Waffen-SS: Hitler's Black Guard At War

National Socialist Germany's Waffen-SS (Military SS) was one of the most fanatical and feared military organizations in history. From its humble beginnings as a small, select troop whose duty it was to protect leaders and speakers at N.S. Party meetings, it grew during World War Two to nearly one million men, and included dozens of nationalities. During its existence it achieved some of the most stunning victories ever seen in the annals of warfare. This coffee table size large format title is a fully illustrated volume on the battles, campaigns, and alleged war crimes of National Socialist Europe's fighting elite.

It was in the Soviet Union that the Waffen-SS found its greatest testing ground. It was here that the elite Waffen-SS Panzer divisions proved themselves to be masters of mechanized warfare and the combined arms battle. With the aid of full-color maps and color and black and white photographs, this book recreates all the aspects of their epic struggle on Europe's Eastern Front. This title also traces the wartime growth of the Waffen-SS, and includes details on all the legendary Waffen-SS leaders.

Not just highly trained soldiers, the men of the Waffen-SS were highly motivated idealists; ideological warriors selected on the basis of rigid standards. Trained to be highly aggressive on the battlefield, they achieved success on the battlefield that created legends that persist to this day.