The Waffen-SS (Men at Arms Series, 34) [Paperback]

Martin Windrow (Author), Jeffrey Burn (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 26, 1992 | Series: Men-at-Arms (Book 34)

In the early 1920s, a tiny group was formed within the SA to serve as Hitler's personal bodyguard. Originally labelled the "Stosstruppe Adolf Hitler," they later became known as the SS – Schutz Staffeln, or "protection squads." From these humble beginnings, the SS rose to a nominal strength of 38 divisions of over 800,000 men by 1945, representing a sizeable portion of Germany's land forces and more importantly a quarter of her tank forces and a third of her mechanised infantry. Martin Windrow provides a splendid in-depth review of the history, uniforms and insignia of the infamous Waffen-SS of World War II.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Packed with specially commissioned artwork, maps and diagrams, the Men-at-Arms series is an unrivalled illustrated reference on the history, organisation, uniforms and equipment of the world's military forces, past and present.

About the Author

Martin Windrow is series editor at Osprey and an authority on the post-war French army, particularly the Foreign Legion. He is the author of the very successful MAA 300 French Foreign Legion since 1945 and the recent MAA 322 The French War in Indochina 1946-54.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; 2nd edition (March 26, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0850454255
• ISBN-13: 978-0850454253
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,299,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Older title now replace, July 31, 2004

By 

Michael A Dorosh (Calgary, AB, CANADA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Waffen SS (Men-At-Arms Series) (Paperback)

This Revised Edition is actually a completely different version of the original edition, and included many improvements. However, Mr. Brown errs when he says the research is flawless. One example is the lack of mention of the actual rank title for "der Spiess" - in the Army, he was called "Hauptfeldwebel", in the SS "Stabsscharführer" - but Windrow misidentifies this appointment title.

Organization of info seems poor - waffenfarbe regulations were complex and could have been more easily detailed in a chart or table.

Nonetheless basic information is quite good - but since MAA is replacing this title as well with a multi-part look at the divisions, this review may well be moot.

Good table of ranks with nice drawings of the rank insignia - collar, shoulder AND special green/black camo rank badges. Nice touch. Nice divisional thumbnail sketches also including special insignia, commanders names, dates of employment, and fate. Nice mix of photos also, from soldiers in the field to "celebrity" commanders.

Colour plates by Burn very nice also.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Waffen-SS, the Way they Were, March 3, 2004

By 

Keith Brown (Tracy, CA & Stara Zagora, Bulgaria) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Waffen-SS (Men at Arms Series, 34) (Paperback)

Windrow's book is a highly accurate account of the Waffen SS in WWII. He covers uniforms, with color plates, as well as international members uniforms of these special troops. Windrow goes in to great detail with such items as shoulder tabs, unit markings and describes the SS's weapons. Most of the book is in black and white, but the research is flawless.
This text is a good one for military buffs interested in the German military.