BACKGROUND: The German army went to great lengths to ensure its personnel were provided with the best in-depth training that was available at the time. The training took many forms and in an attempt to replicate the most realistic combat conditions possible the German army used live fire training exercises and found a one percent training fatality rate as acceptable, reasoning it was better to remove inadequate personnel in training as opposed to having them risk other lives in actual battle. Besides the live field training and exercises the Germans also utilized numerous official training manuals and booklets for all of the specific branches of service within the army. The official army training manuals were authorized and distributed by the H.Dv., Heeresdruckvorschriftenverwaltung, (Army Regulations Administration), under the control of the OKH, Oberkommando des Heeres, (High Command of the Army), and the OKW, Oberkommando des Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces). Of Note: Besides the official training manuals there were also numerous semi-official and unofficial training booklets with the most famous being the Reibert series of training booklets. These semi-official and unofficial training booklets generally gained the approval of the High Command and were encouraged to stimulate interest in joining the Armed Forces. Of Note: Each Division in the German army and the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), had an organic Pionier, (Combat Engineer), battalion that consisted of personnel specially trained in destroying enemy obstacles, creating forward defensive positions, bridging and assault tactics. As the spearhead troops the Engineers were issued with assorted specialized equipment including assault packs, pick axes, saws, long handle shovels, wire cutters, explosive tool kits and other construction and demolition equipment. The Combat Engineer’s equipment also included a wide variety of assorted demolition charges, anti-personnel and anti-vehicles mines along with the appropriate detonators, igniters and timers. This example is an official issue booklet produced by the Army Regulations Administration, issue, H.Dv. 220/3b, with printed Gothic script and German text.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 6" x 4 3/8", (17cm x 11cm), three hundred twenty-eight page Combat Engineer’s instruction manual with a mid-weight pebbled, simulated, blue, leather cardstock cover. The front cover features the impressed, white, Gothic scripted title, "Ausbildungsvorschrift für die Pioniere", (Instruction Regulations for Engineers), the particular issue number and sub-title, "Teil 3b Brückenbau und Brückengerät B", (Section 3b Bridge Building and Bridge Equipment B), and the official issue designation,"H.Dv. 220/3b", indicating, Army Regulations Administration {Book} 220, {Section} 3b. The book was published by the, "E.S. Mittler & Sohn", publishing house in Berlin on September 1^ST 1938, under the request of the Heeres Druck vorschriftenverwaltung, (Army Regulations Administration). The book is divided into nine main chapters, with numerous sub-sections in each and an additional Appendix. The main chapters include, "Allgemeines", (General), "Einzelverrichtungen", (Performance Specifications), "Durchführen des Brückenbaues", (Carrying out Bridge Building), "Sonderbauweisen", (Special Building Methods), "Besondere Maßnahmen beim Brückenbau", (Special Bridge Building Measures), "Brückendienst und Verhalten der Truppe beim Übergang", (Bridge Service and the Conduct of Troops in Crossing), "Landbrücken beim Übersetzbetrieb", (Passing Over Land Bridges), and "Rettungsdienst beim Brückenbau", (Rescue Services in Bridge Building), among others. As the title implies the focus is on bridge building and equipment and each chapter is subdivided into numerous detailed sections, dealing with specific methods to achieve the required results. The book also contains thirty-two black and white photographs, numerous, assorted, charts and tables and over one hundred eighty assorted line drawings, that reinforce the text. The book is in overall excellent condition with minor age toning.