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Title: SS-Totenkopf: The History of the 'Death's Head' Division 1940-45 by Chris Mann, Arthur Donaldson ISBN: 0-7603-1015-7 Publisher: Motorbooks International Pub. Date: 15 March, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95

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Average Customer Rating: 2 (5 reviews)

Rating: 1
Summary: Cursory at best
Comment: As another reviewer says, this book offers absolutely nothing new about the division or the men of the division. As typical of those critical of the Waffen-SS, it mostly focuses on and over exaggerates either the political indoctrination or attrocities. Especially with the 'Totenkopf' division the constant reminder that the origin of the division was in the concentration camps and the division should be guilty by association. However, only about 1/3 of the original personnel at time of activation were from the SS-Totenkopfverbande, the organization that ran the camps.

Besides offering nothing new, there are historical inaccuracies throughout. For example, the author on page 126 uses the Soviet account of the battle of Prochorovka (part of the battle of Kursk and largest tank battle of all time) which claims that the SS Panzer Divisions have Panther tanks. None of the SS Divisions had Panther tanks at the time of the battle of Kursk and they did not get them until later in 1943 or early 1944. Moreover, on page 188 there is a table of 'Totenkopf' tank inventory for the battle of Kursk and there are no Panther tanks, only Panzer III's, IV's or Tigers. Not to mention the 'Totenkopf' division did not take part in the battle of Prochorovka, it was holding the Psel bridgehead.

The only part that the book offers that is good is at the end of the book. There are short descriptions of the weapons used by the division. The tables are good too for quick reference. The one table gives the division's war service with what corps, army, and army group it was attached to and the location for that time period.

If you want good information about the 3. SS Panzer Division 'Totenkopf,' there are definately better books out there. Charles Syndor's "Soldier's of Destruction" is excellent for the development and combat record of the division for the first half of the war, for the period of 1943-1945 the details are flawed at some points. The two books under the title "Wie ein Fels im Meer" or "Like a Cliff in the Ocean" by Karl Ullrich are excellent. One volume is the divisional history published by veterans of the division, and the other is a photo album with tons of great photos. The best book about the 'Totenkopf' division is Wolfgang Vopersal's 8 volume history of the division titled "Soldaten - Kämpfer - Kameraden. Marsch und Kämpfe der SS-Totenkopf-Division," however it is in German and hard to aquire. Hope that helps.

Rating: 3
Summary: Falsehoods
Comment: Before I say anything anything else I want to let everyone to know I HAVE NOT read this book. Obviously the reader above was either misinformed of mislead by this book. The totenkopf division was formed at the beginning of WWI in Honor of Emperor Francis Ferdinand's assasination. The name totenkopf originates from the skull and cross bones on his coffin at the time of his burial. It is true that 1 regiment of the totenkopf was involved with concentration camps, but the division was mainly a frontline unit the entire part of the war. Fighting in the BoF (battle of France) then on the eastern front for the majority of the war.

Rating: 2
Summary: Lacking
Comment: Its very lacking and he does a lot of guess work instead of putting down historical accuracies. Stick with Soldiers Of Destruction, i found that a book worth reading over and over again.

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