The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War, 1939–1945

"Waffen SS-Hitler's Elite Guard at War, 1939-1945" by George H. Stein is a fabulous work of historical literature. Many an author, popular and academic, has tackled the topic of the SS and Waffen SS but very few have done so in an objective fashion like Stein. Far too many presentations of the Waffen SS have been from apologist and revisionist authors who fail to recognize and/or admit the complicity of portions of the Waffen SS in the atrocities committed in the name of the NSDAP and Adolf Hitler. At the other end of the spectrum are those authors, again large in number, who simply paint ALL that served in the Waffen SS with broad strokes of guilt. Stein captures a story that falls between the extremes and thus is more realistic and truthful, and thus more historically accurate with clear lack of hysterics."Waffen SS" begins with a historical perspective on the establishment of the SS [initially the Allgemeine (General)-SS] and formation of the earliest incarnations of the armed SS - initially from the units such as the Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler" (Hitler's Chancellery Guard) and the SS-Totenkopfverbande (Death's Head Units, early concentration camp guards), to organization of the Waffen SS as war approached. This presentation provides considerable information that allows the reader to connect (or disconnect as appropriate) various components of Himmler's greater SS. This is critical to the process of a reader drawing objective conclusions about guilt of the Waffen SS in non-combatant war crimes.Stein then spends considerable time discussing the military exploits of the Waffen SS, both early and oft strained integration into the Wehrmacht during the initial phases of the war up to the defeat of France and the AEF, as well as their later fierce and destructive battles fought east across the Soviet Union and their return west in defense. Stein's prose does not fail to convey a picture of a fanatical and determined fighting force. Clearly the Waffen SS (especially the early incarnations that were still volunteer and elite) was an accomplished "army". Stein also discusses how the elite Waffen SS was in later years of the war converted through conscription (mostly) into a hodge-podge of a force that often was worth very little and sometimes more trouble than it was worth.In the third major section of "Waffen SS" the author presents a clear and concise (without simply rehashing particular atrocities covered in depth elsewhere) description of crimes that can be connected to the Waffen SS, whether directly or indirectly. While crimes can clearly be attributed to battle formations, both combatant- and non-combatant-related, it is also clear from Stein's presentation that a majority of Waffen SS units were not likely involved in such events. This is not to say that Stein presents an apologist view, quite to the contrary - he presents an honest assessment of guilt - the Waffen SS was guilty but it is unfair to claim all units were simply butchers. Yet equally unfair would be a claim that the Waffen SS was simply an army free of guilt. When it comes to connections between the Waffen SS and the holocaust the story is one mostly of semantics. As Stein points out it is beyond doubt that the SS represented the system by which Hitler attempted (and nearly succeeded) to murder all of the European jews and other "Untermensch" (subhumans). It is also clear that many of the units involved were, at least on paper, part of the Waffen SS. Moreover, much of the concentration camp staff turn over was between the camps and the front lines. Yet it is not at all clear that fighting units of the Waffen SS were directly involved in these acts. Thus it becomes an issue of semantics because it depends upon how one defines "Waffen SS". Again this is not to say that Stein presents an apologist view or one of strict and total condemnation. In fact Stein presents a picture in which the facts are presented and the reader is free to define the culprits for themselves.In the final section Stein gives a very concise and extremely well written summary. This section itself is worth the price of the book. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Stein is liberal in his use of sources and yet it also becomes clear that Gerald Reitlinger's "SS: Alibi of a Nation" is one he favors and must feel captures much of the story of the SS (although not in the concise manner in which Stein sets out to do - as he states right up front). This is a five star effort worth a read!!!

Stein provides an excellent overview in the formation of the Waffen SS. He shows the humble beginnings when it was just a branch of the SA that was detailed to be an elite body guard to the divisions that participated throughout the course of the Second World War. Stein examines the ways that Himmler and the powers that be circumvented the recruiting quotas and filled the ranks with Germans from outside the Reich.Stein focuses on the development and overarching themes rather than focusing on individual battles that the SS took part in. This in no way detracts from the book; instead, it gives the reader a deeper understanding of the difficulties and obstacles that surrounded the formation of this formation as well as shows some of the reasons for its successes on the battlefield.As with any discussion of the SS, Stein focuses a portion of his book on the atrocities that were committed by the soldiers and examines the possible reasons for them. Additionally, he focuses on the formation and the performance of the foreign units in the SS. These two sections, combined with the summary make for an excellent overview of the SS. Stein shows the accomplisments and the failings of these elite and often overstretched formations.

This is a very detailed and well-written book. The author does seem to be somewhat biased against Nazi Germany and the SS which clouds his writing on the subject. Other than that it seems to be a good history on the brave men of the SS.

Good book for WWII enthusiasts like myself. More detailed than I expected which makes it more interesting

If someone wants the simple facts about the Waffen SS, this book is a must read. Any intelligent, educated person must form their own opinions about the SS, and this book will provide them with a remarkably detailed fund of information to do so. Read this book, and you will have the facts before you to decide for yourself. It's quite exhaustive, in that regard.

As a history buff, this book is well written and very interesting.

As described and quick delivery.

Rhis was a Christmas gift