OVERVIEW
This book provides a detailed history of motor vehicles and armored fighting vehicles in the Bulgarian Army from 1936, during the last years of peace, until the end of the Second World War in 1945.
For much of this period, Bulgaria was allied to Germany. The Bulgarian Army was mainly equipped with German weapons, or equipment captured by the Germans and then sold to Bulgaria. The negotiations as well as supplies of motor vehicles and armored vehicles are described at length. The combat service of the army’s armored units is also described in detail. Despite Bulgaria’s entry into World War II as early as 1941, the only military actions during the first period of the war were related to the occupation of parts of Yugoslavia and Greece. The real combat service of the Bulgarian Army began in September 1944 against its former ally, the Germans. The delivery of armored fighting vehicles for 1st Bulgarian Army from the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front 1945 is described in detail.
The authoritative text is supported by over 600 photographs (the majority of them previously unpublished), color profiles showing camouflage, markings, color unit insignia and color battle maps.
ANALYSIS
This book is 478 pages of detailed facts and pictures covering the armored fighting vehicles in the Bulgarian Army from 1936 – 45. Need to know the Military control, engine, and Fahrgestell numbers of Pz.Kpfw.IW tanks as of 27th Feb 1944 then it’s in there. This is a labour of love and the amount of detail captured is really quite fascinating. The pictures are all sharp and many I have never seen before.
The Bulgarian armoured forces didn’t see much combat until September 1944 when they fought against their former allies the Germans. The Russians provided the Bulgarians with captured German tanks to make their losses. The sections on combat are ok but it appears the Bulgarians didn’t perform that well against their former allies.
One gets the feeling the Germans would have been better off never supplying any vehicles to the Bulgarians and using them for themselves where they were desperately needed
So who is this book aimed at? Certainly, model makers will get a lot from the pictures. They are, in many cases, crystal clear. WW2 AFV completionists will also need to add this to their library. I got it as I knew nothing about the subject and was interested to find out more. For anyone else, I don’t feel there is value in getting the book.
The book is out of print now and quite expensive to buy at around $45 as of November 2024.
BOOK DETAILS
- Publisher : Helion and Company (May 19, 2014)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 504 pages
- ISBN-10 : 190938416X
- ISBN-13 : 978-1909384163
- Item Weight : 1.57 pounds
- Dimensions : 7 x 1.75 x 10 inches
