To read or not to read? (#4): Dr. Stephen Summerfield: Saxon Army of the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War. Uniforms, Organisation and Equipment.

As you all know, I'm working on my new Saxon army for the Seven Years War. For that, I needed a good source for uniforms, flags etc. Most of the interested of the period know the Kronoskaf very well, as a good source for that topic. Checking the chapter about Saxons, I noticed that there is missing some information about the units, therefore I asked some questions on the Facebook groups and today's book was recommended to me. Here is my review, from the wargamer point of view.

The book is published by KEN TROTMAN PUBLISHING and that is its 2nd revisited edition.

1. About the book.

The author describes the Saxon army and its unit during the years of 1735 till 1763, in reality, it started with some units much earlier. We got everything: all infantry, cavalry or artillery units. Their history, changing in their uniforms, flags etc. Also, we are receiving a brief service history. Dr Summefield put the main focus on three conflicts: the War of Polish Succession, the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War. In total, we have 590 uniforms, 75 flags, 90 equipment details. A lot!

2. What is good for us, wargamers in that book?

I will repeat 590 uniforms, 75 flags, 90 equipment details. Every unit that existed during the period (most of that units are not described in the Kronoskaf) has someplace in the book. Amazing source, if you paint Saxon army. It also gives few Orders of Battle, to help to organise our forces.

3. Is there any buts?

Sadly yes and they are serious. There is many misspellings in the work, some of them very funny like for example title of one of the chapters: M1758 Saxon Infantry Fags (!). I also find many mistakes when the author used the original words, especially Polish, for example, his Towarczys, which should be Towarzysz and that mean Companion.

4. Do you have to own it?

If you are preparing the Saxon army, absolutely yes, if you are interested in that period yes.

5. Final score.

I give it 5 on 6, because of the misspellings, which not supposed to be found in that kind of book.

To read or not to read? (#3): Marian Huflejt: Bitwa Pod Oliwą 1627. Fakty i Mity.

Massive appologies to all my English readers, but today's post will be only in Polish, because the book is written in that language. If there will be an English translation of that book, what I wish will happen some day, then I will return to that review.

Dzisiaj kolejny odcinek mojej serii To read or not read. Dzisiaj recenzja książki Mariana Huflejta: "Bitwa pod Oliwą 1627. Fakty i mity." Książka wydana jest przez Wydawnictwo Mantis z Olsztyna. Moją książkę nabyłem poprzez serwis Allegro. 

1. About the book.

Ktoś już przede mną dokonał fachowego opisu tej książki i pozwolę sobie skierować Was do bloga Michała Paradowskiego i jego recenzji:

https://kadrinazi.blogspot.com/2019/09/kadrinazi-radzi-i-odradza-cz-xxiv.html

2. What is good for us wargamers, in that book?

Autor szczegółówo opisuje wszystkie manewry, technikę i zasady walki okrętów z tego okresu, co może być dobrą podstawą do stworzenia lub modyfikacji zasad do gry. Opis bitwy czyta się jak naprawdę bardzo dobry raport bitewny. Dodatkowo na podstawie dostępnych materiałów rekonstruuje wygląd bander używancyh przez flotę polską, co jest bardzo pomocne gdybyśmy sobie chcieli wykonać te okręty do naszych bitew. 

3. Is there any buts?

Było mi bardzo trudno znaleźć coś, do czego mógłbym się przyczepić, jednak znalazłem. Brakuje mi zbiorczego porównania flot polskich i szwedzkich, wizerunków okrętów walczących w bitwie (autor obiecuje, że znajdzie się to w jego następnej pracy, trzymam go więc za słowo). Szczególnie zważywszy na fakt, że większość dotychczas dostępnych pozycji, a co za tym idzie informacji tam podawanych jest w tej pozycji skutecznie zmienianych i obalanych.

4. Do you have to own it?

Zdecydowanie tak, jeżeli interesuje Ciebie ten okres. 

5. Final Score.

Oceniam tą pracę na 5.8 na 6.

To read or not to read? (#2): Jan Czop's Albums. Albumy Jana Czopa.

Time for the next part of my To read or not to read? series. Today will be in both languages, despite the fact, that the book is in Polish only. Today we will talk about the albums about the Polish army from the beginning of 18th century till 1831 written and illustrated by Jan Czop. Right now there are available three separate books:  

• Barwa Wojska Rzeczpospolitej Obojga Narodów w XVIII wieku oraz Legionów Polskich 1797-1807;  (Colours of Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth army during the18th century and Polish Legions 1797-1807),
• Barwa Legionów Polskich 1797-1807 oraz armii Księstwa Warszawskiego 1807-1814 (Colours of Polish Legions 1797-1807 and the army of Duchy of Warsaw 1807-1814),
• Barwa armii Królestwa Polskiego 1815-1830 oraz w wojnie polsko-rosyjskiej 1831 (Colours of the Polish Kingdom 1815-1830 and during the Polish Russian War of 1831). 

All albums are published by Libra.pl

Czas na kolejny odcinek mojej serii To read or not to read? Dziś będzie w obu językach pomimo faktu, że książki są dostępne jedynie w języku polskim. Dziś porozmawiamy sobie o albumach opowiadających o historii polskiej armii od początku wieku XVIII do roku 1831 a napisane i zilustrowane przez Jana Czopa. W chwili obecnej na rynku dostępne są trzy oddzielne książki: 

• Barwa Wojska Rzeczpospolitej Obojga Narodów w XVIII wieku oraz Legionów Polskich 1797-1807, 
• Barwa Legionów Polskich 1797-1807 oraz armii Księstwa Warszawskiego 1807-1814,
• Barwa armii Królestwa Polskiego 1815-1830 raz w wojnie polsko-rosyjskiej 1831. 

Wszystkie albumy zostały wydane przez Libra.pl.

1. About the book.

Despite the fact, that there are three separate books, their construction is similar. Firstly we are introduced about the history of the Polish army during the following periods: Last century of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, about Polish Legions during the first period of Napoleonic Wars, then the army of Duchy of Warsaw and all Polish formations of the French Army during the second part of Napoleonic Wars, then the army of Kingdom of Poland, created, as a result of Vienna Congress, so also called the Congress Kingdom and finally during the Polish-Russian War of 1831, which was the outcome of the November Uprising of 1830. Books cover some regulations about the look of the units during those periods. Finally, we have the main part of the books, the colour plates. The author showing us all Polish units of those periods and gives us their most probably look.

Pomimo faktu, że są to trzy odzielne książki, ich konstrukcja jest bardzo podobna. Wpierw autor wprowadza nas w dzieje polskiej armii podczas ostatniego wieku Rzeczpospolitej Obojga Narodów, potem opisuje dzieje Legionów Polskich w czasie pierwszego okresu wojen napoleońskich, potem o armii Księstwa Warszawskiego i wszystkich formacjach będących na żołdzie francuskim w drugiej części wojen napoleońskich, następnie o armii Królestwa Polskiego, utworzonego decyzją Kongresu Wiedeńskiego, stąd zwanego również Królestwem Kongresowym i w końcu o wojnie polsko-rosyjskiej w 1831, która była spowodowana powstaniem listopadowym w roku 1830. Książka zawiera część regulacji mundurowych dla wybranych okresów. W końcu przechodzimy do głównej części książki, do kolorowych plansz. Autor pokazuje nam najbardziej prawdopodobny wygląd prawie każdego oddziału z tych okresów.

2. What is good for us wargamers, in that book?

The colour plates! It gives a good source for units we are going to use in our collections. It covers almost all units, which is important for especially those who love Napoleonic times and wish to create any unit of Duchy of Warsaw or any other Polish unit from the period preceding this chapter, as well as from the times immediately following it. From now the conflicts like War of Polish Succession, Russian-Polish wars of 1768-1772, 1792, 1794 and 1831 will be no more an unknown period. At least you will have a good source of the Polish units and how they look like. The books also contain some flag patterns, which is very helpful if we decide to recreate them by ourselves. 

Kolorowe plansze! Daje nam dobre źródło dla każdego oddziału, jakiego zamierzamy użyć w naszej kolekcji. Obejmują one prawie każdy oddział, co jest szczególnie ważne dla każdego, kto kocha czasy napoleońskie i  życzy sobie stworzyć dowolny oddział Księstwa Warszawskiego albo jakikolwiek inny polski oddział z okresu poprzedzającego ten rozdział jak i z czasów bezpośrednio po nim. Od teraz konflikty, takie jak wojna o sukcesję polską, wojny rosyjsko-polskie lat 1768-1772, 1792, 1794 i 1831 nie będą więcej nieznanym okresem. Przynajmniej będziecie posiadać dobre źródło do tego jak w tych wojnach prezentowały się polskie oddziały. Książki zawierają także kilka wzorów flag, co jest bardzo pomocne, jeśli zdecydujemy się na odtworzenie ich dla samych siebie.

3. Is there any buts?

Sadly yes. The pictures present the soldiers only from one side and we don't see what is on their back and what is also very important for us wargamers. The further source is needed. Also, the figures are very basic and if you are looking for fine details, you could be disappointed. 

Niestety tak, Obrazki prezentują żołnierzy jedynie z jednej perspektywy i nie widzimy jak wyglądają oni z tyłu, co dla nas wargamerów jest bardzo istotne. Potrzebne będą tu inne źródła. Namalowane postacie są bardzo schematyczne i brak jest jakichkolwiek detali, co może być bardzo rozczarowujące.

4. Do you have to own it?

Absolutely yes, if you are this period wargamer and want to recreate any Polish unit of those times. It is a good source and so far the only one which in that way showing the evolution of Polish uniform.

Absolutnie tak, jeśli jesteś wargamerem tego okresu i chcesz odtworzyć jakikolwiek polski oddział tych czasów. Jest też dobrym materiałem do prześledzenia rozwoju polskiego munduru tego okresu.

5. Final Score.

I gave that position note 5.0 of 6.

Daję tej pozycji ocenę 5.0 na 6.

To read or not to read? (# 1): Despite Destruction, Misery and Privations... by Michał Paradowski.

Today I'm starting a new thread on my blog and that will be my reviews of the books.  In the following parts, I will focus on the usefulness of these publications for wargaming. Today my first positions: Despite Destruction, Misery and Privations... The Polish army in Prussia during the war against Sweden 1626-1629. by Michał Paradowski. The book is part of Century of the Soldier 1618-1721 series of Helion&Company. I would like to say massive sorry for my Polish readers, but today's post will be only in English.

1. About the book.

This book presents us the Polish army during the war against Sweden 1626-1629. Showing us its structure, the way the army was created, how it was paid (or mostly not) and finally how that army fought. The whole book is divided into 5 parts. The first is about the Polish Military System in the first quarter of the 17th century, what were its main components. The second part telling us about the commanders during the war, the way the army was recruited, the way it was organised. The most interesting part for us the 3rd part. Telling us about the formations, its equipment, tactic and organisation. Part 4th is about the financial part of the war, mostly about of lack of the founds, food and pretty much everything. In the part 5th, we learn about the battles, skirmishes and sieges.

2. What is good for us wargamers, in that book?

I could say a lot. Firstly the author talking about all formations presented in Commonwealth army. So we have Winged Hussars, cossack style cavalry (which Michał call cossack, which is correct in translation and more accurate to the sources, but I prefer the term introduced by the creators of By Fire and Sword rules), reiters (western type cavalry), Arkebuseria (as the author says: formation (...) unique to Poland, a rather unusual blend of 'Eastern; and 'Western' influences.), western type infantry, dragoons, Polish-Hungarian infantry, Wybraniecka infantry, artillery, engineers and the fleet. If any of that terms are unknown to you, do not be worried, as every formation is described in the best possible way. How it looks, how it fought, what weapons it used, how the units were created and many others. Also, the book has a lot of pictures from the period and from museums or private collections, which should give you a better picture. The best part of the book is the colour plates made by Sergey Shamenkov. He did an amazing job and I believe that those plates will be an inspiration to many future armies. That book will be helpful to any future games scenarios as it gave us a very deep look over the units structure, numbers, commanders etc. Also tells us a lot of the units morale and their willingness to fight etc. So many, many pluses.

3. Is there any buts?

Yes, few, but minor. Firstly the author gave us a lot of descriptions of smaller skirmishes, sieges, but omit larger battles. I can understand why he did it, to show us why this war was so unique in the history of struggles between Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden, but a little more space for those three battles would give us a larger picture of the conflict and also some better ideas for game scenarios for larger battles. Secondly, the tactic of Polish units is also omitted. I can understand that there is almost a lack of sources but almost doesn't mean there is nothing. In a few words, the author could write about the main differences between Polish and Western European warfare. As the example, I can give the words of von Arnim about the way the Polish cavalry charged the enemy (in less dense formation than his reiters). Those are minor things which I found missing, but this is my personal opinion.

4. Do you have to own it?

Absolutely yes, if you wargame 17th century and yes if you not. I do not find any better sources in the English language about the Commonwealth military of that period. In that small book (only 210 pages, which I took in one evening), you will find everything, what you need. I hope that we will get more positions of that period in English, so the general knowledge of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth military and history will be much more widespread than it is now.

5. Final Score.

I gave that position note 5.9 of 6.