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This book is written by Paul Thomas, a renowned WWII historian, with many books on the Germany Army to his credit. There are many unpublished photos, especially the ones taken at the Demyansk pocket during the winter months in 1942. The 4 color plates are illustrated by Stephen Andrew, a good source reference for uniform, equipment and weapons of the Totenkopf soldiers in France 1940, Russia 1941, Poland 1944 and Hungary 1945.
More about the Death's Head:
After the Poland campaign, Theodor Eicke transformed the Totenkopfverbande into the Totenkopf Division. The Death's Head Division's baptism of fire came in May 1940 in France where its men fought with courage and zeal.
The Division was part of the reserve in Operation Barbarossa but at the Luga Line, the Totenkopf fought against suicidal Russian resistance. In 1942, the Division was involved in the Demyansk pocket battles but suffered heavy casualties. After re-fit, the Totenkopf joined other crack Waffen SS units in the battles of Kharkov and Zitadelle in 1943.
After Kursk, the Division would never again possess anything like the strength it had at the beginning of 1943. With the general withdrawal of German forces in 1944, the Totenkopf fought rearguard actions at Grodno and Warsaw. In 1945, the Division defended Budapest and finally surrendered to the Americans near Vienna.
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