Soldiers of the Leibstandarte

[InfanterieSammler]

2. Mohnke may be an unfortunate choice, but all of the other "actors" in the drama are long since dead. Mohnke is, as well, but the author actually met with Mohnke, interviewed him and had unfettered access to all of his remaining personal photos and documents.

Hi Bob-

I don't think Mohnke is an "unfortunate" choice, just a "controversial" one, esepecially for those who served with him. That said, I am very much looking foward to reading his interview which I'm sure will provide many new insights.

Best,
John

[sdesember]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark C. Yerger View Post
Sounds interesting, though would rather see the publisher finish what he starts such as the decades long taking translation of the remaining "Das Reich" series or the other volume of the Polizei Division history.

Good point. Bob, what is the status of these?

I'd like to echo these two previous sentiments. I have v.1-3 and would love very much to read the next chapters particularly on the last days of the war on "Das Reich". It's like watching a movie w/o ever knowing how it ends! (I know I can search the web, but it's not the same like reading it from a book!)

[Anthony N]

Hi Bob!
I was just wondering if the author has used any original German Records from the National Archives in America or elsewhere & if so which ones? Or is this more in the style of the memoirs of those invloved.
Thanks, Ant.

[Panzer Bob]

…and yet more words from the sponsor!

Hello all!

Thanks for the interest and the postings…

1. There is a rather extensive posting on Feldgrau concerning the trials and tribulations of being a small publisher (entitled: "Suicide by forum"). A lot of the points brought up about taking forever to finish out the series on the two divisions is discussed there. In a nutshell: Things tend to get produced first and faster when they bring money into a company.

Unfortunately, divisional histories (at least the text ones) do not seem to fall into that category.

That said, now that "Soldiers of the Leibstandarte" is done, I am turning my attention to checking the translation of DR IV, which we hope to bring out in the spring. DR V will follow in the fall (knock on wood). (Half of it was translated. I have to check that and then translate the remainder.) As far as "Polizei" is concerned, well……I'm not sure we have even paid the printing bill on that one. Any rich sponsors out there!

2. As far as "Soldiers of the Leibstandarte" is concerned, Fischer did not use any governmental archives, since his book was intended to put a human face on members of the division and is thus a photographic and text record based on personal interviews, photos and documents. I'm not sure what other archival material could be used on the division, since so much material has already been written about it. The 5-volume divisional history makes use of all of the primary documents available (as far as I know), such as the daily logs, as well as first-hand anecdotal accounts as well. (When Lehmann/Tiemann wrote the books, many of the surviving vets were still alive).

3. Finally, the section on Mohnke is the longest in the book (about 60 pages) and covers him through the pre-war years, his early combat actions prior to being seriously wounded in Yugoslavia, his training assignments, his short stint as a division commander and, finally, his actions as the local area commander entrusted with the defense of the governmental quarter of Berlin during the final fighting. There are about 20 pages devoted to that. I may have also mischaracterized the narrative as being an interview. It is, rather, a narrative based on the interview with frequent direct quotes.

Hope this clears the air, somewhat.

Regards,
Bob Edwards

[Anthony N]

Thanks bob, appreciate your time.
Currently reading the George H. Stein book "Hitler's elite guard at war. The Waffen SS 1939 - 1945" which draws very heavily on the Records of the Reich Leader of the SS and Chief of the German Police which apparently runs to more than 1000 linear feet of files! It also heavily draws on operational records of Waffen SS units. It's like being back in school, ever page refers you to the documents used for each major fact.
I am interested to know whether any other major document groups regarding the SS have come to light as this book is rather old, but the source material is impeccable.
You're definitely whetting my appetite on the LAH book, will be a good read after Stein's book. Puts a great human slant onto the subject.
Just speed up those presses!
Ant.

[Mark C. Yerger]

If "text" books are not profitable for a publisher, and he takes decades to complete (or not) a series: give them to another publisher. Customers buy a part and are left to sit. I'm sure Schiffer or another large publisher would print them. Waiting 10 years while 20 books on Tiger tanks are printed is a bit much to swallow.

[pasoleati]

Mark, you are free to sponsor them. Lay down the cash and you will have the books in a year.

[Mark C. Yerger]

I got one of the German books done already, took less than a year. To sit on rights to a book with no obvious plan to print, after starting others in a series, is narrow and rude (my opinion). I think enough books on Tiger tanks are done, it wasn't that important a vehicle. Whats next, track treads vol. 4 ? Saying text books don't sell seems a conflict when the same publisher reprinted one of the Munin text volumes.

[pasoleati]

But it is likely that the Wiking division (the reprint) is commercially more saleable than the Polizei though personally I found Husemann´s work substantially better than Stassner´s.

As for the Tiger, I find it much more interesting vehicle than all other German tanks combined as Panzers I to IV were technically uninteresting, weak (weak final drives*, weak construction of suspension) vehicles while the Panther has some technical shortcomings that were in my opinion unacceptable in relation to its fame.

*Panzer III and IV had so weak final drives that entire housings could be ripped off if the vehicle was driven in reverse for few metres in deep snow.

[Panzer Bob]

This and That

I got one of the German books done already, took less than a year. To sit on rights to a book with no obvious plan to print, after starting others in a series, is narrow and rude (my opinion). I think enough books on Tiger tanks are done, it wasn't that important a vehicle. Whats next, track treads vol. 4 ? Saying text books don't sell seems a conflict when the same publisher reprinted one of the Munin text volumes.

The translation isn't a problem. I can do it in a couple of months. There are, however, other books in the pipeline that are more commercially viable. This is capitalism, not socialism, and we do not have a state or any other kind of sponsor, other than customers who buy books, and there seems to be a lot less of them interested in divisional histories than books on Tigers.

We reprinted European Volunteers because the original print run had sold out and the book had been out of print for a long time. Neither of those criteria apply to either the Das Reich series or the Polizei volume. When sales are sluggish, a small publisher has to weigh options before continuing down the same path. Sell the rights? OK, find me a publisher...

We've had other authors practically begging us to finish certain projects. Their requests were not altogether altruistic. It's usually because they cannot read German and want to write their own book (generally without attribution to us in the bibliography). Perhaps they should donate some of their royalties so we can continue to produce books that are slow sellers.

Don't get me wrong, I like unit histories (take a look at my personal library), but I also need to do things like pay a mortgage and put food on the table.

Regards,
Bob Edwards
JJ Fedorowicz Publishing

[PANZERPIONIERE]

Bob, I will definately order this new book! I own all the JJF books, and will also order the unit histories when they are completed. your long-time friend.
Steve

[Mike Davis]

I received my copy of this book last week and had a chance to look it over while travelling in the past few days. My initial impression is very positive as the the production quality is excellent, as we are accustomed from Fedorowicz.

Most of the photographs I have not seen before. The book consists of biographies and compelling first hand accounts of well-known personalities and common soldiers alike.

Those looking for content RE: LAH 'crimes' may be disappointed but I think most will be happy to own and read this volume.

[PZIV]

700 original photos of the Leibstandarte is pretty good.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Okay

Okay, now I have to go buy it. I heard Mohnke was a great Guy after the War and really liked to party. Quite different I suppose from his wartime demeanor.

[Stahlhelm]

I'll also certainly be ordering a copy of this book. It looks and sounds great!

Chris