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For Europe
- Definitive account of French volunteers in the Waffen-SS - Blow-by-blow retelling of battles on the Eastern Front, including the fight for Berlin - Focuses on all French SS units, especially the 33rd SS Grenadier Division "Charlemagne" Impeccably researched, this book tells the story of the Frenchmen who, motivated by their hatred of Communism, chose to fight for the Third Reich in World War II, first in the regular army and then as part of the Waffen-SS. These unique soldiers participated in bitter combat, primarily against the Soviets, and returned home to an awkward peace.
544 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2006
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October 17, 2013
Forbes does an exhaustive job in chronicling the adventures of the French volunteers with the Waffen-SS. There are a couple of whole pages devoted to footnotes. It seems, though, that he just translated some of the recollections of the Frenchmen literally from their memoirs, without trying to Anglicize them so they'd be understandable. He also comes of as sympathetic to them and their politics, since some of them were ardent Nazi sympathizers.
Having said this, Forbes does succeed in giving us their combat record, which was really impressive. This in especially true of the SS men who defended the Reichs Chancellery, well enough, in fact, that they held their position right to the end, while the German units on either side of them were pushed back.
If you can get past Forbes' politics, this volume will keep you engrossed, and give you the story of one of WWII's forgotten chapters.
Having said this, Forbes does succeed in giving us their combat record, which was really impressive. This in especially true of the SS men who defended the Reichs Chancellery, well enough, in fact, that they held their position right to the end, while the German units on either side of them were pushed back.
If you can get past Forbes' politics, this volume will keep you engrossed, and give you the story of one of WWII's forgotten chapters.
Displaying 1 of 1 review