Warrior S.
2 primary works
Book 2
Probably the most highly motivated and ruthless combatant to take the field in World War 2, the Waffen-SS soldier was the cutting edge of Germany's military might. Aggressive in attack, dogged in defence, his units generally suffered higher casualties than the regular army formations. The apple of the Fuhrer's eye, he was the first to receive the best available equipment and was expected to produce results to match. From the green fields of France to the freezing steppes of Russia and finally to the shattered streets of Berlin this title details the development of the weapons, equipment and tactics of one of history's most formidable soldiers.
Book 38
The Fallschirmjager divisions were solely used in airborne assault role, small units capturing local objectives ahead of traditional forces. Apart from the prestige of belonging to an elite, two reasons why infantrymen transferred to the paratroopers were for the higher pay and chances of more rapid promotion. It was this shared motivation which fostered rapid group "bonding" despite diverse social backgrounds. This title looks at the life and experiences of the average Fallschirmjager, and includes first-hand accounts from different theatres and periods of the war, including Holland/Belgium 1940, Kampfgruppe "Ramcke" in North Africa, Cassino, Leningrad, Normandy and Arnhem. As the war progressed, the parachute corps suffered a decline, and the soldiers were used as elite line infantry. Although several new Fallschirm "divisions" were created, most of their men never made a single drop.