Men of Steel: 1st SS Panzer Corps 1944-45

by Michael Reynolds

This authoritative account completes the history of the only Panzer Divisions to bear Hitler’s name – 1st and 12th SS – as they lead the last German offensives of the war - through the Ardennes in December 1944 and in Hungary two months later and it concludes with their capitulation and captivity in Austria in May 1945.

Men of Steel traces the origins, formation and early history of I SS Panzer Corps.

Packed with detail it covers the German retreat from Normandy to the West Wall, the Leibstandarte & Hitlerjugend Panzer Divisions’ crucial part in the ‘Battle of the Bulge’, Jochen Peiper’s dash for the Meuse, the ‘Malmedy Massacre’, the ‘Battle of the Twin Villages’, Bastogne, the elimination of the Gran Bridgehead in Hungary, February 1945, Hitler’s last gamble on the Eastern Front—the ‘Lake Balaton’ offensive, the attempt to stem the Soviet ‘Tide from the East’, the last desperate battles to defend the Greater German Reich and the final capitulation to the Americans.

It also includes information on the unit's captivity and war crimes.

Illustrated with rare photographs, many high quality maps and appendices.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction, Military History, War

400 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1998

About the author

Major General Mike Reynolds was a British Army Officer who saw fierce action in Korea and in Germany became a target of the Red Army Faction.

From 1972 Reynolds was a guest speaker on many British Army and NATO battlefield tours in the Ardennes, initially as training, and later as a commercial enterprise. He followed this by writing six Second World War military histories and became a recognised expert on the Waffen-SS and the Normandy and Ardennes campaigns.

The Devil’s Adjutant (1995)
Steel Inferno (1997)
Men of Steel (1999)
Sons of the Reich (2002)
Eagles and Bulldogs in Normandy 1944 (2003)
Monty and Patton: Two Paths to Victory (2005)
Soldier at Heart: Private to General (2013) - autobiography

Reviews

[Hans Brienesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly informative with a wealth of information this book works because it focuses on what it says namely the SS division and not the battles in which it fought. Don't get me wrong it details incidents and actions where the information has been available but the focus is always on the division not the battles even to the point of correcting contradicting accounts. Recommended reading for all students of the Second World War and in particular the losing side.

[Steve Dedier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent history with a great deal of tactical as well as strategic level information. Reynolds gives in depth info on commanders, disposition and insight into actions. Especially interesting is the info on how the units could be reconstituted so rapidly after destruction and still be a very viable force.

[Novak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The SS were Animals in combat. Relentless and giving no quarter. Atrocities aside the fighting force of the SS had no equal. Great book,very technical and pulls you into the hell storm that was coming for Germany.