Illustrated with photographs and detailed artworks, Weapons and Fighting Techniques of the Waffen-SS is a complete record of the deployment and use of the weaponry in the service of the Waffen-SS in World War II.

From an award-winning and bestselling historian, the first comprehensive military history in over fifty years of Hitler's famous and infamous personal army: the Waffen-SS. The Waffen-SS was one of the most feared combat organizations of the twentieth century. Originally formed as a protection squad for Adolf Hitler it became the military wing of Heinrich Himmler's SS and a key part of the Nazi state, with nearly 900,000 men passing through its ranks. The Waffen-SS played a crucial role in furthering the aims of the Third Reich which made its soldiers Hitler's political operatives. During its short history, the elite military divisions of the Waffen-SS acquired a reputation for excellence, but their famous battlefield record of success was matched by their repeated and infamous atrocities against both soldiers and civilians. Waffen-SS is the first definitive single-volume military history of the Waffen-SS in more than fifty years. In considering the actions of its leading personalities, including Himmler, Sepp Dietrich, and Otto Skorzeny, and analyzing its specialist training and ideological outlook, eminent historian Adrian Gilbert chronicles the battles and campaigns that brought the Waffen-SS both fame and infamy.

Irrespective of ethical issues, the Waffen-SS remains a topic of acute interest to many interested in WWII history. Indeed, the runic SS insignia is a symbol that is instantly recognizable worldwide. This formation began as the Schutzstaffel der NSDAP in 1925. It was dedicated to protecting the Nazi leadership, and indeed the name Schutzstaffel (shortened to SS) means "Protection Service". This politicised unit grew into a complete armed force, the Waffen-SS, three months after the commencement of WWII. It developed in strength and capability thanks to the superior training and equipment that was directed its way. The Waffen-SS spawned such famous divisions as the Leibstandarte-SS "Adolf Hitler" (LSSAH), 3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf", and 2.SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich". These were some of the best fighting formations fielded by Germany in WWII. As the war progressed, foreigners were pressed into service in units like SS-Gebirgs-Division "Nord" and 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking". By the end of 1943, a total of 247,000 men were serving in this famous armed force, and by the close of hostilities in 1945 it totalled 800,000 men in 38 divisions. This new book from Gordon Rottman offers a photographic survey of Waffen-SS fighting men. The series of black and white photos range from the early-war period right through to the last desperate days of 1945. Readers will find a veritable pot pourri of interesting uniform, weapons and equipment on display. Even heavier equipment like antitank guns and StuG III assault guns is included too. Each clearly reproduced photo is accompanied by a descriptive caption providing insights pertinent to the Waffen-SS. This volume opens with a concise description of how the Waffen-SS was created and how it developed and includes colour artwork detailing soldiers in typical uniforms and personal gear. SELLING POINTS: * Rare and previously unpublished photographs provide a wealth of new information of one of history's most infamous armed forces 123 photographs

The Waffen SS were Hitler's elite forces during WWII. They were the forces that were feared by the enemy and praised by their allies. During the Nuremberg Trials, the Waffen SS was condemned as part of a criminal organization, however, the Nuremberg Trials exempted conscripts from that condemnation. On several occasions, the Waffen SS was criticized by Heer commanders for their reckless disregard for casualties while taking or holding objectives, however, the Waffen SS divisions eventually proved themselves as capable soldiers. The poor initial performance was mainly due to the emphasis on political indoctrination rather than proper military training before the war. Despite this, the experience gained from the Polish, French, and Balkan campaigns and the peculiarly egalitarian form of training soon turned Waffen SS units into elite formations. These are the stories of the men that once were part of this elite force, not to glorify the Nazi regime or crimes committed by them, but to give them a voice too.

With the aid of 120 rarely seen photographs and 10 full-page maps, Battles of the Waffen-SS tells the full, dramatic story of the Waffen-SS in action: the stunning victories, the savagery of the Eastern Front, the atrocities both on and off the battlefield, and the grim battles of attrition fought in the final two years of the war.

This is the photographic history of the Waffen-SSS in combat on all fronts. The short six year history of the Waffen SS spanned triumph and disaster, and their story can be traced through these powerful images, which clearly document the reality of combat from 1940 to 1945. These rare images span the combat history of the Waffen-SS from the optimism of the opening phases of the war in the west through to the challengers of Barbarossa and the long and bloody retreat against a numerically far superior enemy in both the east and the west. The powerful photographic record is essential reading for anyone with an interest in in the course of the war from the German perspective and clearly demonstrated the scale of the task undertaken by the Waffen-SS on all fronts.

The Waffen-SS were considered the elite of the German armed forces in the Second World War and were involved in almost continuous combat. From the sweeping tank battle of Kursk on the Russian front to the bitter fighting among the hedgerows of Normandy and the last great offensive in the Ardennes, forever immortalized in history as the Battle of the Bulge, these men and their tanks made history.

The Waffen (or armed) SS was initially raised solely for the protection of Adolf Hitler, but during the course of World War II it developed into one of the most effective armored spearheads available to the Wehrmacht, gaining a spectacular series of victories in France, the Balkans, and the Soviet Union. This book examines the weapons, uniforms, and equipment of the Waffen SS and describes how they contributed to success on the battlefield. Complementing an authoritative narrative text will be full details and specifications of the weapons and equipment used by this elite organization, ranging from the 98k rifle to the awesome power of the 70-ton Tiger II tank. About the Author:David Fleming is a military author who has written extensively on World War II. He has previously published works on the Waffen SS, Nazi Germany's Blitzkrieg operations, and the desert campaign in North Africa. Features: , Full-color photography of guns and artifacts actually used by Waffen SS soldiers during World War II, with full technical descriptions and specifications. , Rare black-and-white wartime photography illustrating the SS in action on all fronts. , Authoritative text exploring key aspects of the military hard wear used by the infamous force.