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Armor Battles of the Waffen Ss 1943-1945
Military Books
370 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 5, 2023
I am not going to make this one terribly long but I’ll give you three reasons why this historical narrative didn’t really do it for me.
The Bad:
1. The book it all over the place. You will read random experiences from sources that may or may not have been accurate. The author shows little to none accredited sources for his research. Mere speculations at best but literally at no point is one piece of information is directed to a source or a bibliography in the back of the book. The only valuable reference is in the back of the book with war material quantity and expenses per nation.
2. Really wish the book stuck with a few narratives through the year of 1943 to 1945. I lost count on how many SS members the author thrown into the plot of the book. Some of them were somewhat engaging but the majority were ether annoying to read or barely engaged the reader. Most of this is due to boring story telling the author uses to explain the battle scenes. In any case too many names and units make the brain spin and in the long run makes the book become a chore rather than an enjoyable/educational experience.
3. Glorifying the SS. Yes this book was intended to persuade the reader to see past the sins of selected units within the SS for their genocide against humanity. However anyone with any knowledge of Nazis would know those members did not just join, they applied and were selected. So without getting into too much detail although these men were brave and truly loved their father land, they were not normal Wehrmacht (Regular German Army). They were radical Nazis.
The Good:
1. I somewhat liked the progression of the books narratives. Although there were far too many people talking in the pages with lots of names and locations, I enjoyed how each new narrative brought us to the gates of Berlin before the final collapse of the Third Reich. They were in some ways chronological but it did help the book flow. Somewhat.
2. Mid book illustrations and historical photos. Although I hated how none of the pictures followed with any of the Narratives besides the authors personal photo in his SS uniform. However most of the pictures were unique in terms I have never seen them before on the web. Which tells me some of these pictures may have come from some of the people he interviewed. In any case they were engaging I just wish they were spaced out in the book not all on one mid section. Putting diagrams and pictures spaced out throughout the book gives the reader a visualization of what is being read. When you put it all in one part none of it goes with what you’re currently reading in the book kida pulls the readers attention away.
All and all it was pretty bad book and again felt like a chore to finish. I really won’t recommend it to anyone but maybe to somewhat who is trying to gauge where a post war SS member felt after the war, seeing the author was in fact a member of the SS armored divisions. I like to think the author was a good SS Nazi if they did exist. Like I said I am sure they fought bravely as the author proclaims I just can’t get by with all the destruction to human life and persecution the SS had done to feel much of any sympathy. Part of the reason why you will not see any monument or memorials for the SS.
-Alex
The Bad:
1. The book it all over the place. You will read random experiences from sources that may or may not have been accurate. The author shows little to none accredited sources for his research. Mere speculations at best but literally at no point is one piece of information is directed to a source or a bibliography in the back of the book. The only valuable reference is in the back of the book with war material quantity and expenses per nation.
2. Really wish the book stuck with a few narratives through the year of 1943 to 1945. I lost count on how many SS members the author thrown into the plot of the book. Some of them were somewhat engaging but the majority were ether annoying to read or barely engaged the reader. Most of this is due to boring story telling the author uses to explain the battle scenes. In any case too many names and units make the brain spin and in the long run makes the book become a chore rather than an enjoyable/educational experience.
3. Glorifying the SS. Yes this book was intended to persuade the reader to see past the sins of selected units within the SS for their genocide against humanity. However anyone with any knowledge of Nazis would know those members did not just join, they applied and were selected. So without getting into too much detail although these men were brave and truly loved their father land, they were not normal Wehrmacht (Regular German Army). They were radical Nazis.
The Good:
1. I somewhat liked the progression of the books narratives. Although there were far too many people talking in the pages with lots of names and locations, I enjoyed how each new narrative brought us to the gates of Berlin before the final collapse of the Third Reich. They were in some ways chronological but it did help the book flow. Somewhat.
2. Mid book illustrations and historical photos. Although I hated how none of the pictures followed with any of the Narratives besides the authors personal photo in his SS uniform. However most of the pictures were unique in terms I have never seen them before on the web. Which tells me some of these pictures may have come from some of the people he interviewed. In any case they were engaging I just wish they were spaced out in the book not all on one mid section. Putting diagrams and pictures spaced out throughout the book gives the reader a visualization of what is being read. When you put it all in one part none of it goes with what you’re currently reading in the book kida pulls the readers attention away.
All and all it was pretty bad book and again felt like a chore to finish. I really won’t recommend it to anyone but maybe to somewhat who is trying to gauge where a post war SS member felt after the war, seeing the author was in fact a member of the SS armored divisions. I like to think the author was a good SS Nazi if they did exist. Like I said I am sure they fought bravely as the author proclaims I just can’t get by with all the destruction to human life and persecution the SS had done to feel much of any sympathy. Part of the reason why you will not see any monument or memorials for the SS.
-Alex
January 2, 2025
Awesome book. It´s basically a compilation of battle reports from numerous SS Panzer Commanders. Almost all of the Waffen SS Panzer Divisions are represented in at least one report except the 9. Hohenstaufen. My favourite were those of Ustuf. Fritz Langanke (SS-Panzer-Regiment 2) and Ustuf. Fritz Kauerauf (s. SS. Pz. Abt. 503) . There are other reports from Streng, Barkmann, Bachmann, Nicolussi-Leck, Flügel and the author Fey which are interesting but I've already read parts of them in the books of Wilhelm Tieke, Doug Nash, Prit Buttar to say a few. Still here their reports are included in full.
Although the translation could be better the author has done a good job conveying the feelings of the Panzer crews, fighting against all odds. You understand the suffering and struggles they went through while trying to stem the enemy tide at the outskirts of Kharkov, at gates of Kursk, in the fields of Ukraine, in the bocage of Normandy, during the last great pushes in the Ardennes and Hungary and finally in the very heart of the Reich. Changing a broken track under artillery fire, or hand cranking a 50 ton Panzer, or running to your comrade to ask for two armor piercing shells while being under fire is not for the feint of heart. You feel the sorrow of their words at the end of it all. From being an elite fighting force to outcasts in their own country. I respect that as Hstuf. Henri Fenet put it, the only non Panzer commander included, they regret nothing.
All in all I recommend this book to anyone interested in WW2 in general and Waffen SS in particular. There are a lot of names so some prior knowledge is recommended. Also the text sometimes seem a little disjointed. A better header placing so you know whose account is it could've been used. Some minor mistakes were not fixed in this edition e.g. on page 266 the II. SS-Panzerkorps should read the XI. SS-Panzerkorps since Ogruf. Matthias Kleinheisterkamp was its commander. Also there are just two maps which is the only serious flaw I see.
Still this book is going straight to favourites. 5/5.
Although the translation could be better the author has done a good job conveying the feelings of the Panzer crews, fighting against all odds. You understand the suffering and struggles they went through while trying to stem the enemy tide at the outskirts of Kharkov, at gates of Kursk, in the fields of Ukraine, in the bocage of Normandy, during the last great pushes in the Ardennes and Hungary and finally in the very heart of the Reich. Changing a broken track under artillery fire, or hand cranking a 50 ton Panzer, or running to your comrade to ask for two armor piercing shells while being under fire is not for the feint of heart. You feel the sorrow of their words at the end of it all. From being an elite fighting force to outcasts in their own country. I respect that as Hstuf. Henri Fenet put it, the only non Panzer commander included, they regret nothing.
All in all I recommend this book to anyone interested in WW2 in general and Waffen SS in particular. There are a lot of names so some prior knowledge is recommended. Also the text sometimes seem a little disjointed. A better header placing so you know whose account is it could've been used. Some minor mistakes were not fixed in this edition e.g. on page 266 the II. SS-Panzerkorps should read the XI. SS-Panzerkorps since Ogruf. Matthias Kleinheisterkamp was its commander. Also there are just two maps which is the only serious flaw I see.
Still this book is going straight to favourites. 5/5.
October 27, 2025
Great insight into the war diaries of the SS who fought at Kharkov, Frqnce, the Ardennes, and Berlin. Unsurprisingly sanitized and steers clear of war atrocities committed, nothing out of the ordinary there! Great descriptions of tank combat and the general morale and mindset of the SS during the long retreat back to Berlin.
Highlight for me was the beginning of the Major Russian Offensive on Berlin, page 264.
"The night should have been dark, but in the angled outside mirrors we saw the eastern sky in flames. From the plains along the Oder, from the hills near Lebus and Reithwein all the way to Seelow, the whole country seemed to be on fire. All around us, everything was under a deadly storm of steel."
Highlight for me was the beginning of the Major Russian Offensive on Berlin, page 264.
"The night should have been dark, but in the angled outside mirrors we saw the eastern sky in flames. From the plains along the Oder, from the hills near Lebus and Reithwein all the way to Seelow, the whole country seemed to be on fire. All around us, everything was under a deadly storm of steel."
January 27, 2008
OK I recently discovered my local Borders carried a bunch of the Stackpole WW2 books, so several of my most recent reads are to do with the Russian Front. This is a good one. Willi Fey, the author, fought mainly on the Eastern Front in a Tiger company that was used to stop the Red Army armored breakthoughs. The Tiger was the best tank built in WW2 but Fey was plagued with breakdowns and supply (especially fuel) problems. Lots of good, believable descriptions of tank warfare. Fey isnt a very good writer, but good enough. The book takes us right down to the last days of the war as the surrounded ninth army uses their last remaining armor to try to break through the Russian encirclement and reach the Western Allies. Again, this book has appeal for the buffs, general readers steer clear.
June 23, 2011
Book was a disappointment. It is a book that would be enjoyed only by non-repentant Nazis. The explanation provided for the Malmedy massacre was such an incredible lie that I cannot believe any editor allowed it to be included in the book.
The book includes some official US Army reports on engagements described in the book from the German side. The descriptions do not match up. The author claims in at least one account of destroying several Sherman tanks while the official reports state that the tanks destroyed were light tanks, not Shermans. The official report would be required to match the information provided for vehicles destroyed, so it seems most likely that the official report is correct. The author does not even address the discrepancy.
The book includes some official US Army reports on engagements described in the book from the German side. The descriptions do not match up. The author claims in at least one account of destroying several Sherman tanks while the official reports state that the tanks destroyed were light tanks, not Shermans. The official report would be required to match the information provided for vehicles destroyed, so it seems most likely that the official report is correct. The author does not even address the discrepancy.
July 4, 2012
Academically well written and translated. It does not flow well between vignettes. But the research data contained has been key in my studies and overall education on the matter. If you are interested in this period or a Historian take a look at this work.
March 26, 2008
MY Grandfather LTGen Carl Casper is in this, though in the end people knew him at Nurmmberg as a Nazi, he was from the old guard entered the German Army in 1922.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews