The Waffen-SS (4): 24. to 38. Divisions, & Volunteer Legions

Osprey Men at Arms #420

by Gordon Williamson, Stephen Andrew (Illustrator)

In the last years of World War II, 1944–45, the Waffen-SS formed many nominal 'divisions' from a motley range of sources, whose battlefield value was as varied as their backgrounds. The best were built around existing Western European volunteer regiments; some, raised from Central Europeans and Russians, were strong in numbers but weak in morale; some were of negligible size, scraped together from remnants and trainees; and some were sinister 'anti-partisan' gangs, assembled from the military dregs of the Eastern Front. Illustrated with rare photographs from private collections and meticulous colour artwork, this final title in our sequence details their organisation, uniforms and insignia, and summarises their battle records.

Genres: War, Nonfiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2004

About the author

Gordon Williamson was born in 1951 and currently works for the Scottish Land Registry. He spent seven years with the Military Police TA and has published a number of books and articles on the decorations of the Third Reich and their winners. He is the author of a number of World War II titles for Osprey Publishing.

Reviews

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chronicles late war SS divisions many of which, including the 29th and 33rd divisions, were among the most murderous outfits ever raised for combat. The units discussed here are, with a few exceptions, anything but elite.