Stormtrooper on the Eastern Front: Fighting with Hitler's Latvian SS

by Mintauts Blosfelds, Lisa Blosfelds (Editor)

Following the conquest of his native Latvia by the Nazis, the author was given the stark service in the SS or forced labor in a slave camp. So he 'volunteered' to fight for the Nazis. He describes his training and how he became an instructor before being sent into Russia. He nearly perished during the terrible winter of 1943-44 being wounded and finding himself with his friend lying dead on top of him. As the tide turned and the Russians advanced remorselessly through. He was wounded twice more and awarded the Iron Cross for bravery.

With German resistance collapsing, the author had to flee for his life - captured by the Russians meant almost certain death. He surrendered to the Americans but describes the neglect he suffered at their hands. Unable to return to Latvia now occupied by the Russians, he became a Displaced Person eventually settling in the UK.

Genres: World War II, Autobiography, Military Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 22, 2008

Reviews

[JD · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is not a lot of storm trooping on the Eastern Front being done in this book as the title suggest. The book is more about life in Latvia in World War 2 under German rule and there are only a few pages in the book where the author was on or near the front lines. If you do not have an interest in life in Latvia during the war, then give this book a skip.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written by a Latvian man who was given an ultimatum by Nazi forces: fight in the SS or go to a concentration camp. People automatically assume that everyone who fought for the Nazi regime were Nazis at heart, or otherwise racist and cruel people, but in many instances, people found themselves between a rock and a hard place. I can completely understand why one would make the choice of risking it on the front line as opposed to a concentration camp. The author of this book relates his experiences with his hometown being overran by Nazis and his time fighting for them on the Eastern Front. He was wounded multiple times and had some really harrowing experiences. I found this book to be pretty moving and also interesting since it offered a perspective different than the mostly Allied forced related books I typically find.

[Artlvns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting personal memoir written by ordinary soldier, and not any kind of highly decorated officer.
Interesting part was also few pages with memories from POW camps, that I didn't saw very often in other memoirs, that tend to finish at capture point.

Can recommend this book for those who are interested in:
* Latvian Legion history
* WW2 history
* Have relations to Latvia

[bernard j denver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not all SS troops were what we had believed.

It needed to be told how the Latvians were cajoled into the German army. A surprise in how they were treated by non combatants after the war.

[John H. Livens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fine personal memoir covering a not well-known segment of WWII, that is frequently viewed through a biased lens. This personal account sets the record straight, and sheds light on the suffering and struggle of the so-called "volunteers" who survived. JHL

[Holly Ice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The diary entries show the life of a soldier in his unit. This provides an insight into what went on behind the lines as well as the culture of the German army. It is a personal account and, as such, feels more dramatic than a documentary or dry history dates. The boring acts are often brushed over in favour of the more dramatic.

However, the individual it follows did not see much front line action. He was injured a lot and spent a lot of time on trains through Latvia as well as training camps. This has some historical interest as well as the front lines as it shows where training took place and names areas “behind the lines” which are often not mentioned in mainstream history.

As a whole, there is very little documentation of the Latvian SS units from within/personal accounts so this book is very valuable in its existence.

This doesn’t mean I can’t be disappointed. The narrator had a very youthful and naive view of the war. He was easily influenced and seemed to be in it more for the fun and alcohol which jars with post war feeling. He did not fight for his country and looked down upon the older men who were conscripted and didn’t want to fight. Their reasons feel more honourable.

This blights his character for me and makes the read less enjoyable. It is not a fault of the narrator. He was only young and easily influenced but an older narrative could show so much more of the war from so many different viewpoints. It would allow more than the one narrator’s viewpoint to be explored as an older man would be able to see from another’s shoes.

But would I read this again or recommend it to people searching for family in Latvia or looking to find out more about the Eastern front? Despite its cost, yes.

This is a book which details the personal side of the Eastern War. It lives through procedures which can be lost or become boring in pages and pages of dry historical record. It highlights a regiment swept under the carpet or railed against after the war in a neutral, in the moment, light. I only wish there were more accounts like this, and expanding upon this, out there.

[David Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the foreword it is mentioned that the story of the occupation of Latvia by the Soviets is not included in this book. At first I was disappointed; that seemed like it might be an interesting tale. In retrospect, though, it was probably the correct decision. I feel the story didn't really get interesting until Part III, where he recovers from his first wound. From there the story becomes compelling. I found Part IV to be the most interesting, a recounting of several days of battle. Part V does a good job of conveying the chaos of the German retreat.

[Shan S Rea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, not for the action loving but very interesting view of a soldier conscripted into the SS. The Latvian SS is not a tale often told, you will find this interesting if you like the lesser known history of the foreign SS units and it gets deeper in the weeds during the end days of the war which is interesting concerning how command and supply continued to function as it all fell apart.

[Liam Tondeur · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good account of a soldier's experience on the Eastern Front. I felt that more detail was needed in many parts and I would have dearly wanted to know what he did post-war and how he adjusted to life in England. It ended too soon.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent memoir about a young conscript in the Fifteenth Division of the Latvian Legion. The detailed and stoic storytelling puts the reader right on the Eastern Front, with soldiers fighting a hopeless cause, defending home from the second communist occupation.

[TOMMY G HILL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story.

Would recommend to any body with an interest in the Eastern front towards the wars end. Easy to read, and quite well written.