Sons of the Reich: II Panzer Corps, Normandy, Arnhem, Ardennes, Eastern Front

by Michael Reynolds

The history of II SS Panzer Corps is a short and violent one. This meticulously researched book documents the actions of the 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions from activation until October 1944, and the 2nd and 9th SS Divisions from December 1944 until the end of the war. This period encompasses the Battle of Normandy, the escape from the Falaise Pocket, the MARKET GARDEN episode and Hitler’s last great offensive in the West, the Battle of the Bulge. Sons of the Reich also dismantles the myth that the Waffen SS were a volunteer force of brainwashed thugs and fanatics, in fact II SS Panzer Division were ordinary conscripts, whose tenacity (most notably at Arnhem in September 1944) was admired by friend and foe alike.

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

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

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

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

You see the Title - and the Big Iron Cross on the cover- and you think "Oh No another Waffen SS hagiography"- where the mighty SS are the Brave boys who stood strong against communism- a significant trope in Waffen SS Historiography. But it is not one of those books that came out during the Cold War that seem to laud the men in runed collars. This is Michael Reynolds, a veteran British officer and author on Military Topics, taking a fair look at the Military Record of II Panzer Corps in World War II. These were the last of the "Real" Waffen SS Panzer Divisions activated in France in early 1944- 9th SS Panzer "Hohenstaufen" and 10th SS Panzer "Frundsberg", originally intended as part of the Occupation/Anti-invasion force in Western Europe. As it happened- they would be blooded in action in the Ukraine first- then return west for Normandy, Holland, the Ardennes and then participation in the insanity of the Hungarian and Austrian Fronts at the very end of the war. All along the way, Reynolds makes us understand that a brotherhood of arms capable of incredible feats of combat- can at the same time share an organisation and a lot of personnel with the SS that were the criminal scourge of Europe. Real historical figures can be complex- like some of the SS Leaders who can show a strange nobility on one page- and then on another assist in some outrage or in its coverup. Along the way there are a good collection of b/w pics , some useful appendixes, and a great selection of maps over varying magnifications that allow the reader to follow along exactly with the action.

Reynolds is taking us along on a pretty granular narrative, often daily, so you can get a lot out of the book. When stories vary in popular sources, he tries to give you all the options- and then the one he thinks most likely. The most famous action of these two divisions is their role in the rapid reaction to Operation Market Garden, the famous roll of the dice by the British general Montgomery, throwing his air army across Holland to try to spear the Reich. Having just been chewed up pretty well in the Mortain/Falaise battles in France, the two divisions fought as a myriad of "Kampfguppe", the "BattleGroups" of mixed arms and semirandom units mashed together under various tactical commanders - a German expedient that worked all too well. Reynolds stops to give the provenance of the parts in these cases, which is great for a better understanding of the German way of war in WWII. For the last Stages, Hohenstaufen was paired with 1st SS Panzer Leibstandarte, so tied even closer to a more famous SS formation with a troubled history. At the end, after a good description of all the military exploits, he gives a telling story of the return and incarceration of many of these soldiers, with a good insight into the inherent opposition of their inflated sense of achievement- whilst their neighbours and victims were more obviously focused on the dastardliness of their "cause" and the destruction wrought on their homes by the fighting well beyond any chance of victory. Feats of arms - in the service of tyranny and evil- don't count for as much as their architects may claim.

This book features some adult themes and graphic injury passages- and is just a little bit technical for Junior readers under about 13/14. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast, this book is a sheer joy. The Gamer gets a perfect Unit Campaign guide- complete with ENOUGH MAPS(How often do I complain about a paucity of maps-often)!!! Reynolds stops to give you unit strengths at each pause in the fighting, so you have great attrition ideas of costly combat. Also both divisions featured a Tank regiment with StuGs (German "Assault Guns" -Tracked Armoured Vehicles without turrets-but larger guns)- and WWII German gamers LOVE their "StuG Life". The Modeler gets a lot of great diorama ideas from the action and the anecdotes. The Military history enthusiast gets just an amazingly granular look at defending the Reich, facing tactically improving foes with unlimited personnel and ever better gear- with fewer and fewer resources. By the last third of the book, the words Fuel and Gasoline feature on just about every page, as in the describing gear that must be abandoned for lack of it. This is a great book for a Club looking for a WWII Campaign idea- or a WWII history buff who wants to learn more about the Kampfgruppe concept and how it was fought in detail. A strong rec for the Normandy/MarketGarden/Battle of the Bulge/Waffen SS/Panzer Warfare shelves in the WWII library,

[Brit Hopper · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent history of the II SS Panzer Corps from France and Holland through the Eastern Front; includes histories of the 9th (Hohenstaufen) and 10th (Fundsberg) SS PZ Divisions as well as Das Reich and Hitlerjugend when those divisions were task organized under the Corps. Michael Reynolds does a great job of synthesizing the unit after action reports (where available) and gives a "day-by-day" account of the unit and its endeavors. The only complaint I have (and it's minor) is the maps (some 30) would have been better served if they were interspersed throughout along with the narrative vice all at the back in an appendix. Moreover, it would have been much better to have unit (NATO symbols) annotated consistently on the maps to give the reader a better understanding if unit dispositions, etc. Finally, Reynolds presents generic task organizations charts (a standard SS Division composition, standard Soviet, US, etc.); however, much more value to the reader if the II PZ Corps org charts were included to give the complete picture.

[Alistair · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a must read for any WWII history buff.



It is filled with all the dates and facts that could have turned this book in to a interesting yet boaring read. Reynolds has however brought in a lot of descriptive narrative and personal accouts from the soldiers themselves and it adds the depth that makes this book well rounded.



Also if possible I recommend that you get a detailed map of France and Europe, or get on google earth. There is so much description that you can chart the ebb and follow of the battles it really adds to the narrative.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a few years since I I've read this. It's still nice to catch a II SS Panzer Corp history that you don't have to translate from French or German like the old days. Currently my favorite book on the subject.

[Steve Dedier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent history. My 2nd Reynolds book and I'm acquiring more. He goes deep enough without being tedious.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw this book, I was pretty excited. The 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions haven't received as much attention as their more (in)famous brethren, and I'd heard Reynolds is a good author. Unfortunately, Sons of the Reich is really spotty and uneven in it's coverage of it's subject. The parts of the narrative that involve II SS Panzer Corps fighting British opponents receive more, and more thorough, attention than where they fought the Americans or Soviets.

The narrative also suffers a bit from being rather dry. Often the book feels more like a like a list of events that happened, rather than a history that seeks to provide analysis and insight. The reader never gets to know much about the leaders and soldiers that are mentioned in the narrative, or who's writings are referenced.

There were parts that I really enjoyed, the coverage of the Normandy campaign and Operation Market-Garden is really good, but huge parts of this book fell flat for me. Too bad, it was nice to see less covered but significant units get highlighted, but this book left me wanting to learn a lot more.