Hitler's Gauls: The History of the 33rd Waffen-Grenadier Division (Hitlers Legions 1) (v. 1) [Hardcover]

Jonathan Trigg (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hitlers Legions 1 | Publication Date: June 2006

A major work of military history - the first new study of one of the least known of the foreign Waffen-SS contingents to appear in many years in the English language, based on primary sources including eyewitness accounts, analysed and interpreted by a military mind, and narrated in an exciting and fresh style concentrating on the formations fighting record. In the burning ruins of Berlin in April 1945 a ragged band of SS grenadiers defied the might of the Red Army until the very end - these men were not Germans, but Frenchmen. This book tells the story of the thousands of Frenchmen who, for many different reasons, volunteered to wear the SS double lightning flashes and serve alongside their erstwhile conquerors. The author tells the story of the pre-war politics of France that led to the collapse of 1940 and the era of French collaboration with the Germans. Precursor French formations such as the Legion des Volontaires Francais contre les bolchevisme and the SS-Sturmbrigade Frankreich are covered in detail, including their campaigns in Russia and Galicia. The battles of the Charlemagne in snow bound Pomerania and the rubble of Berlin are covered in great detail. The author draws on eyewitness accounts from veterans about their experiences of combat in the hell of the Russian Front and assesses the military impact they had.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

(Location: Sheffield) served in the British Army. He left as a Captain after having spent most of his career overseas in places such as Northern Ireland, Bosnia and the Middle East either on operations or loan service with governments friendly to the UK. This is his first book published by Spellmount Publishers.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Spellmount Publishers (June 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 186227293X
• ISBN-13: 978-1862272934
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,925,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A short story made shorter, October 14, 2010

By 

BLT (France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hitler's Gauls: The History of the 33rd Waffen Division Charlemagne (Hitler's Legions) (Paperback)

This book is pretty short compared to others pertaining to the Charlemagne divison. Somewhat of a summary, thus incomplete.

The context of a country in total disarray, divided, confused, embittered, and the reasons why Frenchmen volunteered is very well explained. It is a credit to the author.

On the other side, several flaws have come up to justify its 3 stars rating.

For one, several names have been mispelled which is inexcusable for anyone pretending to be a historian. Joseph Darnard instead of Darnand is one example. French geographic locations have also been clipped here and there. One letter can change everything, a location, and Mr Smith can become Mr Smit or Smyth, or ....

To brand the 18th SS Pz Gren Div "Horst Wessel" as: _ "an excellent division of 1st rate fighting quality" is a crass error. Just like making a confusion between the names of the 9th and 10th ss-Pz divisions (twice)shows poor knowledge.

To describe the troops of the Red Army as "hordes of advancing Soviets" is an all-too common calling used by the nazis, past and present.

I strongly disagree with the comment "Many b & w photos". There are just a few, which is normal for a book this size. Alas the quality is found wanting, most are blurred. I've seen them in other publications with a much better definition. What a pity !
The author states that the famed French SS officer Fenet is appearing on a photo depicting an MG 42 position. This is a bold statement, never once purported by 33rd waffen-ss div veterans nor the numerous historians and writers that have worked on this division who've seen it. The fact that the machine-gunner wears glasses is just not enough. Moreover what would a young officer be doing in a fox hole with an MG ?

Still today I cannot fathom why such a good picture such as the one of a french MG team featuring in F. Myrvang's "MG 34 -MG 42" excellent book, has never been displayed in a w-ss foreign vonlunteers' publication. The fact that this superb shot plucked out from the Norwegian armed forces museum has never been seen before is beyond me.

I would personally recommend R. Forbes "For Europe, the French volunteers of the w-ss".

If you read French, look (for what they're worth) also for:

* "Combats pour l'honneur, Bataillon d'assaut Charlemagne, 24 avril - 2 mai 1945" by J. Malardier
* "Les derniers grognards" by J. Auvray (éditions Irminsul)
* "Les hérétiques" by St. Loup
* "Pour la croix de fer " by Gilbert Gilles vol.1
* "L'ultime assaut" by Gilbert Gilles vol. 2
* "Le prix d'un serment" by Pierre Rostaing
* "Le rêveur casqué" by Christian de la Mazière
* "Volontaires français sous l'uniforme allemand" by P. Giolitto

And to a lesser extent, in English: * "French volunteers of the W-SS" by R. Landwehr
Although the author is well-know for being a devout IIIrd reich apologist to say the least.

19 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre knock off, October 17, 2006

By 

Hang Ta Kong (Angkhor Vat, Cambodge) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hitler's Gauls: The History of the 33rd Waffen-Grenadier Division (Hitlers Legions 1) (v. 1) (Hardcover)

I looked a few pages of this book and is astonished to find how many mistakes and imprecisions I find. For instance :
- Oberjunker Protopopoff is depicted as a former white russian. I hardly understand hwo he managed to fight the soviets in the early 20's as he died in 1945 at nearly 23.
- There's a picture of a man with glasses and a machine gun. The author says it has to be Henri Fenet. Well, then anyone in this army with glasses must be called Henri Fenet.
- The leader of the french milice is called Joseph Darnard instead of Darnand.
Obviously many lines are taken from a very good book called "For Europe : The French Volunteers of the Waffen-SS" by Robert Forbes, a more complete book with much more crossed information. Get this book instead.