Name 6 books you'd buy if written (3 history and 3 militaria)

[Mark C. Yerger]

On any topic a dozen or small number of readers beg for a book. But a publisher must sell a thousand in a reasonable time to offset print costs and print another book.

Few grasp the costs of producing a book, aside from printing, as far as research, costs of it, design, etc. All add to time that
does cost money, especially time.

Then people wonder why I won't send them scans of 4 pages from a book it took a year for me to write and, aside from time, took material costs and other expenses to compile beyond any potential royalty.

Same with dealers who balk at $20 for info on a $10,000 item because "it's just information." The costs of what I assembled over the years would pay for a nice house in my area. But they assume it's all free so they should get free.

[Bluehawk]

History:

> A book on German/European art collector families (e.g. Thyssen-Bornemisza) during and following the war.

Militaria:

> A comparative study of European and American military heraldry traditions.

[Woolgar]

Waffen SS in the French Foreign Legion

Nick

[pasoleati]

1) A complete technical history of the Bf 109. It would feature in-depth engineering data like material specifications, official test reports, structural and aerodynamic analysis, spin tests, explanation why the 109K had 100 km/h higher VNE than the 109G etc. Drawings would include e.g. accurate dimensioned drawings of wing spars etc.

2) A complete technical history of the DB600 series engines. It should include thorough analysis on the different CRs between cyl banks, explanation on the reasoning why high CR/low boost approach was taken, analysis on why the rpm limit was so low, analysis on the technical problems like the burned pistons etc.

3) Books as above on the BMW 801 and Jumo 211/213.

[Mark C. Yerger]

Originally Posted by pasoleati

1) A complete technical history of the Bf 109. It would feature in-depth engineering data like material specifications, official test reports, structural and aerodynamic analysis, spin tests, explanation why the 109K had 100 km/h higher VNE than the 109G etc. Drawings would include e.g. accurate dimensioned drawings of wing spars etc.

2) A complete technical history of the DB600 series engines. It should include thorough analysis on the different CRs between cyl banks, explanation on the reasoning why high CR/low boost approach was taken, analysis on why the rpm limit was so low, analysis on the technical problems like the burned pistons etc.

3) Books as above on the BMW 801 and Jumo 211/213.

I think #1 exists but must check my book cases

[Federico Perez]

A full study on the Heer uniforms,insignia and accesories from enlistedman to fieldmarshal, from the early 1933 time frame to 1945.....very much in the style of Beaver Uniforms of the Waffen SS. I know several subjects have their own publications like the waffenrock,GD AND Afrika korps but theres a LOT of others units,branches and Div. wich will fill five volumes on Heer uniforms.....panzer branch alone will fill a book of 300 pages!!!

In history, how about the Inteligence and counter inteligence operations from the goverment political level to the battlefield and the outcome of such operations.
And what the result in military strategy and gains as well as the players involved and the propaganda/gov. value.....something like the Mussolini rescue to name one of the most famous ones.

[djpool]

I know that lots of folks complain about the high cost of books, but as you so clearly state few folks understand the costs involved. Militaria books attract a small select audience. A thousand books sold translates to a best seller in most other genres. On average most books sell only 50 copies. Publishers like Schiffer have broken the code on being able to make a profit on very specializd topics. Many of the authors are only interested in getting their story in print and are willing to work for almost nothing.

Jim

Originally Posted by Mark C. Yerger

On any topic a dozen or small number of readers beg for a book. But a publisher must sell a thousand in a reasonable time to offset print costs and print another book.

Few grasp the costs of producing a book, aside from printing, as far as research, costs of it, design, etc. All add to time that
does cost money, especially time.

Then people wonder why I won't send them scans of 4 pages from a book it took a year for me to write and, aside from time, took material costs and other expenses to compile beyond any potential royalty.

Same with dealers who balk at $20 for info on a $10,000 item because "it's just information." The costs of what I assembled over the years would pay for a nice house in my area. But they assume it's all free so they should get free.

[Helden]

Originally Posted by T.K.

-
- WSS Dirlewanger Brigade history "Heimdal style"

I would buy that - though as mentioned it's probably unlikely

I'd add to the list something like this :

ORDNUNGSPOLIZEI: Encyclopedia of the German Police Battalions September 1939 - July 1942 (Massimo Aricco (Author)

only greatly expanded on, where instead of paragrahs and pages there are multiple chapters per Battalion.

[T.K.]

Originally Posted by Mark C. Yerger

"mood" photos with no individual's ID or location are easy, who, where, what considerably more difficult. Camo in the mountains and some shots of Phleps or Kumm isn't a unit oriented history text. Most of the Munin books are of that type and more for veterans to recall the time, not specific historically. That per Kumm who I knew well having written his biography as well as having him do one of my book's forewords. As far as what is available of worth on specific units, no disrespect, but after 25 years of writing books on the Waffen-SS I have a rather good insight as to what survives of value. I have hundreds of photos of men in camo, but that hardly makes anything near a worthwhile volume.

Hello Mark,

Well, you may be writing WSS books for the last 25 years, but seems to me you didn't read Heimdal's "Karstjager!" lately...
You definitely should and it will change your prespective about this very issue.

Best Regards

[T.K.]

Originally Posted by Helden

I would buy that - though as mentioned it's probably unlikely

Would you belive me if I tell you that exists, in an advanced collection, a couple of huge photo-albums cointaning several hundreds unseen images, captioned with names and locations, related to such a unit fighting in the East and Warschau?

[Gary Jucha]

I would like to see a publisher work with credited historians, and produce an indepth series of fully "techincal" volumes on specific battles from WW1 and WW2 amalgamating DVD's of correct unseen archive footage of the actual battles cross referenced with associated maps.

Yes ! a difficult project .... but Identified film .. I'm sure "we" would all agree is of far more interest than the poorly cobbled together "example" of documentry rubbish we get fed at present.

Gary J.

[Bluehawk]

Originally Posted by Gary Jucha

Yes ! a difficult project .... but Identified film .. I'm sure "we" would all agree is of far more interest than the poorly cobbled together "example" of documentry rubbish we get fed at present.

Gary J.

Amen to that...

[Mark C. Yerger]

Originally Posted by T.K.

Hello Mark,

Well, you may be writing WSS books for the last 25 years, but seems to me you didn't read Heimdal's "Karstjager!" lately...
You definitely should and it will change your prespective about this very issue.

Best Regards

Was given the book, but for me an irrelevant and insignificant unit in every way.

[T.K.]

Originally Posted by Mark C. Yerger

Was given the book, but for me an irrelevant and insignificant unit in every way.

Sorry Mark but I don't get you.
Has your personal opinion about the "importance" of WSS division anything to do with the issue in discussion?
No disrespect, but who gives a damn about what you consider irrelevant\insignificant?
I personally consider research about the holders of the DKiG totally "irrelevant and insignificant", but this nothing to do with the actual historical importance of your books...am I wrong?

[Mark C. Yerger]

Originally Posted by T.K.

Sorry Mark but I don't get you.
Has your personal opinion about the "importance" of WSS division anything to do with the issue in discussion?
No disrespect, but who gives a damn about what you consider irrelevant\insignificant?
I personally consider research about the holders of the DKiG totally "irrelevant and insignificant", but this nothing to do with the actual historical importance of your books...am I wrong?

A book can be written on anything if a lump of material is available, does not make it worthwhile. Example: 50 books on Tiger tanks.

And as a unit, they were insignificant.

I live in the US, opinions allowed. And the GC series, if you had actually read it, contains a large amount of new and/or corrected data on a wide variety of topics (other units, other individuals, offices, schools, etc) beyond the title topic. I'd have to say "irrelevant and insignificant" is hardly accurate within the topic of Waffen-SS. Read what you comment on before doing so.

But just my opinion.