Tannenberg 1410: Disaster for the Teutonic Knights (Campaign)
by Stephen Turnbull

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Book Reviews of Tannenberg 1410: Disaster for the Teutonic Knights (Campaign)

Book Review: Turnbull should have stayed with the samurais
Summary: 2 Stars

Another huge problem is Turnbull's choice of images in his book. Whereas other great osprey-writers like David Nicolle use to include informative images of contemporary drawings and archaeological findings - Turnbull instead insists on adding his 19th century paintings which rather misrepresent history than explain the time dealt with. In this book, there are no less than some 15 pictures from these much later paintings by 19th century national-romantic polish painters (whereas the only contemporary item shown is a single helmet). Sure they're fine pieces of art, but how can Turnbull try to convey a trustworthy image of early 15th century warfare by referring to completely irrelevant, un-historical art produced centuries after the described events? I was really annoyed by this waste of space in the thin book.

According to the description of the armies, a great part of the order's forces were infantry. Yet, Turnbull hardly make any other reference or depiction to these important troops, nor are they represented in the plates. The Czech and Russian contingents fighting for the Polish king are neither described. I got the feeling that Turnbull actually is uninterested in the other troops, and deliberately focuses on the knights in shiny armour just because they're more "romantic" (and more similar to his beloved samurais). Otherwise the colour plates by Hook and the maps are okey, even though the depiction of the Tatar and Lithuanian cavalry is in many ways incorrect and misleading. I really missed David Nicolle and his knowledge on central Asian and eastern European armies!

If you want a sketchy account of the Tannenberg campaign with lots of odd 19th century romantic art - then you can go for this book and buy it. If you want a better, more down-to-earth and historical description of medieval European armies I'd suggest David Nicolle, Christopher Gravett, Pete Armstrong and some other writers for Osprey. Turnbull should have stayed with the samurais...

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