Download or read book The 29th Waffen SS Grenadier Division italienische Nr 1 And Italians in Other Units of the Waffen SS written by Massimiliano Afiero and published by Schiffer Military History. This book was released on 2022-01-28 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Italian government signed an armistice with the Allies on September 8, 1943, but that did not mean the war was over in Italy. Italians continued to fight on both sides for the duration of war. This study is focused on Italian volunteers in formations of the Waffen-SS. These include the SS Legion "Italiana" and 29th Waffen Grenadier Division "Italienische Nr. 1." Beyond the explicitly Italian units, handfuls of men found their way into other divisions, such as the 4th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Polizei," 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Reichsführer-SS," the Karstwehr Battallion (later 24th SS Gebirgsjäger Division "Karstjäger"), and even the famous 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte." This work includes histories of the Italian Legion and the 29th division, extensive interviews with Italian SS veterans from various units, and many excellent photographs from private collections in Europe.

Download or read book The Waffen SS 4 written by Gordon Williamson and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2012-03-20 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 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.

Download or read book Galicia Division written by Michael O. Logusz and published by Schiffer Military History. This book was released on 1997 with total page 600 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new book is a historical account of the 14th Waffen-SS Galicia Division (also known as the 1st Ukrainian Division of the Ukrainian National Army). In 1943/1944 a determined group of young men and women in Galicia volunteered to serve in a combat division destined for eastern front combat. Their goal: to engage and destroy the Soviet hordes menacing their homeland and to counter Nazi Germany's subjugation of their country. Although initially Galicia's Volunteers would serve in a German sponsored military formation, in actuality the volunteers of the Galicia division wanted to engage all hostile ideologies-both from the east and west-in order to secure a free independent Ukraine. The division's history is presented along with a human aspect of what the soldiers endured during the brutal battles on the eastern front.

Download or read book Hitler s Armed SS written by Anthony Tucker-Jones and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2022-09-15 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Waffen-SS was one of the most formidable German military formations of the Second World War – feared for its tenacity and ruthlessness in battle, notorious for the atrocities it committed. As a distinct fighting force derived from the Nazi Party’s SS organization, it stood apart from the other units of the German army. Its origins, structure and operational role during the war are often misunderstood and the controversy still surrounding its conduct make it difficult today to get an accurate picture of its actions and its impact on the fighting. Anthony Tucker-Jones, in this concise and fluently written account, provides an absorbing and clear sighted introduction to it. He traces its development under Himmler from modest beginnings in the early 1930s as Hitler’s personal protection squad of elite soldiers to a force which eventually amounted to thirty-eight divisions. Towards the end of the war many Waffen-SS units were formed from foreign volunteers and proved to be of poor quality, but its premier panzer divisions thoroughly deserved their reputation as tough fighters. Through accounts of the Waffen-SS’s major battles on the Eastern Front, in Normandy and finally in defence of Germany, a detailed picture emerges of the contribution it made to the German war effort, especially when Hitler’s armies were in retreat. The parts played by the most famous Waffen-SS formations – Das Reich, Totenkopf, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler among them – and their commanders – men like Dietrich and Hausser – can be seen in the wider context of the war and Germany’s defeat.

Download or read book Hitler s Foreign Divisions written by Chris Bishop and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The divisions of the Waffen-SS were the elite of Hitler's armies in World War II, but some of the most fanatical of these were not even German. SS: Hitler's Foreign Divisions is an in-depth examination of the approximately 350,000 foreign volunteers from German-occupied countries who opted to fight for the Third Reich as members of the Waffen-SS. The book explores the background to their recruitment and describes-on a unit-by-unit basis-their history, structure, and combat record in the war. Despite their non-Germanic background, the Norwegians, Dutch, Danes, Belgians, Latvians, Estonians, Cossacks, Ukrainians, and other nationalities-often motivated by an extreme anti-Communist zeal- fought hard on the Eastern Front for the Nazi cause, even when their position was hopeless. Often treated badly by their German commanders, the foreign SS units were not all excellent combat formations, however. some, like the British and Indian volunteers, were used for propaganda purposes only, while others, like the notorious Dirlewanger Brigade, who helped brutally suppress the Warsaw Rising, were nothing more than murderous criminals in uniform. Other divisions-such as the Russian-recruited 30th Waffen- Grenadier Division der SS, formed in the final months of the war-never reached a functional strength, and were disbanded before they saw action. Illustrated with rare photographs and written by an acknowledged expert, SS: Hitler's Foreign Divisions is a definitive history of the foreign SS units who fought for Hitler and Germany in World War II.

Download or read book British Boy in Fascist Italy written by Peter Ghiringhelli and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2010-08-16 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Born in England to an Italian Fascist father, Peter Ghiringhelli's turbulent childhood saw him deported to Italy when Mussolini fatefully entered the Second World War. There Peter witnessed the totalitarian regime at first hand and recalls his experiences of cold and hunger, his own role in Fascist rallies as a member of the black-shirted Balilla and the fall of Mussolini, providing a captivating living link to the past. Published for the first time, his childhood memories of this part of war-torn Europe are a fascinating insight into life under terrible oppression by the Republican Fascist party and the invading German army, who selected random Italian civilians for execution as retribution for every German soldier killed during the violent partisan fighting. Although his experiences were typical of many children living in Mussolini's Italy, Peter Ghiringhelli's remarkable recall and vivid memories serve as a unique testament to an extraordinary period of history, placing the reader in his place in a tug of war between life and death, desolation and victory.PETER GHIRINGHELLI was born in Leeds in 1930. After the war he joined the British army and served in the Royal Artillery in Germany and the Far East until 1953. He then worked in the Immigration Service at Folkestone and Heathrow, retiring in 1987. He now lives in Lincoln with his wife Margaret.

Download or read book Waffen SS on the Eastern Front 1941 1945 written by Ian Baxter and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2014-02-24 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “An incredible up close and personal look . . . [at] the men, machines and operational history of the Waffen-SS.”—MSC Review Connect This book in the popular Images of War series covers the deeds of the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front during the Second World War. With extensive text and in-depth captions with many rare and unpublished photographs, it is an absorbing analysis of the part they played on the Eastern Front. It reveals in detail how this elite band of men fought during the opening phase of Barbarossa, the invasion of Russia, how it supported and took part in the victory at Kharkov, Demyansk and other battles in the Soviet Union. The book reveals the Waffen-SS’s role at Kursk and how it was forced to withdraw in the face of overwhelming enemy superiority and were rushed from one danger zone to another to plug gaps in the front. Often these troops faced an enemy ten-times their strength, and it was for this reason they were feared and respected by their enemy. Although by early May 1945, the Waffen-SS was all but destroyed, having battled across half Russia and gone on to protect the withdrawals of the rest of the German Army to the very gates of Berlin. “In addition to the images we get a fairly extensive appendix showing the order of battle of the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front and details on uniforms, weapons and equipment. The book would be very useful as a visual aid for living history exponents and model makers.”—War History Online

Download or read book The Axis Forces 21 written by Massimiliano Afiero and published by Soldiershop Publishing. This book was released on 2023-03-10 with total page 85 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this issue: we begin with the deployment of the Wiking Division in the Caucasus regions in the summer of 1942. Following is the biography of Bruno Hinz, an SS officer, who served first in the Wiking Division and then in the Götz von Berlichingen. We continue with the employment of the Italian volunteers who served in the Waffen SS on the Nettuno front in the spring of 1944. We then return to talk about the Polizei Division, dealing with its operational employment on the Leningrad front between the summer of 1942 and January 1943. We conclude with an article dedicated to the Legionary War Cross, intended for French volunteers who fought on the Eastern Front alongside the German armed forces.

Download or read book SS Hitler s Foreign Divisions written by Chris Bishop and published by Amber Books Ltd. This book was released on 2012-07-16 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Waffen-SS were the elite of Hitler’s armies in World War II, but the most fanatical were not even German. This is a comprehensive examination of every foreign Waffen-SS formation, including infamous divisions such as Wiking and Prinz Eugen, units such as the Kaminski Brigade and the British-recruited Britisches Freikorps.

Download or read book Hitler s Elite written by Chris McNab and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2013-10-20 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A companion volume to Hitler's Armies and Hitler's Eagles, Hitler's Elite: The SS 1939–45 tells the complete story of the SS at individual, unit and organizational levels. Following an explanation of the SS' complex political and social origins, and its growth within the Nazi empire, it goes on to look at both its war record and its wider role in Heinrich Himmler's implementation of Hitler's vision for the Third Reich. As well as providing a combat history of the Waffen-SS from 1939 to 1945, it also explores themes such as ideology, recruitment, foreign SS personnel, training and equipment. The book's textual history is brought to life with more than 200 photographs and colour artworks from Osprey's series titles. This is a detailed and highly visual insight into one of Hitler's most powerful instruments of policy.

Download or read book The 27th Waffen SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Langemarck written by Massimiliano Afiero and published by Schiffer Military History. This book was released on 2016 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a detailed history of the 27th Waffen-SS Division "Langemarck," the Flemish volunteer SS combat formation. "Langemarck" was employed chiefly on the Eastern Front, first in the Ukraine in early 1944, then participating with a combat group in Estonia along the Tannenberg Line in the summer of 1944, alongside other European Waffen-SS volunteers subordinate to III.SS-Pz.Korps--covering themselves with glory and suffering heavy losses. After transformation into a division, "Langemarck" participated in the final fighting on the Pomeranian and Oder fronts, continuing to fight under extreme conditions, and always holding their assigned positions, counterattacking whenever possible. Most of the Flemish volunteers were able to surrender to the Anglo-American forces, thus escaping capture by the Russians. This complete treatment fills a large gap in Waffen-SS history. Informative appendices relate to the unit's operational history and also provide details on some of its members, as well as uniforms and insignia.

Download or read book German Military Police Units 1939 45 written by Gordon Williamson and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2012-06-20 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The military policeman must be one of the least appreciated yet most indispensable military figures in modern history. In the mobile warfare of the 20th century no army could keep its vital supply routes open without the military policeman. This book documents the organisation, uniforms and insignia of the many and varied German military police units of World War II. Their duties included traffic control; maintaining military order and discipline; collection and escorting prisoners of war; prevention of looting; disarming civilians; checking captured enemy soldiers for documents; collection of fallen enemy propaganda leaflets and providing street patrols in occupied areas.

Download or read book The 17th Waffen SS Panzergrenadier Division G tz Von Berlichingen written by Massimiliano Afiero and published by Schiffer Military History. This book was released on 2018-02-28 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 17th Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier Division "G�tz von Berlichingen" was one of the few SS formations to be employed exclusively on the western front during World War II. From the time of its formation in France in 1943, "G�tz von Berlichingen" saw bitter and bloody fighting in Normandy, the Seine front, Metz, the Saar, the Palatinate, and later the defense of the west wall until the final battles in Germany. Despite the overwhelming superiority of Allied forces, the units that comprised the division always managed to offer dogged resistance, counterattacking ferociously, and defending every foot of ground with great courage and determination. The units of "G�tz von Berlichingen" received praise, not only from the German high command, but also earned the respect of its Allied adversaries. In addition, the "G�tz von Berlichingen" division was never involved in any war crimes, or in crimes against civilians. Detailed operational history, rare combat images, maps, and personality profiles make this book the definitive history of "G�tz von Berlichingen."

Download or read book SS Hell on the Eastern Front written by Christopher Ailsby and published by Amber Books Ltd. This book was released on 2023-05-03 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With more than 100 photographs, SS: Hell on the Eastern Front is a detailed account of every aspect of the Waffen-SS’s war on the Eastern Front – its battles (against the Red Army and Soviet partisans), its organisation, its recruitment of non-Germans, its tactics and equipment, orders of battle and its mentality.

Download or read book SS Hell on the Western Front written by Chris Bishop and published by Amber Books Ltd. This book was released on 2023-06-20 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: SS: Hell on the Western Front describes in vivid detail the exploits of the Waffen-SS in Western Europe from 1940 to 1945 including such infamous Waffen-SS divisions as the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, Das Reich, Hitlerjugend and Totenkopf, illustrated with rare photographs.

Download or read book The Axis Forces 20 written by Massimiliano Afiero and published by Soldiershop Publishing. This book was released on 2022-03-21 with total page 107 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this issue: we start with the history of the Wallonie assault brigade, from its formation to its use on the Ukranian and Estonian fronts. Following that is the biography of a Latvian volunteer, Woldemars Veiss, one of the bravest officers, decorated with the Knight’s Cross. We continue with the employment of the Toteknkopf division in the Demyansk pocket, between January and March 1942. We conclude with a long, but hopefully interesting article by our friend Hugh Page Taylor on the recruitment centers for Italian SS volunteers, a great work of useful research for both historians and collectors.

Download or read book The Italian Campaign 1943 1945 written by Philip Jowett and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2023-06-30 with total page 456 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Second World War Italian campaign is often less well remembered than the struggle of the Germans against the western Allies in north-west Europe and against the Soviet Union in the east. But, as this book demonstrates in over 300 photographs, the Italian peninsula was a major theater of the war in itself. More than a million Allied troops fought there, more than half a million Germans and Italians; there were over 600,00 casualties and well over 100,000 dead. The soldiers of many nations took part – Americans, Australians, Brazilians, British, Canadians, French, Germans, Greeks, Indians, Italians, Poles, South Africans – in a grueling and protracted sequence of battles across rocky, mountainous terrain that made a mockery of Churchill’s description of it as the ‘soft underbelly’ of occupied Europe. Every stage of the campaign is represented in the photographs – from the Allied landings in Sicily in 1943, through the tenacious defense by the Germans of a series of fortified lines as the Allies struggled north, to the final Allied advance across the Po in April 1945 and the German surrender. As well as showing the soldiers on all sides and the towns and Italian landscapes in which the fighting took place, the photographs record the appalling devastation the warfare left in its wake.