Das Reich: The Military Role of 2nd SS Division

by James Sidney Lucas

Book Overview

The 2nd SS Division was an elite, highly trained fighting force that saw action in some of World War II's bloodiest battles. Especially in the Eastern front, these often included close-quarter, hand-to-hand combat. Starting with the organization and recruitment of the division and following it throughout the war, the story of this evil but powerful force unfolds through reminiscences by many of the unit's men, along with photographs and other memorabilia...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1854090674
• ISBN13: 9781854090676
• Release Date: April 1992
• Publisher: Arms & Armour Press
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Informative and entertaining

This is not just another secondary/tertiary researched book based on popular and mediocre consensus. The author has been personally acquainted with central SS figures like Weidinger, and have therefore gotten his hands on interesting material. Because a lot of books treat the Waffen SS subject in a condemnatory way, it should be admitted from all that this book which lends ear to the veterans, takes a refreshing angle. There are the battle descriptions of Kharkov, Kursk, Normandy etc., and some anecdotes which tries to show that the men of Das Reich also were humans, something which some will find shocking. But why not give those who finally lost a chance? Winston Churchill personally ordered the savage bombing of Dresden, but have gone down in popular consensus as a wise man and a hero. What about fairness in this world? I give this book 4 stars because it is too short on such a great subject

finally, some non-politically correct truth!

great book. as any true historian of WWII military history knows, the Waffen SS was a fighting force, and a great one at that. they were proud soldiers fighting for their country.they deserve the admiration this book accords them.

Excellent account of Das Reich Division

This book is very detailed and gives an informative account of the organization, life, and disbandment of the most elite of the Waffen SS Divisions. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Eastern Front, where Das Reich did the majority of its duty, or some one interested in the Waffen SS Divisions.

The birth and death of a legend.

As in his other books, Lucas once again does not fail to deliver a thrilling and educating winner of a novel. Whether as a textbook, or for personal interest, this book is a great read. It charts the conception, legendary fighting and tragic fate of the 2nd Waffen SS division, 'Das Reich.' Noted as one of the most efficient, and daring fighting forces of any World war two army, the book follows Das reich from it's first tentative recruting in the mid 1930's, and into it's famous wartime exploits. From the daring and heroic fields of Holland and Poland, to the horrors and miracles of the Eastern front, and the desperation of Normandy, the saga finally ends in Germany, at the ruthless hands of Russian forces. The men that the reader empathise with live and die on these pages, their legend slowly becoming a reality. These men were not the political SS, they were not murderers or instigators of the holocaust, they were young patriots, who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country, but are remembered forever. If you want to learn anything at all about German soldiers, this is the book to buy.

The Birth and Death of the 2nd SS Division

If you're into military history and you want to start looking at the role of the Waffen SS in World War 2, this is a must. A lot of ambiguity about the role of the military wing of the SS exists, but as this book rightly points out, these men were soldiers, not murderers. They had nothing at all to do with politics, or with the Holocaust, they were brave and skilled young men who laid down their lives for their country. The book follows the initial birth of the Division, 'Das Reich', from the mid 1930's, and into it's first tentative actions during the war. It then follows the men through the hard years in Russia, how due to repeated errors in the German command their strength was reduced and reduced, still performing amazingly in the face of horrific fighting. Then it moves to the Division playing a vital role in Normandy against the Americans, delaying the war by several months, before finally being disbanded in 1945. Lucas delves into the hearts and minds of the soldiers involved, the desperation of the Russian front, the comedy and irony of fighting the raw, yet superior Americans, and the tragedy and heartache of the death of a way of life. This is a rollercoaster ride, sharing the thoughts, escapades and final suffering of the ultimate soldiers in WWII.