Dictionnaire De La Waffen-SS Tome 1

Dictionnaire de la Waffen-SS: Tome 1 presents every division, many among which were of the elite, that played a crucial role on the battlefield during the Second World War which called upon approximately one million combatants during the course of the war. The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside the Wehrmacht Heer regular army, but was never formally part of it. It was Adolf Hitler's will that the Waffen-SS never be integrated into the army, it was to remain the armed wing of the Nazi Party and to become an elite police force once the war was won. This initial volume presents the first nine divisions (Leibstandarte to Hohenstaufen) and includes for each one a historical overview and significant photos (1,000 in all). Two other volumes are to follow, with the second dedicated to the other divisions, and the third to the independent brigades and units.