Slaughterhouse: The Handbook of the Eastern Front

Book Description

In terms of sheer numbers of soldiers, armored vehicles, guns, and the scale of destruction and casualties, the Eastern Front was the most active and decisive theater of war during the 20th century. For four years, the armies and air forces of the world's two most powerful and brutal dictators savaged each other over terrain that stretched from the Arctic to the Middle East. The map of Europe was changed forever by the fighting on this front, and even today, the world reverberates with the echoes of that fighting, in places like Chechenya and the Balkans.

Despite the enormous importance of the fighting that occurred between Nazi Germany and her allies and the Soviet Empire, we are still uncovering vastly important and long concealed facts about the war. For almost 50 years, the world had to depend largely on captured German records for its understanding of the Eastern Front, since almost all information made available by the Soviets was propaganda or even disinformation. Over the last decade, following the fall of the Communism in Europe in general, and Russia in particular, long-sealed archives have begun to open, and the truth about the Soviet side of the war is finally being discovered.

In this concise, yet highly comprehensive, volume, readers can begin to gain access to the more accurate and complete information that is now becoming available. Through the diligence and expertise of a team of highly capable and experienced military researchers and historians, including David Glantz, the widely-acknowledged foremost Soviet military historian in America, new information has been synthesized with the best of long-available data. The result is Slaughterhouse, the single most comprehensive and up to date work of its kind.

Slaughterhouse includes the following features:

—Two chapters by famed Sovietologist David Glantz: "Chronology of the War on the Eastern Front" (with nine detailed maps) and "Forgotten Battles" of the Eastern Front.

—The German armed forces and their allies: Thumbnail histories of 487 army groups, armies, corps, and divisions that saw combat on the Eastern Front.

—The Soviet armed forces: Thumbnail histories of 881 directions, fronts, armies, corps, and divisions.

—Biographical sketches of 57 key Axis and Soviet wartime personalities.

—Highly-detailed organizational diagrams of 55 types of Axis and Red Army divisions that served on the Eastern Front.

—Comprehensive, meticulously researched performance data comparisons of hundreds of Axis and Red Army weapons, including small arms, mortars, artillery, tanks, assault guns, combat aircraft, and more.

520 pages, supported by 88 photos; 9 maps; notes; and extensive 16 page bibliography.

Customer Reviews:

Eastern front for dummies.......2006-05-07

Both of my grandparents fought in WWII on the soviet side, so I'm pretty comfortable with the subject. I've read alot of good stuff about Mr. David Glantz from american, german and russian sources(check out battlefield.ru, choose english language option at the top left, awesome site with lots of info on the subject as well as overview of Mr.Glantz books). In any case this effort by Mr.Glantz is not a book and this is surely can't be called an encyclopedia of Eastern front. This is nothing shourt but a Eastern front for dummies. From a man who knows so much on Eastern front and has access to so much information this book is a joke.

Excellent compact guide to Eastern Front.......2006-01-30

The brilliant work, Slaugterhouse, by David Glantz is a one of its kind to give the Russians their rightful due in the Second World War. As Mr. Glantz points out in the book, had it not been for the Eastern Front where the Russians took most of the thrust of the Wehrmacht, the war most likely taken a different course. This hand book is a useful guide to anyone wishing to understand this very most important theater. It took many nations to team together to defeat Germany, Italy and Japan. The Allied bombings in Western Europe, the sea battles in the pacific and in Asia, the North African Campaign, and the campaigns in Western Europe have been given total credit for the victory. Mr. Glantz corrects for this and shows how the Russians would have defeated the Germans on their own merit. The reader can find readily information of significant battles and commanders. It is a great guide to use while visiting the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow. When I was in Moscow the Russians were impressed with this handy book.

A "Must-Have" for the Eastern Front.......2005-11-11

Without echoing what others have written, this book is one that will appeal to both the neophytes and the veterans of researching the Eastern Front. It is useful on several levels, and contains a wealth of information that in some cases is newly available in the English language!

While there is a considerable amount of information in the book, it really is presented in such a logical fashion that it's quite simple to find what is needed. For example, unlike some presentations, the unit information sections are quite logically in numerical order by hierarchy, so everything is easy to locate.

Much of the information on the German forces is in point of fact available in other milieus, both on-line and printed. However, with this book you have not only a listing, but a synopsis of every German and German-Allied unit to fight on the Russian front, from Army Group down to division. For the German-Allied units, this is probably the first time the information on Rumanian, Italian, Hungarian and Finnish forces has ever been gathered together in one place.

The section on the Soviet will be very valuable to researchers and historians. Since the end of the war, very little factual information from the Soviet side has been available. Here in this volume, you will find information that has not been readily available previously. Admittedly, some of the information is limited, but that is due to original sources, not the authors of this book. It must be remembered that in the literal `meat-grinder' that was the Russian Front, many of these units didn't exist long enough to develop a pedigree. Record keeping wasn't always as efficient as historians would desire, either.

The unit organization section I believe was handled very well. Those who study the German military especially know how many incarnations there were of each major type of unit. In this volume, the basic types of divisions are displayed, with major differentiations noted as needed. A good example of this would be the diagram for the Waffen-SS Mountain Division. The basic provisions for this type of unit are shown, followed by notes for six different Waffen-SS Mountain Divisions, explaining how they differed from the norm.

In the weapons section, the publisher has presented important information comparing German and Russian weapons side by side. Disregarding factory specifications, the information here shows things like effective range, which is much more important to the soldier and the historian. By putting the information side by side, it is easy to compare capabilities of different weapons systems from the rifle all the way up to the heaviest artillery. For vehicles, the information provided is that which is pertinent to combat. Offensive capability and defensive survivability is presented.

If one were to read this book from cover to cover, one would not know all there is to know about the war in Russia. Like any encyclopedia, this book provides a considerable amount of information, without going into exquisite detail. It will provide an excellent starting point for any research, though. I would strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about combat on the Russian Front in World War II.

The Eastern Front in a nutshell.......2005-10-18

The Eastern Front is a huge subject which cannot be covered in any detail in one single book. Someone considering buying this work should understand what it is and what it isn't. This book is not for anyone looking for detailed accounts of individual battles and campaigns. Nor is it for anyone wanting detailed orders of battle or biographies of the main commanders involved on both sides and it's not for anyone wanting detailed information on the weapons and equipment used.
What it is, is a 'one stop shop' of useful summarised information for the whole campaign and it's participants. This book will be useful for those who wish to look up facts and figures on the war in the East but don't require in depth information or wish to part with what can be a considerable amount of money aquiring more detailed and specialised works.
The book is exactly what it says it is on the cover, a handbook of the Eastern Front.

Comprehensive reference.......2005-10-16

It was a great idea to publish a handbook of Eastern Front units, officers and actions in a single English-language volume. There is plenty of interest in military-historical circles in this subject, and an encyclopedia-style reference covering both sides of the conflict was long overdue.

Average customer rating:

Interesting and informative - but contains far less than the enthusiastic reviews suggest
Waffen-SS Encyclopedia
A solid resource
An amazing reference for World War Two buffs!
Great Research Book.

Waffen-SS Encyclopedia
Marc J. Rikmenspoel
Manufacturer: The Aberjona Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Slaughterhouse: The Handbook of the Eastern Front
Waffen-SS Handbook, 1933-1945 (0)
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Black Edelweiss: A Memoir of Combat and Conscience by a Soldier of the Waffen-SS
SS HITLER'S FOREIGN DIVISIONS: Foreign Volunteers in the Waffen SS 1940-1945

ASIN: 0971765081

Book Description

World War II spawned some of the most famous-and infamous-fighting organizations the world has ever known. None was more feared by its battlefield foes or more hated by political enemies of the National Socialist regime than the Waffen-SS. Six decades after the last Waffen-SS unit capitulated or was annihilated, the facts about many aspects of this organization are still shrouded in legend and half-truth. Loathed by many as a criminal organization, yet also respected for the esprit, resolve, and valor of its component units and individuals, the Waffen-SS was unarguably a highly-complex, multi-faceted phenomenon, unique among the military organizations of the world.

Marc Rikmenspoel has crafted the ultimate reference for those trying to understand the intensely controversial and complicated nature of the Waffen-SS. A comprehensive overview that will be useful to historians, buffs, wargamers, and re-enactors alike, no matter what your predisposition to the Waffen-SS, you will learn a great deal from this book. The book includes a concise history of every one of the major fighting formations of the Waffen-SS (those designated as "divisions").

Sections include:

-Formations
— Structure of Divisions
— Germans in the Waffen-SS
— Germanics in the Waffen-SS
— Non-Germans and Non-Germanics in the Waffen-SS
— Leading Personalities
— Weapons
— Misconceptions and Controversies
— Weapons Tables

Supported by 82 photos and extensive, 20-page annotated bibliography.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting and informative - but contains far less than the enthusiastic reviews suggest.......2006-11-24

Marc Rikmenspoel has done an admirable job collating a wealth of information about the Waffen-SS in this volume. Labelling this book an encyclopedia is a bit of a misnomer though as it is far from comprehensive. This book is divided into four major sections (eight chapters). In the first two chapters, MR describes the formations and the organization of the Waffen-SS from the highest levels (SS Panzer Armies) down to batallion sized units and smaller. A brief history of the each of the SS divisions is given along with the names of commanding officers. Virtually all of this information can easily be found elsewhere (like Wikipedia). This is certainly not the `home run' as another reviewer put it. The second section contains detailed descriptions of the diverse national members of the Waffen-SS. This section is divided into two chapters, Germanics and non-Germanics, and is the real meat of this book in my opinion. The Waffen-SS was truly a diverse army and took in men from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. The third section contains short biographical sketches of thirteen famous (or infamous, such as Oskar Dirlewanger) members/officers of the Waffen-SS. The final section contains a brief (15 page) discussion of the weapons of the Waffen-SS and a final chapter that is essentially an apologetic for Waffen-SS war crimes.

Overall, this work is more for popular consumption (or the type of thing that a cadet who is enamored with the image of the victories of the Waffen-SS may be interested in reading), and I suspect that any serious student of WWII will find this book to be little more than a light snack. Despite some of the claims of the other reviewers, this is certainly not a scholarly work, and it is not the kind of work that one will return to again and again for information. This is definitely not an encyclopedia, in spite of the title, there are way too many holes. There are several things that I really disliked about this book. There is no discussion about any of the actual battles, nor is there anything said about the relationship between the Waffen-SS and the higher levels of the SS and/or the political leadership of Germany. I found the final section about the apology for SS war crimes to be particularly egregious, especially for a book that claims to be an encyclopedia. In particular, I think the author does make some good points here, but completely avoids (throughout the entire text really) ALL the complex issues related to the SS's (not just the Waffen-SS) role in implementing Nazi racial policy. A BALANCED view would present both the admirable qualities of the soldiers of the Waffen-SS as well as their crimes. This work is certainly not balanced, and is a virtual hagiography of the exploits and men of the Waffen-SS. This last section makes it clear that MR is trying to ameliorate the image of the Waffen-SS while avoiding uncomfortable truths. There are many positives to this book though. It is well written with a deft prose that is direct and easy to read. As described above, MR does a fine job describing the diverse ethnic/national makeup of the Waffen-SS. There are two additional aspects about this book that make it worth a look. First, at less than 14 dollars (as of 24NOV06) this price is easy on the wallet. Second, the book contains an annotated bibiliography that points the interested reader to other references.

Bottom line - a light snack for a serious student, but may still be a worthwhile addition to your collection (particularly given the price).

Waffen-SS Encyclopedia.......2006-11-06

Not expect from this book an "encyclopedia", is more an "aproximation" to the Waffen-SS world. If you don't look for a detail information it may help you to know units, history, and the flow and ebbs of some personalities and units. A book for beguinners.

A solid resource.......2006-02-25

This book is excellent in breaking down the origin of the Waffen SS units and in providing information on important Waffen personnel. I especially liked how it avoided lumping all the units and all the individuals into a single group. It recognizes the differences between elite combat formations and thugs behind the lines who are commiting genocide. It also recognizes that individuals within a given unit differ in terms of fanaticism and indoctrination. It does not address general German (or European) antisemitism and its role, which is probably better tackled by holocaust books like the excellent Hitler's Willing Executioners. I would have preferred more battle history though. This book goes into extreme detail on the role of Germanics (non-Germans of German racial stock) in the SS, but there is relatively little detail on the key battles. All in all, I would say that this book and The Waffen SS at War are complementary. This book tells about the real people involved very well, but does a poor job with the battle history. Waffen SS at War tells the battle history but does a poor job making the people real, rather than simple demonic Nazi stereotypes.

An amazing reference for World War Two buffs!.......2005-11-11

Marc J. Rikmenspoel's book is one of the most detailed book's available on the Waffen-SS. It gives the background and summary of operations of all divisions, and has outstanding diagrams that outline the structure of early war motorized infantry divisions, panzer divisions, panzer-grenadier divisions, mountain divisions, cavalry divisions, and grenadier (infantry) divisions. It describes both the German and non-German troops of the Waffen-SS, which believe it or not included volunteers from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Belorussia, Czechia, Estonia, France, Georgia, Hungary, India, Ireland (recruited from the IRA), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, North Caucasus, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine!

This book has a great section on the famous figures of the Waffen-SS and how they influenced it throughout the war. It has a brief section on the Waffen-SS weapons (with helpful photos) that serves as a good introduction to the subject. And finally, perhaps the best part of the book is the "Myths about the Waffen-SS" at the end. This answers questions about common myths about the Waffen-SS, such as whether or not they really possessed superior weaponry to the army. Also, there's a very informative appendix which gives details on the weapons of the Waffen-SS, and the bibliography serves as a great starting point for looking for more information on the Waffen-SS. Perhaps the best thing about this book is that it's written in an easy-to-understand format, making it the perfect book for both experts and beginners. This book is highly recommended to all World War Two buffs.

Great Research Book........2005-06-16

Ok, this is the last review until I finish a few more books.....anyone got any titles, LOL
OK, I found this book really well done and to the point. I would say it is more along the research type of book, as it is NOT a memoir or not really a story.
The chapters cover everything I would want to know about the SS. SS units, weapons used, Bio's on major characters (brief but with good information, and a good read). How the SS DIV were broken down and of course where the Divisions fought, and how they ended the war. One of the chapters covers all the countries that supplied volunteers to the German elite units and has a break down of wounded/killed and what happened to the soldiers at wars end. This is a really good read in my mind.
Most of the photos have not been seen by me. I found myself going back to this book to re-read certain chapters to help explain other books. I know I will be using this book to compliment later books.
Highly recommended as a research book.

Waffen-SS Commanders: The Army, Corps and Divisional Leaders of a Legend: Augsberger to Kreutz

Average customer rating:

Excellent Reference
Excellent Study of SS Commanders
Excellent Study of SS Commanders
Pictorial biographies of Waffen SS commanders.

Waffen-SS Commanders: The Army, Corps and Divisional Leaders of a Legend: Augsberger to Kreutz
Mark C. Yerger
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Images of the Waffen-SS: A Photo Chronicle of Germany's Elite Troops
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Totenkopf

ASIN: 0764303562

Book Description

The units of the Waffen-SS were some of the most successful and influental combat formations produced by any country in this century. Their abilities and accomplishments, in both defense and offense, remain legendary. Finally, the commanders of these elite units are examined here in detail. In this book, the first of a two volume set, forty-four biographies reveal the lives of the most senior Waffen-SS commanders. Details are provided for education, as well as pre-Third Reich era service in military and civil posts, and includes promotions, assignments and decorations. The 1933-1945 era, the most detailed, reveals all their commands and related data similar to their earlier service. Officially documented recollections of the combat actions that resulted in bestowal of their highest awards (Knight's Cross and German Cross in Gold) are finally discussed. Heavily documented, their individual stories continue until their eventual fates are revealed. Apart from the most famous leaders, such as Paul Hausser and Josef "Sepp" Dietrich, these volumes reveal and examine the many divisional commanders who have previously remained unknown except by the men they led. Included are the commanders who rose through the ranks after graduating from the SS officer school system. Along with numerous private archive sources in the U.S. and Europe, more than a dozen former divisional commanders contributed information or illustrations from their private collections. In additon to text data, this volume is profusely illustrated with more than 400 rare or previously unpublished photographs, and 35 documents. Order of battle charts with an explanation of symbols provided, detail the units themselves. With a foreward by Otto Kumm, the highly decorated last commander of the "Leibstandarte," this initial volume finally fills a significant knowledge void in recording the history of the Waffen-SS., over 400 b/w photographs, maps, documents, 8 1/2" x 11", glossary, appendices, index

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Reference.......1999-12-25

Waffen-SS Commanders is a two-part series on the major commanders of the Waffen-SS, perhaps the most controversial fighting formation in history. Yerger's sympathies with his subjects shows, but he is willing to distinguish between SS officers who conducted themselves in a professional manner and proved themselves in combat and the political favorites of Himmler who rose from the ranks of the German Polizei and whose units were particularly brutal in anti-partisan operations but were no match against professional soldiers. Examples of the former include Otto Baum, Heinz Harmel (whose treatment of prisoners and civilians at Arnhem earned praise from the Allies-General Harmel is still alive and at nearly 100 years of age still conducts his daily life in the same way as he did as a soldier), Paul Hausser and others. The lesser lights among the commanders of the Waffen SS include Friderich Jeckeln, Curt von Gottberg, and Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski, who testified for the prosecution at Nuremberg out of survival and not remorse for any actions-his brutality during the 1944 Warsaw uprising and his granting of POW status to Polish insurgents to insure that he would not be branded a war criminal in the eventuality of a German defear are documented by Yerger. To his credit, von den Bach did not renege on his promise to the Poles, although had Germany somehow won the war or negotiated a separate peace with the West, the Poles probably would have suffered a different fate.

As controversial a subject as the Waffen-SS was, not all of the commanders could be considered brutal criminals or incompetent as portrayed by revisionist history. To be sure, they served an ideology which was evil and most of the commanders were members of the NSDAP, but the majority of SS commanders were in fact professional soldiers equivalent to their army counterparts in the Wehrmacht. Most of these commanders did conduct themselves in a correct manner and fought with honor for their country, even if the regime they served had few redeeming qualities. It is a tribute to these commanders that the Waffen-SS still arouses much passion, even today, and most modern armies today use tactics and innovations which originated with the Waffen-SS over 50 years ago.

Excellent Study of SS Commanders.......1999-12-25

If you have Part 1 of Yerger's study, be sure to get this book. It follows up his previous book in the same fashion. Yerger obviously has great sympathy for his subjects, but is willing to criticize those Waffen SS commanders who in his view were less than professional soldiers, especially the Higher SS and Police leaders who were given commands because of their political loyalties rather than their skills in combat. This contrast is shown in the section on the Krueger brothers, the only two brothers to achieve general rank in the SS. Walter Krueger, who was renowned for his command of the Das Reich division is favorably mentioned, as befits his combat leadership and prowess in battle, while his brother Friederich-Wilhelm, who rose through the ranks of the Polizei, is described as "a career SS officer with an interest in power and was brutal in controlling his administration within the General Government (of German-occupied Poland)." Officers who conducted themselves as worthy soldiers in Volume 2 include Felix Steiner, Kurt "Panzer" Meyer, Sylvester Stadler who ordered an immediate inqiry into the events at Oradour, one of the war crimes which the SS was accused of-a controversial event even today. Stadler was temporary commander of Das Reich and ordered a court-martial of the officer accused of the massacre of civilians of that village) and many others. In Volume 1, commanders such as Paul Hausser, Otto Baum, Heinrich Harmel (whose professionalism and humane treatment of prisoners and civilians during the Battle of Arnhem was praised by the Allies) and Karl Kreutz, are praised for their military compentency and bravery in combat while commanders who never faced true combat formations, for example Friederich Jeckeln, Curt von Gottberg, Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski(who testified for the prosecution at Nuremberg not because of any remorse but instead out of self-preservation) are not looked upon with much sympathy.

Such criticism is refreshing, especially with regards to a subject as controversial as the Waffen SS. Certainly there were some SS commanders who were either overrated or extremely brutal, but the vast majority conducted themselves in as professional a manner as any commander on the winning side. That they served an ideology which was evil does not diminish their service to their country and Yerger depicts this in a non-judgmental way.

Excellent Study of SS Commanders.......1999-12-25

Pictorial biographies of Waffen SS commanders........1999-03-14

Like other works by Yerger, "Waffen SS Commanders" is primarily a picture history. It also has nice 2+ page biographies of the military careers of senior Waffen SS officers. There are occasional passing references to their lives after the war, but nothing beyond 1-liners. Some of the biographies are of well known figures such as Dietrich and Hausser whom you can read of elsewhere, but this is probably the only place you will find biographies of minor figures such as Jungkuntz and Hampel. This is the first volume of what is intended to become a 4-volume series, and alphabetically only goes up to Kreutz. Guess who wrote the preface to this book!

IN THE FIRE OF THE EASTERN FRONT: The Experiences Of A Dutch Waffen-SS Volunteer On The Eastern Front 1941-45

Average customer rating:

An interesting perspective
Miraculous survival and literary snapshots of the times
A welcome and recommended addition
Excellent coverage of Siege of Breslau 1945
not for the casually interested

IN THE FIRE OF THE EASTERN FRONT: The Experiences Of A Dutch Waffen-SS Volunteer On The Eastern Front 1941-45
Hendrick Verton
Manufacturer: Helion and Company Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Netherlands | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 187462254X

Book Description

Dutch SS accounts are very rare, particularly ones such as this, covering recruitment, training, and frontline service first with 5th SS Panzer Division 'Wiking', then later with SS Regiment Besslein. He not only informs and illustrates the general politics of the time, but also explains how Dutch views of the Third Reich changed so radically, discusses the founding of the Waffen-SS, the recruitment of Dutch volunteers into it and why so many non-German Europeans volunteered to fight and risk their lives for Germany. His discussion of the intensity of the SS's training is also noteworthy. Of course, the core of the book lies in Hendrik's recollections of his service on the Eastern Front between 1941 and 1945, initially with the 5th SS Panzer Division 'Wiking'. He offers the reader an impressive and fluid account, whether it be describing the midst of battle, surviving 50 degrees below zero, frosts and frozen ground, or traversing a quagmire of roads. Of particular historical interest are his later recollections of service during 1944-45 with SS Regiment Besslein on the Eastern Front, focusing on his participation in the epic defense of Breslau - this siege remains little-known in the West, and first-hand accounts such as Hendrik's are even scarcer, making this title a worthy addition to the literature on the Second World War. REVIEWS "...reveals a perspective on the battlefields of World War II that is not often encountered by an American readership. ...Is as compelling as it is informative. Exceptionally well written and impressively candid.....a welcome and recommended addition to the growing library of WWII military memoirs..."Midwest Book Review May 2007 James Cox

Customer Reviews:

An interesting perspective.......2007-07-04

Verton was a Dutch Waffen SS voluteer. His story is laced with many explanations and justifications for his decision to join the Waffen SS and later settle in post-war Germany; these do not detract too much from the story and perhaps help readers who are not famililar with the motivations of non-German Waffen SS voluteers. The retribution his family suffered due to his and his brother's service for Germany was a new insight for this reader. Overall, a good read and recommended for persons interested in first person stories of the Eastern Front.

Miraculous survival and literary snapshots of the times.......2007-05-13

What made this book stand out was the author's un-apologetic reasons for a Dutchman voluntarily serving in the German Military. Although he does not give due blame and responibility for the mass murders of the Nazi's (he does describe some of the atrocities of the Communists), the author does give a good and clear account of the fighting he was in and the defense of Breslau, Germany which was never taken in battle before the fall of Germany. This was an interesting account in particular as it is a fairly unheralded battle and the author was a witness. His defense of the SS and German military is valid for the reasons he accepted as an indoctrinated idealistic young man. -Just as the reasons for fighting for their cause were equally as valid for the typical US or Soviet soldier. Government leaders so typically manipulate the patriotic juices of their citizens in order to get them to support whatever war happens to be the current cause, whether it is fighting the "Red Menace", "Evil Nazi's", "Stopping Communism", "The Taliban". Wars are a profitable tool of the Controllers and every nation has lost too many fine sons for the temporary control of real estate in the name of their Cause.

A welcome and recommended addition .......2007-05-08

"In The Fire Of The Eastern Front: The Experiences Of A Dutch Waffen-SS Volunteer On The Easter Front 1941-45" is the personal memoir of Hendrick C. Verton and reveals a perspective on the battlefields of World War II that is not often encountered by an American readership. Verton includes his recruitment, training, and frontline service experiences as he saw service with the 5th SS Panzer Division 'Wiking" and then later with the SS Regiment Besslein. Verton touches upon the general politics of the day and explains how Dutch views of the Third Reich changed radically over the years of the war. Verton also covers that founding of the Waffen-SS, the recruiting of Dutch volunteers like himself, and why many non-German European volunteered to fight and imperil their lives for Germany and Adolph Hitler. Verton's stories of fighting in pitch battles, surviving 50 degree blow zero weather, transporting men and equipment over terrain that would range from quagmires to frozen ground is as compelling as it is informative. Exceptionally well written and impressively candid, "In The Fire Of The Eastern Front" is a welcome and recommended addition to the growing library of World War II military memoirs and autobiographies.

Excellent coverage of Siege of Breslau 1945.......2007-03-05

This is a very interesting book. The author manages to cover a lot of interesting ground, which is not usually written about in other German World War II memoirs. In particular, his perspective as a Dutch volunteer is written about at length. The prewar conditions in the Netherlands that the author views as responsible for the early years of World War II seeing so many of his fellow countrymen volunteer for service at the front with the Germans are explained in detail (even if one may not always agree with his political opinions).

Likewise, the way the early volunteers joined the SS, their induction and training is also explained at some length.

If you are looking for combat experiences, then the fact that the author served in the East in Silesia during 1945 easily justify buying this book. His account of service in a Kampfgruppe in besieged Breslau with SS Regiment Besslein is very good indeed. There is plenty of detail, particularly as these events are little known in the English-speaking world, and even less written about.

This title is well worth buying because of the different perspective it offers, and particularly for its excellent coverage of some aspects of the final months of the war on the Eastern Front which receive very little coverage elsewhere.

not for the casually interested.......2007-03-02

In a nutshell: In the Fire of the Eastern Front left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand as the publisher's blurb suggests WWII memoirs of Dutch Waffen-SS volunteers are very rare and this makes this book interesting and worth having in it's own right. On the other hand for me it did not deliver on all points. Foremost is the fact that from a purely military-history point of view the descriptions of the frontline experiences are a lot less detailed than one could hope for. For instance there is little specific technical information relating to (the use of) small-arms in combat nor much about tactics, little unit or order of battle information and the author surprisingly rarely mentions specific comrades or unit commanders. The time the author Hendrik Verton spent in the ranks of the Wiking division (in fact with a detached sub- or ad hoc unit of said division) was limited to the winter of 1941-1942 and spring of '42 on the central part of the front. Verton then fell ill with typhoid fever and was transported back to Germany. The period from the summer of 1942 to the summer of 1944 is covered in only a few pages; after recuperating from his illness the author took part in a couple of training courses. The action only picks up again in the second half of 1944 when Verton is posted to a Kampfgruppe in East Prussia and afterwards to SS (fortress) regiment Besslein in Silesia (an area of Eastern Germany which is now part of Poland). Unclear remains why Verton never returned to the Wiking division. The Silesian and Breslau siege part of the book I found to be the most interesting. Breslau held out till after the fall of Berlin and it is an epic episode in the closing stages of the Russo-German war which is not well known outside of Germany. Verton's experiences during the siege are well worth the read. The fairly extensive post-war part of the book is fairly interesting but one could secretly wish more of these pages had been spent on his actual front-line experiences.

Completely superfluous however to all but the complete WWII novice are the many pages relating the general course of the war. Who for example wants to read some digression about the Battle of Britain in an Eastern Front memoir? Having read about two dozen German veteran memoirs it still amazes me why some editors do not make their authors stick to what they personally experienced, with say only the broadest outlines of the bigger picture of the front where the author served to put things in perspective.
Unsurprising but perhaps for some after a while annoying are the many `apologist' statements in the book. They do not detract from the substance of this memoir and of course the author is free to expound his views on whether WWII was really such a clear-cut showdown between pure good and pure evil. Interesting in this light is the recent book on WWII in Europe by Norman Davies. However Verton is not an historian and while he repeatedly accuses Western opinion of being unfairly biased towards Germany in general and to the Waffen-SS in particular the author then resorts to his own bias and paints a very one-sided picture of stalwart volunteer idealists bravely fighting Communism and saving Western civilization. No shades of gray here. However precisely because of the fact Verton is not a historian it is interesting to see how so long after the war a person can still be so adamant and unwavering about his views and convictions.

The translation from the original German could have benefited from better proof reading. Some sentences seem a bit quirky. A couple of times an obviously Dutch word or name should have been translated into Dutch instead of being left in German. Also a Dutch newspaper is called National Socialist instead of Socialist (or Social Democrat), an embarrassing mistake. Sometimes abbreviations are not explained, footnotes and an index are sadly missing and some quotes are not attributed. The bibliography is almost exclusively German.

So there you have it, a mixed bag. If you are not familiar with WWII nor with eastern front memoirs from the German point of view do not buy this book, you will be disappointed. A far better start would be Blood Red Snow for instance by Koschorrek. If you are more familiar with the Eastern front and or are interested in the Waffen-SS volunteers then this book should be in your collection, despite its faults. Before you order it though you might first want to have a look see at Twilight of the Gods by Hillblad and Wallin.

Black Edelweiss: A Memoir of Combat and Conscience by a Soldier of the Waffen-SS

Average customer rating:

Another great personal account from the German Army
Good book, but must be read with a bit of skepticism.
Duped!
Nothing else touches it, for what it is.
Invaluable Insights Into the Mind of a Waffen-SS Soldier

Black Edelweiss: A Memoir of Combat and Conscience by a Soldier of the Waffen-SS
Johann Voss
Manufacturer: The Aberjona Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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In Deadly Combat: A German Soldier's Memoir of the Eastern Front (Modern War Studies (Paper))
Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross
Seven Days in January: With the 6th SS-Mountain Division in Operation NORDWIND
The Forgotten Soldier
Grandfather's Tale: The Tale of a German Sniper

ASIN: 0966638980

Book Description

Originally written while the author was a prisoner of the US Army in 1945-46, Black Edelweiss is a boon to serious historians and WWII buffs alike. In a day in which most memoirs are written at half a century's distance, the former will be gratified by the author's precise recall facilitated by the chronologically short-range (a matter of one to seven years) at which the events were captured in writing. Both will appreciate and enjoy the abundantly detailed, exceptionally accurate combat episodes.

Even more than the strictly military narrative, however, the author has crafted a searingly candid view into his own mind and soul. As such, Black Edelweiss is much more than a "ripping yarn" or a low-level military history. Black Edelweiss joins not only the growing body of German military memoirs, but the more select, more narrowly-focused group of personal memoirs by other Waffen-SS enlisted men. Beyond the microcosmic view of combat these books relate—to the extent that they are honest and candid—such books are important for what they can reveal about their authors' motivations and reflections on those impulses and their consequences. To date, these works differ significantly.

As it joins the ranks of the books in this genre, Black Edelweiss makes a unique and very important contribution. It is a true, personal account of the author's war years, first at school and then with the Waffen-SS, which he joined early in 1943 at the age of seventeen. For a year and a half, the author fought as a machine gunner in SS-Mountain Infantry Regiment 11 "Reinhard Heydrich," mainly in the arctic and sub-arctic reaches of Soviet Karelia and Finland, and later at the Western frontier of the Third Reich. The characters in the story are real, and the conversations and actions are recounted to the best of his ability from the short distance at which he wrote the manuscript in 1945-46.

Apart from the piercing insights into the question of why the German soldier fought as he did, what makes this book truly unique is the author's anguished, yet resolute examination of the dialectic between the honorable and valorous comportment of his comrades and the fundamentally reprehensible conduct of about 35,000 men behind the front lines who nevertheless wore the same uniform.

During his captivity, the author was assigned for a time as a clerk to a US Army Judge Advocate General's Corps officer, and in the performance of his administrative duties, the author had access to the mounting reams of documentation of the Holocaust. His growing recognition of the involvement of Waffen-SS personnel in the monstrous crimes of that process caused him to dig deeply into his soul, to examine his most intimate and private motivations and thoughts, and to reevaluate the most basic assumptions of his life to that point. The author captured this process and the result in the notes which became this book.

Honestly, forthrightly, and courageously told, Black Edelweiss is a precious gift to historians and other students of World War II. It not only provides a glimpse into the attributes that made the German armed forces a formidable and tenacious foe, but squarely confronts the most painful issue facing German World War II veterans in general, and Waffen-SS veterans in particular.

Supported by 22 photos, 8 maps, and notes.

Customer Reviews:

Another great personal account from the German Army.......2007-10-13

Great read for a student of military history or one who is interested in how it is in combat. Unfortunately, guys like this dont live in Europa anymore they have passed on :-( Every European should read this one.

Good book, but must be read with a bit of skepticism........2007-10-04

I purchased this book to help me understand the otherside of WWII. I was curious to see how the war was witnessed through the eyes of the defeated.
Voss does a good job with his descriptions of life in the SS. I believe that he goes a bit far though with trying to persuad the reader that the SS was not the criminal gang portrayed at the Nuernberg trials. Every Officer was excellent and every soldier was honorable. Anyone with military experience knows that no unit has perfect sodiers and officers. I can understand and respect that he wants to protect the honor of his fallen friends. He also tries to portray the unit as humanitarian when they hand out what few rations they have to American POWs since they fought so bravely against his unit. Or when they bury church bells in Finland to "protect" them from the advancing Russian Army. Again these stories seem to embelish upon his recollections of the war.
I find a common thread within the book, that is a patriotic, selfless, honorable individual who did what he felt was right given the information provided to him from his government. Voss does note that he sees a box car filled with people but states he was ignorant as to where they were going. He never takes this any further. This could be attributed to his youth, military training not to ask questions, or ignorance is bliss. If on the otherhand Voss is telling the truth and he was a simple soldier doing what he felt was right then it makes it difficult to think of the whole German Army as a simple killing machine. He was just a person who wanted to do what was right and may or may not have been ignorant of the atrocitties his government was commiting. But as the story goes on you find Voss not fighting for Hitler but instead for his own survival and his comrades around him. Maybe it is a good thing to put a human face on the Axis soldier.
I would highly recommend this book along with the Forgotten Soldier, In Deadly Combat, and Seven Days in January.

Duped!.......2007-09-30

The name of this book should have been `Duped! They Fooled Me!' The author enlists in the Waffen SS to save Germany and Europe from Bolshevism, and to be a good citizen by fulfilling his duty to his country. His unit has uniformly good officers who are competent and morally admirable. However, the author witnesses some disturbing incidents, including a train of sealed boxcars full of people going to a concentration camp, slave laborers begging for food and being brutally rebuffed, and an uncle forced to divorce his wife because she was a Jew. These incidents are rationalized away by the belief that all will be straightened out after the war is won.

All of the good officers and most of his friends and comrades are killed in action. Upon capture by the Americans, Voss learns that the SS has exterminated millions of people in death factories. (He calculates that in one camp alone, 3000 people a day were murdered.) But his SS unit never exterminated anyone (or so he claims). They fought a `clean' war under exemplary officers. It dawns on the author that something might be wrong. His loyalty to the men he fought with, and to those who died dominates his thinking. He has a lot of trouble coming to terms with the reality of Nazism.

The book reads well, but the first 50 pages tend to drag as the author describes his family life. Later in the book, his high school sweetheart Christina is killed in a bombing raid. His family's house is destroyed. Germany has attacked the whole world and is in shambles. Again there is little discussion about these tragedies. In his mind he is still fighting Bolshevism.

He risked his life in combat to keep the concentration camps open for business, to allow SS troopers (in other units) to burn down villages and execute people, and give nazi bigwigs time to grab their loot and head for Argentina. But he clings to the idea that his SS unit consisted of good men fighting Bolshevism, and can't get himself to see beyond that. He was manipulated and used as a tool by a cult group of homicidal maniacs. He sees only that good men were killed. I'm not sure he recognizes the bigger picture.

Nothing else touches it, for what it is........2007-07-08

Wow. Great book. Nothing combines insight and combat like Black Edelweiss. This guy was a fighter and a thinker. See how a waffen-ss soldat comes to introspective conclusions about his part in Hitler's war and his comrades' part as well. Also shows the varied mind-set and attitudes torward the war from German civilians close to Voss before info about how bad things really were was widely available. Written close to the time it happened so it has a very 1940s feel to it. And as an extra bonus, if you want more statistical type data to go with it, you can read "seven days in january" along with it which isn't near as introspective but goes into what actually happened on the battlefield, espcially during 1945. You may not like it, but Voss will tell you what he was really thinking as close as any man could get, and it gives you a glimpse of what many "realistic" Germans must have been going thru when they had to come to terms with what Germany had done.

Invaluable Insights Into the Mind of a Waffen-SS Soldier.......2007-05-18

"Black Edelweiss" is a thought-provoking memoir by a machinegunner in a Waffen-SS mountain/Alpine division. (The "black" in the title refers to the black uniforms of the SS. "Edelweiss" refers to a mountain/Alpine flower used as a symbol by German and Austrian mountain troops.)

The book follows the author from his experiences as a 13-year old boy in Nazi Germany, to the time he volunteered for the Waffen-SS at the age of 17 in 1943, to his training as an SS soldier, to his combat experiences in World War II, to his capture by the Americans as a prisoner of war in 1945, to his discovery of the atrocities of other SS in concentration camps, and to his release in December 1946.

Several things set this memoir apart as an outstanding addition to the history of World War II in Europe.

One of the things that sets this memoir apart is that it is an engaging first-hand account of how German soldiers interacted, not only with each other as Kameraden, but also their officers, their enemies on the battlefield, and civilians.

Another is that this memoir was written in 1945-46, only a few months after the war, so the author was able to recount things from a fresher, and clearer, perspective.

A third is the setting of these memoirs, which take place primarily in Soviet Karelia and Finland. The book provides a fascinating, and rare, look into battlefield conditions-operations in arctic temperatures.

(Near the conclusion of the war, after the Finns entered into a pact with the Soviets and the Germans were forced to evacuate Finland or face fighting both the Finns - a formidible adversary on its home turf, just ask the Russians - and the Russians, the setting switches to the Third Reich's Western borders.)

Finally, the book provides a fascinating insight into the mind of a Waffen-SS soldier who tries to come to grips with the knowledge that because other members of the SS had committed atrocities, every member of the SS, even if, like him, they were not even aware of any atrocities, was branded a war criminal by the Allies and the SS itself condemned as a criminal organization.

The underlying, and recurrent, theme of the book is that not all members of the Waffen-SS were evil men, even if in the end they were advancing the cause of evil men. (The author claims he and many others joined the Waffen-SS out of patriotic reasons, to stem the tide of Bolshevism and save not just his country but all of Europe from the Bolshevik menace. This was a common reason many non-Germans volunteered for the Waffen-SS. But in the author's own country, Germany, Bolshevism was often a code word for anti-Semitism and the Nazis taught that the Bolsheviks were sub-humans, "Untermensch". The author never explains why he failed to pick up on these subtleties in Nazi propaganda, perhaps his youth explains his naivete.)

In any event, the book is really a tribute by the author to those fallen members of the Waffen-SS who had nothing to do with any war crimes but who became reviled after the war only because of the atrocities and misdeeds of others and is an attempt to restore the honor of his fallen comrades.

SS Armor on the Eastern Front 1943 - 1945

Average customer rating:

Well worth the price.
A must have for anyone interested in the Waffen SS
Left Wanting and Disappointed
Great Photo Album of SS Forces
Best WWII photo album.

SS Armor on the Eastern Front 1943 - 1945
Velimir Vuksic
Manufacturer: JJ Fedorowicz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

HELL'S GATE: The Battle of the Cherkassy Pocket January to February 1944
Combat History of the 654th Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung
Tigers in Combat, Vol. 1
Operation "Citadel", A Text and Photo Album, Volume 1: The South
Siege! Six Epic Eastern Front Assaults of World War II

ASIN: 092199186X

Product Description

A book dedicated to some of the seminal fighting on the Eastern Front in the latter stages of the war and featuring SS armor formations! Yes, that's right! Not the same old tired rehash of the handful of pictures that have been circulating forever. This is a treasure trove of mostly recently discovered, professionally shot photography featuring: The 1. SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", The 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich",The 3. SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf", The 4. SS-Panzer-Grenadier Division "Polizei", The 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking", The 9. SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen", The 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg", The 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Nordland", The 12. SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend", and a host of other formations (including some Army) and heretofore rarely seen vehicles and equipment. The book features chapters on these operations: Zhitomir, Cherkassy, Tarnopol, Kovel, Warsaw, Budapest

Customer Reviews:

Well worth the price........2007-01-28

I recently purchased this book for $70.00 on Amazon. A steal! I was, at first, a bit dissapointed to see that it was a bit thinner than I had expected. I suppose I was expceting something on the order of "Tigers in Combat" or one of Jean Restayn's "Citadel" albums. However, any doubts were put aside as I cracked the book. This book is chock-full of the kind of photos for which we pay big $$. With all do respect to the previous, negative review(er), a negative reveiw of this book is absurd. The color plates are outstanding. I couldn't find the artist listed, but I believe they are by Restayn. Panzer artwork simply doesn't get any better than that! As far as captions go, if you're worried about the captions, why are you buying this book? I would chalk up any lacking captions to the difficulty in translation. Heck, I have five or six photo books that are entirely written in languages which I cannot read. I can look at the photos though. I know what I'm looking at and I like what I see here. The photos are all that matter, to me anyhow. They are the reason I bought this book. They are the reason I'd recommend it to you.

A must have for anyone interested in the Waffen SS.......2006-05-11

If your interested in the Waffen SS at all you need this book the pictures alone are worth it. As with most JJ Fedorowicz product the pages and covers are of good quality. As far the pictures are concerned I have read and looked at many books on the Waffen SS and have never seen 90% of these before. Without going into a lot BS talk I will reiterate if you collect books on the Waffen SS this is a MUST HAVE!!!!!!!!!!

Left Wanting and Disappointed.......2006-05-11

I'm a huge fan of Fedorowicz books and own the majority of their titles. But I have to say I don't see what all the fuss is about on this title. The captions are amateur-ish "It was simply called the "King Tiger" or Tiger II, and had an impressive weight of 70 tons and frontal armor of 180mm. Its long 88mm gun could destroy all enemy tanks." The color plates too are lacking, both in quantity and intersting subject matter (do we really need 5 views of a solid dark yellow Panther?" Some are even recycled. Finally, for a title with "SS Armor" in it, there are painfully too many photo's of grenadiers standing around next to trucks. Many of the photo's quality isn't up to the "professional" standards the books mentions, and more than a few are old rehash. I'm selling mine, truly disappointed for $95.00!!!

Great Photo Album of SS Forces.......2006-02-05

This is an excellent photo album of SS units on the Eastern front 1943-45. The content relates to Zhitomir-Berdichew, Chekassy pocket, Tarnopol-Kamenenets/Podolsk, Kovel, Warsaw and Budapest. By far the majority of these photos I never seen before and they are superbly and accurately described and captioned. Also included are several maps outlining the frontlines and main thrust of SS forces and opposing Soviet forces. If any criticism can be made of this book it is that unlike another excellent J.J Fedorowicz publication 'Operation Citadel A Text & Photo Album Vol 1: The South' that offers some analysis and account of the fighting, this book contains none (other than the excellent captions). There is no overall narrative to give an account of the conflict of where photos were taken. The assumption maybe that the reader is already familiar with these battles, but an accompaning text (even if brief) would have helped portray the strategic situation, actions taken, and result.

Best WWII photo album........2006-01-01

I am not always a fan of JJ Fedorowicz Publishing's books as they can be a little too celebratory in tone of the combat achievements of the Germans in WWII, but each to their own. However, the best of their photo albums are outstanding and this volume by Velimir Vuksic is the best of the best.

It covers six operations from Zhitomir in December '43 to Budapest in early '45. For each there is a very clear and well produced map to set the context plus well thought-out texts to each picture. The pictures themselves are all of excellent quality, no doubt having been given the full PhotoShop treatment but this has clearly been done with great care and skill. It is a large format book and on a typical double page there will be one photo on one of the pages and two on the other. There must be a good few hundred photos but only half a dozen or so have I seen before, and I have other photo albums totalling some five thousand photos from the Eastern Front. This is one of the major strengths of the book, the very high quality of the photos plus their originality. Velimir Vuksic deserves to be congratulated on his research, as on much else.

All in all the photos themselves, the layout, the maps and text combine to produce the best of the Eastern Front photo albums.

Highly recommended to the both the usual suspects such as me who have a weakness for WWII photo albums but I also recommend it to those who may not have bought such books in the past. It is the best of the best and will enliven all your future Eastern Front reading by allowing you to better imagine the reality of the environment in which the combat took place. A large number of the photos show both German units plus a great vista of Soviet landscape allowing the reader to better understand the tactical implications of the land over which the war was fought.

Outstanding.

SS Uniforms, Insignia and Accoutrements: A Study in Photographs

Average customer rating:

Excellent Pictorial Reference Guide to SS Uniforms & Gear
The best SS uniform book out there
very complete information

SS Uniforms, Insignia and Accoutrements: A Study in Photographs

Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Waffen SS Uniforms and Insignia
Waffen-SS Encyclopedia
Uniforms of the NSDAP: Uniforms - Headgear - Insignia of the Nazi Party
Collector's Guide to the Waffen-SS
Uniforms of the Third Reich: A Study in Photographs (Schiffer Military History)

ASIN: 0764300466

Book Description

This new work explores in detailed color the complex subject of Allgemeine and Waffen-SS uniforms, insignia, and accoutrements. Hundreds of authentic items are extensively photographed in close-up to enable the reader to examine and study., over 800 color and b/w photographs, 8 1/2" x 11"

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Pictorial Reference Guide to SS Uniforms & Gear.......2003-08-06

Wonderful reference guide with full colour photographs of SS tunics and SS related gear such as insignia, cufftitles, daggers etc... Includes B&W photos as a historical reference point, very useful for those contemplating the purchase of any SS related items or those restoring uniforms. A must for any SS enthusiast!

The best SS uniform book out there.......2002-01-05

A must have for the collector. A.Hayes shows everthing from Uniforms, Helmets, Weapons, Musical Intrustments to childrens toys. He also shows period photographs not seen before. He does not fill the book up with the history of the SS where you can get anywhere else and concentrates on the colored photos.

very complete information.......2000-04-27

Very sensitive and intelligent vision of uniforms used by ss political and army organisation. The must for collectors and reenactors people. Every one must have it !

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 1 (Stackpole Military History)

Average customer rating:

Detailed History of top Waffen SS Tiger Commanders!
Can't Give It 5 Stars but I do recommend it.
great book
MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 1 (Stackpole Military History)
A bit disappointed

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 1 (Stackpole Military History)
Patrick Agte
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 2 (Stackpole Military History)
Grenadiers: The Story Of Waffen SS General Kurt 'Panzer' Meyer (Stackpole Military History)
Germany's Panzer Arm in World War II (Stackpole Military History)
Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross
Panzer Aces II: Battle Stories of German Tank Commanders in World War II (Stackpole Military History Series)

ASIN: 0811733343

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Detailed History of top Waffen SS Tiger Commanders!.......2007-08-02

The Eastern Front experiences of the world's most successful tank ace, Michael Wittmann, and those of his fellow Waffen SS Tiger commanders of the Leibstandarte Division are covered in this first of two volumes published by Stackpole Books.

This first volume does provide a great deal of information of Wittmann and his comrades and the combat activities of the 4th (Heavy) Company from its creation in January 1943 to early June 1944 when Wittmann & his comrades, now part of the 101st SS Panzer Battalion, found themselves in France awaiting the Allied invasion. Numerous first-person accounts of Wittmann, the man and the military commander, abound. Though many are written in the stilted, stiff wartime style, they do present a coherent picture of an exemplary commander and a superlative fighting leader. The book also includes testimonials to other Waffen SS commanders and many accounts of Eastern Front action. Unfortunately the book, originally published in Germany, is a ponderous read.

The book also features over 300 photographs of Wittmann, his comrades, their tanks, Soviet opponents, etc. Unfortunately photo reproduction quality is poor; most shots are muddy. There are a number of battle maps included but they are are hard to understand and add little to the narrative. I did find the inclusion of the various units' Order of Battle fascinating. At a single glance you could see how many tanks the unit possessed, supporting flak units, scout cars, supply trucks, etc. and realize how large an organization the 10st, for example, was.

All in all, Agte's book is a mixed blessing. Lots of info on Wittmann, other Tiger commanders and Eastern Front battles but it's presented in a plodding, graceless narrative. Lots of rare photos but they're poorly reproduced, etc. Reasonable price ($19.95) but remember: you still need to pick up volume 2 to see how it all ends!

Your call!

Can't Give It 5 Stars but I do recommend it........2007-06-08

I read a couple of readers reviews before I purchased the book. I confirm or concur with what one of the reviewer's said. The maps are not the greatest and the cities mentioned in the text are hard to locate on them and you also need to purchase Vol 2 which continues the story of Wittmann. Vol 1 covers mostly the eastern front and some Italy and Wittmann's exploits there but you need Vol 2 for the western front. It is an easy reading book. More detail about the Tiger's performance aspects would have been good. I will write more on Vol 2 when finished.

great book.......2007-03-08

I really liked how the book not only delved into Michael Wittman, but also the explored the battles the he was in during WWII.

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 1 (Stackpole Military History).......2007-01-11

A very good book to read, with a great deal of information about a WW II hero of the Germany Waffen SS (Michael Wittmann). This book also tell the story of other panzer commanders, and the men that fought in the heavy panze's battalions of WW II. I would also recommmend that you purchase Volume II right away, you wouldn't want to stop reading after you finish Vol. I.

A bit disappointed.......2006-10-27

I purchased this book and volume 2 on the hope of reading about Michael Wittman, at the time of this review I had not started the second volume.
The book does have a lot of information about the Tiger Aces of the Leibstandarte and their battles / triumphs but Michael Wittman has been regulated as one of the Tiger Aces. The book does give a number of mentions of him, but if you are looking for a history solely on him you are going to be disappointed, I gave the book 3 stars for that reason only, for an overall history of the Tiger Aces the book is worth 4 stars.

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 2 (Stackpole Military History)

Average customer rating:

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 2 (Stackpole Military History)
A bit better than Volume One

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 2 (Stackpole Military History)
Patrick Agte
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 1 (Stackpole Military History)
Grenadiers: The Story Of Waffen SS General Kurt 'Panzer' Meyer (Stackpole Military History)
The 12th SS: The History of the Hitler Youth Panzer Division Volume II (Stackpole Military History)
Panzer Aces II: Battle Stories of German Tank Commanders in World War II (Stackpole Military History Series)
Germany's Panzer Arm in World War II (Stackpole Military History)

ASIN: 0811733351

Book Description

German Panzer ace Michael Wittmann was by far the most famous tank commander on any side in World War II, destroying 138 enemy tanks and 132 anti-tank guns with his Tiger. This classic of armored warfare is both combat biography and unit history, as Patrick Agte focuses on the life and career of Wittmann but also includes his fellow Tiger commanders in the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. Volume Two follows Michael Wittmann and his unit into Normandy to defend against the Allied invasion. A week after D-Day, Wittmann achieved his greatest success. On June 13, 1944, near Villers Bocage, the panzer ace and his crew attacked a British armored unit, single-handedly destroying more than a dozen tanks and preventing an enemy breakthrough. The exploit made Wittmann a national hero in Germany and a legend in the annals of war. He was killed two months later while attempting to repulse an Allied assault, but the book continues beyond his death until the Leibstandarte's surrender.

Customer Reviews:

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 2 (Stackpole Military History).......2007-01-11

Great book. Read Vol I first. You wouldn't want to put the book down. Great story about Michael Wittmann, a true German war hero, and his many panzer comrads in WW II.

A bit better than Volume One.......2006-11-15

Purchased Volumne One and Two for the sole purpose to learn all about MICHAEL WITTMAN the first was far more involved about the SS Tiger Aces than Michael Wittman, the second which starts from DDay has a lot more information especially his spectacular battle on the road to Villers Bocage but this tends to get repeated again and again, more background from 1914 but unfortunately he was killed a couple of months after DDay so the book follows his battalion until the end of the war but if you have read Patrick Agte book on Jochen Pieper you would already known this.
So three stars if your interested in Michael Wittman four stars if your interested in the 101 Tank Battalion.

Average customer rating:

A very good starting point
A good resource for the money
Full of flaws
A Good Intro to the men of the SS

Ss: Roll of Infamy
Christopher Ailsby
Manufacturer: Motorbooks International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Ss: The Bloodsoaked Soil

ASIN: 0760304092

Customer Reviews:

A very good starting point.......2007-06-29

I agree with the previous reviewer, some people are a little too pedantic for their own good. While Alisby's book does have some flaws vis-a-vis dates and supposed fates, if you are researching any particular member of the SS then this book, would be a good place to start. As any good researcher will tell you, you should cross-referencing any material with multiple sources and any flaws should be shown up.

Ailsby does a fine job of given a precis of all the various branches of the SS. He covers the most nortorious members such as Himmler, Heydrich, Eichmann and Eicke and some of the more well-known members such as Dietrich, 'Panzer' Meyer, and Hausser. But there are also hundreds of bio's for members that I've never heard or read about (surprising given some of the crimes they were guilty off).

This book acts as another piece to the jigsaw that is the SS and should not be overlooked.

A good resource for the money.......2007-01-10

Some people are just too picky, considering that there are roughly 400 or so names listed in the book it's not so difficult to understand how Ailsby might have made a minor error or two with regard to a date that someone died or some obscure detail of a persons escape etc., but the vast majority of information in the book is accurate. SS Roll of Infamy was never intended to be a comprehensive biography of each individual listed in the book, such a work would require several volumes of 500-600 pages each and cost ten times what this book does. SS Roll of Infamy is precisely what Ailsby intended it to be, a concise and largely accurate synopsis of the careers of some 400 of the most notorious and well known members of the SS, and is a worthy addition to anyones library as a quick reference.

Full of flaws.......1999-12-15

The data in this book is filled with errors, from dates to biographies. It has too many flaws to be considered a good reference source. A few examples; Ailsby states that Richard Glücks, the infamous inspector of the concentration camps made some sort of spectacular escape, in true life, Glücks killed himself in British captivity. Ailsby also states that Herbert Kappler (the head of the Gestapo in Rome) escaped from his prison cell in the -80s and has not been seen after that. And again Ailsby has got it all wrong. Kappler escaped in -77 and died of cancer in -78 in Germany.

It seems that Ailsby's primary source on the Knight's Cross winners was Jost Schneider's "Their Honour Was Loyalty" that is clear from the way he copies Schneider's text.

So my advice is that keep away from this rotten apple.

A Good Intro to the men of the SS.......1999-05-22

I thought this was a good intro into the men that served in the SS. This book is an alpahbetical breakdown of the men, and some women, who served in different SS units. However, this is not a history of the SS. The book gives a brief (usually about a 1/2 page) bio of each of the members and breaks down what they did, how they came to join the SS, what medals they won, if they were tried after the war, what they did after the war, etc. The book does give a good look at all the differing aspects of the SS such as camp commandants, gauleiters, camp guards, Waffen-SS officers and soldiers, and even foreign ambassadors. This book is a good intro to the people that made up the SS, what they did, and the differing units that made up the SS.

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