The 17th Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz Von Berlichingen

The 17th Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz Von Berlichingen
Author: Massimiliano Afiero
Publisher: Schiffer Military History
Total Pages: 208
Release: 2018-02-28
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780764354502

The 17th Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier Division "G�tz von Berlichingen" was one of the few SS formations to be employed exclusively on the western front during World War II. From the time of its formation in France in 1943, "G�tz von Berlichingen" saw bitter and bloody fighting in Normandy, the Seine front, Metz, the Saar, the Palatinate, and later the defense of the west wall until the final battles in Germany. Despite the overwhelming superiority of Allied forces, the units that comprised the division always managed to offer dogged resistance, counterattacking ferociously, and defending every foot of ground with great courage and determination. The units of "G�tz von Berlichingen" received praise, not only from the German high command, but also earned the respect of its Allied adversaries. In addition, the "G�tz von Berlichingen" division was never involved in any war crimes, or in crimes against civilians. Detailed operational history, rare combat images, maps, and personality profiles make this book the definitive history of "G�tz von Berlichingen."

Panzergrenadier Divisions of the Waffen-SS

Panzergrenadier Divisions of the Waffen-SS
Author: Rolf Michaelis
Publisher: Schiffer Pub Limited
Total Pages: 216
Release: 2010
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780764336607

This new book is a concise combat history of the six Waffen-SS panzergrenadier divisions in World War II. The formation and combat histories of each are discussed in detailed text, along with maps and rare photographs and includes: the 4th SS-Polizei Panzergrenadier Division; 11th SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Division Nordland; 16th SS-Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS; 17th SS-Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen; 18th SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Division Horst Wessel; 23rd SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Division Nederland.

The Waffen-SS in Allied Hands Volume One

The Waffen-SS in Allied Hands Volume One
Author: Terry Goldsworthy
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Total Pages: 458
Release: 2019-01-29
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1527527328

The Waffen-SS are commonly regarded as the elite of Germany’s armed forces during World War II. They gained much of this reputation while fighting on the Eastern Front in Russia during Germany’s war against the Soviet Union. They were also called to the fore in an attempt to hurl back the Western Allies’ invasion forces in Normandy, and were used in the last great offensive on the Western Front in the Ardennes and contributed to the final defence of Berlin. In adversity, they were some of the most resilient soldiers that fought for Germany in World War II and were ideologically and politically aligned with Hitler. For over 70 years, many of the manuscripts contained in this book, and sourced from the United States National Archives, have not been scrutinised by modern researchers. This book provides a unique opportunity to publish these records in order to provide an insight into the Waffen-SS. The Waffen-SS was a military organisation that is steeped in the military folklore of being a force capable of incredible military feats, but it was also capable of incredible evil. These records are exceedingly valuable as they are one of the few contemporaneous primary sources of information available in relation to the Waffen-SS.

The 4th Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier Division Polizei

The 4th Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier Division Polizei
Author: Massimiliano Afiero
Publisher: Schiffer Military History
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2021-06-28
Genre:
ISBN: 9780764361708

The Polizei division first took shape in 1939, drawing manpower from the civilian police. In February 1942, the unit was transferred to the Waffen-SS and redesignated SS-Polizei-Division (4.SS). The former policemen appeared on the Western Front in 1940, before being shipped to the Leningrad sector in 1941. Polizei remained on the Eastern Front for the duration of the war, including deployments in Greece, the Banat (Romania), Hungary, and Pomerania, before finally surrendering just northwest of Berlin. The subject is examined through many personal recollections, hundreds of photos and maps from private collections, and period documents, including extracts from official bulletins and the division's war diary. A brief history of the Polizei II division is included as an appendix.

The 3rd Waffen-SS Panzer Division Totenkopf, 1939-1943

The 3rd Waffen-SS Panzer Division Totenkopf, 1939-1943
Author: Massimiliano Afiero
Publisher: Schiffer Military History
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2018-02-21
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780764354625

One of the most infamous of all Waffen-SS formations, the 3rd SS-Panzer Division "Totenkopf" has always been identified as the very essence of the notorious "Black Order." Associated with war crimes in official historiography, formed initially with personnel coming from guard units from concentration camps, the unit was nevertheless able to prove itself on the battlefield, distinguishing itself in all of the main campaigns in which it fought, from France to the Russian front. This first of two volumes tells the story of the "Totenkopf" from 1939 to 1943: from the campaign in Poland in 1939; its employment on the Western Front in 1940; to the early campaigns on the Russian Front. Volume one culminates in the bitter fighting on the Demjansk front and to the Kharkov counteroffensive in 1943, finally ending with Operation Zitadelle. As with all of the volumes in this series, the detailed history of the division is accompanied by many first-hand accounts, documents, extracts from official reports, and from the division's war diary, and by over 860 photographs and maps.

The Last Battle

The Last Battle
Author: Stephen Harding
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2013-05-07
Genre: History
ISBN: 0306822091

The incredible story of the unlikeliest battle of World War II, when a small group of American soldiers joined forces with German soldiers to fight off fanatical SS troops May, 1945. Hitler is dead, the Third Reich is little more than smoking rubble, and no GI wants to be the last man killed in action against the Nazis. The Last Battle tells the nearly unbelievable story of the unlikeliest battle of the war, when a small group of American tankers, led by Captain Lee, joined forces with German soldiers to fight off fanatical SS troops seeking to capture Castle Itter and execute the stronghold's VIP prisoners. It is a tale of unlikely allies, startling bravery, jittery suspense, and desperate combat between implacable enemies.

The Waffen-SS (3)

The Waffen-SS (3)
Author: Gordon Williamson
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 119
Release: 2012-03-20
Genre: History
ISBN: 1780965796

The Waffen-SS grew from a handful of obscure infantry battalions in 1939, to a force of more than 30 divisions by the end of World War II, including units of every type and every level of battlefield value. The mid-war divisions covered in this third title represent that range, from some of the most effective German and Western European volunteer formations – e.g. the 12. SS-Pz Div 'Hitlerjugend', and the Scandinavians and Dutchmen of the 11. 'Nordland' and 23. 'Nederland' divisions – to the Bosnian Muslims of the anti-partisan 13. 'Handschar' Division. Illustrated with rare photographs from private collections and meticulous colour artwork, the text details their organization, uniforms and insignia, and summarizes their battle records.

Lions of Carentan, The

Lions of Carentan, The
Author: Volker Griesser
Publisher: Casemate
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2011-10-06
Genre: History
ISBN: 1612000061

Although it is known that Allied airborne forces landed into a German buzzsaw on D-Day, far less is known about the troops they encountered in the dark night of June 6, 1944. One of the formations they encountered was a similarly elite group of paratroopers, who instead of dropping from the skies fought on the defensive, giving their Allied counterparts a tremendous challenge in achieving their objectives. This is the complete wartime history of one of the largest German paratrooper regiments, 6th , from its initial formation in the spring of 1943 to its last day at the end of the war. With numerous firsthand accounts from key members, reporting on their experiences, they describe the events of 1943Ð45 vividly and without compromise. These accounts reveal previously unknown details about important operations in Italy, Russia, on the Normandy Front, Belgium, Holland, the last German Parachute drop in the Ardennes, and the final battle to the end in Germany. With over 220 original photographs, many from private collections and never before published, this book fully illustrates the men, their uniforms, equipment and weapons. Also included is an appendix with maps, battle calendar, staffing plans, a list of field and post-MOB-numbers, and the Knight's Cross recipients of the regiment. Having earned the respect of the Allied forces who fought against it during World War II, this work will inform current readers of the full record of FallschirmjŠger Regiment 6, and why the Allied advance into German-held Europe was so painstaking to achieve.

SS Charlemagne

SS Charlemagne
Author: Tony Le Tissier
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2010-08-19
Genre: History
ISBN: 1848846940

In May 1945, as the triumphant Red Army crushed the last pockets of German resistance in central Berlin, French soldiers fought back. They were the last surviving members of SS Charlemagne, the Waffen SS division made up of French volunteers. They were among the final defenders of the city and of Hitlers bunker. Their extraordinary story gives a compelling insight into the dreadful climax of the Battle for Berlin and into the conflicts of loyalty faced by the French in the Second World War. Yet, whatever their motivation, the performance of these soldiers as they confronted the Soviet onslaught was unwavering, and their fate after the German defeat was grim. Once captured, they were shot out of hand by their French compatriots or imprisoned. SS Charlemagne is a gripping, fluently written study of one of the most revealing side stories of the war.

SAS Operation Bulbasket

SAS Operation Bulbasket
Author: Paul McCue
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Total Pages: 260
Release: 1990-12-31
Genre: History
ISBN: 1473817951

This WWII history reveals the untold story of a British special forces unit parachuted into Occupied France to disrupt the German response to D-Day. On June 6th, 1944, members of Britain’s elite Special Air Service were dropped by parachute deep in Nazi-occupied France. Shortly followed by others, the unit totaled fifty-five men. Their task was to disrupt in every way possible the movement of German troops to the north as they tried to repel the Allied invasion of Normandy. Only now, with the release of classified documents, can the full story of Operation Bulbasket be told. Speaking with many of the surviving participants, historian Paul McCue has pieced together what really happened in those dramatic eight weeks after D-Day. Indeed, the survivors themselves have only learned the full story of their operation after it was hidden from them for decades.