Despite being disdained by the German Army's professional officer corps, the military branch of the Nazi SS security organisation grew from an initial strength of only a handful of battalions at the outbreak of World War II in 1939, to hundreds of thousands of troops in dozens of divisions. The battlefield reputation of the premier armoured and mechanised divisions would become second to none; lavishly equipped and regarded as utterly reliable, they were thrown into many desperate battles on both Western and Eastern fronts, often achieving remarkable results. Illustrated with rare...
Despite being disdained by the German Army's professional officer corps, the military branch of the Nazi SS security organisation grew from an initial...
The Waffen-SS grew from a handful of obscure infantry battalions in 1939, to a force of more than 30 divisions by the end of World War II, including units of every type and every level of battlefield value. The mid-war divisions covered in this third title represent that range, from some of the most effective German and Western European volunteer formations e.g. the 12. SS-Pz Div 'Hitlerjugend', and the Scandinavians and Dutchmen of the 11. 'Nordland' and 23. 'Nederland' divisions to the Bosnian Muslims of the anti-partisan 13. 'Handschar' Division. Illustrated with rare photographs from...
The Waffen-SS grew from a handful of obscure infantry battalions in 1939, to a force of more than 30 divisions by the end of World War II, including u...
In the last years of World War II, 1944-45, the Waffen-SS formed many nominal 'divisions' from a motley range of sources, whose battlefield value was as varied as their backgrounds. The best were built around existing Western European volunteer regiments; some, raised from Central Europeans and Russians, were strong in numbers but weak in morale; some were of negligible size, scraped together from remnants and trainees; and some were sinister 'anti-partisan' gangs, assembled from the military dregs of the Eastern Front. Illustrated with rare photographs from private collections and meticulous...
In the last years of World War II, 1944-45, the Waffen-SS formed many nominal 'divisions' from a motley range of sources, whose battlefield value was ...
This first of two studies examines the careers and illustrates the appearance and uniforms of 19 of the German Army's leading field commanders in World War II (1939-1945). Their service covers the whole arc of that army's wartime experience, from stunning success in 1939-41, through the hugely costly middle years on the Russian Front to the stubborn defensive fighting in both East and West in 1943-45. Also included are five more junior unit commanders chosen because their service typifies the achievements of combat leaders in regimental and battalion commands. The colour portraits are in the...
This first of two studies examines the careers and illustrates the appearance and uniforms of 19 of the German Army's leading field commanders in Worl...
This is the second book in a two-part series about the German Commanders of World War II (1939-1945) and covers distinguished commanders from the Waffen-SS, the Luftwaffe and the Navy. The commanders covered include such famous names as Josef Dietrich, Theodor Eicke, Kurt Meyer, Joachim Peiper and Karl Donitz and the book details their fascinating wartime experiences. The colour plates are in the uniquely meticulous style of the respected World War II illustrator Malcolm McGregor.
This is the second book in a two-part series about the German Commanders of World War II (1939-1945) and covers distinguished commanders from the Waff...
Osprey's survey of the recipients of the Knight's Cross and Oak-Leaves awards during World War II (1939-1945). The remarkable early successes of the armed forces of the Third Reich prompted the decision that the supreme decoration for personal valour or outstanding leadership - the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross - was insufficient. To mark further acts of gallantry a new distinction was created in June 1940: the Oak-Leaves clasp. Further decorations in the form of the Swords and, finally, the Diamonds were added. This second title in our series describes and illustrates a selection of...
Osprey's survey of the recipients of the Knight's Cross and Oak-Leaves awards during World War II (1939-1945). The remarkable early successes of the a...
Osprey's survey of the recipients of the Knight's Cross and Oak-Leaves and Swords awards during World War II (1939-1945). On 21 June 1941, as the Wehrmachtstormed forward across the frontiers of the Soviet Union, Hitler instituted a new higher grade of the Knight's Cross decoration for gallantry and leadership: the silver clasp of the Oak-Leaves with Swords. It would be awarded to only 159 men of the approximately 15 million who served in the German armed forces during World War II. This third in a sequence of four titles describes and illustrates a selection of the recipients: from...
Osprey's survey of the recipients of the Knight's Cross and Oak-Leaves and Swords awards during World War II (1939-1945). On 21 June 1941, as the Wehr...
The wartime Police were headed by Himmler as chief of the SS; and throughout the occupied nations the regional SS commanders were specifically termed 'Higher SS and Police Leaders'. Hitler's police was not a single service, but a vast machinery which included many special categories ranging from conventional criminal detectives, and municipal and rural police to combat battalions sent to Russia, and from border and customs police to special railway and waterway departments, fire brigades and emergency engineer squads, and even a colonial service for North Africa. The author explains the...
The wartime Police were headed by Himmler as chief of the SS; and throughout the occupied nations the regional SS commanders were specifically termed ...
Winston Churchill claimed that the "U-boat peril" was the only thing that ever frightened him during World War II. A formidable foe, the U-boat was developed from a small coastal vessel into a state-of-the-art killer, successfully stalking the high seas picking off merchant convoy ships. It was not until the destroyer escort was introduced, alongside the development of destroyer groups with dedicated anti-submarine tactics, that there was an effective means of defence and attack against the U-boat peril.
Gordon Williamson describes the design and development of these two deadly...
Winston Churchill claimed that the "U-boat peril" was the only thing that ever frightened him during World War II. A formidable foe, the U-boat was...
Despite the popularity of the U-boats and larger surface vessels like the Bismarck and the Graf Spee, the vast majority of vessels within the Kriegsmarine served in the coastal forces. Although less frequently mentioned, these smaller ships gave crucial service during the war and continued to serve decades after VE day, either in the German Navy or in the navies of the victorious Allies. Indeed, Kriegsmarine minesweepers and their German crews, still in their old uniforms with the swastikas simply removed, continued to serve after 1945 under the control of the Royal Navy, engaged in the...
Despite the popularity of the U-boats and larger surface vessels like the Bismarck and the Graf Spee, the vast majority of vessels within the Krieg...
