The Story of the SS: Hitler's Infamous Legions of Death

by Nigel Cawthorne

This is the Popular Reference edition of the fully-illustrated eBook, ASIN: B008AK75BO.

Author Nigel Cawthorne provides a concise, yet detailed look at one of the most chilling organizations ever conceived by the human imagination, whose misdeeds are viewed with an unflinching gaze, making for a chilling, yet engrossing read.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Politics, World War II, Historical

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

Nigel Cawthorne is an Anglo-American writer of fiction and non-fiction, and an editor. He has written more than 80 books on a wide range of subjects and has contributed to The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph Daily Mail and The New York Times. He has appeared on television and BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Many of Nigel Cawthorne's books are compilations of popular history, without footnotes, references or bibliographies. His own web site refers to a description of his home as a "book-writing factory" and says, "More than half my books were commissioned by publishers and packagers for a flat fee or for a for a reduced royalty".

One of his most notable works was Taking Back My Name, an autobiography of Ike Turner, with whom he spent a number of weeks working with him on, taking up residence in Turner's house. The book caused much controversy, resulting in court cases for three years following its release.

Cawthorne currently lives in Bloomsbury, London with his girlfriend and son, Colin (born 1982).

Reviews

[Rod Horncastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book finished in 2021. Nasty.
I’m not really interested in what these humans did to other humans —- I’m curious why 1 out of every 3 or 4 people seem easily capable of fully supporting and participating in Nazi atrocities. Hitler had no shortage of men and volunteers for his world domination (probably women too).

This book tells us clearly what they did and when and even why at times. It wasn’t just those few punished at the Nuremberg trials (and many later released???) or a few crazies from Japan, Italy, and Nazi Germany —— it was millions of people fully willing to torture and gas and rape and pillage... or even call the gestapo on their Jewish or Polish or English neighbors and businessmen and children. We live in a sick and dangerous planet.

And now we have the COVID Nazis and Gestapo quickly being called to fine and crush businesses and families and all who disagree with their prideful self-righteousness and idealogy of “the Greater Good”. Here We go again.
(Yes, churches and businesses and even families around me locally are being shutdown... Hitler would be proud) it’s okay: the greater good. Start burning those books and smashing store windows and... oh? They already have. The Nazis invented cancel culture.

This book tells us how The Nazis achieved so much insanity - for them it was normal. For millions of soldiers and supporting families... it was Normal. Hitler’s preferred method was simple politics and legalities. He rather enjoyed peace treaties and including celebrities and humanitarian propaganda into his play book. He was a man that could be reasoned with many thought. Yes, even the media embraced this - as did much of the Catholic Church at times. Apparently the Pope wasn’t chatting with the right God.

The most disturbing part of this tale is how many barbaric Nazi leaders got forgiven by the courts within 10 years (no different than letting Jeffrey Dahlmer or Charles Manson out). Many even moved to Argentina and kept the Nazi beliefs Alive. Where’s the infamous Jew-Bear when we need him? Only in Hollywood I guess.

Check out my podcast: “the Bible Outlaw” if you got time.

[Елвира · Rating 5 out of 5]

Много добра книга. Ужасяваща тематика, необходима е силна психика, за да се прочете.

[Mark Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating and concise history of a particularly important part of the Nazis and the Second World War. More detail than your average Nazi porn and unfortunately came out just before the 2016 declassification of CIA, FBI and MI6 files that show massive gaping holes (that the Luftwaffe could fly through) in relation to the assumed and accepted narrative they teach in school about what happened at the end of the war and to Hitler, which made reading this a little frustrating as a lot of the information is sadly incorrect.

A great break down of the many arms, divisions and departments within the SS though and highlights the many reconstructions that led to such disorganization and ultimately, defeat for Germany.

[Andy Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating, but at times difficult to follow. The narrative jumps years (often decades) and sometimes covers old ground, so you spend a lot of time mentally piecing the narrative together for yourself. Also, I get the ideology/fanaticism of the ringleaders (Himmler, Heydrich) but I'm still none the wiser how they managed to get hundreds of thousands of people (some of whom were drafted in from the so-called 'subhuman' races Himmler so detested to fight in the Waffen-SS) to commit such appalling acts of depravity on their behalf. As such this book only goes skin-deep into the subject matter.

[Mark Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gripping, and thoroughly researched examination of the varied roles that the SS played in the protection and furtherance of the Third Reich.


The book covers the SS from it's inception to it's bloody demise in the face of the advancing Allied Forces, and amply demonstrates why the SS were amongst some of the most deplorable and yet, determined, soldiers within the context of the Reich.


The crimes committed by the SS and Wermacht are considered in detail, and an account of the Nuremberg trials is also provided by the author which is was interesting for a variety of reasons. Chiefly, it was interesting to note how many war criminals were re-integrated into West German; American, and Soviet society as a result of their intellectual or technical utility. Secondly, it was interesting to note how "ordinary" or mundane, the post-war lives were for those that had presided over atrocities at Concentration Camps or on the battlefield. In this sense, the Author inadvertently provides an insight into the psychological disposition of the members of the SS and the relative injustice of the Nuremberg show trials.


I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone with either a passing or detailed interest in the SS and the Wermacht in general.

[Jonathan Deaux · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book jumps around too much for it to be enjoyable for the average reader to enjoy in my opinion. People, places, events, units, operations, etc are in no predictable or natural order. I did manage to work my way through the entire book but I found myself having to reread much of it to gather the information and decide whether or not it was new information or new a new perspective. Most of the information I decided was neither and decided to expunge it.

[Steve Beacall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little of the same old same at first regarding general WW2 history however continue with this book as the history behind the organization was interesting. One thing that became apparent at the end was how little justice the victims of the appalling crimes actually got.

[Jeff Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

to me the content of the book was better than the lay out. there were times where the author just seemed to bounce around from thing to thing and it wasn't really put in a good time line. I can't judge too harshly on this because there was so much going on that it was probably hard to make sense of the events if they were put in order.
the most disturbing thing about this book is at the end. With a simple little sentence the author points out that there are still people out there trying to set up a "fourth reich." now I am not saying that it will happen, or that they have any backing, but I do want to say that Hitler created his own backing and made the second world war happen. Now that is a very watered down version of what happened but it is possible under the right conditions for another reich to gain power.

[peter david mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive account of SS

An interesting and detailed account of the many and varied tentacles of the SS. The only criticism I have is the way the timeline keeps switching. I would have preferred to read the careers of leading figures in tandem with events. However I learnt a lot more than I did previously about this subject. Thankfully there was no graphic detail of atrocities which are best left to the imagination. Overall a good overview of this sinister organisation.

[spider74 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una della pagine più buie della storia moderna, raccontata davvero molto approfonditamente e con numerose fotografie inedite. Quello che sui libri scolastici non si trova.
La nascita delle SS dagli albori alla fine, molto ben scritta.

[PAUL CRESSWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched

Very well researched and very well written. Was really good to read
It kept me really interested,I could not put this book down and was
Totally absorbed in this passage of history

[Darryl Finch-Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bog standard chronicling of the Wuffen SS, from their rise to their downfall, however, I feel Cawthorne desired to make them more of a formidable fighting force than they were. They were elite, but nowhere near the level he presents.

[Justyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read. Very informative. I am happy to have it in my library and I'm grateful I've read it once, but I can't see myself ever reading it a second time. For that reason it loses 1 star. It's definitely worth reading once so if you're considering it then I suggest you follow through.

[Michael Bolls · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is good overall in giving an overview of the SS, but the author's writing is sometimes hard to follow. The author also inputs his personal opinions/conspiracy theories in certain places.

[Valya Venelinova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno sguardo nel abisso. Alla fine resti con l'amaro in bocca e la consapevolezza che i cattivi, in fondo in fondo, vincono sempre.

[Kaih Yocius · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author's purpose was to inform the reader about Hitler and the personal elite bodyguards that he commanded. His intention was to expose the truth of what the SS did.The SS was responsible for millions of deaths. They thought of themselves as the higher power of the Germany and they wanted to dominate the world. The author told a lot about how the SS got started, and how they rose to power. The SS became a band of murderers.

The theme of the book is the overall story of what happened in the SS. It is a complete history of their reign.
It started with Hitler's beginning of power. It ended with how the seeds of the SS and the Third Reich are still there.

The style is more of an exposition. It is an exposition because it explains about what events took place in order to create the organization. It also clearly stated how bad and evil they actually were. The jobs of the SS was clearly defined throughout the book.

My opinion is it constantly jumps back and forth and it is at times hard to understand. It seemed to ramble on and on about politics. There were lots of words that were hard to pronounce and understand. What I liked is how he sometimes explained the truth of what happened in a non political way. I'd make it less political and more about stories behind the politics. Overall, I would not recommend this book because as a high school student, I did not understand most of the historical, political angle.

[Радостин Георгиев · Rating 5 out of 5]

Интересно, изключително изчерпателно и подробно обяснено.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very informative. A lot of names and dates, if that's the type of thing you're interested in, than this would be a great read. I felt as though as I was sitting in a very boring history class, but there were a lot of interesting stories and facts along the way.

[Scooter · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take on the rise and then thankfully fall of one of the world's most notorious organisations of all time. a little hard to keep up with at times as it does bounce around chronologically, but a good read none the less.

[Ravi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A throughly well researched book. A lot of information and dates and will make a good book in case of any research projects. Not to be read in case you are looking for a storyline.
As a casual reader of the book, there was a lot of information to assimilate and process.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed accounts of the major players in Hitler's SS and the roles they played. Interesting book and well researched. Very little about Hitler himself.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat choppy to read through. Full of information. I learned several things I never knew before. Recommended.

[Petra Kamlachová · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bylo to srozumitelně vysvětlené, logicky řazené a překvapivě dobře se to četlo. Koho zajímá druhá světová válka, určitě by si měl knihu přečíst.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ton of misprints and completely wrong facts. It should be clear by the author's volume and subject of work that he should not be trusted on anything.