The Waffen SS in Russia 1941-44

 The Waffen SS holds an enduring fascination for students of WWII, and this new Concord volume caters to this interest. In particular, the book focuses on the Waffen SS fighting on the Eastern Front. William Fowler is a new author to Concord, and he has done a superb job of collating relevant photos and providing informative captions.

 The volume begins with a description of the role played by this elite fighting formation commanded by Heinrich Himmler. After the initial giddy successes subsequent to the 1941 invasion of Russia, the Wehrmacht and Waffen SS both eventually ran out of steam at the very gates of Moscow. The SS had grown from a force of 141,975 fighting men in September 1942 to 280,000 soldiers a year later. This statistic illustrates the importance attached to the formation, and how resources for it were prioritized. New divisions with names like 'Nordland' and 'Wiking' were established, joining others like 'Totenkopf' and 'Das Reich'. However, the ability of the Waffen SS to extinguish hotspots could only delay Germany's inevitable defeat. This book, through the extensive collection of photos, traces the exploits of these elite soldiers in all areas of the Russian frontline and in all kinds of weather conditions. The black and white pictures show all manner of equipment and weapons in use.

http://www.concord-publications.com/6535/6535.htm




 

The Siege of Sevastopol and the Crimea Campaign 1941-42

The Charge of the Light Brigade is a famous event that took place during the Battle of Balaklava in the Crimea in the mid-1800s. However, this region was the site of even more destructive fighting between Germany and Russia in WWII. Concord's latest book presents in some detail this particular campaign in the 1941-42 timeframe.

The attacking German 11.Armee was commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein, and his goal was to overrun the Crimean Peninsular and take Rostov. The battle was joined on 24 September 1941, with the capture of the naval fortress of Sevastapol on the southwestern tip of the peninsular set to be the ultimate prize. The Russian Black Sea Fleet defenders fought bitterly as they reinforced the defenses of Sevastapol and the Crimea. As the fighting wore on, Soviet troops launched counterattacks during the winter of 1941/42. A series of thrusts and counter-thrusts ensued, with Germany only able to clear the Crimea on 18 May 1942. Manstein was able to set his sights on Sevastapol, with its defenses including pillboxes, gun emplacements, anti-tank ditches, minefields and wire entanglements. Although German units encircled the city and an 80cm "Gustav" railway gun and 60cm Morser Karl bombarded the city, it took weeks of fighting before the second defensive line was breached during Operation Sturgeon Catch. The city was bombarded mercilessly until it finally fell on 3 July.

Battles of Smolensk & Roslavl 1941

This volume by Hans Seidler is brimming with black and white photographs showing soldiers from Heeresgruppe Mitte. The focus is on the Battles of Smolensk and Roslavl, conflicts that readers may not be terribly familiar with. The city of Smolensk commanded the route to the Russian capital of Moscow, and as German forces closed in on it, Russian forces launched a counterattack. This resulted in a large clash in early July 1941.

Skethes for 'SS in Russia' and 'Operation of Denmark-Norway'

Advance to Kharkov 1942 (Dragon’s 4 Figures Set)

Dragon’s new box of figures represents four German soldiers during this decisive battle of 1942. It shows soldiers preparing to move forward to join the battle in the vicinity of Kharkov, and they wear typical uniform and paraphernalia relating to this period of 1942.

Готується до друку

Battles of Sevastopol & Crimea, 1941-42.
(11-а армія Манштейна в Криму)

Дивізія "Das Reich" на Східному фронті

The book documents the waxing and waning fortunes of "Das Reich" in a rich collection of black and white photographs. Pictures show troops in the lead-up to the invasion of Russia, as well as in combat in the vast Soviet interior. These photos show troops, equipment and vehicles in all sorts of conditions from the summer dust to autumn mud and winter snow. For example, motorcycles, cars, trucks, antitank weapons and tanks all find a place between the covers.

Ескізи для "СС на Східному фронті"

Reconnaissance battalion, SdKfz-222 (Das Reich div.)

Germania reg. (Das Reich div.)