Reibert. Der Dienstunterricht Im Heere (Army Service Training)

This German-language book was available to every German armed forces recruit from the early 1930's until 1944, and it underwent annual revision. The wide availability meant that it contained only material which was easily learned by observation, but it encapsulates the complete ethos of the German army at the beginning of the Second World War. It contains details of German state and military history, and shows every recruit what to do and how to behave as a member of the army. From bed-making to rifle drill, from camouflage to tactical movements, from boot polishing to horse handling: everything is there. There are hundreds of illustrations and diagrams, so even the non-German reader will gain enormously from having this book to consult and anyone with a smattering of the language will gain an insight into both the German people and their army during the period. There is a multitude of photographs in the book, showing kit, weapons and tactics, and a series of charts and diagrams to clarify tactics and drill. Further, there are details of rifles, machine guns, sub-machine guns and other weapons to delight the weapons student, together with ballistic details of all projectiles in use at the time.