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Devil's Guard #1
Devil's Guard
WHAT THEY DID IN WORLD WAR II WAS HISTORY'S BLOODIEST NIGHTMARE.
The ashes of World War II were still cooling when France went to war in the jungles of Southeast Asia. In that struggle, its frontline troops were the misfits, criminals and mercenaries of the French Foreign Legion. And among that international army of the desperate and the damned, none were so bloodstained as the fugitive veterans of the German S.S.
WHAT THEY DID IN VIETNAM WAS ITS UGLIEST SECRET -- UNTIL NOW.
Loathed by the French, feared and hated by the Vietnamese, the Germans fought not for patriotism or glory but because fighting for France was better than hanging from its gallows. Here now is the untold story of the killer elite whose discipline, ferocity and suicidal courage made them the weapon of last resort.
The ashes of World War II were still cooling when France went to war in the jungles of Southeast Asia. In that struggle, its frontline troops were the misfits, criminals and mercenaries of the French Foreign Legion. And among that international army of the desperate and the damned, none were so bloodstained as the fugitive veterans of the German S.S.
WHAT THEY DID IN VIETNAM WAS ITS UGLIEST SECRET -- UNTIL NOW.
Loathed by the French, feared and hated by the Vietnamese, the Germans fought not for patriotism or glory but because fighting for France was better than hanging from its gallows. Here now is the untold story of the killer elite whose discipline, ferocity and suicidal courage made them the weapon of last resort.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
October 4, 2024
Members of the Waffen SS join the French Foreign Legion fighting in Vietnam. With no country to return to how will they survive? This book forces the reader to as some hard questions: at what point does it become the responsibility of a country to 'identify' who is fighting in furtherance of their interests? This is still going on: the Wagner Group fits into this group of 'non-(state) combatants' that is spreading all over the world.
January 8, 2023
The Devil's Guard chronicles, via the narrator Hans Josef Wagemueller, a group of former SS (and other) German soldiers from WWII who joined the French Foreign Legion and then fought in Indochina. This begins with Wagemueller at the end of WWII cut off far from Germany near the Russian lines and his trials and travails to finally arrive in Switzerland, and shortly thereafter France and the Legion. After a brief training period in North Africa, off to Southeast Asia they go. From there, each chapter basically recounts a battle (or several) with the Viet Minh.
Wagemueller was not the only German in the Legion, however, which basically constituted a 'Nazi brigade' of about 900 that always got results. At least according to Wikipedia, there is some truth to the Nazis being in the Legion, but the actual account presented here is largely fictional or exacerbated. Nonetheless, it presents a philosophy of war on how to combat 'irregulars' on their own turf-- more than an eye for an eye, you must terrify the terrorists. Murder and atrocity begets more and even nastier murder and atrocity. This philosophy reminded me of Tom Kratman's work, especially in Carnifex and the author's afterward contained therein.
Communists were invariably presented as either power hungry monsters or deluded; basically, a subspecies of humanity. Wagemueller even quipped once that Mao and Ho were the actual subhumans the Nazi regime propagandized about the Jews and gypsies (who Wagemueller argued did not really comprise a threat to Germany at all). How these so-called communists employed propaganda, the international press and international institutions to further their cause is remarkably similar to Kratman's thoughts on 'tranzis', or transnational liberals. The barbarities of the communists were always downplayed while the French actions in Indochina were overplayed, demoralizing and effectively hamstringing the regular troops and their missions.
Because the 'Nazi brigade' operated with quasi-independence, however, fewer restrictions applied, especially as they always got results. Torture? If need be. Wagemueller noted how all states with secret police use it regularly, even the USA did in WWII. Wagemueller played by his own rules and his own code of honor. The Devil's Guard presents Wagemueller as an honorable soldier, but if the enemy lowers the bar, than Wagemueller will lower it as well. Wagemueller and company are not blood thirsty maniacs, but will do what has to be done to get the job done, and that means staying alive while the terrorists don't.
This entire book is basically one action scene after another. It is almost mesmerizing to read and Wagemueller and company engage the enemy deep in the jungles of Indochina. At the very start, Wagemueller distances himself from the SS troops running the concentration camps in Germany; he proudly served as a 'headhunter' taking down partisans in occupied territory and argued only the sadists and cowards served behind the lines at the camps. Yet, at the end of the war, all SS were tainted by the camps, leaving him little choice to flee or be condemned to hang.
Finally, I should mention that this book seems to be a something passed around in military barracks, even today. It does present a coherent philosophy of war, albeit of the take no prisoners school. While you definitely feel some sympathy for Wagemueller and the other Germans, the biggest victims were the civilians caught between the French and the Viet Minh; this tragedy obviously continued when the US entered the scene a decade later. In 'rooting out' the terrorists, you went to the villages that supplied them, but of course the villagers often had no choice in the matter, largely just wanting to be left alone. Tragically, however, they seldom had much of a choice.
Not quite sure what to make of it regarding rating wise, so I will go with 3 stars!
Wagemueller was not the only German in the Legion, however, which basically constituted a 'Nazi brigade' of about 900 that always got results. At least according to Wikipedia, there is some truth to the Nazis being in the Legion, but the actual account presented here is largely fictional or exacerbated. Nonetheless, it presents a philosophy of war on how to combat 'irregulars' on their own turf-- more than an eye for an eye, you must terrify the terrorists. Murder and atrocity begets more and even nastier murder and atrocity. This philosophy reminded me of Tom Kratman's work, especially in Carnifex and the author's afterward contained therein.
Communists were invariably presented as either power hungry monsters or deluded; basically, a subspecies of humanity. Wagemueller even quipped once that Mao and Ho were the actual subhumans the Nazi regime propagandized about the Jews and gypsies (who Wagemueller argued did not really comprise a threat to Germany at all). How these so-called communists employed propaganda, the international press and international institutions to further their cause is remarkably similar to Kratman's thoughts on 'tranzis', or transnational liberals. The barbarities of the communists were always downplayed while the French actions in Indochina were overplayed, demoralizing and effectively hamstringing the regular troops and their missions.
Because the 'Nazi brigade' operated with quasi-independence, however, fewer restrictions applied, especially as they always got results. Torture? If need be. Wagemueller noted how all states with secret police use it regularly, even the USA did in WWII. Wagemueller played by his own rules and his own code of honor. The Devil's Guard presents Wagemueller as an honorable soldier, but if the enemy lowers the bar, than Wagemueller will lower it as well. Wagemueller and company are not blood thirsty maniacs, but will do what has to be done to get the job done, and that means staying alive while the terrorists don't.
This entire book is basically one action scene after another. It is almost mesmerizing to read and Wagemueller and company engage the enemy deep in the jungles of Indochina. At the very start, Wagemueller distances himself from the SS troops running the concentration camps in Germany; he proudly served as a 'headhunter' taking down partisans in occupied territory and argued only the sadists and cowards served behind the lines at the camps. Yet, at the end of the war, all SS were tainted by the camps, leaving him little choice to flee or be condemned to hang.
Finally, I should mention that this book seems to be a something passed around in military barracks, even today. It does present a coherent philosophy of war, albeit of the take no prisoners school. While you definitely feel some sympathy for Wagemueller and the other Germans, the biggest victims were the civilians caught between the French and the Viet Minh; this tragedy obviously continued when the US entered the scene a decade later. In 'rooting out' the terrorists, you went to the villages that supplied them, but of course the villagers often had no choice in the matter, largely just wanting to be left alone. Tragically, however, they seldom had much of a choice.
Not quite sure what to make of it regarding rating wise, so I will go with 3 stars!
March 31, 2012
This is a classic that is hard to find, but passed around Marine Infantry Platoons for all grunts to read. It is a fascinating tale of Germany SS troops who evaded capture after the end of WWII from the Eastern front with Russia. They escaped to Switzerland where they joined the French Foreign Legion. The Irony of having former SS troops serve France while the rest of their comrades are being sentenced to death is not lost. In the Legion they are sent to French Indochina, where they are consolidated into a battalion and unleashed on the Viet Cong. They bring a new level of Nazi ruthlessness to the counterinsurgency that is quite socking. It is by no means a instruction manual on conducting counterinsurgency, but nonetheless, their unit is successful. It is impossible to put this book down, and it is a quick read. I have read it many times and I will read it many more.
July 11, 2007
I've read this several times since my early teens and each time I read it I like it less.
The basic premise of this novel is that it's not actually a novel, but based on the experiences of a real person and the author simply spiffed it up. It's about Nazis, mainly Waffen SS, who escape from Germany after WWII and join the French Foreign Legion. They get sent to French Indochina (present day Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam) to fight the Communist insurgents.
When I was a teenager I actually believed this novel was basically true, but when I reread it a few years ago right after rereading Philip Caputo's excellent Rumors of War, I could clearly see it for what it really is, cheesy pulp claptrap. In Caputo's book there's an almost overpowering sense of filth and humidity. He goes into great detail about how filthy the soldiers got after spending so much time in the field without bathing. Meanwhile, in Devil's Guard, the Nazis are walking around in clean, pressed fatigues. They rarely seemed to get dirty and never encountered that Vietnam memoir/novel/movie staple, the leech. It's doubtful the author of Devil's Guard was ever anywhere close to an actual jungle.
The basic premise of this novel is that it's not actually a novel, but based on the experiences of a real person and the author simply spiffed it up. It's about Nazis, mainly Waffen SS, who escape from Germany after WWII and join the French Foreign Legion. They get sent to French Indochina (present day Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam) to fight the Communist insurgents.
When I was a teenager I actually believed this novel was basically true, but when I reread it a few years ago right after rereading Philip Caputo's excellent Rumors of War, I could clearly see it for what it really is, cheesy pulp claptrap. In Caputo's book there's an almost overpowering sense of filth and humidity. He goes into great detail about how filthy the soldiers got after spending so much time in the field without bathing. Meanwhile, in Devil's Guard, the Nazis are walking around in clean, pressed fatigues. They rarely seemed to get dirty and never encountered that Vietnam memoir/novel/movie staple, the leech. It's doubtful the author of Devil's Guard was ever anywhere close to an actual jungle.
March 24, 2014
Like "Starship Troopers", I read this very differently when I was a young soldier than I do now.
As a soldier, I was intrigued by how the German Legionnaires did things (notwithstanding their, shall we say, looseness with the laws of war).
Now, when I re-read it, I like how it shows the "feel" of soldiering, and the questions it raises about what is worthwhile to stop a war.
P.S. - While a smashing good action book read, contrary to some reports, it's fiction.
As a soldier, I was intrigued by how the German Legionnaires did things (notwithstanding their, shall we say, looseness with the laws of war).
Now, when I re-read it, I like how it shows the "feel" of soldiering, and the questions it raises about what is worthwhile to stop a war.
P.S. - While a smashing good action book read, contrary to some reports, it's fiction.
July 3, 2012
I first read this when I was in the army... and it was passed around the platoon. What an amazing tale!
April 2, 2018
Little known story of ex-German soldiers in Vietnam
February 9, 2015
Friggin' AWESOME. It took awhile to get into, but boy, once I did ol' Hans had me in his grip. Ahhh, the slaying. Never thought I would enjoy it, but it did. Not sure it was good for my temper though...I've wanted to bayonet people at random who slightly bother me...
September 10, 2021
Βαθμολογία: 9/10
Υποτίθεται ότι το βιβλίο αυτό είναι μια μυθιστορηματική καταγραφή της πραγματικής ιστορίας ενός πρώην στρατιώτη των SS -και της μονάδας του-, τους Χανς Γιόζεφ Βαγκεμύλερ, που από το Ανατολικό Μέτωπο του Β' Π.Π. βρέθηκε στην Ινδοκίνα, να πολεμάει σαν μισθοφόρος για τη Γαλλική Λεγεώνα των Ξένων απέναντι στους Βιετμίνχ. Τελικά, είναι μάλλον καθαρή φαντασία η όλη ιστορία του βιβλίου, αν και σίγουρα θα βασίζεται σε αληθινά πρόσωπα και αληθινές καταστάσεις, από τη στιγμή που είναι τόσο ρεαλιστικά και ωμά γραμμένο. Είναι ασυζητητί από τις καλύτερες και πιο ψυχαγωγικές πολεμικές ιστορίες που έχω διαβάσει, είναι ένα βιβλίο γεμάτο φοβερές εικόνες και δυνατές σκηνές, με τη γραφή να είναι αρκούντως γλαφυρή και ζωντανή, με εξαιρετικές περιγραφές των τοπίων και των διαφόρων σκηνών δράσης. Φυσικά δεν μιλάμε για κάποιο λογοτεχνικό αριστούργημα ή κάτι τέτοιο, αλλά προσωπικά μου φάνηκε αρκετά καλογραμμένο και οπωσδήποτε απολαυστικό για το είδος του. Το βιβλίο απευθύνεται κυρίως στους λάτρεις των πολεμικών ιστοριών και των περιπετειών, αλλά και ίσως σε όσους θέλουν να μάθουν κάποια πράγματα για τον Α' Πόλεμο της Ινδοκίνας και τη λειτουργία της Γαλλικής Λεγεώνας των Ξένων.
Υποτίθεται ότι το βιβλίο αυτό είναι μια μυθιστορηματική καταγραφή της πραγματικής ιστορίας ενός πρώην στρατιώτη των SS -και της μονάδας του-, τους Χανς Γιόζεφ Βαγκεμύλερ, που από το Ανατολικό Μέτωπο του Β' Π.Π. βρέθηκε στην Ινδοκίνα, να πολεμάει σαν μισθοφόρος για τη Γαλλική Λεγεώνα των Ξένων απέναντι στους Βιετμίνχ. Τελικά, είναι μάλλον καθαρή φαντασία η όλη ιστορία του βιβλίου, αν και σίγουρα θα βασίζεται σε αληθινά πρόσωπα και αληθινές καταστάσεις, από τη στιγμή που είναι τόσο ρεαλιστικά και ωμά γραμμένο. Είναι ασυζητητί από τις καλύτερες και πιο ψυχαγωγικές πολεμικές ιστορίες που έχω διαβάσει, είναι ένα βιβλίο γεμάτο φοβερές εικόνες και δυνατές σκηνές, με τη γραφή να είναι αρκούντως γλαφυρή και ζωντανή, με εξαιρετικές περιγραφές των τοπίων και των διαφόρων σκηνών δράσης. Φυσικά δεν μιλάμε για κάποιο λογοτεχνικό αριστούργημα ή κάτι τέτοιο, αλλά προσωπικά μου φάνηκε αρκετά καλογραμμένο και οπωσδήποτε απολαυστικό για το είδος του. Το βιβλίο απευθύνεται κυρίως στους λάτρεις των πολεμικών ιστοριών και των περιπετειών, αλλά και ίσως σε όσους θέλουν να μάθουν κάποια πράγματα για τον Α' Πόλεμο της Ινδοκίνας και τη λειτουργία της Γαλλικής Λεγεώνας των Ξένων.
April 9, 2018
Intriguing recollection of an SS Officer who, at the end of WWII, joins the foreign legion to escape execution and then fight the wars in Asia. Well written, presumably honest story of one of the many secrets of our past wars.
September 6, 2019
Really enjoyed this brutal war story of the exploits of the Legion Etrangere in Indochina post- World War Two. Based [allegedly] on fact, the story is about former Waffen SS and Wehrmacht troops who escape their War Crimes by enlisting in the French Foreign legion, where their skills of warfare honed in the War on the Eastern Front, was employed to combat communist guerrillas in the jungles of modern-day Vietnam then a French Colony . Their exploits hold no punches in the tales of atrocities committed by the Viet Minh and themselves, which adds a kernel of verisimilitude to the telling, which is done through the first person of Hans Wagmueller.
A thoroughly engrossing read involving a rarely written about conflict.
A thoroughly engrossing read involving a rarely written about conflict.
September 14, 2020
This is a novel (which pretends to merely be a heavily fictionalized real account) but is an exceptionally good story -- a Waffen SS officer (hunter of partisans, so fairly morally tolerable) who escapes at the end of WW2, along with many of his men, to join the French Foreign Legion and fight in Indochina (Vietnam). Perfectly captures the competent special operations vs. mindless politicians, unconventional warfare in the jungle, etc. This came out around when Vietnam was getting to peak US involvement (1971), and a lot of the actions in the book were pretty much MACV-SOG type missions which were then-current.
Probably the most ardently anti-communist story I've ever read.
Probably the most ardently anti-communist story I've ever read.
November 5, 2019
SS troops operating in Vietnam's jungle. Seems far fetch but who knows ? Some claims to be those persons in the story.
March 4, 2024
Really dreadful. I read this knowing it was a Nazi propaganda book passed around between Navy Seals, so I expected it to at least present some challenging ideas, but it's really just what it says on the tin: a book about Nazis commiting war crimes in Vietnam. It is different from other Nazi apologist literature in that it avoids entirely the "we were just following orders" mantra in favor of gleeful autonomy for the protagonists. Free from the burdon of oversight that cost the Germans their shot at bringing home the gold in WW2, the former SS cadre never stops giving each other wry smiles as they move from one atrocity to the next. The author tries to inject some poignant "war is hell" moments, but each of these comes amidst descriptions of needless violence against groups of civilians. It's such racist dreck that the only favorable descriptions of native Vietnamese are reserved for the teenage girls. These girls are of course impressed by our heroes' unyeilding bravery and swept into romances with their aging warlords as they deploy such masterful military tactics as: 1. Poisoning a village's water supply with arsenic. 2. Emptying a magazine into a 60 year old woman for being so dangerous as to carry ammunition. 3. Literally yelling DEBATE ME at a prisoner held at gunpoint so they can prove fascism defeats communism.
Don't read this book. And beware of anyone who has
Don't read this book. And beware of anyone who has
September 24, 2016
Outstanding story. It should be on the Commandant's Reading List, re-enlistments would probably go up. I read it almost a decade ago but it still resonates with me. Gives an accurate glimpse of what it's like to be in a combat zone. Their tactics in French Indochina were brutal, but effective, and would never be sanctioned (publicly) by modern nations. I'm not sure about the truth of the narrative, which has to be fictional, but the author clearly had military experience (or spoke to someone who had).
February 5, 2018
A gripping tale that purports to be true, but rather obviously isn't. The story involves a large formation of SS who slaughter a large formation of Soviets in the dying days of WW2 while retreating, then escape westward and join the French Foreign Legion to fight in Indochina in the early stages of the Vietnam war. It is a fairly gruesome read in parts. Followed by two sequels.
January 2, 2011
The first military book i read back in the early eighties, believed it at the time but since proved to be fiction.
Still a cracking read
Still a cracking read
December 21, 2014
As a pulp fiction book, brilliant.
May 30, 2012
This was not the front cover of the book I've read, the book I've read were far older, either way the content is the important...
Well... now this is a book about war...
This is a rare book, which is not edited anymore... my friend bought it for 60£ and as I've seen in some places, like amazon or ebay it was a commom price for this book... There are two more which I saw they were even rarer...
This book reminded me of the books written by Sven HaSSel, the swedish soldier who fought for the germans in WWII. Vivid images and you feel like you are right there fighting and suffering along side them.As well as Sven Hassel books this book has disputed autentic... Nobody knows for certain if they existed but I say you this.. I read a lot about wars, fantasy, real and history and I must say that this two books have some particular not found in the others ones... The reality is so brutal that for me both are true. Sven Hassel books is another story.. He was in war but I think he used not only his stories but others soldiers stories.
First of all...I do not hide that I am fascinated by the german machine of war. They were the true aryan in the art of war. Nobody could defeated them. Nazism is other story... I do not defend nazism but I have some similaries beliefs which I could be accounted with them.. I believe in my people and in my fatherland. I don't like foreigners nor do I like mixture between races. But, I wouldn't kill a person because he is different. I don't think me of a superior being but I believe that there are differences between all races....they have different creeds and religions, diferent states of goverment, different history.. and others things... for all this I am against mixture of races and the "global community". Again I must say I don't believe myself superior to other human. If this feelings are what you call them nazis, then I am one of them. But I ask you this... didn't you ever have a thought or act of racism? No? I doubt it...Another question... would you die for your country? would you kill for it? No? That I can believe... but I ask you something else, would you die for your family and love ones? Don't even start the answer with an N...
There were several things that went wrong with the second world war... First - I don't agree with the persecution of the jews, but I don't believe the numbers the allies and the communist gave us of the killing of them.. first in 1946/47 they said that were around 7 milions, now in the worst scenario, you can read on any website (history website, not pro-nazi nor against-nazi) and in our history books that they were around 3 milions... what happened with the 4 milions?
Don't forget, who build the armament of the war machine? It was the prisioners and the jews.. they wouldn't kill them all.. but okay, I am not defending the nazis, I am just saying that the victor write history, even propaganda history...Second - I didn't like Hitler, but one thing you(well any person who is not stupid and closed minded) that he when came to power, he arose the country to a top country of the world.. He built the country from the ashes of the WWI and built a war machine more powerful than any country of the world. German was bankrupted never forget that... ahh, and in those times, in the earlies 30's there weren't prisioned jews, so don't blame with them.. they evolved so rapidly that the world became scared again... who were the first one to have highways? who were the first one to have a event broadcast all over the world and even beyond (olympics)? who were the first to have jet planes (Even if they were stupidly not to used them) .. they were undoubtly the most technological advanced country of the world... for that I must take my hat for hitler... and then I would smite him with my hat and anything else.. He was Stupid beyond belief.. He picked the jews, the world powerful jews.. Enfin... What I am nazi for saying this? Well do you like what the isrealits are doing? so shut up please and continue reading...
Now, why I hate Hitler and NSDAP... they were fanatical beyond belief... first off, hitler tried to grabed the land which was stolen since the first world war... that i don't condemn, it was their land, poland had capture some parts who belong to germany (or prussia).. then they went west to france for revenge and puff... 3 months... if only they had stop there.. Now it enters the part were I hate the nazis... until the invasion of france, holand and belgium the generals were in command... afterwards Hitler wanted to be in command.. I don't know if he became maniac, or if it was influentia of other party menbers like himmler or goring... but afterwards the undeafeated war machine became crumbling..first the stupid invasion of england and then the worst thing of all.. the alliance with Japan.. If they had not allied nor tried to invade england, and concentrated the war efforts against russia they probably would succeced.. but alas it didn't.
So they fell... Well, history over... now back to the book...
George Elford (the writer) meets the ex-French Foreign Legionnaire Wagemueller (the mian character) when both are having a friendly conversation about hunting rifles at a range. Wagemueller says he was a kopfjaeger and he agrees to give a series of interviews to George Elford. The total time of these tapes covers nearly 18 days. Indeed, there is so much information that this information is covered in the books of Devils Guard II and III. (which I haven't read it)
This fantastic story of conflict was written by George Robert Elford and was based on the first-hand interviews with "Hans Josef Wagemueller", a former Waffen SS "kopfjaeger" (head hunter) who miraculously survived the horrors of the Eastern front in World War II.
Hans led a large group of German Waffen SS troops through Russian lines trying to reach Western Europe after he learned of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. The march through Russian lines to Germany started with over one battalion of soldiers. Most didn't make it, only about one out of six, and those that did escape from the Soviets joined the French Foreign Legion along with Hans.
The Germans were helped in a small "Odessa" like organization, an underground German organization that did try to help German War Veterans. However, this organization was quickly crushed by the Allies by 1947 at the latest. Most of the Waffen SS who joined the French Foreign Legion were a step ahead of the Allied hangman.
Note: Wagemueller's journey through Russia to Germany is the stuff of legends. A prequel novel of this adventure should have been written. Hans treats the journey as not much more than an arduous side note to the greater tale of Vietnam. Hans is brutally honest in his opinions about the Allies in WWII.
He thought the Soviets were sub-human, Communism was a blot on humanity, and the Americans were nearly as bad as the Soviets in the debasement of Germany and its citizens.
These facts are not found in your typical Russian, American, or German history books. The plain truth in Germany after WWII was it was the first war in which the common soldier was held responsible for collective crimes as individuals. So, the American Army held the whole Waffen SS as guilty of war crimes in the prisoner massacrers during the Battle of the Bulge. The French Foreign Legion was fighting a bloody war in Indochina. The Foreign Legion has a policy of ignoring the past of any enlistee (it's done to this day). So, Hans joined the Foreign Legion and spent the next five years fighting against the fiercely determined Viet Min guerrillas. At first the French have old war hatred against the ex-German solders (soldats). However, after a French Foreign Legion battalion is destroyed to the last man by the Communists the commanding officer of the German Legionnaires, Colonel Hassong, gives the German Waffen SS a free hand in offensive operations. The Germans, when out of the French Garrison fort, actually adopt their old rank structure again and address each other in German. The French Waffen SS adopt their old anti-terrorist Soviet tactics against the Viet Min. Colonel Hassong drily comments that the reason why the German Waffen SS were so hated by the Allies was not because of war crimes but because they are so darn good at their jobs. When the French would put the Waffen SS into a sector the insurgent activities would quickly die off, either the Communists would flee or be killed. Indeed, the French Waffen SS does some amazingly good attacks on very little effort.
The Germans "think outside of the box" when fighting the Communists. Few other units would be their equal. This book will quickly explain why the USA lost the war in Vietnam and could lose the war on Islamic Terrorists. Bluntly, war is war and there are few real innocents in any area. Strumfuerher Wagemueller and his Waffen SS soldats knew the score; terrorists must be hunted down and exterminated. Presently, Western Civilization, with its many P.C. encumbrances, may not be up to the task of eliminating the true threat that all of terrorism is making toward civilization. Conversely, Wagemuller tolerated no rape nor individual war crimes in his command. (which was a pratice in the German War Machine... Rommel was one of the old general breed which didn't tolerate raping or other crimes. It is docuument as several german soldiers die after raping or so...)Several soldiers who admitted to a rape and were nearly summarily executed.
Wagemueller's ways of waging war are hinted at in the director's cut version of the movie "Apocalypse Now". Marlon Brando's character, playing the mad Colonel Kurtz, says that he could win the war in Vietnam if he had "250,000 of the right kind of soldiers". Kurt's character was actually referring to the dedicated, tough, and determined Germans who crushed the Communists in the early 1950s. Wagemueller had mostly contempt for America's way of waging war. The American soldiers were ill trained. The officers were poor leaders who often were just "ninety-day-wonders" with little more training than the common troops. I consider this book a clear introduction to the mental psychology needed to wage an anti-terrorist war.
First, you must have well trained soldiers to wage a successful anti-terrorist war. Activated Guard units with a limited tour of duty soldiers are not the equal of well trained and well led anti-terrorist fighters like Wagemueller's Waffen SS Legion. Second, you must have a "hearts and mind" program. Wagemueller and his people actually debated a Communist Commissar.
The people of the villages will listen to a reasoned debate. Third, the sources of terrorist activity must be destroyed. Hans and his Waffen SS battalion were fantastic at finding terrorist bases, destroying them and exterminating the terrorists. More than one raid was made into Communist China and destroyed millions of dollars worth of supplies. Last, the anti-terrorist military army must be backed up by a willing government and press. Unfortunately, the French government and French press both undermined the Waffen SS war on the French war on terror.
In less than five weeks in 1953 the press cut off support for the successful anti-terror operations. In less than three years the French lost Indo-China. Wagemueller and his Waffen SS soldiers all resigned from the French Foreign Legion. Most returned back to Germany. Many, like Wagemueller, took Asian wives and lived in their new adopted homeland. The Fatherland was destroyed in 1945 and they had no wish to return to something wrecked and violated.
This is a book about warriors.
Now I will put some references at how to fight terrorism...
The unawareness of existence of communism, but patriotic fighting, the white man bring misery, rape and diseases. (this was how many commissars told the backwards people of vietnam who were the white people... this reminds me of how the native american saw the europeans..)
They did a contest between a commissar (chinese) and a german. The war of mind...
The interview of the german to newspappers. The pressure of information.. sometimes it's not good to have so much information... We see it each day... (in a couple of weeks ago, the pope was debating something in a university and quote some medieval literature, the media to sell newspapers and audiance, told and show only that part.. that provoked some stupid resistance from the arabs and even kill some people on the progress, who were the evil doers? the arabs or the journalists?)
Some tactics of the German to Viet Min -
- Arsenic in water and rat poison
- They put women and children from a village which they knew they were colaborators for the terrorists in their trunks and start yelling the name of their husbands and sons, telling them their sons and womens were in the cars.. so they would kill them also.
- When leaving a place like headquarters or a garrison to strike the terrorists, they left in the wrong direction and then went into the jungle and move into the right direction.
- Other was to make a fake camp in a place then sleep around the it.
- The communist song to elude the viet mi and catch them anaware...
- The constant regards against the french generals, which don't win a war since napoleon-
- Leaving behind some snipers when the main army passed a field or a town... if the peasents try to contact the guerrila they would be shot
Viet Min to French
-They cut their right and then their left arms, then broke their legs, and then shot them in the head.
- They went into a garrison, and kill them all, and strip them off. Afterwards they would put bombs in everything, in the corps, and things laying around. One effective was to put excrements in a well to poison them.
- The old people fighting and the use of childs to catch anaware the french soldiers
- The kill of innocent, even people with a red cross in plain view.
- And the worst of all, the use of propaganda... When a village was killed by a plague or if the communist kill it, they would put them in some horrific way, then take shots with a camera and blame the germans nazis.. the publish in all newspappers and sent to the "free World"
One thing he said that I enjoyed a lot..... Hans had a theory... if they wanted to fight communists the free world would have to build Iron Walls around all the countries of communist and then stop broadcasting, signalling, and talking with them.. they should block everything. When the journlist asked what about the french and everywhere communists? Well if they liked it so much they should be sent to communists countries... they in their countries had everything, a job, free speech and everything all, (everything the communists don't go well with)... the communists in the free world are stupid, because they didn't live in a communist world, so they are living a illusion..
Well.... this was a great book, everything was great, I would give it 100%.
I suggest this book to everyone, special the united states generals and military.
This book must be put in practise if the world want to fight terrorists... as the american should have done in the vietnam war and in the afegnistan and Iraq... oh well...
Well... now this is a book about war...
This is a rare book, which is not edited anymore... my friend bought it for 60£ and as I've seen in some places, like amazon or ebay it was a commom price for this book... There are two more which I saw they were even rarer...
This book reminded me of the books written by Sven HaSSel, the swedish soldier who fought for the germans in WWII. Vivid images and you feel like you are right there fighting and suffering along side them.As well as Sven Hassel books this book has disputed autentic... Nobody knows for certain if they existed but I say you this.. I read a lot about wars, fantasy, real and history and I must say that this two books have some particular not found in the others ones... The reality is so brutal that for me both are true. Sven Hassel books is another story.. He was in war but I think he used not only his stories but others soldiers stories.
First of all...I do not hide that I am fascinated by the german machine of war. They were the true aryan in the art of war. Nobody could defeated them. Nazism is other story... I do not defend nazism but I have some similaries beliefs which I could be accounted with them.. I believe in my people and in my fatherland. I don't like foreigners nor do I like mixture between races. But, I wouldn't kill a person because he is different. I don't think me of a superior being but I believe that there are differences between all races....they have different creeds and religions, diferent states of goverment, different history.. and others things... for all this I am against mixture of races and the "global community". Again I must say I don't believe myself superior to other human. If this feelings are what you call them nazis, then I am one of them. But I ask you this... didn't you ever have a thought or act of racism? No? I doubt it...Another question... would you die for your country? would you kill for it? No? That I can believe... but I ask you something else, would you die for your family and love ones? Don't even start the answer with an N...
There were several things that went wrong with the second world war... First - I don't agree with the persecution of the jews, but I don't believe the numbers the allies and the communist gave us of the killing of them.. first in 1946/47 they said that were around 7 milions, now in the worst scenario, you can read on any website (history website, not pro-nazi nor against-nazi) and in our history books that they were around 3 milions... what happened with the 4 milions?
Don't forget, who build the armament of the war machine? It was the prisioners and the jews.. they wouldn't kill them all.. but okay, I am not defending the nazis, I am just saying that the victor write history, even propaganda history...Second - I didn't like Hitler, but one thing you(well any person who is not stupid and closed minded) that he when came to power, he arose the country to a top country of the world.. He built the country from the ashes of the WWI and built a war machine more powerful than any country of the world. German was bankrupted never forget that... ahh, and in those times, in the earlies 30's there weren't prisioned jews, so don't blame with them.. they evolved so rapidly that the world became scared again... who were the first one to have highways? who were the first one to have a event broadcast all over the world and even beyond (olympics)? who were the first to have jet planes (Even if they were stupidly not to used them) .. they were undoubtly the most technological advanced country of the world... for that I must take my hat for hitler... and then I would smite him with my hat and anything else.. He was Stupid beyond belief.. He picked the jews, the world powerful jews.. Enfin... What I am nazi for saying this? Well do you like what the isrealits are doing? so shut up please and continue reading...
Now, why I hate Hitler and NSDAP... they were fanatical beyond belief... first off, hitler tried to grabed the land which was stolen since the first world war... that i don't condemn, it was their land, poland had capture some parts who belong to germany (or prussia).. then they went west to france for revenge and puff... 3 months... if only they had stop there.. Now it enters the part were I hate the nazis... until the invasion of france, holand and belgium the generals were in command... afterwards Hitler wanted to be in command.. I don't know if he became maniac, or if it was influentia of other party menbers like himmler or goring... but afterwards the undeafeated war machine became crumbling..first the stupid invasion of england and then the worst thing of all.. the alliance with Japan.. If they had not allied nor tried to invade england, and concentrated the war efforts against russia they probably would succeced.. but alas it didn't.
So they fell... Well, history over... now back to the book...
George Elford (the writer) meets the ex-French Foreign Legionnaire Wagemueller (the mian character) when both are having a friendly conversation about hunting rifles at a range. Wagemueller says he was a kopfjaeger and he agrees to give a series of interviews to George Elford. The total time of these tapes covers nearly 18 days. Indeed, there is so much information that this information is covered in the books of Devils Guard II and III. (which I haven't read it)
This fantastic story of conflict was written by George Robert Elford and was based on the first-hand interviews with "Hans Josef Wagemueller", a former Waffen SS "kopfjaeger" (head hunter) who miraculously survived the horrors of the Eastern front in World War II.
Hans led a large group of German Waffen SS troops through Russian lines trying to reach Western Europe after he learned of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. The march through Russian lines to Germany started with over one battalion of soldiers. Most didn't make it, only about one out of six, and those that did escape from the Soviets joined the French Foreign Legion along with Hans.
The Germans were helped in a small "Odessa" like organization, an underground German organization that did try to help German War Veterans. However, this organization was quickly crushed by the Allies by 1947 at the latest. Most of the Waffen SS who joined the French Foreign Legion were a step ahead of the Allied hangman.
Note: Wagemueller's journey through Russia to Germany is the stuff of legends. A prequel novel of this adventure should have been written. Hans treats the journey as not much more than an arduous side note to the greater tale of Vietnam. Hans is brutally honest in his opinions about the Allies in WWII.
He thought the Soviets were sub-human, Communism was a blot on humanity, and the Americans were nearly as bad as the Soviets in the debasement of Germany and its citizens.
These facts are not found in your typical Russian, American, or German history books. The plain truth in Germany after WWII was it was the first war in which the common soldier was held responsible for collective crimes as individuals. So, the American Army held the whole Waffen SS as guilty of war crimes in the prisoner massacrers during the Battle of the Bulge. The French Foreign Legion was fighting a bloody war in Indochina. The Foreign Legion has a policy of ignoring the past of any enlistee (it's done to this day). So, Hans joined the Foreign Legion and spent the next five years fighting against the fiercely determined Viet Min guerrillas. At first the French have old war hatred against the ex-German solders (soldats). However, after a French Foreign Legion battalion is destroyed to the last man by the Communists the commanding officer of the German Legionnaires, Colonel Hassong, gives the German Waffen SS a free hand in offensive operations. The Germans, when out of the French Garrison fort, actually adopt their old rank structure again and address each other in German. The French Waffen SS adopt their old anti-terrorist Soviet tactics against the Viet Min. Colonel Hassong drily comments that the reason why the German Waffen SS were so hated by the Allies was not because of war crimes but because they are so darn good at their jobs. When the French would put the Waffen SS into a sector the insurgent activities would quickly die off, either the Communists would flee or be killed. Indeed, the French Waffen SS does some amazingly good attacks on very little effort.
The Germans "think outside of the box" when fighting the Communists. Few other units would be their equal. This book will quickly explain why the USA lost the war in Vietnam and could lose the war on Islamic Terrorists. Bluntly, war is war and there are few real innocents in any area. Strumfuerher Wagemueller and his Waffen SS soldats knew the score; terrorists must be hunted down and exterminated. Presently, Western Civilization, with its many P.C. encumbrances, may not be up to the task of eliminating the true threat that all of terrorism is making toward civilization. Conversely, Wagemuller tolerated no rape nor individual war crimes in his command. (which was a pratice in the German War Machine... Rommel was one of the old general breed which didn't tolerate raping or other crimes. It is docuument as several german soldiers die after raping or so...)Several soldiers who admitted to a rape and were nearly summarily executed.
Wagemueller's ways of waging war are hinted at in the director's cut version of the movie "Apocalypse Now". Marlon Brando's character, playing the mad Colonel Kurtz, says that he could win the war in Vietnam if he had "250,000 of the right kind of soldiers". Kurt's character was actually referring to the dedicated, tough, and determined Germans who crushed the Communists in the early 1950s. Wagemueller had mostly contempt for America's way of waging war. The American soldiers were ill trained. The officers were poor leaders who often were just "ninety-day-wonders" with little more training than the common troops. I consider this book a clear introduction to the mental psychology needed to wage an anti-terrorist war.
First, you must have well trained soldiers to wage a successful anti-terrorist war. Activated Guard units with a limited tour of duty soldiers are not the equal of well trained and well led anti-terrorist fighters like Wagemueller's Waffen SS Legion. Second, you must have a "hearts and mind" program. Wagemueller and his people actually debated a Communist Commissar.
The people of the villages will listen to a reasoned debate. Third, the sources of terrorist activity must be destroyed. Hans and his Waffen SS battalion were fantastic at finding terrorist bases, destroying them and exterminating the terrorists. More than one raid was made into Communist China and destroyed millions of dollars worth of supplies. Last, the anti-terrorist military army must be backed up by a willing government and press. Unfortunately, the French government and French press both undermined the Waffen SS war on the French war on terror.
In less than five weeks in 1953 the press cut off support for the successful anti-terror operations. In less than three years the French lost Indo-China. Wagemueller and his Waffen SS soldiers all resigned from the French Foreign Legion. Most returned back to Germany. Many, like Wagemueller, took Asian wives and lived in their new adopted homeland. The Fatherland was destroyed in 1945 and they had no wish to return to something wrecked and violated.
This is a book about warriors.
Now I will put some references at how to fight terrorism...
The unawareness of existence of communism, but patriotic fighting, the white man bring misery, rape and diseases. (this was how many commissars told the backwards people of vietnam who were the white people... this reminds me of how the native american saw the europeans..)
They did a contest between a commissar (chinese) and a german. The war of mind...
The interview of the german to newspappers. The pressure of information.. sometimes it's not good to have so much information... We see it each day... (in a couple of weeks ago, the pope was debating something in a university and quote some medieval literature, the media to sell newspapers and audiance, told and show only that part.. that provoked some stupid resistance from the arabs and even kill some people on the progress, who were the evil doers? the arabs or the journalists?)
Some tactics of the German to Viet Min -
- Arsenic in water and rat poison
- They put women and children from a village which they knew they were colaborators for the terrorists in their trunks and start yelling the name of their husbands and sons, telling them their sons and womens were in the cars.. so they would kill them also.
- When leaving a place like headquarters or a garrison to strike the terrorists, they left in the wrong direction and then went into the jungle and move into the right direction.
- Other was to make a fake camp in a place then sleep around the it.
- The communist song to elude the viet mi and catch them anaware...
- The constant regards against the french generals, which don't win a war since napoleon-
- Leaving behind some snipers when the main army passed a field or a town... if the peasents try to contact the guerrila they would be shot
Viet Min to French
-They cut their right and then their left arms, then broke their legs, and then shot them in the head.
- They went into a garrison, and kill them all, and strip them off. Afterwards they would put bombs in everything, in the corps, and things laying around. One effective was to put excrements in a well to poison them.
- The old people fighting and the use of childs to catch anaware the french soldiers
- The kill of innocent, even people with a red cross in plain view.
- And the worst of all, the use of propaganda... When a village was killed by a plague or if the communist kill it, they would put them in some horrific way, then take shots with a camera and blame the germans nazis.. the publish in all newspappers and sent to the "free World"
One thing he said that I enjoyed a lot..... Hans had a theory... if they wanted to fight communists the free world would have to build Iron Walls around all the countries of communist and then stop broadcasting, signalling, and talking with them.. they should block everything. When the journlist asked what about the french and everywhere communists? Well if they liked it so much they should be sent to communists countries... they in their countries had everything, a job, free speech and everything all, (everything the communists don't go well with)... the communists in the free world are stupid, because they didn't live in a communist world, so they are living a illusion..
Well.... this was a great book, everything was great, I would give it 100%.
I suggest this book to everyone, special the united states generals and military.
This book must be put in practise if the world want to fight terrorists... as the american should have done in the vietnam war and in the afegnistan and Iraq... oh well...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2020
"Too good to be true" is the best quote to describe that novel. Yes, it's a novel and not a personal experience of a former SS officer and his friends. First of all, there were never formed battalions in the French Foreign Legion exclusively by waffen SS/wehrmacht/luftwave etc veterans (officers, soldiers, pows etc). This "luxury" is a science fiction. Those who flee in the FFL, deployed as soldiers in France's battle zones and lived like ghosts. Despite the "superhuman" abilities that every member of the battalion has, the protagonist describes the cruelty and the rules of war as simple as he can. He's showing us the one and real face of communism (some say it's a nazi propaganda, but what can a nazi propaganda do to the "winners" many years after the war?) and how people treated under the communist regime in USSR, Indochina, China etc. He seperates the German soldiers that fought for the greater good of their country against the invaders of Europe and western civilization from those you prefered to stay back and commit crimes against Jews. He emerges the quality of the German fighters during the war by how they treated rapists (including those who served the same flag), partizans (that never recognized treaties) and even women, childs and elders. He also codnemns the high-ranked personel of the Third Reich (except Rommel for example), of France and USA's for their faults and their acts against their enemies and their people. This novel is a perfect "romantic guide of survivalism" in warfare for those who fight for the "art of war". Many readers fail to see the forest for the trees excactly because of the "winners" point of view in history. We have to remember that the winner writes the history the way he wants to, being indifferent to the objectivity of the facts. There are many lines in the book that are worth to annotate, but I won't bother doing that.
Those who are not "blinded" can have their own conclutions after they finish reading the book.
Warriors respect warriors. War is a never ending story and this is the message that the author's offering us. Only few can understand the mindset of a warrior that fights for the war itself and not for the goverments and wealth. Dedicsted to the warriors that fight for the greater good and the freedom of speech and humanity.
I want to keep it out of spoils and out of politics so, enjoy.
Thank you
Those who are not "blinded" can have their own conclutions after they finish reading the book.
Warriors respect warriors. War is a never ending story and this is the message that the author's offering us. Only few can understand the mindset of a warrior that fights for the war itself and not for the goverments and wealth. Dedicsted to the warriors that fight for the greater good and the freedom of speech and humanity.
I want to keep it out of spoils and out of politics so, enjoy.
Thank you
March 31, 2021
Not bad for historical fiction. Writing wasn't bad, but about 3/4 of the way through the political discussion bored me more than expected.
Could have been much better.
Could have been much better.
December 16, 2019
Could have been higher but the book engages in heavy propaganda and that always detracts from the experience for me. It was interesting hearing the perspective of the SS, which left me wishing for more historical sources from defeated armies. A strong narrative holds this story together.
January 14, 2025
So boring. But, I’m glad I listened. Wow. I had no idea this went on during the war. Good to hear a different viewpoint and experience during the war.
June 1, 2016
Title: Devil's Guard
Author: George Robert Elford
ISBN: 978-0-440-12014-8
Publisher: Dell Publishing
Softcover
Pages: 336
Photos/Maps: 0
Elford's book has become, in the opinion of many, a classic biography of a soldier engaged in asymmetric warfare. The main character, ex-Waffen SS partisanjaeger Hans Josef Wagemueller, is pro-ported to have met with the author in the far east and to have related his story to him. The author recounts his tale, with as little changed as possible, of him leading his German troops during the last days of the war, escaping to Switzerland and ultimately joining the French Foreign Legion. The main thrust of the narrative centres upon his time with the Legion fighting in Indochina against the Viet Cong as part of an all-German battalion of veterans and his experiences there-in.
The story has generated a great deal of controversy over the years as there is no record of an all-German battalion nor of an individual named Wagemueller ever having fought as part of the Legion. Regardless of whether the story is truth or fiction really is however, beside the point as the lessons to be gleaned from it resonate either way.
Given the experiences that Western forces have had in Afghanistan and Iraq fighting asymmetric opponents, the question of what constitutes acceptable methods of executing a war has again become a central point of discussion and contention. Wagemueller's character in the book takes the position that war is, by its very nature, violent and horrible, but must be fought to win and, in order to do so, the conditions must be established and maintained whereby the side wishing to prevail does what it must to enforce its will upon the population and the enemy. It is a testament for the Real Politique approach to conflict.
Additionally, Elford's narrative translates doctrine into action as he describes through the storyline the how, what, where and why's of a unit doing what it has to in order to win. Wagemueller's character is uncompromising in his rendition of the toll that fighting to win takes upon all of the elements of society involved and, more importantly, the mental strength that soldiers must have to do what they have to do. Finally, and perhaps most telling, Wagemueller describes the methods by which his unit was recalled and disbanded as a result of a lack of support from the French government and population. The similarity to the impact of popular opinion on modern warfare is striking.
The story itself reads very well and is extremely engaging; the characters are presented with a human face, not enjoying what they are doing but undertaking it regardless. It is not a comfortable read and will tend to polarize its readers between those agreeing with and those appalled by the actions of the main characters. Its strength, I believe, lies in the fact that it was first published in the early 1970's during the height of the Vietnam conflict and yet, it still retains its relevance today as a means to stimulate healthy debate and discussion amongst military professionals and their leaders.
www.themilitaryreviewer.blogspot.com
Author: George Robert Elford
ISBN: 978-0-440-12014-8
Publisher: Dell Publishing
Softcover
Pages: 336
Photos/Maps: 0
Elford's book has become, in the opinion of many, a classic biography of a soldier engaged in asymmetric warfare. The main character, ex-Waffen SS partisanjaeger Hans Josef Wagemueller, is pro-ported to have met with the author in the far east and to have related his story to him. The author recounts his tale, with as little changed as possible, of him leading his German troops during the last days of the war, escaping to Switzerland and ultimately joining the French Foreign Legion. The main thrust of the narrative centres upon his time with the Legion fighting in Indochina against the Viet Cong as part of an all-German battalion of veterans and his experiences there-in.
The story has generated a great deal of controversy over the years as there is no record of an all-German battalion nor of an individual named Wagemueller ever having fought as part of the Legion. Regardless of whether the story is truth or fiction really is however, beside the point as the lessons to be gleaned from it resonate either way.
Given the experiences that Western forces have had in Afghanistan and Iraq fighting asymmetric opponents, the question of what constitutes acceptable methods of executing a war has again become a central point of discussion and contention. Wagemueller's character in the book takes the position that war is, by its very nature, violent and horrible, but must be fought to win and, in order to do so, the conditions must be established and maintained whereby the side wishing to prevail does what it must to enforce its will upon the population and the enemy. It is a testament for the Real Politique approach to conflict.
Additionally, Elford's narrative translates doctrine into action as he describes through the storyline the how, what, where and why's of a unit doing what it has to in order to win. Wagemueller's character is uncompromising in his rendition of the toll that fighting to win takes upon all of the elements of society involved and, more importantly, the mental strength that soldiers must have to do what they have to do. Finally, and perhaps most telling, Wagemueller describes the methods by which his unit was recalled and disbanded as a result of a lack of support from the French government and population. The similarity to the impact of popular opinion on modern warfare is striking.
The story itself reads very well and is extremely engaging; the characters are presented with a human face, not enjoying what they are doing but undertaking it regardless. It is not a comfortable read and will tend to polarize its readers between those agreeing with and those appalled by the actions of the main characters. Its strength, I believe, lies in the fact that it was first published in the early 1970's during the height of the Vietnam conflict and yet, it still retains its relevance today as a means to stimulate healthy debate and discussion amongst military professionals and their leaders.
www.themilitaryreviewer.blogspot.com
January 28, 2014
There was little of any substance in this book. Pulp sensationalism and apologist for the Nazi Waffen SS. True war does things to people particular guerrilla warfare. It is nasty and uncompromising, with little latitude for quarter either way. The author paints these guys with some ambivalence. Certainly outstanding soldiers but there seemed to be just a bit too much enjoyment in the telling.
Whether the story is true or not who can tell. There were several points of interest though; the identification of the primary mistake of allowing a guerrilla force the luxury of sanctuary and the efficacy of fighting these people with their own methods on their own ground. The French certainly employed various forces in this way, some regular units Legion and Para as well as irregular units comprised of hill tribes between whom and the Vietnamese there was never any love lost. they were effective. The primary effort was always though determined by regular officers trained for a European war. The thrust was always wrong and the political will always lacking. The French were doomed from the outset by both the politics and poor senior leadership. Despite the magnificent effort put up by many French soldiers the nature of their deployment always worked to their disadvantage.
The book is not very well written and it is dated and often sensationalist. Not really worth the effort by a serious student of the conflict
Whether the story is true or not who can tell. There were several points of interest though; the identification of the primary mistake of allowing a guerrilla force the luxury of sanctuary and the efficacy of fighting these people with their own methods on their own ground. The French certainly employed various forces in this way, some regular units Legion and Para as well as irregular units comprised of hill tribes between whom and the Vietnamese there was never any love lost. they were effective. The primary effort was always though determined by regular officers trained for a European war. The thrust was always wrong and the political will always lacking. The French were doomed from the outset by both the politics and poor senior leadership. Despite the magnificent effort put up by many French soldiers the nature of their deployment always worked to their disadvantage.
The book is not very well written and it is dated and often sensationalist. Not really worth the effort by a serious student of the conflict
November 10, 2020
Fantastic book.
Not only is the whole thing a satisfyingly gritty display of heroics in the face of a hopeless struggle, having such a unique viewpoint on an often overlooked bit of history is fascinating - whether it's based on fact or not.
Probably the only thing that bugged me was a line that went something like, "I not once saw him smile", only for the character in question to be described as smiling on at least two occasions later in the book.
Perhaps that sort of grim, fatalistic smirk didn't count as a real smile to the protagonist's mind, due to their lack of genuine warmth? I don't know, but I'll let it slide.
Not only is the whole thing a satisfyingly gritty display of heroics in the face of a hopeless struggle, having such a unique viewpoint on an often overlooked bit of history is fascinating - whether it's based on fact or not.
Probably the only thing that bugged me was a line that went something like, "I not once saw him smile", only for the character in question to be described as smiling on at least two occasions later in the book.
Perhaps that sort of grim, fatalistic smirk didn't count as a real smile to the protagonist's mind, due to their lack of genuine warmth? I don't know, but I'll let it slide.
January 31, 2025
Never knew ex-Nazis fought in Indochina until checking out Devil's Guard. Lots of kills, many of them merciless, which is exactly how my pops described his time in Vietnam (in the US theater rather than the French). It was bloody and a lot of things we consider "war crimes" was quite often a reality for both soldiers and civilians. War is brutal. One story I remember was when a US copter flew up with three prisoners in order to extract information from them. When none of the three would say a word, one was kicked out. When the other two saw their comrade falling to earth, they started talking really quickly. I found this book to be quite interesting and enjoyed it.
December 15, 2020
Dumb nazi jackoff book. Some elite SS nazi super warriors escape capture after losing WWII and go lose at fighting the Viet Minh. The author makes sure to say these nazis weren't the bad nazis. These guys just cared a lot about Germany and killing off the communists. Not only is it fucking boring as shit it has sequels just like any 'non-fiction' adventure series. Only for incel proud boys to read in their mom's basements.
August 23, 2008
I read this years ago, my memory is that it was a Fascinating history, with no holds barred... not sure now about the accuracy of it all, and some of the political viewpoints expressed are decidedly non-PC today
December 7, 2013
An intruiging first hand account of anti-guerrilla warfare. A truly unique book that underscores many of the issues that modern nation states face when fighting insurgencies from the moral high ground.
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