Waffen-SS Knights and Their Battles: The Waffen-SS Knight’s Cross Holders Volume 2: January-July 1943 (Schiffer Military History)

This book is a continuation in the series that traces the units and men who won the Knights Cross of the Waffen SS, this time during the period of January - July 1943. It also briefly includes the new expansion and formation of additional Waffen SS units which were raised during this time.Although only over a very short time period, there were in fact 54 such awards given, including the first Oakleaves and Swords decorations. This is a testament to the brutal campaign where many of the divisons were involved in Russia.As usual the authour gives a thumbnail sketch first of the campaign where the units of the Waffen SS were involved with, some brief and simple maps detailing the advance axis of these divisons and where they were when the men won the Knights Cross.Many of the more well known Waffen SS individuals won their awards during this period, men such as Peiper, Hausser, von Ribbentrop, Phelps, Sandig, Priess, Kumm, Stadler, Tychsen, Harmel, Kraas, Frey, Witt and WunscheThe book has a photograph of the man and a brief history of the winner, with his recommendation for the Knights Cross and the action that he won the medal.Again following its usual plot the book is fast paced and is a very easy read, in small format it is over 269 pages and at the end lists the number of winners from each divison including the higher levels of the knights Cross such as the Oakleaves/Swords.This book is not a comprehensive account of the winners but does give you a brief history of each mans life, where he won his medal and what happened to him by the wars end.This book is in a similar vein to Jost Schneiders "Their honor was Loyalty" which lists all the winners of the Knights Cross as well,but this book is more comprehensive in terms of the units actions, the overall situation of the campaign as well as the winners.Again I do believe the choice of some of the photos which are in some cases a little blurry or grainy could have been better, and the maps maybe a little more comprehensive but in reality this is being a little picky.The book has been compiled with help from surviving holders of the award and is viewed from the German perspective and focuses on the select group who have been lucky enough to win this prestigious medal.Once more keep up the good work Mr Mooney I have two of your series so far and they are a good effort and worth buying.I look forward to the further volumes in this series to complete the set, which according to the authour has taken 10 years to complete this project.

Mooney has done a great service documenting for all time the battlefield feats achieved by the men of the SS.People want to know about the SS I have all these books the holders of the German Cross in Gold, which to a collector is three grand a real Knights Cross doesn't go for twelve grand for nothing you know! a iron class first class is four hundred dollars!an SS dagger enlisted is three grand!

This book is part of three Volumes and covers the Battles of some externally Brave Men and their Battles and the Awards They won. These Volumes are accompanied by a lot of unseen photo's and i highly recommend these books to any avid Military enthusiast

Great series.

Great to read. very interesting groupage

The 2nd volume of the Waffen-SS Knights and their battles, covering the period between Jan-July 1943.For those not already aware what these volumes are about, the book focuses and follows the WSS formations on the given period of time, while detailing the personnel that received the Knight’s Cross by providing a small bio accompanied always by a photo, often a signed one from the author’s personal collection.It is apparent that a lot of work has gone into producing these books, as the level of information, maps, diagrams etc. is adequate for the advanced reader. Anyone interested in the history of the WSS should have these books on their collection. The 5th volume is available and the last two that will complete this study will be published later on in 2021.

Un libro eccezionale, presenta molte biografie di comandanti e ufficiali delle waffen ss, tra cui Kurt Meyer, Hinrich Schuldt, Sepp Dietrich, Heinz Harmel, Arzelino Masarie e molte altre, devo dire che si legge bene ed e molto dettagliato, tratta anche la storia delle varie unità impiegate sia sul fronte est, che ovest, italia e i balcani dal gennaio 43 al luglio dello stesso anno, spero solamente che il buon Mooney riesca a scrivere l'altro volume...insomma un libro da avere ad ogni costo, sopratutto per chi e appassionato delle waffen ss e della loro storia militare

great book