Waffen SS: The Illustrated History, 1923-1945 [Hardcover]

Christopher Ailsby (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 1998

Waffen-SS: The Illustrated History 1923/45 Ails Unique insight into the most notorious military formation in history. Packed with previously unpubl ished photographs, most taken from private albums of former Waffen-SS soldiers, Waffen-SS chroniclesall the battles and campaigns Waffen-SS units fought in during WWII. Recreates in pictorial form al l aspects of the Waffen-SS¦s war: the growth of the SS panzer divisions, their tactics, recruitment of units, an examination of their weapons and equipment, and images of all Waffen-SS commanders. Includes a chapter on SS war crimes and atrocities.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Zenith Press (November 12, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760305641
• ISBN-13: 978-0760305645
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,598,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent photographic history of the Waffen-SS, March 20, 2007

By 

Mr. Truthteller (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waffen SS: The Illustrated History, 1923-1945 (Hardcover)

This book is also sold under the title, "Waffen-SS: The Unpublished Photographs 1923-1945," by the same author but a different publisher, MBI.

In any event, the book is a well-rounded exploration and explanation of the militarized formations of the SS, which eventually became known as the Waffen-SS.

The book is separated into 16 chapters. Each chapter has a 2-3 page introductory essay, followed by 10-15 pages of photos relating to that topic. Included are chapters on the formation of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler as a private bodyguard detachment, the various military actions in WWII in which the Waffen-SS were at the forefront, and other aspects of the militarized SS, including training, as well as an overview of atrocities.

Unlike many other illustrated history books, this one actually discusses the context of each photo in a fair amount of depth that builds upon the statements in the introductory text. Included are not only standard posed photos but also a wide variety of battle action shots. There are over 400 photos altogether in the book.

One minor criticism of the book is that in a brief discussion of Waffen-SS military valor winners, there is a discussion of the Knight's Cross with oakleaves and swords but no discussion of the Knight's Cross with oakleaves, swords, and diamonds, an even higher award only given to 27 members of the German military, including several Waffen-SS members, e.g., Sepp Dietrich, the initial Commander of the Waffen-SS 1st Division, the LAH.

Another small criticism is that on several occasions facts (that is, numbers of troops, etc.) presented in the introductory text are at variance with the same facts discussed in the photo captions.

A third criticism is that there are no maps so a general understanding of World War II geography and battlefronts in Europe is needed to better understand and appreciate the many theatres of war to which the Waffen-SS were constantly traveling.

But these drawbacks do not detract in any major way from the overall quality of the work which is an excellent, but very brief (224 oversized pages), summary of the history of the military formations of the SS and includes a wide variety of photographs not seen elsewhere.

13 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good photos although history not absolutely accurate, September 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Waffen SS: The Illustrated History, 1923-1945 (Hardcover)

I found this book to be very informative in regards to the forming, expanding role of, and military signifigance of the Waffen SS. Furthermore I thought that the photos included were extremely good. However, Alisby incorrectly concludes that the antisemitec idiology was mainly a result of Nazism. I take offense to that. Extermanationist antisemitism, as thouroughly discussed in "Hittlers Willing Executioners",by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen, was more a result of Centuries of an expanding antisemitic litany than any influence that Hittler's 'education' had. Alisby would do well to research this point more completely.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars 90% of who they were, what they stood for and what they did; gives the Wassen-SS a bad name., July 12, 2011

By 

J. Guild (Toronto,Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Waffen SS: The Illustrated History, 1923-1945 (Hardcover)

I really wonder what Christipher Ailsby is trying to accomplish with this book.It is in no stretch of the imagination a balanced account of the SS.
It is a 177 page book with a lot of pictures,spends the first 163 pages trying to portray them as a dedicated,brave,invincible, well trained and moviated,ruthless in battle,and a great example of a fine fighting and honorable military force for the Nazis in WWII.Then, as an afterthought,he spends 12 pages admitting that ,by the way,they also did some evil things.
As to being a great fighting force;their finest hours and accomplishments came when they were attacking opponents that were ill-equipped,ill-trained,and completely outclassed.However,once they came up against forces of their equal caliber,their hatred,elitism,and murderous ways were completely squashed.In all that the author could come up with,nowhere could he recount where the SS fought and won against an equal opponent.
Before one forms an oppinion of the greatness of the Waffen-SS from this book;one should read other books that show the truth.One,of many, I would suggest is "The Order Of The SS" by Frederic Reider.He provides an evocative and thought-provoking account of the evolution and proliferation of one of the twentieth centuries most potent,but ultimately evil forces.From its origins,he shows how it grew in strength and influence to become not only the symbol of the new Germany,but also the Guard of the Third Reich and the Church of a new religion.He also gives compelling profiles of the men and women of the SS--Hitler,Pohl,Rohm,Goering,Eichmann,Heydrich,and the architect of the Black Order,Himmler.
You won't find photos showing the SS performing bravely and winning against equally formidable or superior forces,because they don't exist.However ,fortunately photographs have survived showing the evil they carried out ,more often against poorly equipped opponents and civilians such as shown on 165,167,170,172,173 and 174.
To call the Waffen SS Hitler's Black Guard is an attempt at revising history.They were Blackguards in ever sense of the word.