Himmler's Black Order 1923-45

by Robin Lumsden

The popular mythology of the SS has a clouded story which is so complicated as to almost defy a tale of intrigue and nepotism, of archeology and Teutonism, of art and symbolism. The story of "Himmler's Black Order" is one of an organisation led by a man motivated by the belief that he was the spiritual reincarnation of the Saxon King Heinrich I, founder of the German Reich. It is the story of street fighters and convicted criminals becoming Ministers of State and police commanders; the story of charitable works and mass extermination being administered from the same building; the story of boy generals directing vast heterogeneous armies on devastating campaigns of conquest. Here, indeed, fact is stranger than fiction. This book covers in detail the origins, development and organisation of both the Waffen-SS and the Allemeine-SS. The latter has been sorely neglected in post-war literature, yet it was the real body of the SS from which the more famous branches grew. The wide-ranging effects which the SS had on the police, racial policies, German history, education, the economy and public life are all described. Sections are also devoted to uniforms and regalia which were carefully designed to set Himmler's men apart as a new elite in Third Reich society. The SS at war is considered, and a balance struck between the substantial battlefield achievements of the Waffen-SS and the atrocities of SS and police forces in the occupied territories. The little-known story of the Germanic-SS, staffed by foreigners in Western Europe, is also related.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Olga]

I will not rate this book for a simple reason: this is a technical one, pure history and facts and so it's hard for me to interpret that in terms of how much I liked it vs. how good it is.
The fact is: if you want an extremely good book about the SS for research, if you have an investigative thing going on, this is definitely the book for you. This is by far the most complete book I've ever read about this subject and I've read a few. The author talks about everything, every little single detail about the SS is in this book, the insignia, clothing, pre-requisites and of course, the man behind it, Himmler, For this fact this makes for an extremely dull read at some points, so I wouldn't recommend it as a recreational read, unless you're crazy (like myself).

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Más desde la imaginería que desde la historia propiamente dicha, sin rehuir esta última.-

Género. Historia.

Lo que nos cuenta. Aproximación a la Schutzstaffel, sus orígenes y evolución, con un aparte para las Waffen-SS, principalmente volcada en sus estructuras, divisiones, reglamentos, políticas, símbolos y uniformidad.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....

[Paco Crespo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se nota mucho la condición de amateur de su autor. Buen esfuerzo y no mal libro, sólo que no llega a cumplir con el estudio de la historia de las SS de una manera satisfactoria; demasiado ambicioso el proyecto para tan pocas páginas, máxime cuando se trata del estudio de una organización amplísima y en constante cambio y evolución durante la que fue su historia.
Es tanto un libro para introducirse en el complejo mundo de las SS como para coleccionistas de militaria de esta organización. El título en castellano despista más que otra cosa. No hay nada de una historia secreta: historia (corta y leve) de las SS y detalles sobre sus uniformes, regalía, accesorios y demás.

[Juan Gallardo Ivanovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un libro de 4 estrellas pero está escrito como de 3

Un monumental trabajo del escritor Robin Lumsden accerca de los orígenes e historia de las SS en su conjunto pues este libro detalla que las SS eran mucho más grande de lo que normalmente se muestra en los medios, con distintas divisiones que recogen temas como reclutamiento, administración, raza, bienestar y mucho más.
Si bien uno esperaba una crónica de las SS, el libro se va más por la parte organizativa y de cómo estaba formada, lo que la verdad hace envolverlo en muchos detalles innecesarios para el lector de a pie. Obvio que si estás investigando y quieres más detalle, pues este es tu libro.

En corto, es buena investigación pero irrelevante para un lector común. Ponle una estrella más si te gusta el detalle de cómo está estructurada esta organización.

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first when I read this book, I thought that Robin Lumsden's tone was too reverential- I was afraid of another English Language Hagiography of the SS- A "rune-sniffer' who's really attracted to the myths of these "Ubermenschen" Himmler developed to do Hitler's bidding. This is after all the gang who murdered most of my European family, so I am sensitive to any fawning tone. But as I went on- I realized that Lumsden is just trying to be precise- creating a strong single volume that attempts to address the history, Battle history of the Waffen SS, Uniform resource, collectors' resource as well as a record of the SS's post war Associations/Trials/Escapes. He debunks all the positive legends- but also some negative ones, giving credit to any non-politically based actions that deserve it. It makes this that thing I do like for a Library- the single Volume that covers an entire topic- the only missing thing is Colour- would have love some pics of all the Waffen SS Camos...

The pages are packed with good B/W pics- never more than four to a full page- so lots of details and uniform matches.... and mismatches. This organisation grew out of the SA, Hitler's original brownshirt group- that was run by Roehm. Himmler wormed his way to the top- especially after helping Hitler Purge Roehm in the "Night of the Long Knives"- where he could let his Wagnerian /Gothic Myths Fantasy run wild -in the service of Hitler. We get to see a Fantasist- fully enabled with Reichs Budgets- and all the Cash and good he could Steal in plain sight from the Jews/Gypsies/Gays/Resistors he was putting into his camps. Lumsden goes over all the orders and sub orders- and all the silly layers of gaudy baubles given to different ranks and orders. When the Waffen SS- develops- more layers of Uniforms and Insignia to design! It's a wonder there was time to murder all those people- but there always was. After all- one had to get more lucre- to give out more items with Skulls on them of course! It's' exhaustive- and agrees with the many other resources on this group I have read-

For the junior reader this is filled with the subtleties of adult themes and contains some frank discussion of political murder and torture, so at least 11-12 years might be a good idea. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast- this is as good as you can get without having colour plates. In an effort to be complete- Lumsden even tells you all the regalia that was approved- but never distributed, so modellers of "What If?" scenarios/dioramas can go to town. Only the Gamer gets the short shrift- although gamers of RPGs set in the Third Reich might find useful material. It's a very complete resource on all facets of the SS- a worthy addition to any WWII/Third Reich Library.

[Patrick Elsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Generally I don't like WW2 history but I thought this might be interesting. Instead its just pages of lists with nothing holding them together. I'm sure that other books cover the same material better.

[Carlos Piélago Rojo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro interesante de historia que escogí como documentación para un tema. Es la historia al detalle de las temidas SS, hay partes un poco aburridas como la historia de las insignias y de los trajes, pero, por lo demás, está entretenido.

[Barbara Ab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un bel libro di facile lettura, ma forse un pò troppo dettagliato. Nascita, struttura, organizzazione delle SS, e un'amplia descrizione anche dei simboli e uniformi. Moltissime foto!