
SS: Hell on the Western Front
The Waffen-SS in Western Europe 1940-45
Chris Bishop(Author)
Amber Books (Publisher)
Published on 15. September 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-1-78274-314-9 (ISBN)
Description
Despite their success during the invasion of Poland in 1939, the Waffen-SS still had something to prove as a fighting unit when they arrived in the west for the attack on the Low Countries in May 1940. SS: Hell on the Western Front describes in vivid detail the exploits of the Waffen-SS in Western Europe from 1940 to 1945.
The book begins with the formation of the Waffen-SS and its growth and development into a combat arm. The successes of 1940 are examined, as the SS troopers swept all opposition before them, as is the darker side of the organization, with the first atrocities committed against Allied prisoners.
As the preparations for the invasion of the Soviet Union advanced, Hitler
was distracted by the crisis in the Balkans, where the Waffen-SS added to their growing reputation by capturing Belgrade and driving Allied troops
out of Greece. By 1944, the Waffen-SS were back in France in numbers, in readiness to repel the expected Allied invasion. After the loss of Normandy, the Waffen-SS fought hard at Arnhem and during the Ardennes offensive, winning respect from the Allied troops that faced them.
SS: Hell on the Western Front features the actions of such famous Waffen-SS divisions as the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, Das Reich, Hitlerjugend and Totenkopf, and provides an insight into how these ideologically motivated units consistently outfought the Allies, even when seriously disadvantaged due to lack of fuel or air support. Illustrated with rare photographs, SS: Hell on the Western Front is a thorough study of the Waffen-SS in the western theatre.
The book begins with the formation of the Waffen-SS and its growth and development into a combat arm. The successes of 1940 are examined, as the SS troopers swept all opposition before them, as is the darker side of the organization, with the first atrocities committed against Allied prisoners.
As the preparations for the invasion of the Soviet Union advanced, Hitler
was distracted by the crisis in the Balkans, where the Waffen-SS added to their growing reputation by capturing Belgrade and driving Allied troops
out of Greece. By 1944, the Waffen-SS were back in France in numbers, in readiness to repel the expected Allied invasion. After the loss of Normandy, the Waffen-SS fought hard at Arnhem and during the Ardennes offensive, winning respect from the Allied troops that faced them.
SS: Hell on the Western Front features the actions of such famous Waffen-SS divisions as the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, Das Reich, Hitlerjugend and Totenkopf, and provides an insight into how these ideologically motivated units consistently outfought the Allies, even when seriously disadvantaged due to lack of fuel or air support. Illustrated with rare photographs, SS: Hell on the Western Front is a thorough study of the Waffen-SS in the western theatre.
Reviews / Votes
`One normally thinks of "the western front"as applying to WW1, but of course, there was a western front in WWII as well, and Chris Bishop's excellent book transports us back to the hell of those six years involving the Waffen-SS. Stirring and thought-provoking.' * Books Monthly 17/02/2016 *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Amber Books Ltd
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
Index; Maps; Halftones, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 189 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
462 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78274-314-9 (9781782743149)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
06/2023
1st Edition
Amber Books
from
€9.27
Available for download
Person
Chris Bishop worked in publishing for many years and wrote a great number of military history and aviation titles. He died in 2008.
Content
1. Origins of the Waffen SS
2. War in the West
3. Striking South: The SS in the Balkans
4. Expansion and Recruitment
5. Occupation and Atrocity
6. Normandy
7. Arnhem
8. The Battle of the Bulge
Appendices
Index
2. War in the West
3. Striking South: The SS in the Balkans
4. Expansion and Recruitment
5. Occupation and Atrocity
6. Normandy
7. Arnhem
8. The Battle of the Bulge
Appendices
Index