Customer Reviews

Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler: 1st SS Panzer Division (Spearhead)

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Co-author Davis usually writes outstanding works on Third Reich Militaria but this co-authoring effort is mediocre. The lead author, Sharpe has produced a very uneven work. A look at the bibiliography shows how little research & editorial effort went into this. Most of the LAH photos are non-combat ceremonial while most of the frontline photos cannot be specifically identified to the LAH. Many of the captions are a joke. A photo of a SS-VT soldier firing a Mauser Schnellfeuer is identified as a Luger. A rare photo of Sepp Dietrich in black SS uniform shows him with his lower right tunic button undone and his swastika armband (kampfbinde) slipped down below his elbow to his lower left forearm, so it rests just above the Adolf Hitler cufftitle. A single rejected photo never previously published is not enough to warrant purchase of this title. The maps are virtually useless. This book is just adequate for a budding high school military history buff but it's insufficient when compared to the many other superior books on the subject.

There are far better books available than this one for only a bit more money.

In response to L.Wong's critique of Brian Davis' and my book, he is correct in that I was the lead author on this title. However, I neither selected the pictures nor wrote the accompanying captions, although I apologise for any mistakes that escaped the edit. That said, I fail to see how a photograph depicting Deitrich at such an unguarded moment is somehow faulty. Is it implied that he should be potrayed in a better light?
Due to the format of this series, certain brevity was necessary. We attempted to provide an accessible book at a reasonable price. Of course it is not as comprehensive as the twin-volume books that are on the market(although at a much greater price) but I am confident that Brian and I have produced for Ian Allen a very useful history of the Leibstandarte.

Mike Sharpe