In today's blog post, we're looking at three fantastic pieces of artwork from three of our December 2022 titles. Let us know what you think in the comments section and, if you would like to see any artwork from any of our January 2023 titles, be sure to mention that too!

 

CAM 383: Berezina 1812: Napoleon's Hollow Victory

By Professor Alexander Mikaberidze

Illustrated by Adam Hook

THE NOBLE SACRIFICE: CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGES ON THE BEREZINA, 26 NOVEMBER 1812

In the scene shown here, it is late in the day of the 26th. In the foreground, a group of pontonniers are at work constructing one of the bridges across the Berezina. Trestles have been erected in the freezing cold water, in which a few men are standing shoulder-deep as they fix the cross beams and secure the trestle tops. Other pontonniers are on rafts assisting with this process. The pontonniers and sappers shown are a mixture of French, Dutch and Swiss and display a variety of uniforms. General Eblé, in his engineer general’s uniform and thick cloak, is atop the bridge directing the construction. A vast crowd of people, some soldiers, mostly stragglers, can be seen in the background. Also visible are the houses and farms that are being dismantled to provide the timber for the bridges. Emperor Napoleon is standing amid a small group of officers, observing the progress of the work.

Artwork requested by Adam C. 

 

CAM 386: Tannenberg 1914: Destruction of the Russian Second Army 

By Michael McNally

Illustrated by Seán Ó’Brógáin

GUMBINNEN, 20 AUGUST 1914

Based upon contemporary accounts of the Battle of Gumbinnen, here we see a detachment of Colonel Alexander Yarminsky’s 3rd (Elisavetgrad) Hussars (3rd Cavalry Division, III Corps, overrunning a battery of German 77mm field guns. The mainstay of the German Feldartillerie, the 7.7cm FK96 n.A. was an updated version of the original 1896 version that had been introduced in 1905 in order to ‘phase out’ the earlier model, and would itself be replaced by a more modern weapon that would be developed during the course of the war. Although such attacks were effectively of a ‘hit and run’ nature – the horsemen naturally being unable to maintain their position so close to the enemy lines without close infantry support – the fact that they were made at all severely curtailed the effectiveness of the German artillery. Mackensen’s XVII.Armee-Korps was to lose a number of guns in such a manner before the situation could be salvaged and the line stabilized.

Artwork requested by Paul W

 

CBT 59: US Soldier vs Chinese Soldier: Korea 1951-53

By Chris McNab

Illustrated by Adam Hook 

 

Hill 598, October 14, 1952

Here we see a platoon of Brooks’ L/31st Infantry struggling up a steep slope. Some men have paused to take aim and fire at their tormentors, while others are scrambling up the slope; one or two more have hunkered down in dead ground or behind outcrops of rock for cover. In the close foreground, an exasperated sergeant is pulling on the collar of an exhausted M1919A6 machine-gunner, encouraging him and his tardy assistant to keep moving up the hill where they are needed. In the center of the scene is the platoon officer, a young second lieutenant who has been badly knocked about by explosions and is now bleeding from multiple small wounds as well as being concussed. He holds his helmet in one hand, his M2 Carbine in the other, as he struggles to regain his composure and continue with the attack.

Requsted by KAL9000.