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The SS-Sonderkommando "Dirlewanger": A Memoir
A rare look inside the Sonderkommando "Dirlewanger," the SS anti-partisan unit notorious for atrocities in Poland and Russia during World War II. These memoirs were written by a former member of the unit from its formation in 1940 to the end of the war and took part in nearly all its operations. A first hand account of the brutal and barbaric methods used by Dirlewanger against partisans methods that appalled even some SS commanders are revealed here in this memoir. SS-Sonderkommando "Dirlewanger" was originally manned by convicted poachers, however as the war progressed replacements were found by emptying prisons and filling the ranks with more hardened criminals. Here are the chilling recollections of a soldier in the SS-Sonderkommando "Dirlewanger" during the Polish and Russian campaigns, the 1944 Warsaw uprising and the final battles near Berlin.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published October 28, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 5, 2013
Nothing Particularly Revealing …
The history of the “Dirlewanger Brigade”, an ad-hoc branch of the Waffen SS that filled its ranks by emptying German prisons, is somewhat enigmatic. While the brigade gained notoriety by committing atrocities in the Soviet Union and more specifically, the crushing of the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, there is no substantive material dedicated to adequately documenting this unit. SS-SONDERKOMMANDO “DIRLEWANGER”: A MEMOIR tantalizes as being a source of revelation penned by one of its apparently few surviving members. Unfortunately, the book is nothing more than a tepid and vague remembrance of war that neither supports nor refutes the unit’s notoriety. The mystery remains.
Most of the books I’ve read on the Eastern Front only mention the Dirlewanger Brigade when documenting German brutality and those references are usually brief and tend to rely on assumptions (that a group of felons/criminals wearing SS runes were the “worst of the worst” in terms of brutality). While I have no doubt that the unit likely committed war crimes, this book doesn’t really lend support to the reputation of notoriety that is emphasized in so many other books. The memoir’s author, who wished to remain unnamed, was a convicted criminal, but not the hardcore felon that one would associate with committing atrocities. The author’s label as a criminal stemmed from a teenage incident of shooting/killing a deer. Although accompanied by a friend, the author accepts sole responsibility and goes to prison for poaching. As described, the incident appeared neither malicious nor overly cruel, just a teenage desire to try hunting. A chance at redemption comes when Germany, engaged in a war of attrition, considers granting penance to some criminals in return for military service. With this opportunity, the author becomes a member of an SS unit that consists of other criminals (of varying infractions) and is led by convicted pedophile Oskar Dirlewanger (who commands a great deal of respect from the author).
The memoir is rather brief and divided into small chapters mostly named after the areas his unit was assigned during the war. Each chapter is short and while there are a few examples of more detailed moments, most of the chapters are nothing more than summaries. The majority of the author’s duty in the field consists of hunting partisans in German occupied territory and he recalls these moments rather matter-of-factly. Although there is a significant lack of any emotion in the writing, it seems a little defensive and contrived at times, especially when discussing his opinions of Jews (he comes across rather tolerant for a member of the SS). The killing of innocents (women and children) is mentioned, but at no point did I infer the author admitting in participating in such activities. On occasion, however, the author does implicate Russians as being guilty of committing atrocities. Whether the author is intentionally omitting certain aspects of his time in the SS is debatable. He is promoted several times and is even awarded the Iron Cross and wound badge, but his story doesn’t really provide the specifics that justified the promotions … is there more to this man’s story? Overall, the author presents himself as competent and just, while the other criminals in his unit are loutish types. Even with that being said, I never sensed that this unit (even later on, when career criminals/felons were added) was the evil monster so often described as looting and AWOL were the most common behavior problems mentioned. The only real moments of excitement (aside from randomly shooting down and airplane at night and disabling a Russian tank with a Panzerfaust) are when the Russians begin closing in and he desperately flees west to be captured by Americans. After the war, he basically lives an unfettered life … free of guilt.
This memoir doesn’t support the historical narrative of the Dirlewanger Brigade and its notoriety. It is simply one man’s account of being in that unit and reveals nothing new or enlightening. The book left me feeling there was more to the story. Maybe the author didn’t see/experience what his unit is credited with doing, but then again, maybe he did and he’s decided to carry those memories with him to his grave. This book never provided the details I expected.
The history of the “Dirlewanger Brigade”, an ad-hoc branch of the Waffen SS that filled its ranks by emptying German prisons, is somewhat enigmatic. While the brigade gained notoriety by committing atrocities in the Soviet Union and more specifically, the crushing of the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, there is no substantive material dedicated to adequately documenting this unit. SS-SONDERKOMMANDO “DIRLEWANGER”: A MEMOIR tantalizes as being a source of revelation penned by one of its apparently few surviving members. Unfortunately, the book is nothing more than a tepid and vague remembrance of war that neither supports nor refutes the unit’s notoriety. The mystery remains.
Most of the books I’ve read on the Eastern Front only mention the Dirlewanger Brigade when documenting German brutality and those references are usually brief and tend to rely on assumptions (that a group of felons/criminals wearing SS runes were the “worst of the worst” in terms of brutality). While I have no doubt that the unit likely committed war crimes, this book doesn’t really lend support to the reputation of notoriety that is emphasized in so many other books. The memoir’s author, who wished to remain unnamed, was a convicted criminal, but not the hardcore felon that one would associate with committing atrocities. The author’s label as a criminal stemmed from a teenage incident of shooting/killing a deer. Although accompanied by a friend, the author accepts sole responsibility and goes to prison for poaching. As described, the incident appeared neither malicious nor overly cruel, just a teenage desire to try hunting. A chance at redemption comes when Germany, engaged in a war of attrition, considers granting penance to some criminals in return for military service. With this opportunity, the author becomes a member of an SS unit that consists of other criminals (of varying infractions) and is led by convicted pedophile Oskar Dirlewanger (who commands a great deal of respect from the author).
The memoir is rather brief and divided into small chapters mostly named after the areas his unit was assigned during the war. Each chapter is short and while there are a few examples of more detailed moments, most of the chapters are nothing more than summaries. The majority of the author’s duty in the field consists of hunting partisans in German occupied territory and he recalls these moments rather matter-of-factly. Although there is a significant lack of any emotion in the writing, it seems a little defensive and contrived at times, especially when discussing his opinions of Jews (he comes across rather tolerant for a member of the SS). The killing of innocents (women and children) is mentioned, but at no point did I infer the author admitting in participating in such activities. On occasion, however, the author does implicate Russians as being guilty of committing atrocities. Whether the author is intentionally omitting certain aspects of his time in the SS is debatable. He is promoted several times and is even awarded the Iron Cross and wound badge, but his story doesn’t really provide the specifics that justified the promotions … is there more to this man’s story? Overall, the author presents himself as competent and just, while the other criminals in his unit are loutish types. Even with that being said, I never sensed that this unit (even later on, when career criminals/felons were added) was the evil monster so often described as looting and AWOL were the most common behavior problems mentioned. The only real moments of excitement (aside from randomly shooting down and airplane at night and disabling a Russian tank with a Panzerfaust) are when the Russians begin closing in and he desperately flees west to be captured by Americans. After the war, he basically lives an unfettered life … free of guilt.
This memoir doesn’t support the historical narrative of the Dirlewanger Brigade and its notoriety. It is simply one man’s account of being in that unit and reveals nothing new or enlightening. The book left me feeling there was more to the story. Maybe the author didn’t see/experience what his unit is credited with doing, but then again, maybe he did and he’s decided to carry those memories with him to his grave. This book never provided the details I expected.
March 25, 2021
This book gives a glimpse into a world that is not explored in almost any books. It gives us a look into the mind of a man who fought in one of the most brutal units of world war 2 and i think its an important book for us to see how a normal soldier viewed the war in Dirlewangers brigade. The book goes trough the first fights to the last where the brigade took part in and shows us the brutality of war.
Some people critic this book for not showing any war crimes however we have enough books on those already and we have explored the evils of Nazi Germany to the bone but this book shows us a normal soldiers perspective. He just fulfills his duties as was asked and nothing else. If you want a great book from a soldiers perspective i recommend this book 100%
Some people critic this book for not showing any war crimes however we have enough books on those already and we have explored the evils of Nazi Germany to the bone but this book shows us a normal soldiers perspective. He just fulfills his duties as was asked and nothing else. If you want a great book from a soldiers perspective i recommend this book 100%
July 25, 2025
Very colored biography of a Nazi soldier. He never goes into detail and even defends one of the most vile war criminals. Good to have an idea of the mindset of a Nazi soldier.
Before you read this, read a bit about the Dirlinger company. Just so you can frame a bit the story of this “good” soldier.
Before you read this, read a bit about the Dirlinger company. Just so you can frame a bit the story of this “good” soldier.
April 2, 2026
I found the book to be very exciting about one of the most notorious departments in the SS.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews