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Waffen-SS Divisional Histories
SS-Wiking: The History of the 5th SS Division 1941-45
The 5th SS Division "Wiking" was the first "international" (western European freiwilligen) Waffen-SS division and the only German armed forces panzer division comprised of foreign troops. Not only did it earn an esteemed combat reputation but also served as an SS "finishing school," spinning off a host of additional divisions.
Wiking operated exclusively on the eastern front. On the offense, it served as a spearhead for operations Barbarossa and Citadel. As a defensive "fire brigade," it served in the Cherkassy pocket and in 1944 Hungary. Despite at least
one allegation of war crimes, in the main Wiking earned a reputation for fighting tough but fighting fair.
This book is fully illustrated with rare eastern front photographs, many of which have never been published before. It also includes numerous maps and biographies of the key personnel.
Wiking operated exclusively on the eastern front. On the offense, it served as a spearhead for operations Barbarossa and Citadel. As a defensive "fire brigade," it served in the Cherkassy pocket and in 1944 Hungary. Despite at least
one allegation of war crimes, in the main Wiking earned a reputation for fighting tough but fighting fair.
This book is fully illustrated with rare eastern front photographs, many of which have never been published before. It also includes numerous maps and biographies of the key personnel.
- GenresWorld War IIHistoryWar
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 16, 2021
This is my fifth book in this series of Nazi/SS/German warfighter and continue to appreciate these books. This particular book gives an in-depth look at the 5th Waffen-SS Division, also called Wiking Division. This unit was unique as it manned by foreign volunteers (Freiwilligen) from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Their commanding officers were German.
The book starts with the history of the Waffen-SS and this particular division, insignia and uniforms, training, and weapons. The rest of the book is devoted to Operation Barbarossa and other combat conflicts in the USSR and Caucasus. The last chapter is dedicated to the leadership figures such as Felix Steiner, Herbert Otto Gille, Johannes-Rudolf Muhlenkamp, Karl Ullrich, Leon Degrelle (non-German of the Walloon volunteers), and even the notorious Josef Mengele (who served in the division medical corps but later became the head physician of Auschwitz).
The book is a quick read, clearly presented, and very readable. The pictures are great as they are in other books in the series. Thanks!
The book starts with the history of the Waffen-SS and this particular division, insignia and uniforms, training, and weapons. The rest of the book is devoted to Operation Barbarossa and other combat conflicts in the USSR and Caucasus. The last chapter is dedicated to the leadership figures such as Felix Steiner, Herbert Otto Gille, Johannes-Rudolf Muhlenkamp, Karl Ullrich, Leon Degrelle (non-German of the Walloon volunteers), and even the notorious Josef Mengele (who served in the division medical corps but later became the head physician of Auschwitz).
The book is a quick read, clearly presented, and very readable. The pictures are great as they are in other books in the series. Thanks!
January 21, 2014
Basic overview of the Wiking Division. About a step up from a Osprey book,there are some decent photos, even though if you've been around the subject a bit you've seen them all before. A good intermediate book, if you you are looking for more you will be going to the more in depth studies anyway.
May 15, 2012
Good historical refeance book on the SS Wiking divison.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews