Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II

by Robert J. Edwards

Scouts Out is the definitive account of German armored reconnaissance in World War II, essential for historians, armor buffs, collectors, modelers, and wargamers. The first extensive treatment of the subject in English, it

Profiles of the armored reconnaissance vehicles that performed vital functions for the Third Reich's war machine
Capsule histories of the reconnaissance elements of panzer and mechanized infantry divisions, including those of the Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe
Firsthand accounts from reconnaissance soldiers
Hundreds of photos, the majority of which have never been published before
Color illustrations of uniforms and insignia

Genres: History, Military Fiction

528 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2013

Reviews

[Sleepy Boy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda hard to rate this given how thorough it is. From a pure reference and information standpoint it's thoroughness is amazing. That same thoroughness hinders its readability though if you are reading it cover to cover and not using it as a reference book, as you often find yourself wading through lists and lists of personnel or equipment.

Regardless if you are interested in the subject matter it is hard to beat, I look forward to his other volume 'Tip of the Spear'.

[Chris Buckham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiitle: Scout’s Out
Author: Robert Edwards
Publisher: Stackpole Casemate
ISBN: 978-0-8117-1311-5
Hardcover
Year: 2013
Pages:
Photo’s: 500+ b/w

Robert Edwards has produced a broad-ranging synopsis of the German reconnaissance force of the Second World War. Knowledge, as any one will confirm, is power and the faster that it can be attained the more effectively it may be used to disrupt or undermine the plans of the enemy. The German Army recognized the critical importance of this and placed special emphasis on the development of equipment and training to facilitate this area of expertise.

Scout’s Out starts with a history of the German Recce forces and their re-establishment during the interwar period. The reader is not only introduced to the methodology surrounding the doctrinal development of this element but also the iterations that the recce unit structure underwent as it developed. This is important because it shows how the Germans adapted their forces to meet not only the changing nature of their operational environment but also to accommodate the lessons learned as the war progressed.

The author spends a significant amount of the book discussing the equipment that the soldiers used to undertake their tasks. Again, one sees the significant amount of innovation and adaptability that the German forces used to increase their effectiveness. Certainly, the reader is left with a very high impression of the quality of German equipment. Included are colour templates of the different recce vehicles use throughout the war.

The book also discusses at length the operational history of the various Recce Units of the German Armoured Forces. As a reference and synopsis this is very useful. The book represents an excellent history and reference for these forces. The author is himself a retired Recce Officer and brings a critical and knowledgeable eye to the subject.

This book represents an overview of these forces. It is not a combat history of any one unit but a comprehensive guide to the development, equipment tables, structure and rogue’s gallery of the units that undertook this vital task. Recce has always been a more independent arm of any armoured force with a fierce pride and professionalism. Edwards brings this out in his work. Replete with hundreds of photographs, a very high level of quality in the publication of the book, a clear and concise analysis of all aspects of the recce specialty; Edwards’ book is well worth the money and time to read and enjoy.

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[Shrike58 · Rating 3 out of 5]

While billed as a "history" of German recon units this work is better described as a "compendium," as it contains everything from German memos on tactical doctrine to images of memorabilia that can be associated with Wehrmacht armored-car units. With this being the case one should probably have a good background in the German military of the Interwar period to get the most out it. Bob Citino's "The Path to Blitzkrieg" would be particularly useful, since Citino spends quality time dealing with the efforts to do something useful with the horse cavalry units the Versailles treaty had saddled the German army with.

[Randall Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough tome on the title subject; still could have used more photographs, as one thing the Germans pre-1946 were, was photo-happy.