Waffen-SS Soldier: 1940-1945 (Warrior, No. 2) [Paperback]

Bruce Quarrie (Author), Jeffrey Burn (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Warrior | Publication Date: March 25, 1993

Probably the most highly motivated and ruthless combatant to take the field in World War II (1939-1945), the Waffen-SS soldier was the cutting edge of Germany's military might. Aggressive in attack, dogged in defence, his units generally suffered higher casualties than the regular army formations. The apple of the Führer's eye, he was the first to receive the best available equipment and was expected to produce results to match. From the green fields of France to the freezing steppes of Russia and finally to the shattered streets of Berlin this title details the development of the weapons, equipment and tactics of one of history's most formidable soldiers.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Insights into the real lives of history's fighting men, packed with full colour illustrations, highly detailed cutaways, exploded artwork of weaponry and armour, and action-packed battle scenes.

About the Author

Bruce Quarrie graduated with honours from Cambridge University in 1968 and started work as a journalist with the Financial Times. He wrote his first book, on wargaming, in 1974. Bruce's principal interest was in World War II, and his definitive Encyclopedia of the German Army was even translated and published in German. Bruce passed away on 4 September 2004.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (March 25, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855322889
• ISBN-13: 978-1855322882
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.2 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,279,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for the serious student..., November 30, 2000

By 

"vmi90" (Hinsdale, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waffen SS Soldier: 1940-1945 (Paperback)

This book is fine if you know little of the Waffen SS or the German army during WWII. The photos are generally weak, providing few action shots. Most are typical portrait shots of significant SS figures. The four pages of color plates are drawings which provide little value. The text is general and provides no new insight for anyone who is a serious student of the German army in WWII. This book falls into the genre of those titles sold at hobby stores, to assist in the painting of military figures. Even in this context, it does not merit a strong review.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A decent book with one huge flaw., January 17, 2004

By 

Titus (Boston MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waffen SS Soldier: 1940-1945 (Paperback)

Waffen SS Soldier is an uneven effort from Osprey Publishing. I agree with one review that said the photographs in the book are weak. The Waffen SS, perhaps more than any other Nazi Army organization, has unparalleled photographic documentation. I find it a shame greater use was not made of it.

As with all Osprey titles this book is not meant to be anything more than a general overview and a jumping off point for greater research. On that basis I recommend it.

However, there is one part of the book that I must criticize. On page 24 there is a reference to St. Ignatius Loyola and the Jesuits. The author posits that Himmler took his organizational model from the Jesuits and that Hitler often referred to him as "my Ignatius Loyola".

Of course none of these remarks are place in any kind of context and the reader is left with the impression that Hitler, Himmler and the SS were buddy-buddy with the Jesuits.

That the editors allowed this to go to print I find appalling and insulting. The Waffen SS had about as much in common with the Jesuits as they did with the Salvation Army.

It is a well known F-A-C-T that both Hitler and Himmler especially hated both Christianity and the Catholic Church. Nazi ideology, especially as practiced by the Waffen SS, was daimetrically opposed to everything the Jesuits stood for and for the author to leave his reader with any other impression is a gross error and monumental misrepresentation.

This flaw almost makes the book not worth buying.

11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Re-print with new cover, July 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Waffen SS Soldier: 1940-1945 (Paperback)

This book was first published in the Warrior Series #2. If you have not purchased this book before under the old title buy it. The photographs, drawings and diagrams are top quality in true Osprey tradition.