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Army of Evil: A History of the SS
In Nazi Germany, they were called the Schutzstaffeln. The world would know them as the dreaded SS—the most loyal and ruthless enforcers of the Third Reich.It began as a small squad of political thugs. Yet by the end of 1935, the SS had taken control of all police and internal security duties in Germany—ranging from local village “gendarmes” all the way up to the secret political police and the Gestapo. Eventually, its ranks would grow to rival even Germany’s regular armed forces, the Wehrmacht.Going beyond the myths and characterizations, Army of Evil reveals the reality of the SS as a cadre of unwavering political fanatics and power-seeking opportunists who slavishly followed an ideology that disdained traditional morality—an ideology that they were prepared to implement to the utmost murderous extreme, which ultimately resulted in the Holocaust.This is a definitive historical narrative of the birth, legacy, and demise of one of the most feared political and military organizations ever known—and of those twisted, cruel men who were responsible for one of the most appalling crimes against humanity in history.INCLUDES RARE PHOTOGRAPHS
496 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
December 12, 2016
The author takes a long look at the development of the SS, step by step he walks through the growth and the changes that came over this organization. Interestingly enough he mostly considers it a failure top to bottom. In the end it would appear, at least to outsiders, that Himmler had a massive Empire and was the second most powerful man in Germany, the truth seems to be that he had lost control of most everything. The Waffen SS was under the control of the Army, the Camps were under the control of Kaltenburner (sp?) and the police were under the control of local party bosses.
The book even looks at the myth of the Waffen SS, pointing out that two things about them that have been bandied about are both wrong. The first is that the Waffen SS was significantly different from the General or Concentration Camp SS.
This is shown to be in error when the author points out that the Waffen SS was basically started up from those two other branches of the SS and various other means used to rotate members between the organizations.
The second myth is that the Waffen SS was an elite military arm. This one is the one that generally starts arguments. There are many admirers of the Waffen SS and its combat capability. In general though this admiration is limited to about half a dozen divisions, while the whole of the Waffen SS was made up of, at least on paper, over a hundred. An Elite Unit of such a size would have been formidable, but in general you hear about half a dozen and nothing from or about the rest. Also the Armed SS was a drain on the manpower pool of the rest of the Army. Not just in fighting power, but in the fact that supply and administration had to be doubled and so compete with the existing forces in the Army. Like much about Hitler's Germany it was wasteful and counterproductive.
This book doesn't focus on the actions, but the overall growth and development of the SS. Which makes it a book that is much easier to read and gives a more balanced view of the actions of the SS. Although the author makes it clear that what the SS was doing was evil and the killings were murder.
A very good book to give an overall view of a part of Nazi Germany.
The book even looks at the myth of the Waffen SS, pointing out that two things about them that have been bandied about are both wrong. The first is that the Waffen SS was significantly different from the General or Concentration Camp SS.
This is shown to be in error when the author points out that the Waffen SS was basically started up from those two other branches of the SS and various other means used to rotate members between the organizations.
The second myth is that the Waffen SS was an elite military arm. This one is the one that generally starts arguments. There are many admirers of the Waffen SS and its combat capability. In general though this admiration is limited to about half a dozen divisions, while the whole of the Waffen SS was made up of, at least on paper, over a hundred. An Elite Unit of such a size would have been formidable, but in general you hear about half a dozen and nothing from or about the rest. Also the Armed SS was a drain on the manpower pool of the rest of the Army. Not just in fighting power, but in the fact that supply and administration had to be doubled and so compete with the existing forces in the Army. Like much about Hitler's Germany it was wasteful and counterproductive.
This book doesn't focus on the actions, but the overall growth and development of the SS. Which makes it a book that is much easier to read and gives a more balanced view of the actions of the SS. Although the author makes it clear that what the SS was doing was evil and the killings were murder.
A very good book to give an overall view of a part of Nazi Germany.
January 29, 2014
After the Putsch and his release from prison, Hitler began to put together a group of men who initially would be his personal bodyguard troop but in the bigger picture, he envisioned something else. And indeed, after the "night of the long knives", the SS became the strongest and most feared arm of the Nazi terror troops. They represented the "perfect Aryan", tall, blonde, and "pure blooded" (although this changed in the last two years of the war) who answered to no one but Himmler and Hitler. This book follows the beginning to the end of an army of men who were responsible for crimes that will continue to astound and horrify for all time....the Death's Head Corps with their skull and crossbones insignia who were assigned to the death camps; the Waffen-SS who visited unbelievable cruelty on the Russians during Operation Barbarossa; and the other departments of the SS of which not as much has been written. The author covers the total organization, its leaders, its goals, and the internal machinations of this huge machine of terror. I would highly recommend this book if you are a WWII buff.
February 15, 2020
This was a powerhouse of a book. I was not expecting it to be as good as it was.
"Army of Evil" is a no-frills, matter-of-fact, somewhat chronological telling of the rise of the German SS (Schutzstaffel) under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler.
The book also covers many of the other related events of Nazi-era Germany, among them:
*The origins of The NSDAP, and its rise to power.
*The creation of the SA and the SS.
*The ideological underpinnings of Hitler's Nazi party.
*The Night of the Long Knives.
*Nazi race policy.
*The German invasion of Poland in September 1939.
*The Nazi policies dealing with the "Jewish Question".
*The establishment of concentration camps, and ultimately - their terrifying efficiency in the Jewish Holocaust.
This book has an excellent "flow"; in that the author writes in an accessible, engaging manner that ensures that the reader is never struggling to hold the plot, or keep track of the historical figures he's talking about. This is a welcome change from many of the history books I've read, whose narratives are often wandering, and their writing; excessively dry and arduous.
I enjoyed this book and learned quite a lot about the Nazi Reich that I didn't know before reading it. The book contains many first-hand accounts of the horrors in the camps, and the machinations of the evil Nazi Reich.
Due to its excellent writing style and formatting, I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Nazi history, or World War 2 history in general.
5 stars.
"Army of Evil" is a no-frills, matter-of-fact, somewhat chronological telling of the rise of the German SS (Schutzstaffel) under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler.
The book also covers many of the other related events of Nazi-era Germany, among them:
*The origins of The NSDAP, and its rise to power.
*The creation of the SA and the SS.
*The ideological underpinnings of Hitler's Nazi party.
*The Night of the Long Knives.
*Nazi race policy.
*The German invasion of Poland in September 1939.
*The Nazi policies dealing with the "Jewish Question".
*The establishment of concentration camps, and ultimately - their terrifying efficiency in the Jewish Holocaust.
This book has an excellent "flow"; in that the author writes in an accessible, engaging manner that ensures that the reader is never struggling to hold the plot, or keep track of the historical figures he's talking about. This is a welcome change from many of the history books I've read, whose narratives are often wandering, and their writing; excessively dry and arduous.
I enjoyed this book and learned quite a lot about the Nazi Reich that I didn't know before reading it. The book contains many first-hand accounts of the horrors in the camps, and the machinations of the evil Nazi Reich.
Due to its excellent writing style and formatting, I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Nazi history, or World War 2 history in general.
5 stars.
August 17, 2014
Imagine yourself- living in a world where your conflicting political, religious, or racial, non mainstream views with the current political system can lead you to a life in prison, or quite possibly death!
This was a very extensive look into the very disturbing, terrifying, events of human history from the late 1800s to the later trial years of the post war and 1950's. Political opponents, criminals, different races, subjected to deadly military experiments, torture, starvation, and the death chamber itself.
When freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of the press are taken away so as to leave an individual at the mercy of the "Leader", makes for a horrifying ordeal.
I gave this book 5 stars on 5, because of its Historic value to humanity as a whole. This book leaves lessons to be learned in how a society may succumb to this, and a very valuable book for younger generations.
Only problem with the book was trying to tie all of the facts and hierarchy together, which could take several readings into getting it straightened out.
But, with real accounts of the suffering of the many during that time, it makes for a great intellectual read, nonetheless.
This was a very extensive look into the very disturbing, terrifying, events of human history from the late 1800s to the later trial years of the post war and 1950's. Political opponents, criminals, different races, subjected to deadly military experiments, torture, starvation, and the death chamber itself.
When freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of the press are taken away so as to leave an individual at the mercy of the "Leader", makes for a horrifying ordeal.
I gave this book 5 stars on 5, because of its Historic value to humanity as a whole. This book leaves lessons to be learned in how a society may succumb to this, and a very valuable book for younger generations.
Only problem with the book was trying to tie all of the facts and hierarchy together, which could take several readings into getting it straightened out.
But, with real accounts of the suffering of the many during that time, it makes for a great intellectual read, nonetheless.
November 9, 2016
Very well written history of what started as a handful of political thugs and morphed into an elite order that provided the manpower to implement Hitler's will and served as an instrument of genocide. A highly recommended read for anyone interested in WWII and holocaust history.
December 22, 2021
A fabulous look at the SS. As Mr. Weale says, the SS wasn't the group of terror that many histories have painted them out to be, but a more secondary army for many middle to working class Germans to join without the actual rigors of the Wehrmacht. Now, this doesn't excuse what they did, because that is another story, but this is a well written and detailed analysis of the SS. A great book to read for any WWII buff that is tired of the traditional histories.
January 20, 2013
Brilliant but depressing, inevitable given the subject matter. The heroic image of the cover is completely undermined by the reality revealed in the research. Not some elite fighting force but a squalid agency of "race war". Essential reading.
August 31, 2024
Libro de historia aceptable, bien documentado. Tremendo sionista el autor, menos mal que es pirateado...
May 22, 2013
I enjoyed this book but boy was it a slog. I later saw it in an airport bookshop and realised how long the thing was. Ah, the perils of reading books on a kindle. I got this before a trip to Germany. I got kind of intrigued with the nazis. Not in a "let's join the BNP" sort of way, but in a "how the hell did a government actually convince their populous to murder 11 million people?". I mean, we all know the the number and it's been drilled into us since we were old enough to understand the concept, but when you stand back from it it's still really just astounding. So this book goes into /excruciating/ detail about the makeup of the SS, and also other attendant, associated and precursor agencies, while also giving a fairly thorough history of their existence, and all the key players. It definitely helped my understanding of how things happened in the pre-war period, and throughout the second world war, but it takes some effort to get through the thing. I also don't believe that the book contains any new research, but is more a compendium of other materials that were out there before it.
August 31, 2013
Much has been written about Germany and its part in both World Wars but little is written about this proud and influential country after their defeat and surrender in 1918. When the decision was made to pick up the toys of war and go home, what did the average German have to go home to? Just a mere fourteen years after the last shots were fired the Great Depression swept throughout the world. It is true that this crash hit the United States harder than any other country (including Germany) but the postwar economical, social and political situation was drastically different.
Adolf Hitler is and was the in-persona of the National Socialist Party and the Nazi movement. Heinrich Himmler held the same position in the SS (Schutzstaffeln) and the organization, ideals and goals are primarily his. This book describes the different groups within the organization as a whole. The title is somewhat ambiguous as the history isn’t new but it is presented from a new perspective, giving it a fresh outlook. It is both easy and interesting to read and can add a new perspective to one’s views on the Third Reich. I strongly recommend it to all those interested in history.
Adolf Hitler is and was the in-persona of the National Socialist Party and the Nazi movement. Heinrich Himmler held the same position in the SS (Schutzstaffeln) and the organization, ideals and goals are primarily his. This book describes the different groups within the organization as a whole. The title is somewhat ambiguous as the history isn’t new but it is presented from a new perspective, giving it a fresh outlook. It is both easy and interesting to read and can add a new perspective to one’s views on the Third Reich. I strongly recommend it to all those interested in history.
October 11, 2012
Very good look at the inner-workings of the SS, including the Waffen-SS. It was admittedly tough to get through all the various departments and political-trappings that made up the SS under Himmler. Weale covers the foreign elements of the SS fairly well, including the strange story of the British Free Corps that was a part of the Waffen-SS towards the end of the war. However, there seems to be a lack of any use of memoirs, quotes, or stories of ordinary Germans that served with this unusual organization, which started out as a bodyguard unit for Adolf Hitler and was later militarized as a combat branch of the German armed forces. Infamous units such as the Deaths Head and Einsatzgruppen, were partly or wholly responsible in many areas of Europe and Eastern Europe for the persecution and murder of Jews, Allied POWs, and many other persons. Still, the focus is more on the origin and the beginnings of the SS prior to the war, and how their role developed in time (mostly through Himmler) in the planning and execution of the Holocaust.
January 9, 2015
Very engaging. Focused on the personalities, philosophy, and development/evolution of the National Socialists and their rise. Highly detailed on the history and background of the SA and SS, as well as in the personalities behind the organizations. Easy to read and immerse yourself in. I found the discussion on the psychology- that is, these individuals reasoning behind what they did fascinating. This book is designed more for the generalist than the military history buff as you won't get much on the Waffen SS or their campaigns in the East or West. But you will gets chapter on the foreign volunteers and a lot of discussion on the final solution. Worth a read for introduction to the SS; however, there's more detailed and complete histories out there.
October 7, 2014
Though interrupted by military service in Iraq, Weale has produced a servicable and readable history of the SS. Origins of the SS are well covered, along with the various SS offshoots such as the Waffen-SS, the concentration camps, the Race and Settlement Office, the SD, etc. Weale's brief portraits of SS leaders are to the point; his debunking of myths is a great service. I would have liked to have seen something more on Himmler's attempts to suborn vast segments of the war economy, but in a popular history such as this, one has to pick and choose. All in all a very good introduction to a subject that is dark indeed.
November 21, 2021
Weale succeeds in telling the story of the SS in a detailed manner and in keeping it engaging throughout, although it gets real tough to swallow at times, especially towards the end where the holocaust takes center stage and the story Weale aims to tell inevitably loses some steam in order to examine the inner workings of the extermination camps in relation to the general structure of the SS organization and ideology. I felt that there was some negligence towards other aspects of the SS as the book progressed but it was probably deliberate on Weale's part because he wanted to highlight the zenith of the SS' cruelty as a genocidal organization in primarily focusing on the holocaust.
I'm rambling. Let me cut it short: The book does exactly what it sets out to do and tells the history of the SS quite well. Somebody may have done it better in the past and somebody else may come to outdo this one in the future but in and of itself the book is sufficient and successful.
I'm rambling. Let me cut it short: The book does exactly what it sets out to do and tells the history of the SS quite well. Somebody may have done it better in the past and somebody else may come to outdo this one in the future but in and of itself the book is sufficient and successful.
December 30, 2023
Horrifying and compelling reading that sometimes drags when the author gets stuck in org charts. This book clearly illustrates how atrocities can be edged toward incrementally and why it is important to recognize the seeds of hate before they fully sprout.
January 4, 2013
Having read widely about WWII I always look for books that focus on some narrow aspect of the war and the people and organizations surrounding it. This book is an in depth look at the Nazi SS (Schutzstafflen) and its role in the holocaust. As with most books on this subject, there was a good deal of graphic description of the details of how the holocaust was implemented. Disturbing reading but nonetheless memories of this need to be kept in public awareness to help make sure it does not happen again. The book gave a very complete history of the SS from its early incarnations as an elite bodyguard group for the National Socialist German Worker's Party (NSDAP) through its role in the "final solution" to the Jewish question. Weale goes into excruciating detail on the various spin-offs, name and department changes, and personnel related to the SS...I found it hard (or impossible) to keep all of the offices and people straight, but understand that this is part of writing such a complete history. Though I had read much of this history in other sources, I did learn a lot from Weale's documentation of the evolution of various other methods and ideas to address the Jewish question before deciding that genocide was the only answer.
April 25, 2020
Many of these reviews suggest that this is a book only for beginning scholars of the subject matter. I shudder to think what they would consider advanced reading. This book is very well written and meticulously researched, so it's probably not fair for me to give it 3 stars because I struggled with it. But here we are. It took me a couple of months to get through it (and then only because of the quarantine). It was like reading a textbook. A very dry textbook. Parts of it were very enlightening, but a great deal of it was names, dates, and letter collections of various SS (and other organizations') branches that all ran together after awhile.
Read this if you have some background in German history between the two Wars or military history in the same era. I would not suggest this as the first book to read on the subject matter.
That said, kudoes to Weale for his extremely comprehensive look at the subject matter.
UPDATE: The next book I read was a fictionalized account of the Kindertransport. To my total amazement, I was able to recognize names, places and events that had been described in Army of Evil. So maybe I learned more than I realized.
Read this if you have some background in German history between the two Wars or military history in the same era. I would not suggest this as the first book to read on the subject matter.
That said, kudoes to Weale for his extremely comprehensive look at the subject matter.
UPDATE: The next book I read was a fictionalized account of the Kindertransport. To my total amazement, I was able to recognize names, places and events that had been described in Army of Evil. So maybe I learned more than I realized.
March 9, 2015
Despite being extremely dry reading, this is a very informative book. Weale addresses not only the widely viewed aspect of the SS as war criminals, but explores its origins and its political nature. In fact he makes the not unreasonable case that the SS, and its militarized unit the Waffen-SS, were far from an effective military force. They were constantly at loggerheads with the German military and its command. Weale saves the atrocities of the SS, the death camps, for the end of the book, showing them as the last ditch effort of men such as Himmler and Heydrich to "solve" the "Jewish question". The book dispels the image of the SS as a finely tuned politcal and military machine, exposing it as a group of bumbling anti-Semites more interested in political infighting than helping Germany to achieve its aims.
April 12, 2019
Proof that bureaucracies are evil.
This is less an investigation of SS actions or an analysis of its ideology than it is an actual history of the organization (and incessant reorganization) of the offices and units themselves. A little dry given this subject matter, but well-written and thoroughly researched, if emotionally hard to read at times. The Nazis were not only evil, but they were preening fools, as evidenced by the parade of titles and offices they gave themselves. The constant shuffling of offices would be almost comical, if it had not also resulted in the culture of death these bureaucratic fools unleashed.
This is less an investigation of SS actions or an analysis of its ideology than it is an actual history of the organization (and incessant reorganization) of the offices and units themselves. A little dry given this subject matter, but well-written and thoroughly researched, if emotionally hard to read at times. The Nazis were not only evil, but they were preening fools, as evidenced by the parade of titles and offices they gave themselves. The constant shuffling of offices would be almost comical, if it had not also resulted in the culture of death these bureaucratic fools unleashed.
August 20, 2023
Interesting facts for a lot of it but the writing is pretty amateur. Also it’s extremely bias and drags off into the usual propaganda and makes no attempt to change explain why any of them felt the way they did, just ‘muh evil nazis’. Boring Hollywood narrative drivel when covering half the topics in the book.
February 23, 2012
well detailed history of the nazi's special organisation of the SS from its origins after WW1 and the demise of the SA and in some parts very harrowing the accounts of murders and the concentration camps and what drove men to become part of the national socialist system
March 1, 2013
Essential reading for scholars of World War II. It is fascinating to read how the SS evolved out of the Brown Shirts, and how quickly they took power in what was then a free, but defeated country.
Read
May 3, 2020What a bunch of evil, dangerous, and stupid men.
August 7, 2022
Having a solid background on Nazi history is required. I have seen some reviews comparing this book to a textbook and I agree with them. The beginning and the middle portion of the book are good, but the ending - especially when it was clear that the Nazis were going to lose the war (so by 1942 or thereabouts) - felt very rushed and like the author wanted to wrap the book up as fast as possible.
This book could have had an additional subtitle: The Life of the Staff, since a lot of SS and Nazi staff are discussed in this book and we get mini biographies of each person and their relationship to each other. Hitler takes kind of a backseat in this book, really showing up in the first and last portions of the book. Himmler definitely takes "center role" in this book.
Good political, social, and military history of the SS and it’s surprisingly humble but dark roots. Certain sections stood out more than others. One example is the way the “death camp staff” would swarm over the dead bodies to look for gold (including breaking apart the jaws of newly dead victims), including in their genitals and anuses, is genuinely sickening.
It can be detailed a bit too much - like knowing what exactly was in soldiers’ bags, the different offices the SS had in their bureaucratic machinery, and exactly how the pipes at death camps were laid out and the exact dimensions of The Stoves. There were times my eyes glazed over, I feel like some information kept getting repeated over and over again, sometimes to the book’s detriment.
Still, the author definitely did his research and used excellent sources, including interviews of former SS staff, letters, diaries, and recollections from Holocaust survivors.
This book could have had an additional subtitle: The Life of the Staff, since a lot of SS and Nazi staff are discussed in this book and we get mini biographies of each person and their relationship to each other. Hitler takes kind of a backseat in this book, really showing up in the first and last portions of the book. Himmler definitely takes "center role" in this book.
Good political, social, and military history of the SS and it’s surprisingly humble but dark roots. Certain sections stood out more than others. One example is the way the “death camp staff” would swarm over the dead bodies to look for gold (including breaking apart the jaws of newly dead victims), including in their genitals and anuses, is genuinely sickening.
It can be detailed a bit too much - like knowing what exactly was in soldiers’ bags, the different offices the SS had in their bureaucratic machinery, and exactly how the pipes at death camps were laid out and the exact dimensions of The Stoves. There were times my eyes glazed over, I feel like some information kept getting repeated over and over again, sometimes to the book’s detriment.
Still, the author definitely did his research and used excellent sources, including interviews of former SS staff, letters, diaries, and recollections from Holocaust survivors.
February 9, 2021
Started off good, lots of information on the history, units and people involved. I have stopped reading however due to a concern for the content. During the part about Kristallnacht, the author states that neither Himmler or Reinhard Heydrich had any knowledge of it and went so far as to say that Heydrich instructed the state police and SA to guard Jewish places after finding out about what was going on when a synagogue near his hotel was set on fire. I decided to look into that fact. There is a telegraph sent by Heydrich instructing the SA, SD and police on what to protect and what was going to happen. It can be found here: https://www.ushmm.org/information/exh...
There is no place for misdirection, lies and propaganda in history books. History is history, tell it was it was. I shall be recycling the book.
There is no place for misdirection, lies and propaganda in history books. History is history, tell it was it was. I shall be recycling the book.
July 22, 2020
(Audiobook) (3.5 stars) This work offers an overview of the history of the SS, from its origins, the power struggles with the SA to win its places as a critical component of the Nazi state, the various units and activities it engaged in as well as some of the key leaders that drove its actions from the late 1920s to the fall of the Nazis in 1945. It is not the most comprehensive or in-depth work about the organization, but it does offer more than just outline-level insight. For someone who doesn't have the time to do the in-depth study/reading of the SS, but needs or wants more than just the Wikipedia entry, this work would serve that purpose. Granted, I would probably recommend Masters of Death over this one, but for what it is, a solid one volume work. Audiobook and hard/e-copy would rate the same.
May 12, 2021
First of all the book is well written and very readable. Almost everyone ( I hope ) is familiar of the role of Himmler and the SS in the Holocaust. This book traces the early development of the racist / eugenic theme in National Socialism and the founding of the "elite" SS through the end of the war and beyond. Excellent insights into the spitefully jockeying for position within the Nazi hierarchy and the fact that the Wehrmacht ( though it has often been denied ) participated happily in mas murder and covering up the evidence. This is a difficult book to read given the cold-blooded history, but I recommend it highly. Kristi & Abby Tabby
November 20, 2021
If one wishes to speak about the SS they have to read this book - It gives a clear history of the SS and doesn't drag on about "War crimes" Or "Anti-Semitism" - It rarely uses the term "Nazi" or its other variants which is a big plus in my books. The SS: A New History also doesn't skip over the Indian volunteers of the SS; which people barely think of - There is also good info on Aktion T4. Adrian Weale gives amazing detail about the British Free Corps. I look foward to reading his book solely about the BFC: "Renegades: Hitler's English men"
This book is easy to understand; a good read and not "Boring" which I have seen people dub it.
This book is easy to understand; a good read and not "Boring" which I have seen people dub it.
September 28, 2022
Thorough, easily readable, narrative history of the Nazi “true believers” who developed and expanded the SS — the organization within the NSDAP entrusted with ensuring the Party keep its focus on racial purity; obedience to the FUHRER; devotion to the myth of the Arian FATHERLAND.
As the author establishes, all branches of the convoluted hierarchy of the SS were devoted to this overarching goal of defenders of the purity of the party — even the ARMED military formations (the WAFFEN-SS). The brutal consequences of this devotion are chillingly detailed in an extended discussion of the deep involvement of the SS in the holocaust and the death camps of eastern Germany and Western Poland.
As the author establishes, all branches of the convoluted hierarchy of the SS were devoted to this overarching goal of defenders of the purity of the party — even the ARMED military formations (the WAFFEN-SS). The brutal consequences of this devotion are chillingly detailed in an extended discussion of the deep involvement of the SS in the holocaust and the death camps of eastern Germany and Western Poland.
March 18, 2023
A somewhat dry account of the history, from inception as Hitler’s bodyguard unit through the surrender of Germany, of the SS. The author goes into great detail on the biographies of many of the movers and shakers within the SS, to the point where the level of detail could become somewhat overwhelming and tedious. The nearly matter-of-fact way in which horrible atrocities are meticulously described were stomach turning. (Not the author’s fault. Our stomachs should be turned by the vile behavior of unchecked fascism.) Filled with facts and figures does make this read more as an academic work than a narrative history. Nevertheless, I’m glad I read this book.
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