Voices of the Waffen SS Paperback – November 16, 2015

This book is interesting on several levels. First, as a first hand description from those who were there. Second, as a insight into the inner workings of the men and the organization. Thirdly, as a balance of other versions. One has not to agree with the ideology to see that there are commonalities between those who have served in the armed forces, no matter the period or the nation. In this respect, the author has succeeded in giving a voice to those who have generally not had one, and that is important, for if one is to truly learn, then one has to study all sides equally and fairly. Stumbled in places grammatically and in form, but good overall.

This book, especially the bgining is like an apolegia for the strictly German point of view. The author gives a view of Hitler that is so slanted and disingenuos that it forces one to question any of the articles validity.He conveniently omits known and well documented atrocities committed by the ss. He completely omits Peipers murder of American troops during the battle of the bulge and glosses over, Oradur Sur Glenne, and Lidice. He completely leaves out the ss participation in the massive concentration camps and their administration. I'm sure that there were many brave ss soldiers, but the participation of the ss einsats gruppen on the Eastern front should have been included.

It's amazing to read a book that contains an article published in a historical review that was presented at an academic conference that tries to whitewash Hitler and the racial policies against the Jews. Jaw dropping. According to this book all German Waffen SS were great guys who got a bad rap because the victors write history. However, this is an opportunity to see how these soldiers still to this day do not recognize the harm Nazi Germany did to the world and their part in it. I have been reading first person books by American soldiers so it was interesting to hear from German soldiers and compare experiences.

Chilling story of combat in Eastern front; some of the stories digress into whitewashing Nazi propaganda, no doubt fueled by the intense indoctrination in the training of SS units. But many of the stories demonstrated authentic situations with bravery under engagement with a determined enemy with vast resources

Written by a fellow who had served in the Waffen SS. Seems his objective was to rehabilitate the image of the Waffen SS rather than speak to the history of same. 3 Stars probably too generous. Wouldn’t recommend.

This could have been a very good book IF there had been any evidence of proof reading or editing. It was very hard to read as wrong words are used (like it instead of if) , passages are repeated and in parts the vetrans stories just do not make sence as it is completely jumbled and not cohesive. The photographs used are all black and white (even though titles under I draws attention to a difference in colour) and quite small, which is a shame as much detail which could be gleaned was lost.I think this can be a good book if the author reproofs the text , and the photographs are enlarged. Also there is no need to place the vetrans stories in itallic font, this only makes reading harder especially when incorrect grammar or text is used.The author has some good material, however it deserves to be treated better, please revisit and reprint .

I was uncomfortable reading this book. Not only is the writing style awkward there are far too many exclamation points! While it is understandable that some of the SS were not involved in atrocities, most were or aware of them. Sorry but reading the stories I had the feeling that most were unrepentant Nazis. I pity the men of the SS and pray for there souls but find it hard to sympathize with their plight.

Although history is written by the victors and skewed in their favor, it was refreshing to read first hand accounts of the brave Waffen SS. The Waffen SS Officer School was later the NCO Academy at Bad Tolz. It s a beautiful place . Spent 8 years in West Germany from 76-84. Magnificent country. Met many veteran s including SS veterans. As a lad of just 20, I came to admire and respect them.

Poor grammar. Much of it poorly translated from German or other languages presumably, but very hard to read.The whole concept of the book seems to me to be coming from the standpoint of "Nazis weren't so bad, just doing their job, we knew nothing of the horrors of the regime and certainly never did any bad things in Russia or elsewhere". What a wonderful guy The Fuhrer was etc etc. Not much repentance going on here. Well, sorry, but you don't fool me. I am troubled by the whole premise of the book and by the apparent sympthies of the author and his associates.

After 70 plus page's of the ss organisation and "they weren't all bad" then goes into some very selective true? Accounts. Not convinced. You would be better off reading books of accounts live histories elsewhere regarding waffen ss. Very biased pro ss if you like that sort of thing this is for you. If you want unbiased.balanced approach this definitely isnt

Now, before I say more, I am not so naive as to believe that the allies were entirely nnocent of committing atrocities. In fact I’d be more naive to think that they did not and I know history is written by the victors hence the reason I thought of reading this book but,, really? I mean, I’m not saying that people are not being honest but this book, such of it as i did read, seems to defend Hitler in all that he stood for if not what he did and that’s surely just as wrong as defending say, Stalin for sending Russians to certain death in Siberia or starving them while he dined on whatever he dined upon. No, I think this book has been presented from viewpoints which are often skewed by circumstances and that includes my own point of view no doubt of it. We are all subject to what we know and how we interpret it and this book seems to me to be much the same. War is awful and the fact that it is declared by politicians means they never know just how bad it is for those that fight it on their behalf. That there is corruption on both sides is not to be doubted and so no, I don’t think this book, though it tries to present a balanced viewpoint, seems to be more of a defence for the losing side, support for the under dog which, under dog or not needs to have his story told of course but is he right? are we right or wrong? well, there’s a bit of that on both sides of the line I think and so, to sum up, I can’t read any more of this book.

I didn’t get past the first few chapters. Found the bits that I read to be the ranting and beliefs of the author and not what I looked for as a historical record of conflict from the German side related to ww2A waste of my time and have found many other better personal records of ww2 from the German side

A fantastic insight into the waffle SS.You need to read the story's from the other side of the coin and realize not all the SS were demons as portrayed after the war. There were demons on all sides,let's not forget that.