[.ca] Soldiers of Destruction: The SS Death's Head Division, ... (ISBN 0691008531)

Getting at the truth of the Totenkpfdivision actions:
Charles W. Sydnor Jr's, "Soldiers of Destruction" is a wonderful piece of historical literature. This book represents Dr. Sydnor's Ph.D. dissertation and as such is based on significant research - this is historical prose by a historian! However, having said that, this does not imply that "Soldiers of Destruction" is merely an academic book with facts that is dry to read, quite the opposite. "Soldiers of Destruction" is a pleasure to read - well-crafted prose and flow - and contains lots of facts. This dissertation is not meant to represent a study of the whole Waffen SS, but rather an in depth look at one component - Third SS Panzer Division Totenkopf (Totenkopfdivision) - as an individual and somewhat isolated case. That said, it is fair to say that whether you are an airchair historian looking for a good read or a serious student of history interested in the Waffen SS and issues associated with the fighting arm of the SS, "Soldiers of Destruction" might be what you're looking for. Dr. Syndor begins his story with a discussion of the development of the Totenkpfdivision as an outgrowth from the SS Totenkopfverbande (Deaths Head Division) and the concentration camp guard system. Central to this development was Theodor Eicke, who put his aggressive, fanatical NSADP stamp on the system. He organized the concentration camp guard system and from that the initial Totenkopfdivision, making this Waffen SS unit one with a particularly rabid Nazi makeup, at least at its inception. By bringing the formation of the Totenkopfdivision into focus provides important perspective for Syndor and the reader to assess the actions of the division in its military exploits, including charges of brutality. Simply put, are actions seemingly askew from other battle units, such as murder of POWs, ultimately unexpected given the personalities and ideological "training" of the division? Syndor does not use this analysis to excuse the actions but rather to provide clarity for greater understanding in a historical context. The passages dealing with combat of the Totenkopfdivision (most of which occurred against the Soviets) are fascinating and highly enlightening. Syndor has does a great job brining to life these years of the division and balancing the highly effective and laudable (from a military perspective) battle actions of the Totenkpdivision with the criminal activities that followed the division. The reader can easily separate these issues and then place the latter in context given the introductory material. This is in fact what Syndor attempts to do (quite effectively I believe) in the last section of the book, entitled: Ideology, Personality, Criminality. In the end this is a wonderful book, both from a mere historical and a reading enjoyment standpoint. Syndor conveys a clear history of a single element of the Waffen SS that is both significant and fair. Highly recommended reading - five stars!

A fine study of an elite formation:
The death's head SS division, created in october 1939, was one of the oldest Armoured formation of the III rd Reich. Thus, this unit achieved great military successes, mainly on the eastern front. Sydnor, in his talented study, details, the initial developments with the incorporation of concentration camp guards, the first fights in the western campaign where, the division occured some victories but also setbacks and finally, the military operations on the east... The "SS Totenkopf division", created by Theodor Eicke, former chief of the death's head batallions (camp unit guards), maintained close ties with the concentration camp system until the end of the war. Sydnor demonstrates that with documents. Sydnor also shows, the fundamental influence Eicke had over the formation's fighting spirit and thus, some of the consequences on the ground... But he doesn't contest the military value of this elite division, illustrating that by numerous examples. That's why many generals of the german army were pleased to have the SS Death's Head division under their command... This book is a must read !