FIFTY YEARS AGO, ON 8 May 1945, World War II ended in Europe. The outcome was much as Adolf Hitler had predicted it would be: Western Europe was under the occupation of Anglo-Saxon troops and fell within the American sphere of influence, while Eastern Europe was occupied and dominated by the Soviets. The prewar European powers of France, Britain and Germany lay broken and a new bipolar global political system, dominated by two new superpowers – the United States and the Soviet Union - had emerged.

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Military nomenclature is an important dimension of military culture and receives a high profile in some armed forces, while in others it is a relatively low priority. In South Africa nomenclature played a very understated role for a long period but was accorded a higher degree of importance over the past fifty years. In order to understand the motivation and pattern of the trends in military nomenclature in South Africa, it is essential to acquaint oneself with the policy of the South African Defence Force which has regulated and determined the provision of names since 1912. Although the history of nomenclature in the Defence Force touches on politically sensitive issues, one should to bear in mind that, like most things, the provision of names and titles does not take place inside a vacuum. The nomenclature policy has therefore always been susceptible to the political climate, which has often determined the direction it has taken in South Africa over the past eighty years.

War in Italy by Jack Kros is the eighth release in the "South Africans at war" series which is currently being published by Ashanti Publishers, The book comes in a hardcover edition which boasts many photographs and maps, some of which have not been published before. The Ashanti series as a whole undoubtedly contributes to a greater awareness of South Africa's often understated contribution to some of the major global conflicts of the 20th century although at times, many of the authors are guilty of tending toward a journalistic approach rather than an historical one. This is also true of Jack Kros, who is a journalist and as such he remains true to his profession. This however should not disqualify Kros or detract from his ablity. A point in his favour is that he flew with the SAAF during World War Two, and consequently he delivers a lively and empathetic account of that War.

Pyramids and Poppies by Peter Digby is a book entirely devoted to the fortunes, and misfortunes, of the 1st South African Brigade during World War One. The Brigade was the first South African force ever to experience combat in Europe or North Africa. As this grants the contingent a distinctive standing in local military history, Pyramids and Poppies is a book which will be of interest, not only to World War One enthusiasts, but to most of warfare's other ardent fans as well