It’s easy to look back at World War II through the lens of black-and-white photographs and archival footage and feel a certain distance from it, as though the conflict belongs more to legend than lived reality. That sense of separation disappears when confronted with color photography of the era. Suddenly, the war feels immediate, grounded, and unsettlingly real. Life and Death on the Eastern Front – Rare Colour Photographs From World War II by Ian Spring and Anthony Tucker-Jones captures that impact in striking fashion. This photo book brings together hundreds of rare, original color photographs from the war - many of them shot by Nazi war correspondents such as Otto Veidt and hidden away for nearly 80 years before finally being made public.

What makes these images so powerful is their authenticity. They are not modern colorizations but photographs taken on Agfacolor, a German-made film stock available during the war, though more costly than standard black-and-white film. Originally intended for propaganda magazines in occupied territories, many of these slides were quietly set aside by the photographers themselves and only resurfaced decades later. Today, Ian Spring holds a collection of more than 32,000 such images and has worked with various historians and authors to publish volumes like this. For this book, he partnered with military historian Anthony Tucker-Jones, whose commentary and introductory essay on the history of wartime photography in Germany provide vital context.

The book is organized into distinct sections, each weaving a narrative through its photography. It begins with the German invasion of the Soviet Union, capturing the machinery of war - tanks, weapons, vehicles, and the soldiers who wielded them. From there, it shifts focus to the skies, featuring bombers, fighter planes, Luftwaffe personnel, and the destruction their missions left behind. Finally, the lens turns behind the front lines, documenting prisoners of war, resistance fighters, medical staff, construction projects, and the daily rhythms of both soldiers and civilians struggling through the brutal Russian winter. Together, the images and commentary provide a haunting, unfiltered look at one of history’s darkest chapters - one that feels far less distant when seen in living color.

The narrative of the book ends just before the Germans entered their most harrowing chapters - the brutal Russian winter of 1942 and the battle of Stalingrad. Much of what’s captured here are seemingly innocuous scenes: soldiers relaxing, tanks abandoned along roadsides, and moments of daily life at the front. Yet, the darkness creeps in gradually. Photographs of burning homes and food stores, slain partisans, and executed villagers serve as chilling reminders of the atrocities committed during World War II - all rendered in striking, vibrant color.

As for the medium itself, Agfacolor proves stunning. The richness of the film stock makes every hue leap off the page, often with an almost surreal intensity. Greens and reds, in particular, burst to life in fields, uniforms, and banners, to the point where it feels almost too vivid to be real. Considering these photographs are over 80 years old, the sharpness and brilliance of the color is nothing short of astonishing. They feel less like relics of the past and more like something that could have come from a stylish Instagram filter in 2025, blurring the distance between history and the present in a way that is both beautiful and deeply unsettling.

All things considered, this is a surprisingly quick read despite its length, thanks in large part to the amount of space devoted to photographs. The material is well-organized, and the book is packed with information on a subject many might assume to be too niche to support such depth. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for future releases tied to this remarkable photo archive, as the images themselves are stunning and provide insights often overlooked in World War II literature, which tends to focus on major battles and towering historical figures. This volume stands as another excellent entry from Pen and Sword Publishing, and one I can’t believe I waited this long to read.

Historian Anthony Tucker-Jones https://www.atuckerjones.com is the author of more than 50 books. Life and Death on the Eastern Front: Rare Colour Photographs From World War II was published in 2020.

I categorize this book as G. The book contains more than 250 photos taken by Germans between 1936 and 1946. Most photos are of scenes on the Eastern Front up to late 1943. These are a bit unusual as they were all taken with color film. The photos, along with the commentary by Tucker-Jones, give a good description of the vehicles, weapons, and uniforms in use.

I enjoyed the 3 hours I spent reading this 352-page WWII history. Another interesting look at WWII from the German perspective. This is the third book (The others being Radio Operator on the Eastern Front: An Illustrated Memoir, 1940–1949 and Churchill, Master and Commander: Winston Churchill at War 1895–1945) from Tucker-Jones that I have read. They have all been solid WWII history reads. I like the chosen cover art. I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.

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A very good historical read on this turbulent time in history. You can feel the agony and pain of the soldiers fighting and experience the sad loss of young life at this time. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good historical read. Well researched book.

Full disclosure, i received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my review.

I love war nonfiction, its my favorite genre. When I saw this book I was instantly ready to put down my other books to dive into this one. The color photographs are stunning, showing all aspects of the operation. Besides showcasing the rare photos, I most enjoyed the biographical portion about the photographer. I enjoyed knowing the story of the Nazi solider who spend his time wielding a camera, taking photos for morale, national pride, and documentation of the offensive.

I researched into Tucker-Jones other works and I am looking forward to tucking in to his other books.

Those of us that are only familiar with the black and white photos in most books about the Second World War will be shocked to realize that color photography was readily available in Nazi Germany before the start of the war. In “Life and Death on the Eastern Front: Rare Colour Photographs From World War II” Ian Spring and Anthony Tucker-Jones collect these photographs from both official propaganda sources as well as personal photos taken by the soldiers themselves.

These are almost exclusively photos from the German side. The authors group the photos by theme, focusing on the equipment (both on land and in the air), the people (soldiers, POWs, and even civilians), and scenes behind the lines. We see the effects of the war, from burning buildings to destroyed tanks, but also we see the soldiers as human beings, enjoying downtime, shaving, lying in the sun. And finally we see the weather taking a toll, from choking dusk to axle-deep mud to the dreaded Russian winter.

There is not enough one can say about the photos – they are absolutely spectacular. One forgets what a difference color makes when looking at those scenes from long ago – the soldiers, the scenery comes alive. One can abhor the Nazis and all that they stood for but feel some sympathy for the young men thrust into the deadly situation that would claim many of their lives. We see what the day-to-day lives at the front lines (and behind those lines) was like for the common soldier.

My only complaint about this collection is about the commentary: the descriptions of the pictures were well-written and appreciated, but the detailed analyses of the machinery and equipment were distracting and unnecessary – much of the commentary was taken up (for example) with the production history of the vehicle, the number produced, the theaters were they were used, and how they differed from other versions of the same vehicle – unwieldly and repetitive.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Pen & Sword, Greenhill Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is a real photographic memory and story to go with it. The pictures arent staged nor are they sparing of sadness for both sides. The amazing part of this book for me was seeing the Russian prisoners fighting against the Russians in some photos. The destruction in these photos made me realize how foolish war is and the cost of it is unimaginable . Excellent look at the Eastern Front focusing on the early war years.

A interesting photographic look at the war on the eastern front during WW2. The pictures both professional and amateur provide an interesting look at both the equipment and personal sides of the war. The photos are clear, and provide little known glimpses into the war. The author does an excellent job of providing a good narrative to explain each section of the book to give a great background for the photos.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Danielle Steel, and #Random house for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have read many books about the Eastern Front, but I can honestly say that this ranks among the best in the genre. The authors have brought together and professionally collated, many previously unpublished rare coloured photographs of the long & bitter campaign in Russia.
The quality of the photographs is quite outstanding, especially when one considers the dreadful climatic conditions that the photographers, cameras, and films had to endure. Each photo has been carefully researched, with the authors identifying the equipment and, where possible, the approximate location where it was taken.
The photographs reconfirm the vast range of disparate vehicles the Germans had at their disposal. It must have been a logistical nightmare to source the spare parts - particularly as most of the available vehicles were totally unsuitable for the conditions experienced on the Eastern Front. Having personally experienced life in the Steppes, I can confirm that the Winters are truly dreadful. However, the Summers can be even worse! Clouds of penetrating dust, flies, midges, and insufferable heat! I cannot imagine how awful it must have been to fight and live in these conditions against a vast unstoppable enemy.
There are many more thousands of unpublished photographs in the author's archives, I cannot wait for the other photographs to be published in the future!

Interesting book with rare coloured pictures from the Eastern Front during the Second World War. Although mainly focussed on the pictures, the book also provides some background on the role of photography during WW2 and the war on the Eastern Front. Just know that most of these pictures are propaganda material for the German Reich, and therefore mainly show smiling soldiers and there daily life during the war.

The Second World War is the best documented war in history. War correspondents, press photographers, propagandists, soldiers and civilians carrying their cameras all sought the opportunity to capture the tumultuous events of 1939-45.

In this book we can see a selection of color photos taken by German soldiers on the Eastern Front. Within this, we can get acquainted mainly with the various combat equipment, trucks, tanks and airplanes. It paints a bit of an idyllic picture, a bit like a series of snapshots of an exciting adventure. The horrors of the war do not appear, the many crimes committed by the German soldiers, we do not see pictures of the fighting, the executions, the concentration camps, the bombed cities. These images are interesting, presenting an almost idyllic image in which German soldiers appear in a positive role. Meanwhile, we know that was not the reality.

Anthony Tucker-Jones and Ian Spring’s gorgeous book is a meticulously researched and arresting visual history of life on the Eastern Front of World War II, featuring an archive of colour photographs which provide an unprecedented insight into everyday wartime life.
The book begins with biographical detail of the various official (and unofficial) German and Russian photographers who took the photos at the time. Most of the photographs were taken using film made by the then up and coming manufacturer Agfa, which became widely popular both during and after the war. The shots have an honest, imperfect charm due to the limitations of the film.
Ian Spring’s stunning collection of over 30,000 colour photographs taken by Germans on the Eastern Front forms the backbone of this excellent book. The photos have a moving realism to them as they are naturally-posed records of the soldiers’ war experiences. Many of them are lighthearted with German soldiers posing and smiling for the camera, while others are incredibly poignant. There are even some shots of Hitler himself visiting the battlefield to the delight of the troops. Be warned that, as the book’s title suggests, there are scenes of death, both human and animal.
The book is split into three parts, exploring the conflict on the ground, in the air and behind the lines. Anthony Tucker-Jones’ captions are full and detailed with a huge amount of technical information about armoured vehicles, fighter planes and weapons to satisfy the enthusiast.
This is a beautifully produced book which is highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of WWII at a human level.