Das Reich - Softcover

Packages

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1898799822 ISBN 13: 9781898799825

Publisher: Packages, 2000

Synopsis

The 2nd SS Division was an elite, highly trained fighting force that saw action in some of World War II's bloodiest battles. Especially in the Eastern front, these often included close-quarter, hand-to-hand combat. Starting with the organization and recruitment of the division and following it throughout the war, the story of this evil but powerful force unfolds through reminiscences by many of the unit's men, along with photographs and other memorabilia.

About this title

About the Author

James Lucas fought with the British infantry in the Second World War. He has since established a reputation as a military historian with a particular interest in good soldiering; Das Reich is one of a number of his books about his former enemy. This is the remarkable and courageous war record of the famous Das Reich 2nd SS Division, a fearsome unit which saw heavy fighting throughout the war, from France to the Eastern Front and back to Germany.

Review

Das Reich is an attempt by Mr Lucas to trace the development and history of one of the Nazi Party's premier fighting organisations. The division is traced from its early days of being internal minders to the Nazi hierarchy to its first use in WWII and then to its demise, fragmented all over Eastern Europe. Mr Lucas includes many anecdotal sources and by and large does a good job of trying to trace the actions the various Regiments and Companies were involved in. From these sources it is also easy to gauge how well the war was going for Germany as the tone changes from triumphant to largely pessimistic from the battle of Kursk onwards. An aspect of the division's history which Mr Lucas properly conveys is the involvement of the men of the division in the war and consequently the losses which it suffered on a huge scale because of its willingness to fight. This applied in any situation attacking, defending, counter-attacking, etc. and shows just how highly these men were trained and motivated. This brings up an interesting point which Mr Lucas is largely an apologist for. The motivation of the SS units is skirted round with very little mention being made of politics, race etc. Indeed in the early chapters the only criterion for entry into this elite organisation appears to be that the physical Aryan characteristics are satisfied and I am not sure this was entirely the case. Similarly relations with Russians are presented as cordial, even friendly and the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre is justified as an operation against franc-tireurs. However when dealing with organisations of this type such questions are never going to be easy to answer. The attempt being made here is to focus on the 'clean' combat and not the acts perpetrated by war criminals. Overall an extremely enjoyable history of an elite fighting formation, as long as its only its battles you are interested in. --By Jacqui

great to see the stories we know from a more honest angle,fascinating account of a heroic das reich.A great work by james lucas. --By steve

If you're into military history and you want to start looking at the role of the Waffen SS in World War 2, this is a must. A lot of ambiguity about the role of the military wing of the SS exists, but as this book rightly points out, these men were soldiers, not murderers. They had nothing at all to do with politics, or with the Holocaust, they were brave and skilled young men who laid down their lives for their country. The book follows the initial birth of the Division, 'Das Reich', from the mid 1930's, and into it's first tentative actions during the war. It then follows the men through the hard years in Russia, how due to repeated errors in the German command their strength was reduced and reduced, still performing amazingly in the face of horrific fighting. Then it moves to the Division playing a vital role in Normandy against the Americans, delaying the war by several months, before finally being disbanded in 1945. Lucas delves into the hearts and minds of the soldiers involved, the desperation of the Russian front, the comedy and irony of fighting the raw, yet superior Americans, and the tragedy and heartache of the death of a way of life. This is a rollercoaster ride, sharing the thoughts, escapades and final suffering of the ultimate soldiers in WWII. --By Simon Andrews

About this edition

• Publisher: Packages
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 1898799822
• ISBN 13: 9781898799825
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 222