SS Steel Storm: Waffen-SS Panzer Battles on the Eastern Front, 1943-1945

by Tim Ripley

A detailed account of Waffen-SS battles, from the recapture of Kharkov in early 1943, to the last desperate attempt to hold the Red Army from Berlin in 1945 - a string of battles that are arguably the finest defensive actions of modern warfare. Highlights how SS commanders became masters of tank warfare; the use of offensive tactics during defensive battles; the development of German tank and armoured fighting vehicle technology; and the methods that enabled troops to survive ferocious Soviet artillery bombardments. Well done!

Genres: World War II, History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 2012

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was clearly written and the information was well presented. This book deals with the Waffen-SS Panzer divisions in the Eastern Front during World War II. The combat engagements are presented for Waffen-SS Leibstandarte, Das Reich, Totenkopf, Wiking, Hitlerjugend, Hohenstaufen, and Frundsberg from 1943 to 1945. Largely Operation Barbarossa is covered but details into the Stalingrad counteroffensive, the Kursk Offensive, Operation Citadel are explained here. The book details troop strength, support roles, and other important details. The back appendices include orders of battle, unit echelons, tables of organization and equipment, and other details.

At the beginning of the book a key to maps/map symbols and the list of maps is presented which I found helpful.

Overall I enjoyed this book and liked the accompanying pictures on every page. Great book. Thanks!

[Mati · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers the Waffen-SS Panzer battles on the Eastern front quite nicely. The text and accompanying pictures are well chosen, however here and there one would appreciate more details, but over all the book is very good as the basic source of information about the subject.