THE GERMAN ARMY 1939 - 45 #1 BLITZKRIEG Men at Arms Series Osprey Publications

On September 1, 1939 when Germany attacked Poland, the Wehrmacht numbered 3,180,000 men.  It eventually expanded to 9,500,000 and on May 8-9, 1945, the date of its unconditional surrender on the Western and Eastern Fronts, it still numbered 7,800,000.  The Blitzkrieg period, from September 1, 1939 to June 25, 1940, was 10 months of almost total triumph for the Wehrmacht, as it defeated every country, except Great Britain, that took the field against it.  In this first of five volumes examining the German Army of WW11, Nigel Thomas examines the uniforms and insignia of Hitler's Blitzkrieg forces, including an overview of the Blitzkrieg campaign itself.

List of contents:

• The Record of the Wehrmacht

• The High Command of the ARmy and the Wehrmacht 

• The Strategy

• The Uniform of the German Army

• Ranks and Responsibilities

• Medals

• The Plates