This latest release in Pen & Sword's popular Images of War series cover the Panzergrenadiers. Initially, these units were motorized infantry, but as the war progressed, it was realized that in order for the Panzers to be the most effective, they had to be accompanied by infantry troops. Those troops who worked in hand with the tanks were, in late 1942, designated as panzergrenadiers.

These units used tactics that were different from regular infantry as their task was not only to help protect the tanks from the enemy, but to enable the rapid strikes of armor to maintain the ground they had gained. As such, these troops relied on vehicles to help them keep up with the armored units. While many think that they used armored halftracks for this, the reality is that for the most part, they used standard trucks. The halftracks, as they offered some protection from small arms fire, were only really used in areas where they'd come under fire from the defenders. Thanks to their greater mobility, more and more panzergrenadier units were formed as the war progressed.

As with other books in this series, it is primarily a photo compilation. It is divided into chapters with a brief historical introduction and most of the information provided with the hundreds of images contained within. It all makes for an excellent photo reference with enough historical content to whet one's desire to learn more about specific units and campaigns. I've enjoyed every edition of this series and this book is no exception. It is a book that I can easily recommend to you. Pick it up when you can.

July 2021

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