Armies of the Balkan Wars 1912–13 The priming charge for the Great War

In 1912, the Balkan states formed an alliance in an effort to break free from the crumbling Ottoman Empire. Forming an army of some 645,000 troops from Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenego, they took on a force of 400,000 Turkish soldiers. Both sides were equipped with the latest weapons technology. This book looks at the diverse and sometimes colourful uniforms worn by both sides, paying special attention to insignia, weapons and equipment. It also gives an overview of the campaigns that became a 'priming pan' of World War I.

Philip S. Jowett was born in Leeds in 1961, and has been interested in military history for as long as he can remember. His first Osprey book was the ground-breaking MAA 306: Chinese Civil War Armies 1911-49; he has since published a three-part sequence on The Italian Army 1940-45 (MAA 340, 349 353). A rugby league enthusiast and amateur genealogist, he is married and lives in Lincolnshire. Stephen Walsh studied Art at the North East Wales Institute and has worked as a professional illustrator since 1988. Since then he has illustrated a variety of books and games including Settlers of Catan. His projects for Osprey include such diverse subjects as the battle of Otterbum, the Chinese army from 1937 to 1949 and the US Home Front in World War II.