how badly the Germans mauled the Soviet air arm, and...to that end the book is interesting. From a modeling standpoint the color profiles are good to get paint schemes from. The photos, however, are rather small...so hard to make much detail from.

Highly recommended for students of this battle.

The next book from Mushroom Model Publications is announced to be "Mitsubishi A6M ZERO, Yellow Series #3, due out in October 2001.

The book can be found at MMD in the U.S. or ordered direct from:

Mushroom Model Publications
36 Ver Road
Herts AL3 7PE
England (UK)

I want to thank Roger Wallsgrove, of MMP, for this generous review copy.