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Title: Chinese Civil War Armies 1911-49 (Men-At-Arms Series, No 306) by Philip S. Jowett, Stephen Andrew ISBN: 1-85532-665-5 Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK) Pub. Date: 01 July, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (3 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Adequate Introduction to early 20th C Chinese Uniforms
Comment: This is a useful introduction to Chinese uniforms of the first half of the 20th century. I'm not familiar with any other work on this subject which makes this a very valuable resource. However I have some problems with Osprey's booklet-style format.
As always there are 8 pages of colour plates presenting 3 soldiers each. These illustrations, by Stephen Andrew, are detailed coloured sketches in a somewhat comic-book style. A nice touch is that each clour plate includes a colour close-up of cap badges. This volume also provides b&w illustrations of rank insignia of Chinese Nationalist and "puppet" forces. There are text descriptions (illustrations would have been nice) of Imperialist and "warlord" insignia. As always there are 40-odd b&w reference photographs of period troops. A map of the area of operations is provided, as well as a useful overview of Chinese unit formations. Note that in addition to descriptions of each colour plate in English, the last page of the book provides translations of the plate descriptions in French and German. As there is no translation of the body of the book, however, this is a somewhat odd use of space.
As always 48 pages is a limited amount of space to adequately cover all the variations of army uniforms, especially ones as varied as those of this period. More detail on winter and summer uniforms and headgear would have been useful. Gear and weapons are as always not specifically presented. I would recommend this as a useful adjunct to a more comprehensive work on uniforms of the Chinese Civil War - but I don't think that there is one!
Rating: 5
Summary: Highly Informative Little Work
Comment: Growing up in the late forties, as a child, I vaguely remember hearing about McCarthy and the Great Debate about "Who Lost China." Well, I can tell you that with no hesitation. Chaing Kai Shek lost China when he invaded Manchuria in 1945 but he made a long run at the pole and almost grabbed the prize. If it had not been for the Japanese invasion he probably would have finished off the Reds and taken over the whole country.
I knew the story of Chaing and Mao and Chou En Lai but nothing about the warlord period before 1930.
As an adult I have read some widely in recent years about the post 1940 period but admit much ignorance about the early days from 1911 to then. Well, since ignorance is curable but stupidity is not, and I am not stupid, I have been able to satisfy my curiousity with this volume and dispelled as much ignorance as I wanted to.
So if you want a detailed history of this period, go elsewhere, if you want excellent illustrations of what the various contenders for the rule of China looked like and a quick overview of what they did, then this is for you.
Many volumes in this publisher's ouevre are lacking in depth or in scholarship. The series began years ago as an aid to the makers of military minitures but in the last 15 years has improved considerably where the latest volumes could claim space on a public library shelf. This is one of those.
My curiosity is satisfied. Yours might be also.
Rating: 4
Summary: Chinese Civil War Armies 1911-49
Comment: For the past 20 years, I have been looking for a book that describes uniforms and equipments used by the Chinese Armies during WW II. This book is the one I have waited for. It is precious because I know it is impossible for a Chinese author to write a book as such without any political overtone, and I was wondering why would anyone else have the interest. This book is smartly titled "Chinese Civil War Armies", not "Chinese World War II Armies" to reflect the internal conflict within the country during that time. The detail description of the uniforms and equipments, as well as the historical accounts are execellent. The color plates are unprecedented. My only criticisms are 1. There is no glossary for all the tranlated Chinese terms mentioned in the book. 2. The text and the related pictures are far apart. I congradulate the author, Mr. Jowett, for the monumental book.
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Title: The Russian Civil War (2): White Armies (Men-At-Arms Series, No 305) by Mikhail Khvostov, Andrei Karachtchouk ISBN: 1855326566 Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK) Pub. Date: 01 July, 1997 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Late Imperial Chinese Armies 1520-1840 (Men-At-Arms Series, No 307) by Chris Peers, Christa Hook ISBN: 1855326558 Publisher: Rank and File Publishers Pub. Date: 01 October, 1997 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Imperial Chinese Armies (2) 590-1260 AD (Men-At-Arms, No 295) by Chris Peers ISBN: 1855325993 Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK) Pub. Date: 01 July, 1996 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Decisive Encounters: The Chinese Civil War, 1946-1950 by Odd Arne Westad ISBN: 080474484X Publisher: Stanford University Press Pub. Date: 01 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Knight Hospitaller (2): 1306-1565 (Warrior, 41) by David Nicolle, Christa Hook ISBN: 1841762156 Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK) Pub. Date: 01 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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