Military Junk 1: In the Frozen North; A Military Enthusiast’s Introductory Guide to the Military of Scandinavia

Have you ever wanted to go inside a top secret military base, deep underground? Or even sit inside a Cold War fighter plane? Or perhaps ride in a military vehicle?

If so, then you have an opportunity to do so if you visit Northern Europe. In Sweden, Norway, and Denmark you would be able to visit former top secret military bases, see planes, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV), and tanks. But that is not all, there is a wealth of military history in the North of Europe. Due to its location, the North of Europe has seen history. From the Napoleonic wars between Sweden and Denmark-Norway, as well as Russia, to the Second World War. From the Nazi occupation of Norway and Denmark and on into the Cold War.

This books, with its 212 pages and over 31 500 words, acts an introduction to the fascinating world of military history and equipment in the North of Europe. It will present you abandoned bases and historic battlefields as well as military equipment, both old and new, and captivating museums. From the individual soldier's kit and weapons to camouflage and on to lorries. Even bandvagns!

I have presented 259 illustrations, many of the pictures I have taken in museums but some have been taken at open days at military bases and even of some of the stuff I find by the wayside.

Everything of interest to a military enthusiast. Not just the famous battles like Narvik but also some of the more obscure battles like Hjerpe Skans. Not just famous places like Tromsш fjord, where the Tirpitz sank, and the Atlantic Wall fortresses, but lesser known places, such as Airfield 19, and out of the way bunkers as well as sites hidden in the forest. Not just Leopards and S-tanks but also Swedish army mess kits / stoves.

After the Cold War, Sweden went a bit insane and decided to all but abolish its armed forces in what it called a “strategic time out”. That resulted in a lot of Swedish military bases being closed down and bunkers filled with concrete, and I’ll mention a few in this book. Some places have official tours of abandoned places such as in Boden, in the north of Sweden, and some have been opened as museums. This is probably the best way to visit old military bases, fortresses, and bunkers and this books gives information on those places including location so that you can go and visit them.

I have divided this book up into parts. Starting with the individual soldier, I have covered a bit about uniforms and kit as well as medals. From old Second World War uniforms to modern uniforms like the Swedish M90. Then I present a review of some of the military vehicles found in the north such as Leopard tanks and Combat Vehicle 90s as well as many more. Following that, there is a section on bases. I have been a bit liberal with the definition of “base” as it includes any kind of military establishments such as bunkers and vehicle storage areas as well as once secret coastal artillery fortresses which you can visit, and I have included location information for them as well. I then have a section on battlefields as well as one on museums and other places to visit, basically places where you can go to view much of the equipment featured in this book and much more. Again, I have included location information for those who wish to tour theses places (and I hope you do).

Hopefully this book will inspire you to want to go out a visit these sites and museums. To see the stuff in the book and much more for yourself.

So, enjoy and have fun …