Prof. Schweller deserves all the compliments that he might get. "Deadly Imbalances" is a real masterpiece, poisedly merging theoretical discussion with an accurate applied analysis on an empirical case (World War II). The author's modeling departs from Waltz's neorealism, but the structural perspective is soon amended, with the inclusion of one variable that is strictly on the unit level (the state's interest). This modification approximates his scheme to classical realism, with great gains to ad hoc analysis, like the one he does. Important to say that the historical research is very good too, remarkable in a study done by a political scientist. This book should be considered a good and commendable example of case study in the International Relations area.

very thought provoking and well written

John Waller has done a great job of giving us an insiders look at the Nazi government at the top. His 'vehicle' is a fellow by the name of Felix Kersten, who. by one of those strange twists of history, became Heinrich Himmler's indispensable personal masseur. In that position Kersten, with connections to OSS and British intelligence, was able to influence Himmler. It is an outrageous story that provides exceptional insight in the personalities at the top of the Nazi machine.
The story has a particular relevance to this reviewer, as Kersten played a role in preventing the resettlement of millions of "irreconcilable" Dutchmen to Eastern Poland and the Ukraine in 1941 and 1942. The Dutch hated the Nazi occupiers, and their opposition and riots in 1941 had enraged Hitler. Kersten saw the documentation, was appalled, and adopted the strategy of convincing Himmler that his health would be at serious risk if he undertook such a demanding task. Himmler finally decided to persuade Hitler that Germany's logistical system would be over-taxed by mass-moving people across the continent while fighting the war on the Eastern front. The operation was postponed till after the war. This tale was thoroughly investigated by the Dutch Government after the war, and validated. Kersten was appropriately honored.
This vignette is only one of the many in the book. It was November 11, 1941, that Himmler emerged from the Fuhrer's presence and announced that the "destruction of the Jews is being actively planned." The occupied eastern territories "are to become free of Jews." These wartime orders in 1941 went well beyond the earlier decree in January 24, 1939, which intended to solve the 'Jewish question' by emigration and evacuation. Hitler's outbursts of temper and raving and ranting were often interpreted by his lieutenants as policy edicts to be carried out literally. The more one reads of what went on at the human level at the Nazi top, the more one is reminded of an insane asylum. How this Austrian misfit, Adolph Schickelgruber Hitler, unemployed in Vienna in 1913, cast into - and surviving - the traumatic trench warfare mass murder cauldrons of World War I, absorbing and caricaturing the prevailing cultural theories of racial blood purity, cranium indices denoting superior intelligence, and terror bombing (Douhet), and could then exploit the crisis of capitalism and the threat of communism by rising to the leadership of the German Reich -- and then driven by powerful paranoias, bring such misery to millions, particularly Poles, Russians, Germans, and others, and the Jewish compatriots that lived among them, defies staggering odds. I highly recommend this book. John Waller is a immensely respected OSS and CIA veteran, and author, who writes beautifully and with care, on a topic we should not forget.

Dr. Felix Kersten is a true World War II hero. Through his assigned job of being physical therapist to Heinrich Himmler, one of the most notorious, evil Nazi's of the war, read this fascinating true story of courage and manipulation. Kersten pounced on Himmler's naivete and prevented the persecution of thousands. Any history or war buff would love this book.

A Gift for German Officers, August 13, 2001 revised September 25, 2001

Reviewer: Christa Nake-Küpper from Hamburg, Germany

Some time has gone apart since this book has been shown at the Frankfurt-Book-Show in 1977.- In those times "structures" seemed to the historians more worth a close look than "personalities", or even "battles". Today all this seems to be changing.- German military historians are nowadays close together with the German Army - the so called "Bundeswehr". And they are again thinking of traditional "Kriegsgeschichte", called "Operational History" in their circles and especially concerning War History of the Second German Empire.-

All this Bernd F. Schulte in 1977 didn't want to effect at all. His experience in the German Armed Forces, in between 1967-1972, was his leading point to write sort of an "organisational history" (M.Geyer/Historische Zeitschrift, 1979) focussing the German Army of 1914. Stress was laid on the fate of "reformers" like Colmar von der Goltz, they became exposed to, when criticising the tactic, organisation and weaponary of the so called "best army of the world" of those times.

Nobody could have expected this "renovatio" of a discussion, which seemed to be closed in the late 70ties in "Fischer-Controversy". Schulte met this topic as part of the problem: armed Forces in Germany in between tradition and reform. The backstage-question remained: was military Germany able to plan, organise and relaese a War like the First World War? Schulte's answer in 1977 was: in spite of weaknesses all around, the German Army was prepared for war against the enimies inside and outside Germany. Influenced by the tradition of historiography in the 70ies, Schulte laid stress on the interior struggel of the military against the social democrats by preparing civil war. At the same time he saw the major wars in between 1893 and 1913, and their supposed effects on military administration in Germany. The army-legislation in the critics of french, english and russian specialists, as well as the commentaries of military correspondents and writers, like the famous Colonel Repington of the "Times", dessined a more shadowy picture of the German Army than common.

The uproar, Repington's critics, inside and outside the German Government, did evoke in 1911, resembled the harsh answers of German traditionalists (officers/historians) in consequence of Schulte's book during the late 70ties. All the same, this book gave a start in science to the new discussion of political and military implications, combined with the German Forces (navy and army), in the midst of the 80ies and early 90ies. A new school of german historians tries to respond to Schulte's image of "imperfect" German military forces. Nowadays historiography is on the way to write the new history of German Armed forces. The Great General Staff's, general's and military's influence in the decision-making-process at Berlin up to 1914 in general, are objects of those attempts, now based on the reemerged sources of the national-conservative "Reichsarchiv"/black-white-red(1919-1946). Schulte tried in 1977 to minimize the gap in sources, english bombs on Potsdam in April 1945 did burn.

Some time has gone aopart since this book was shown at the Frankfurt-Book-Show in 1977.- In those times "structures" seemed the historians more worth a close look than "personalities" or even "battles". Today all this seenms to be changing. German historians are close together with the German Army - the so called Bundeswehr. Miltary historians are again thinking of "Operational History", especially concerning the War History of the Second German Empire.- All this Bernd F. Schulte in 1977 didn't want to effect at all. The experience in the German Armed Forces in between 1967-1972 was the leading point for him to write sort of an organisational history of the German Army of 1914. Stress was laid on the fate of "reformers" like Colmar von der Goltz who became exposed to when criticising the tactic, organisation and weapons of the German Army up to 1914. Nobody could have expected the "renovatio" of a discussion which seemed to be closed in the late 70ties: the socalled "Fischer-Controvery". Schulte met this topic as part of the problem: Armed Forces in Germany in between tradition and Reform. The backstage-question remained: was military Germany able to plan, organise and relaese a War like the First World War? Schulte's answer was in 1977: in spite of weaknesses all around, the German Army was prepared for war against the enimies inside and outside Germany. Influenced by the tradition of historiography in the 70ies, Schulte laid stress on the interior battle of the military against social demovcrats by preparing the civil war. At the samne time he saw the major wars in between 1893 and 1913 and their supposed effects on the military administration in Germany. The Army bills in the critics of french, english and russian specialist, as well as the commentaries of military correspondents and writers, like the famous colonel Repington of the Times, dessined a more shadowy picture of the German Army than usual. The uproar, Repington's critics did evoke in 1911, resembled the harsh answers of German traditionalists (officers/historians) in consequence of Schulte's book during the late 70ies. All the same this book gave a start for a new discussion of political and military implications, combined with the German Forces (naval and army)in the midst of the 1980ies and early 90ies. A new school of german historians tries to resond to Schulte's image of "imperfect" Germam miltary forces. Nowadays historiography is on the way, to write a new history of German armed forces. The Grand Generalstaff, generals and military influence in the decision-making-process at Berlin are objects of those attempts, now based on the reemerged sources of the "Reichsarchiv" (1919-1946). Schulte tried in 1977 to minimize the gap in sources english bombs on Potsdam in April 1945 did burn.

On June 23 1943 the author, Jack Champ, was marched into the German prisoner-of-war camp designated Oflag IVC, these days better known as Colditz Castle. Colditz was Germany's seemingly escape-proof castle prison where hundreds of the most determined and resourceful prisoners of World War II tirelessly carried out an unending campaign to achieve the seemingly impossible - freedom. By the end of the war twenty Australians had spent time in Colditz, and this book looks at life in the ancient castle specifically from their point of view. Colditz was a very special camp - the guards outnumbered the prisoners, and the castle was floodlit at night. Initially the Germans boasted that Colditz Castle was escape-proof, but they were wrong. By the end of the war there had been more escapes from Colditz than any prison of comparable size during both world wars. Jack Champ was a reluctant prisoner who took part in two of the most spectacular mass escapes of the war. This book describes in vivid detail how these indomitable and resourceful Australian servicemen tried, and at times succeeded, in turning dreams of escape into reality. Colin Burgess has interviewed many of the survivors and carried out extensive research to create this gripping account of the full story - from tense days in the care of the French Underground through to the only recently resolved fight for proper compensation.

Great story of what determined men can achieve with severely limited resources. Lots has been written on Colditz Castle and the men who were imprisoned there and the few who escaped.

I visited the castle in 1999, and what I saw confirms the stories in the book.

Great reading for those who prefer real adventures and exploints to fiction.

the book is almost of the same caliber Rommel was. Do not waste your time.Entertaining, exciting, it flows so fast. Buy this book now and have an wonderful time!

Charles Marshall has done an excellent job in preparing a literary work that is, in my studied opinion, a complete overview of Rommel...as a man and military genius. Marshall's detailed account of Rommel's life is reinforced by information received during interviews with Rommel's widow as well as the letters Rommel sent her during the African campaigns. Further, Marshall, as a former Army Intelligence Officer during WWII, relies heavily on his own detailed diary enteries of interviews with German/Nazi officals in captivity prior to the end of the war. Marshall's work details Rommel's life from pre WWI through his untimely death, forced by Adolf Hitler, before the end of WWII. If there is only one true account of Rommel's life, "Discovering the Rommel Murder" is it.

Hello!, I'm an enthusiast of the Kriegsmarine, I was waiting for the book, I've searhcing it for months, and finally it came!!!, as I expected from the Ballard's books, this is an amazing book. I began to be intrested in the Battleship Bismarck since I was 7 years old, and one day of 1989 I hear that: "the man who found Titanic, now has found the Battleship Bismarck". Since then I was looking for the book.
It shows the aspect of the wreck and a lot of information about the ship. It also has a nice paints, which represents the descicive moments of the battle. A book that must be in the library of every one intrested in this subject.

In 1989, Robert Ballard, Discoverer of the Titanic, located the legendary German warship Bismarck three miles below the Atlantic. This book includes some excellent photos of the the ship as she origanally appeared and of the ship as she appears today. Also includes much info about the sea chase (About half the book as a matter of fact). What's most amazing is that Bismarck took so much damage but yet is shown well preserved in these photos. The only problem is there is no reprint. A second expedition to the wreck would also be nice. Oh Well!

This book is an authoratative reference listing nearly everything in the German mobile arsenal. I am amazed at the detail. It even has the Leichte Truppenluftschutz Kraftwagen (Kfz 4). Now, who's ever heard of that thing. It has pictures, as well as design, production, field history, and unit markings information on each vehicle. This is a great modeling reference for unusual variants, and the attention to half-tracks and soft-skinned vehicles makes it a gem. The only fault being all the pics are black and white, so it's not much good for camo schemes.

I am a modeler and have found this book to be invaluable to me in it's information, pictures and # of differant vehicles it has. This book should be on the shelf of every military modeler. I am surprised it is out of print. I bought my copy only a year ago.

This is the best photo encyclopedia of German WWII armor I have ever purchased. Great photos, information, and organization.

The Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War II covers virtually every combatvehicle produced by Germany from 1929 through 1945. At least 90% of the vehicles are depicted in either photographs (most common) or drawings (for prototypical vehicles).

As a builder of 1/35th scale armor, this book provides an excellent ready reference. An emphasis is placed on the vital statistics of each vehicle including (but not limited to): the number produced, the various designations of the vehicle, the engine, range, armament, ammunition carried, and armor angle and thinckness.

Each mark (or Ausfurung) of each vehicle has its own entry, for example, the Panther is split into entries for the Ausf. D, Ausf. A, Ausf. G, and even the Ausf. F (with the Jagdpanther and Bergenpanther being separate as well). Differences between the models are detailed as well.

While the photographs in this book are not comprehensive enough from which to accurize a kit, the text does not unique features of each vehicle (which can be, in turn, looked for in other photographs).

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interesed in World War II armor, especially anyone who builds armor models.

Coming across "Eye To I" feels like a blast of fresh air. Erwin Blumenfeld, renowned as a fashion photographer of the 40th and 50th, gives us a merciless picture of what it takes to reach the top as an artist during the first half of the 20th century. With ferocious humor he settles his accounts with a world of pretense, prejudice and hypocrisy.

I simply loved this tale of our century. It's witty, iconoclastic, trenchant, hilarious, improbable all at the same time. The reviews I have read are, as usual bizarre: They miss the excellence of the translation, the breadth of Blumenfeld's vision, the fact that you can't put it down once you start & that it is simply a brilliant read. The author's recollections of his childhood in Berlin are simply astounding. His descriptions of WWI are full of th most incredible horror. His efforts to find himself in Amsterdam are hilarious. His rise in the world of fashion photography first in Paris and thn in New York bring us right into the middle of th 20th Century madness. For Blumenfeld's narrative is of a world gone mad. And who can deny that it has?

Wonderfully presented book examining the history and production facility set up by Carl Faberge. The research is spot on, as are the sumptuous colour photographs of many of the pieces produced, and I have seen few works on the subject as comprehensive as this one. As with the designers and craftsmen at the Faberge workshops this book is an inspiration, and I can thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject. A visual and intellectual feast for the mind and soul.

This book is an exhibition catalouge for what must be one of the most amazing exhibitons held on Faberge in the World, in Vienna in 1987. At the back of the book there are hundreds of illustrated items by the firm. Most of the pictures are in colour, and the book is gorgeous, and covers everything from Imperial Easter eggs to jewllery and hardstone figures.

In additon to it's stunning photos the book also has as great deal of information about the firm and it's manufacturing techniqes that many other books on Faberge don't cover.

If you can find a copy of this book - Get it! I've only got a library book but if I ever get the chance to own a copy of this I will. Shame it's out of print.