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From the Realm of a Dying Sun #1
From the Realm of a Dying Sun, Volume I: IV. SS-Panzerkorps and the Battles for Warsaw, July–November 1944
The first volume of the tactical and operational history of World War II Germany's fourth SS-Panzerkorps division and its leader.
During World War II, the armed or Waffen-SS branch of the Third Reich's dreaded security service expanded from two divisions in 1940 to 38 divisions by the end of the war, eventually growing to a force of over 900,000 men until Germany's defeat in May, 1945.
The histories of the first three SS corps are well known--the actions of I, II, and III (Germanic) SS-Panzerkorps have been thoroughly documented and publicized. Overlooked in this pantheon is another SS corps that never fought in the west or in Berlin but one that participated in many of the key battles fought on the Eastern Front during the last year of the the IV SS-Panzerkorps. Activated during the initial stages of the defense of Warsaw in late July, 1944, the corps--consisting of the 3. and 5. SS-Panzer Divisions (Totenkopf and Wiking, respectively)--was born in battle and spent the last ten months of the war in combat, figuring prominently in the battles of Warsaw, the attempted Relief of Budapest, Operation Spring Awakening, the defense of Vienna, and the withdrawal into Austria where it finally surrendered to U.S. forces in May, 1945.
Herbert Otto Gille's IV SS-Panzerkorps was renowned for its tenacity, high morale, and, above all, its lethality. Often embroiled in heated disputes with its immediate Wehrmacht higher headquarters over his seemingly cavalier conduct of operations, Gille's corps remained to the bitter end one of the Third Reich's most reliable and formidable field formations.
During World War II, the armed or Waffen-SS branch of the Third Reich's dreaded security service expanded from two divisions in 1940 to 38 divisions by the end of the war, eventually growing to a force of over 900,000 men until Germany's defeat in May, 1945.
The histories of the first three SS corps are well known--the actions of I, II, and III (Germanic) SS-Panzerkorps have been thoroughly documented and publicized. Overlooked in this pantheon is another SS corps that never fought in the west or in Berlin but one that participated in many of the key battles fought on the Eastern Front during the last year of the the IV SS-Panzerkorps. Activated during the initial stages of the defense of Warsaw in late July, 1944, the corps--consisting of the 3. and 5. SS-Panzer Divisions (Totenkopf and Wiking, respectively)--was born in battle and spent the last ten months of the war in combat, figuring prominently in the battles of Warsaw, the attempted Relief of Budapest, Operation Spring Awakening, the defense of Vienna, and the withdrawal into Austria where it finally surrendered to U.S. forces in May, 1945.
Herbert Otto Gille's IV SS-Panzerkorps was renowned for its tenacity, high morale, and, above all, its lethality. Often embroiled in heated disputes with its immediate Wehrmacht higher headquarters over his seemingly cavalier conduct of operations, Gille's corps remained to the bitter end one of the Third Reich's most reliable and formidable field formations.
569 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2019
64 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Douglas E. Nash
11 books17 followersDoug Nash is a West Point Class of 1980 graduate and a retired U.S. Army Colonel with 32 years of active duty service in places like Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Cuba, and Uzbekistan. He served in a variety of Army units, such as armored cavalry, armor, and special operations forces, including Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations. He is currently employed by the U.S. Navy working for Marine Corps University's History Division in Quantico, Virgnia. His works include "Hell's Gate: The Battle of the Cherkassy Pocket January to February 1944" and "Victory Was Beyond Their Grasp: with the 272nd Volks-Grenadier Division from the Huertgen Forest to the Heart of the Reich (which was nominated for the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction)," as well as several articles for military history magazines, such as World War Two, Army History, and Armchair General. Along with Remy Spezzano, he is currently working on a book about the German relief of Kovel, March 1944. In addition, have edited works such as George Nipe's "Blood, Steel and Myth: The Battle of Prokorovka and the IInd SS Panzer Korps" and "Kampfraum Arnhem." When not writing, he enjoys Civil War Re-enacting and serving as a sailing crew member of the Deck Department of the restored WWII Liberty Ship, the S.S. John W. Brown, docked in Baltimore, MD.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 27, 2020
Solid operational history of 4th SS Panzer Corps' combat actions in Poland during Aug.-Nov. 1944... but decidedly NOT for the military history/"Ostfront" neophyte. Experienced readers will find much to value, however, especially the lengthy, detailed front section which lays out exactly how a WWII German corps-level HQ was set up and functioned. Those looking for a catalog of Waffen-SS atrocities are bound to be disappointed, since the author is concerned strictly with front-line combat operations against the Red Army. Note: Beware the Kindle edition; the maps are very blurry and virtually unreadable! (The print edition's maps are fine.)
July 10, 2021
A must read for anyone with an interest in the Eastern front and the campaigns of the Waffen SS. Nash gives us a highly readable account of the three battles of Warsaw, based on wartime sources and research. While most readers will be familiar with the Warsaw Uprising, which took place around the same time, this work is focused on the defensive efforts of the IV. SS Panzer Korps, fighting east of the Vistula. Throughout the Summer and Fall of 1944, The IV. SS PK would fight a series of battles against Rokossovsky's 1st Belorussian Front. Nash points out the the Soviets' intention was not to liberate Warsaw, but to seize the bridges and river crossings in the confluence of the Narew, Bug, and Vistula Rivers, which would set the stage for offensives towards East Prussia and Germany itself. It was into this 'Wet Triangle' that Gille's new Panzer Korps would be thrown.
The book gets off to a bit of a slow start, as first chapters cover the creation and activation of the IV. SS Panzer Korps, its structure, command staff, and so on. While a bit of a slog, it does give some insight into to functioning of a corps level HQ in the Waffen SS. The divisions, Wiking and Totenkopf, as well as commanders will be well known to many readers, but some brief background is provided.
It's not until Chapter 5 that things get moving with the combat operations, seeing the tank battle at Praga and the encirclement of several Soviet armored units. From here the narrative moves quite rapidly, giving us a day by day view of German operations. As this work is a history of the IV. SS Panzer Korps, Nash tends to cover events from the Korps HQ perspective, before working his way down to the divisional and regimental level. There is plenty of coverage of combat activity from the front line perspective, which makes this book quite readable and not just a dry regurgitation of the original German reports, as some authors tend to do.
There are two photo sections in the book. The first is mostly portraits of the personalities involved. The second is I believe PK photos and stills showing Totenkopf at Siedlce. There are a couple of photos of TK and Wiking Panthers, but that is it. There are maps provided, usually for each chapter or section of the campaign. They do a decent enough job of laying out where things are but aren't fantastic. To be honest, I often find books like this to be lacking in the map department. When I study a campaign or battle I prefer to print off my own maps, either vintage or from google, and follow along as things happen. That being said, providing daily maps probably isn't feasible for the publishers and it's unrealistic to expect such. A few more detailed maps would have been nice, but it is what it is.
All in all, an excellent account of two of the better known divisions in the Waffen SS fighting a defensive battle against the 1st Belorussian Front. When all was said and done, the better part of three Soviet Armies had failed to wipe them out, and had failed to achieve their goals. Of course, it would be misleading to say Wiking and Totenkopf did this on their own, as many Heer units were attached to the Korps throughout the Summer and Fall. Several times Heer Troops actually outnumbered the SS men! Nash gives them their due, and they are included in this history as a vital part of the IV. SS Panzer Korps efforts.
Highly recommended, a great history and one that won't break the bank being priced under $40. By now the two follow up volumes are out, and look just as promising.
The book gets off to a bit of a slow start, as first chapters cover the creation and activation of the IV. SS Panzer Korps, its structure, command staff, and so on. While a bit of a slog, it does give some insight into to functioning of a corps level HQ in the Waffen SS. The divisions, Wiking and Totenkopf, as well as commanders will be well known to many readers, but some brief background is provided.
It's not until Chapter 5 that things get moving with the combat operations, seeing the tank battle at Praga and the encirclement of several Soviet armored units. From here the narrative moves quite rapidly, giving us a day by day view of German operations. As this work is a history of the IV. SS Panzer Korps, Nash tends to cover events from the Korps HQ perspective, before working his way down to the divisional and regimental level. There is plenty of coverage of combat activity from the front line perspective, which makes this book quite readable and not just a dry regurgitation of the original German reports, as some authors tend to do.
There are two photo sections in the book. The first is mostly portraits of the personalities involved. The second is I believe PK photos and stills showing Totenkopf at Siedlce. There are a couple of photos of TK and Wiking Panthers, but that is it. There are maps provided, usually for each chapter or section of the campaign. They do a decent enough job of laying out where things are but aren't fantastic. To be honest, I often find books like this to be lacking in the map department. When I study a campaign or battle I prefer to print off my own maps, either vintage or from google, and follow along as things happen. That being said, providing daily maps probably isn't feasible for the publishers and it's unrealistic to expect such. A few more detailed maps would have been nice, but it is what it is.
All in all, an excellent account of two of the better known divisions in the Waffen SS fighting a defensive battle against the 1st Belorussian Front. When all was said and done, the better part of three Soviet Armies had failed to wipe them out, and had failed to achieve their goals. Of course, it would be misleading to say Wiking and Totenkopf did this on their own, as many Heer units were attached to the Korps throughout the Summer and Fall. Several times Heer Troops actually outnumbered the SS men! Nash gives them their due, and they are included in this history as a vital part of the IV. SS Panzer Korps efforts.
Highly recommended, a great history and one that won't break the bank being priced under $40. By now the two follow up volumes are out, and look just as promising.
August 19, 2022
3.5 stars : If you’re a hard-core WWII buff than I think you’ll appreciate the opening chapters more than I did. The author gives a thorough examination of tanks, divisions and leaders for the battles. The “meat” or undertaking of the battles (such as Praga and the Warsaw Uprising) doesn’t start until chapter 5 / roughly 95 pages in. However once past that lengthy “introduction”, the book did not disappoint. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a more complete text of what the SS Panzerkorp had to go through for that sliver of Poland.
November 24, 2024
Tough to rate. As a professional study of these battles and this Corps it is competent and well researched. But the at times poorly concealed admiration for "SS spirit" and such gems as a blasé reference to some Poles from the Warsaw Uprising "accidentally" being shipped to concentration camps are telling and distasteful.
May 5, 2021
Excellent history of this elite formation , though besmirched by the reputation of its parent organisation this unit fought a desperate fight against superior numbers during the retreat across poland and this work does it justice
July 6, 2021
Great read
An essential history for any student of the eastern front during World War II . Thoroughly readable and highly recommended
An essential history for any student of the eastern front during World War II . Thoroughly readable and highly recommended
May 28, 2023
Most comprehensive history of a unit and the battles in Hungary I've come across.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews