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Vorwärts immer, rückwärts nimmer! - The english edition of the illustrated guide to history and fate of the German Sturmartillerie is available now!

The book is avaiblable from selected bookshops, the publisher •Historyfacts and •Amazon .

The price is € 44,90 plus p/p. Please feel free to order directly at the author (ask for modeller´s discount, available for non-modellers, too).

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Vorwärts immer, rückwärts nimmer! [Forward ever, rearward never]
An illustrated Guide to History and Fate of the German Assault Artillery in WW II, english edition

The Sturmartillerie was extablished before outbreak of WW II as an integrative support arm of the infantry, which was far way from thorough mobility. Sturmgeschuetze - assault guns - turretless tanks armed with a 7,5 cm gun - should push forward the attack breaking any enemy resistance, destroying infantry guns, MG nests and bunkers. In the further course of the war the young service branch would have to stand the impetus of ever growing numbers of enemy tanks.

This book is the first of a series. Its purpose is to introduce this small, but remarkable service arm to the reader. Vol. 1 will get you to the assault positions for operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. Development and combat of of the first units in battery - scale and the later Sturmgeschütz battalions resp. brigades will be explained by photos, diagrams and colored artwork. The author turned his attention to the identification of Sturmartillerie units, markings and characteristics will be clarified wherever possible.

During his research the author relied only on sources found in German archives. Subjective recollections of veterans have been used to illustrate the nature of this service arm.

From the content:

Forward ever, rearward never!

This fanciful motto welcomed the volunteers entering the large instruction room of the 7^th (instructional) battery of the Artillerielehrregiment in Jüterbog near Berlin. Here the nucleus was created of a new, unique service branch.

The Sturmartillerie was established before the outbreak of WWII as an integrated support arm of the infantry, which was a long way from complete mobility. Sturmgeschütze - assault guns - turretless tanks armed with a 7.5 cm gun – were to push forward the attack, breaking any enemy resistance and destroying infantry guns, MG nests and bunkers. In the further course of the war the young service branch would have to withstand the force of ever-growing numbers of enemy tanks.

This book is the first of a series. Its purpose is to introduce this small, but remarkable, service arm to the reader. Development and combat of the first battery-sized units and the later Sturmgeschütz battalions, eventually brigades will be explained by photos, diagrams and coloured artwork. The author gave full attention to the identification of Sturmartillerie units, and their markings and characteristics will be clarified wherever possible.

During his research the author relied only on sources found in German and international archives. The subjective recollections of veterans have been used to illustrate the nature of this service arm.

Author's service

The process of "writing a book" is exciting. Some call it nerve-racking, and these lads are possibly right! The fact that perhaps any author will find "decisive" new facts or photos after passing the printer makes it difficult to find and adhere any deadline. Publishers, however, love deadlines, and they take it personally if you fail observing them repeatedly.

I want to offer the readers of this new book a service available on my website only. I will add diagrams, charts and photos found after printing, which deal with the content, more or less uncommented. The meaning of these amendments arise out of the book´s content. Thus the reader is up-to-date with the always inquisitive author. Well, I`ll do my very best...

Kriegsgliederungen - orders of battles Kriegsgliederungen can be found in both Militärarchiv Freiburg and National Archive, U.S.A. They proof how German units were embedded in the organizational structures. The examples shown here feature some handwritten changes, making lecture even more interesting. However, the quality of these scans is sometimes annoying. click to enlarge documents and pictures. Note: for reading the documents you need •ADOBE READER^TM
	This chart shows the Sturmartillerie´s state of April 1940. 2 batteries (659, 660) were initially listed (640 was already subordinated under Inf.Rgt. "GD"). 2 further batteries (665, 666) were added handwritten with the remark that 666 had to give off its StuGs to SS-Leibstandarte.
	The May 1940 chart shows that, beside the cadre and training unit Stabsbatterie 600 z.b.V., 3 batteries were listed. A further 2 were added later. 2 full-scale Abteilungen (battalions) , 184 and 185 were listed for being established in August.
	Sadly, the printers failed to add the table of organization of Sturmbatterie 640 in the book. This unit could be traced back almost completely by photos. The equipment with Tiefladeanhänger (flatbed trailers Sd.Anh. 116 with Famos) is not firm. The Inf.Reg. "GD"´table of organization (Nov. 1940) stated that the unit was to be outfitted with 6 Sturmgeschütze with Tiefladeanhänger. This would mean that six Sd.Anh. 116 were available.
	The table of organization shows Sturmbatterie 640 being an integral part of Inf.Rg. "GD".
	This order of battle dated 1 Nov. 1940 lists 5 fighting Sturmbatterien, theStabsbatterie 600 and 4 Sturmartillerie-Abteilungen.
	"GD´s" order of battle dated 10 Nov. 1940 reveals that Sturmbatterie 640 (without unit designation) is fully incorporated in the IV. Battailon. The letter x) refers to the hint that the/all Sturmgeschütze were to be issued with flatbed trailers.
	This great picture shows Sturmgeschütz "22" of Sturmbatterie 640, after being destroyed near the market town Pitgam near Dunkirk. The vehicle apparently suffered an internal explosion, its reasion is inknown. (photo author´s collection)
	A Sturmgeschütz of Sturmbatterie 659 is being led by some officers through a column of m. S.P.W. (Sd.Kfz. 251) of 1. Pz.Div., the unit, 659 was subordinated by June 1940. (Photo courtesy NARA)