This was well-researched, well-written, and excellent. The author delivered the information clearly and I was engaged the entire time. I learned quiteThis was well-researched, well-written, and excellent. The author delivered the information clearly and I was engaged the entire time. I learned quite a lot on this subject. The book has cited footnotes on each page and is loaded with rare photos, facsimiled battle plans, maps, and official documents/correspondence.
The 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian), 13. Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS "Handschar" (kroatische Nr. 1), was an example of the SS creating, training, and leading an indigenous fighting force to operate in its own environment. Their mission was counterinsurgency operations to stop Yugoslav Partisan maneuvering in northeastern and eastern Bosnia in 1944 up through early 1945. [image] [image] They were uniquely created as strictly an all-Muslim unit from within Bosnia and some Albanian Muslims with a German officer and NCO corps. The men were recruited from inside Bosnia-Hercegovina with the intentions of fighting alongside the Croatian Ustaša and the Serb Četnik forces in eliminating armed communist aggression. They had imams to help maintain the Islamic presence spiritual guidance, religious accommodations, and morale upkeep. Himmler saw keeping Bosnia and Croatia aligned with the Reich would aid in the struggle to fight Bolshevism while the Bosnians saw themselves as liberators and protectors of the Muslim population.
They decided that the Muslims of the division were to be instructed that "National Socialism would serve as the German national ideology and that Islam would serve as the Arab national ideology both battling common foes...while sharing a warlike foundation, an ethnic/cultural conception, and nationalistic education." Bosnia, they reasoned, belonged racially to the Germanic world, but spiritually to the Arab world. pg. 72
The unit was comprised of two mountain infantry (Gebirgsjäger) regiments, an artillery regiment, a reconnaissance battalion (Aufklärungs Abteilung), a pioneer (Pionier) battalion, and various other combat and support elements like cooks, medical, veterinarian staff (pg. 54). Something unique to this unit were the Jagdkommandos, which were lightly armed, fast moving hunter-kill teams that would separate from the unit to neutralize scattered hostile forces still operating within the division's deep flanks, pg. 168
The unit had initial success in the spring and summer offensive against Partisan forces but fall and winter operating declined alongside German military action all along the Eastern Front. In 1945 the unit was deployed to Hungary to participate in Unternehmen Frühlingserwachen (Operation Spring Awakening). The rest is history with the Soviet-Bulgarian offensive that pushed the German military back to Germany. Bosnian POWs were fated to extradition back to Yugoslavia where imprisonment and/or execution started in 1947.
I really enjoyed reading and learning about this unit. The book was very nice and printed on glossy paper. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in the SS and WW2 Eastern Front. Thanks!...more
This was the personal account of a machine gunner who served in the SS-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 11 Reinhard Heydrich, part of the 6th SS Mountain DivisioThis was the personal account of a machine gunner who served in the SS-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 11 Reinhard Heydrich, part of the 6th SS Mountain Division Nord. The story was written while when he was a POW held by the Allied forces. The narrative included how his upbringing, family interactions and opinions involving National Socialism, and the climate of 1930s Nazi Germany led to his ultimate volunteer for the SS at age 17.
Voss described his alpine/mountain warfare training and mobilization to the Finnish-Russian border above the Arctic Circle, the Karelia. Voss described a lot about his thoughts, the weather and conditions in Arctic warfare, and combat action that he encountered.
Overall the story focused on his thoughts and conscience while serving rather than combat. There are other books of this style that I enjoyed more like Obedient Unto Death by Werner Kindler. Thanks!...more
I enjoyed reading this first-hand account of combat action during World War II. Werner Kindler was a heavy machine gunner in a Heavy Armor Company, paI enjoyed reading this first-hand account of combat action during World War II. Werner Kindler was a heavy machine gunner in a Heavy Armor Company, panzer grenadier divison.
Throughout the narrative Kindler voiced serveing with a sense of duty and conviction. He described how he was protecting his family and their way of life from the eastern Russian hoards and from the Americans & Allies who would conquer & divide the land, eradicate the German culture, and destroy the remaining German military (pg. 88).
Kindler started an infantryman in the 4th SS-Infantry Regiment (Motorized) and was transferred to 2nd-SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler in 1941. He told his story about his life and death experiences in the Eastern Front (Operation Citadel, Kharkov, Kursk), mobilization to Italy, and later redeployment to France to fight the American and Allied forces of D-Day. Kindler was a person who was loyal to his comrades and his leaders. After release from an Allied prison in Germany he resumed his life, reconnected with friends and members of his old unit, and regularly attended unit reunions. Kindler truly was obedient unto death.
Overall the book was personal account, history lesson on combat, and personal conviction. I would recommend this, Twilight of the Gods by Thorolf Hillblad, and Für Volk and Fürher by Erwin Bartmann on personal accounts of SS grenadiers on the Eastern Front. Thanks!...more
"The SS troops certainly enjoyed the advantages of good weapons and equipment, but their greatest strength was the quality of their leaders at all lev"The SS troops certainly enjoyed the advantages of good weapons and equipment, but their greatest strength was the quality of their leaders at all levels and the amazing esprit de corps of the men." pg 230
This is the gold standard for Waffen-SS history. I say this bold statement because this book covers the Waffen-SS as a whole; Adrian Gilbert did a fantastic job in my opinion of giving the history of this fighting organization from its inception to its demise. The narrative is not boring, not overloaded in details, reads smoothly, and kept my attention without overkill. Gilbert started with giving the foundation of the Schutzstaffel (SS) and the development of the armed SS (hence the title Waffen-SS, the word Waffen- meaning armed). He ran down its history from the pre-war years, the war, and up the last days of the war including post-war criminal & legal action taken against members.
The author did a great job of giving the overall picture of these units both as the larger parent unit down to the smaller divisions (3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking, etc.) and regiments (Germania, Deutschland, Der Führer). Gilbert explained the difference in the original intent of the SS, the combat roles of the SS, and the distinction of the SS-Totenkopfvarbande that oversaw the concentration camp system throughout the Third Reich. Also explained was the incorporation of foreign "Germanic" combatants to fill the ranks of the Waffen-SS: Dutch, Norwegians, Danes, Belgians, Ukrainians, and Estonians & Latvians. As side from soldiering-on, atrocities committed were mentioned in the killing of Jews, wanton destruction, and targeting civilians during anti-partisan action as seen in the counterinsurgency operations of northeastern Bosnia.
Each chapter gave great information on the deployment of the Waffen-SS into various areas of responsibilty in a chronological fashion to include: the invasion of Poland, invasion of the Netherlands, the assault on France, Operation Barbarossa, and specific operation in the Balkans (Yugoslavia, Greece, Romania, etc.). Operations of the Eastern Front were expanded upon like Army Group North (Leningrad), Army Group Center (Moscow), and Army Group South (into the Ukraine). The turning points of the front were also explained: Opertion Citadel and battle of Kharkov, history's largest armored tank battle at Kursk and Prokhorovka, and the shift from Soviet offensives pushing back the German army.
In the front there was a table of rank structure comparing the SS, regular German Army, and US Army equivalents for clarification. Also there were several helpful maps that showed the changing front lines. In the back, Appendix A listed every Waffen-SS division with its full name both in English and in German, a short history of creation date, combat action, areas of responsibility, and date of defeat/surrender. Appendix B showed the number of Knight's Cross award holders: 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich with 72 and 14th SS Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (Galician/Ukrainian No. 1) with one recipient.
Something interesting I learned was Walter Heck, a graphic designer, created the infamous Siegrunes side by side to create the iconic insignia and the all black SS uniforms were designed, produced, and sold by legendary clothing and suit designer Hugo Boss (pg 13).
I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting an excellent historical narrative about the Waffen-SS. This is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to learn more about the SS without delving into tactics, overhaul logistics, battlefield analysis, and information strictly on any specific unit. The only other book I would highly suggest is Waffen-SS: The Encyclopedia by Marc J. Rikmenspoel. In my opinion you can't go wrong with either one of these. Thanks!...more
I thought this was a decent first-hand account during WW2. This was an autobiography about an SS volunteer from his childhood, adolescence, and voluntI thought this was a decent first-hand account during WW2. This was an autobiography about an SS volunteer from his childhood, adolescence, and volunteering into the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte "SS Adolf Hitler". Erwin gave a lot of sentimental details about his start, his surrounding in early Nazi Germany and answering the call to defend the Fatherland against Bolshevism, basic military training, and his military career in and out of combat. He was a infantryman but his specialty was a telephony & communications troop. Most of his combat action happened in the Eastern Front and being pushed back to Berlin as the Red Army advanced into Germany. He wrote about what he saw, how he felt, and his experiences as a patriotic youth fighting the enemy.
Overall the story encompassed a lot of details and was written with honesty. I only wished Erwin Bartmann gave told more about his combat experiences. I would recommend this to anyone wanting a personal story of an SS soldier. Thanks!...more
Overall I liked this first-person account. Erik Wallin was a Swedish volunteer in the 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division 'Nordland' unit comprised of voOverall I liked this first-person account. Erik Wallin was a Swedish volunteer in the 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division 'Nordland' unit comprised of volunteers from the Nordic countries. He was an Unterscharführer (the equivalent of a corporal) in a mortar platoon. This story is the last six months of the war when he was assigned to a SS-Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung unit. That is the equivalent of a reconnaissance detachment that relied on quick movement with halftracks, anti-tank guns, and operated as traditional Panzergrenadier (mechanized Infantry). Most of this was in the book's appendix and I looked up the rest.
The story follows constantly being pushed back through Eastern Europe back to Berlin. Some parts were descriptive, tragic, and brutal as the Red Army pushed the German forces back. Once the war ended he recounts his efforts to get back to Sweden while hiding from the Soviets.
My only complaint was I wish Erik Wallin went more into his reasons in volunteering for the SS, cultural dynamics of being Swedish in the German war machine, and the distressing psychological impact of combat. The tone seemed a hopeful one as he and his unit fought until the very end.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in personal accounts on the Eastern Front. Thanks!...more
This is a great reference tool in my opinion. It helped clear up some things I lacked about the SS. For instance "Waffen-" means "armed" but it implieThis is a great reference tool in my opinion. It helped clear up some things I lacked about the SS. For instance "Waffen-" means "armed" but it implies non-Germanic origins (soldiers who were not of German, ethnic German, or Nordic ancestry). "Volunteer-" in a unit's title implies foreign status and that majority of the soldiers were not German. (pg. 7)
The book starts with basic roster of Waffen-SS formations starting from the larger numbered Armies and Corps working its way down in formation size. This included a brief description of the unit with its commander and history. This corps level units mentioned are only the 6th SS-Panzer Army and 11th SS-Panzer Corps. The same brief introduction, commanders, history, and unit insignia of I - XVIII SS-Corps are mentioned.
Next there was the introduction, history, sustainment/mission support units, and unit collar insignia of numbered SS divisions consecutively listed from 1st SS-Panzer Division "Leibstandarte Schützstaffel Adolf Hitler" all the way through 38th SS-Panzer-Grenadier Division "Nibelungen". This was followed by a list of SS units from larger to smaller: brigade, regiment, and battalions. Divisional structures are further broken down into TO&E's (Table of Organization & Equipment) to show total troop strength for panzer (armored), panzer-grenadier (motorized infantry), mountain, calvary, and grenadier (infantry). These diagrams show regimental/battalion/company level support in the form of artillery, reconnaissance, PzJg (Panzerjäger - Tank Destroyers), anti-aircraft guns, combat engineers, and signal/communications.
The next three chapters did a great job of giving the overview of the SS. The first chapter explained post-WWI Germany and the evolution of the Schützstaffel ("Protection Detachments," or SS) starting in 1929. They were transformed into Politisches Bereitschafen (Political Readiness Detachments) and into SS-Verfügungstruppen ("Special Use Troops," or SS-V) on 1 Oct 1934. This eventually became the standard SS units to become the first so-called "classic" SS Divisions (Leibstandarte, Das Reich, Totenkopf, Wiking) that we recognize as combat units. (pgs. 67-82)
The chapter title "Germanics in the Waffen-SS" discussed related 'brother' nations who served in numbered divisions: Denmark, Belgium (both the Dutch-speaking Flemings and the French-speaking Walloons), Great Britain, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland. This segment clearly explains the "Wiking" Division, SS-Volunteer Regiment "Nordwest", and divisions SS-Nordland (who had 11K Danish, Dutch, Norwegian volunteers) and SS-Nederland (primarily of Dutch volunteers). Germanic volunteers were prized because joining the German military meant aiding an occupying power and offered manpower to the Waffen-SS. (pg. 83)
The fifth chapter "Non-Germanics in the Waffen-SS". As war and the Eastern Front progressed Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler dismissed racial "Aryan" standards and employed tens of thousands of non-Germanics to front line combat duty alongside German SS soldiers (pg. 181). The countries recruited were Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, France, Georgia Republic, India, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, North Caucasus (Chechen, Ingush peoples), Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, and even ex-Soviet POWs from Uzbekistan. A few of the more prevalent countries included Estonia who provided 30K volunteers, Hungary provided 50K volunteers, Latvia provided 60K volunteers, and Ukraine provided 18K volunteers in the Waffen-SS.
The book gives condensed biographies of many prominent SS leaders and lists (with some photos) of weapons of the SS. These included infantry weapons, machine guns, mortars, anti-tank mines, stick grenades, anti-tank weapons, armored vehicles, artillery and anti-aircraft Flak guns. (pgs. 235-249)
I would 100% recommend this to Eastern Front/WW2 enthusiasts simply because it helps create a visual of the different units, their demographic, and their areas of responsibility. Great book in my opinion. Thanks!...more
This was an informative introduction to the French volunteers of the Waffen-SS war machine. After the invasion and occupation of France, the Légion deThis was an informative introduction to the French volunteers of the Waffen-SS war machine. After the invasion and occupation of France, the Légion des Volontaires Français and French Storm Brigade (early French volunteers in the SS) were formed in 1941 with Frenchmen willing to fight Bolshevism alongside the Germans. These volunteers eventually morphed into Wehrmacht units such as Infanterie-Regiment 638, the Französische SS-Freiwillingen Grenadier Regiment ('French SS-Volunteer Grenadier Regiment'), and the Brigade Frankreich. Having already seen combat action in the Eastern Front, in August 1944 Waffen-SS Charlemagne Brigade was designated and rostered with Heinrich Himmler's blessing reaching troop strength of 6,363 men. These men would fight under the French flag, had a French officer and NCO corps, were deployed to faraway fronts to avoid fighting other Frenchmen, were allowed to practice Catholicism, were able to continue the use of the French language, and other little details I thought were unique.
The unit Charlemagne was eventually activated to the Eastern Front and fought in Operation Solstice, the German's last major armored offensive in WW2. They were deployed alongside the SS-Generals Felix Steiner's 11th SS-Panzer Army and various SS-Panzergrenadier divisions. This engagement was defeated in a combined effort under Soviet Marshals Zhukov and Rossokovksy, 1st and 2nd Belarusian Fronts respectively. The book gave the detailed account of Charlemagne's fighting, bravery, and ultimate defeat with the German military.
The subsequent fate of the survivors of Charlemagne varied considerably. a few escaped to South America and eventually died under circumstances that appear to have been engineered by French Deuxième Bureau agents. A few escaped Soviet or Allied captivity, while others eventually to France only to be imprisoned or executed after trial. pg 165
The appendices in the back gave a summarized overview of the unit, tables of organization and equipment, and command structuring. Graphs and maps were included throughout the book as well. Overall an informative and interesting read on one of the smaller Waffen-SS foreign volunteer units. I would recommend this quick read to anyone interested in World War 2 history. Thanks...more
This is my fourth book in this series of Schutzstaffel (SS) warfighters and I appreciate these books. They give in-depth history of the SS, its beginnThis is my fourth book in this series of Schutzstaffel (SS) warfighters and I appreciate these books. They give in-depth history of the SS, its beginnings, and overall involvement in the war.
This particular division was created initially at Dachau to administer the entire concentration camp system. As a branch of the armed Waffen-SS they were guards part of the organization called SS-Totenkopfverbände (Death's Head Units). The book explained the training, indoctrination, and overall function in the concentration camps. Eventually men hardened from camp life, disciplined, and readied were transferred to form the combat unit 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf for the remainder of the war.
The next chapter talked about the 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf and their engagements from 194o-45. These include pushing east into Poland, rolling over west into the Netherlands and France, pushing up through the Baltics, Operation Barbarossa, Kharkov and Operation Citadel, Kursk, and their final actions against the unstoppable Soviet offensive.
The last chapters gave short summaries of the key leadership players within the division and an overview of the weapons and firepower systems.
Overall a really good book on the unit without overkill on details. The pictures alone are worth viewing. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Waffen-SS. Thanks!...more
This was a really neat book. It was a photographic history of the Germanic units of the Waffen-SS. They weren't German, they weren't Volksdeutsche (etThis was a really neat book. It was a photographic history of the Germanic units of the Waffen-SS. They weren't German, they weren't Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans living outside Germany), but those seen as racially equal to the prototypical blond blue-eyed Aryan German: Danes, Dutchmen, Swedes, Norwegians, and Finns.
The combat unit Germania became operational in 1935 under the leadership of the Waffen-SS. As this unit grew alongside the expansion of the Germans into new territory, Himmler authorized incorporating Germanics in the Waffen-SS. The creation of combat units Wiking, Nordland, and Nederland was complete at the start of Operation Barbarossa. [image] [image] This book showed the real-life aspects of being a soldier: training, comradery, eating together, a Christmas celebration, pass & review parade, and troop inspections. Then there was a aspect of seeing troop movements through the Ukraine, battling the elements and rough terrain, and "embracing the suck." There were lots of photos of individuals from higher leadership down to the little private doing this thing. Each photo had a caption underneath to explain the circumstance along with some historical relevance.
I thought this was a really neat book. It's a large book (8" x 13") and is printed on nice glossy paper. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the Waffen-SS and a collector of soon-to-be out of print books. Thanks!...more
I have this book as part of my collection. Its a nice hardcover with a pretty cool image (half Viking-half SS stormtrooper) printed on the outer coverI have this book as part of my collection. Its a nice hardcover with a pretty cool image (half Viking-half SS stormtrooper) printed on the outer cover as opposed to a dust jack. The entire book is in the Ukrainian language. [image] [image] Basically its about Ukrainian volunteers in the 5th SS Division Wiking during 1944 and Operation Barbarossa. The cover translates into 'Ukrainian Vikings: Ukrainians in the Division SS Wiking'. It has 133 black & white photos throughout and the front corner says: 'Історія без прекраси', which says History Without Beauty.
As far as the language is concerned, this is pretty advanced. I can pick out a lot from the little Ukrainian I know but I'm not able to put it together. Either way, this is a nice addition to my WW2 collection. Thanks!...more
This book was clearly written and the information was well presented. This book deals with the Waffen-SS Panzer divisions in the Western Front during This book was clearly written and the information was well presented. This book deals with the Waffen-SS Panzer divisions in the Western Front during World War II. The combat engagements with Allied Forces are presented for Waffen-SS Leibstandarte, Das Reich, Totenkopf, Hitlerjugend, Hohenstaufen, and Frundsberg from 1944-45. Largely panzer battles are examined in full at Normandy, Arnhem, and the Ardennes. The book details troop strength, support roles, and other important details. The back appendices include orders of battle, unit echelons, tables of organization and equipment, and other details.
At the beginning of the book a key to maps/map symbols and the list of colored maps is presented which I found helpful.
Overall I enjoyed this book and liked the accompanying pictures on every page. Great book. Thanks!...more
This book was clearly written and the information was well presented. This book deals with the Waffen-SS Panzer divisions in the Eastern Front during This book was clearly written and the information was well presented. This book deals with the Waffen-SS Panzer divisions in the Eastern Front during World War II. The combat engagements are presented for Waffen-SS Leibstandarte, Das Reich, Totenkopf, Wiking, Hitlerjugend, Hohenstaufen, and Frundsberg from 1943 to 1945. Largely Operation Barbarossa is covered but details into the Stalingrad counteroffensive, the Kursk Offensive, Operation Citadel are explained here. The book details troop strength, support roles, and other important details. The back appendices include orders of battle, unit echelons, tables of organization and equipment, and other details.
At the beginning of the book a key to maps/map symbols and the list of maps is presented which I found helpful.
Overall I enjoyed this book and liked the accompanying pictures on every page. Great book. Thanks!...more
This is a quick book detailing the major battles that Himmler's legions were involved in during World War II. The Waffen-SS units described in this paThis is a quick book detailing the major battles that Himmler's legions were involved in during World War II. The Waffen-SS units described in this particular series are Leibstandarte, Das Reich, Toteknkopf, Wiking, Hitlerjugend, and Hohenstaufen divisions. The book opens with a history of the Waffen-SS from 1925-1940 and is followed by the combat actions to include in the invasion of the Balkans, Operation Barbarossa (including the Demyansk Pocket, Kharkov, Kursk, Cherkassy Pocket). The eastern push into Normandy and Arnhem, the Ardennes Offensive, and the last offensive Operation Spring Awakening. Along the reading the leaders Joachim Peiper, 'Sepp' Dietrich, and 'Papa' Hausser and scores of others are mentioned.
This book follows the same layout and design (photographs, maps) as 'SS-Das Reich: The History of the Second SS Division, 1941-45' and 'SS: Hell on the Eastern Front, The Waffen-SS War in Russia 1941-45'.
Overall a really good resource book without overkill on details. The pictures are good as well. Thanks!...more
This is my fifth book in this series of Nazi/SS/German warfighter and continue to appreciate these books. This particular book gives an in-depth look This is my fifth book in this series of Nazi/SS/German warfighter and continue to appreciate these books. This particular book gives an in-depth look at the 5th Waffen-SS Division, also called Wiking Division. This unit was unique as it manned by foreign volunteers (Freiwilligen) from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Their commanding officers were German.
The book starts with the history of the Waffen-SS and this particular division, insignia and uniforms, training, and weapons. The rest of the book is devoted to Operation Barbarossa and other combat conflicts in the USSR and Caucasus. The last chapter is dedicated to the leadership figures such as Felix Steiner, Herbert Otto Gille, Johannes-Rudolf Muhlenkamp, Karl Ullrich, Leon Degrelle (non-German of the Walloon volunteers), and even the notorious Josef Mengele (who served in the division medical corps but later became the head physician of Auschwitz).
The book is a quick read, clearly presented, and very readable. The pictures are great as they are in other books in the series. Thanks!...more
I enjoyed this very much. From an informational stance it was great. The book focuses on the Waffen-SS (particularly the Divisions Wiking, Das Reich, I enjoyed this very much. From an informational stance it was great. The book focuses on the Waffen-SS (particularly the Divisions Wiking, Das Reich, Totenkopf, and Leibstandarte) and their operations in Eastern Europe and in the Soviet Union.
The book opens up with basics on the ideological indoctrination, the ideal SS Man, and basic information on the mentioned formations. Combat operations, Operations Citadel and Typhon are mentioned, a chapter on Himmler's Foreign Legions (Nordland, Hunyadi, Wallonien, etc.) and how they fit into the Waffen-SS structure, racial warfare and the Einsatzgruppen, and lots of information.
It contains lots of great pictures and was very readable. I would recommend this as good overview about the Eastern Front. Thanks! ...more
This is my third book in this series of Nazi/SS/German warfighters and I appreciate these books. They give in-depth history of the SS (Schutzstaffel) This is my third book in this series of Nazi/SS/German warfighters and I appreciate these books. They give in-depth history of the SS (Schutzstaffel) and its beginnings. The different divisions (SS-Verfugungstruppen, Totenkopfverbande, Leibstandarte, Wiking, etc.) are explained within the overall organization. Uniforms, insignia, divisional insignia, and rank structure are discussed as well.
The chapters talk about the 2nd Division Das Reich and their engagements from 1941-45. These include pushing east into Poland, rolling over west into the Netherlands and France, pushing into Yugoslavia and Greece, Operation Barbarossa, Kursk and Operation Citadel, Normandy/Battle of the Bulge, and their final actions before the war ended.
The last chapter gives short summaries of the key players of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich.
Overall a really good book on the unit without overkill on details. The pictures alone are worth viewing. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Waffen-SS. Thanks!...more
This one seemed disjointed between the 2nd SS Panzer Division, the French Resistance, and D-Day. I had a hard time following at times. Maybe it was juThis one seemed disjointed between the 2nd SS Panzer Division, the French Resistance, and D-Day. I had a hard time following at times. Maybe it was just me and the author's style or else I would have given more stars....more
This is the sixth book I've read in this series of Nazi/SS/German warfighter during World War II. This book is strictly about the pre-war sociopoliticThis is the sixth book I've read in this series of Nazi/SS/German warfighter during World War II. This book is strictly about the pre-war sociopolitical organization 'Hitler Youth' and eventually their military activation under the designation 12th SS Panzer Division, Hitlerjugend (1941-1945).
The book starts with the beginnings of post-World War I Germany, the rise of Hitler and National Socialism, and the growth of the Hitler Youth. The subsequent chapters address the organizing the youth, life in the Hitlerjugend, education in Nazi Germany, and their involvement in World War II.
This was very readable, clearly-presented, and contained a lot of unique photographs from the era. I recommend this for anyone interested in the fighting units of WW2. Thanks!...more
I learned a lot from this quick read. I enjoyed the plethora of photos and the information is well-researched. The book further elaborates on the unitI learned a lot from this quick read. I enjoyed the plethora of photos and the information is well-researched. The book further elaborates on the units and their names, their recruitment, and the structure/combat history of the various foreign units. The SS's hands went as far as Armenia/Azerbaijan/Georgia Republic and into the Baltic region of Estonia and Lavtia. The Germans recruited from the various peoples who hated communism like the Cossacks, Ukrainians, and even a Russian unit named 30th Waffen-SS Grenadier Division der SS.
I thought the information was clearly presented and readable. Great book....more
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