SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 "Nordland" and the Swedish SS Platoon in the Baltic States, Pomerania, and Berlin 943-45
Herbert Poller, Martin Mansson, and Lennart Westberg
Originally published in German in a lesser detailed edition, this is among the best and most enjoyed SS divisional sub-element history books I've seen in years. The HB volume (368 pages) covers the reconnaissance detachment of the 11.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Nordland."
Very detailed in all aspects and levels pertaining to the unit, the text and images in this English edition incorporate more of the lifelong research and veteran contacts of a resected Swedish colleague, Lennart Westberg. Having known him 20+ years as a researcher of III.SS Korps units to include "Nordland," his particular emphasis has been research and veteran correspondence with former members at all levels of the "Nordland" Aufklärungsabteilung. In the course of that work he was of great help with my own volume on the German Cross in Gold holders of "Nordland." This tome is primarily a historical understanding of and combat history of a single elements of the division verses a divisional biographical/structural development topic volume as mine was.
In European style writing without footnotes, it is however instantly obvious the data and images it contains was acquired from a countless number of veterans at all levels over a period of decades. Having been privy to some of his correspondence, it was and is a case of knowing the overall and relevant even more than the veterans themselves, then using this to frame inquiries and interviews to find the missing gaps in great detail of an exceptional element of a historically popular division.
Likewise he was given access to copy or take notes from personal papers, diaries, and similar materials at all levels. From its overview, tactics section, battle information, maps, unpublished images of individuals, and other aspects of the unit, I can't imagine anyone ever compiling a more detailed history of SS-Aufklärungsabteilung 11.
Unfortunately, few have the diligence to compile similar studies of other SS divisional elements, and with the passing away of veterans the essential first person input is gone for such an undertaking in nearly all cases.
Due to its topic and parameters requiring effort beyond just staring at front/reverse photos thrown together in a week by questionable "experts," it is defiantly not in any sense of the type another mindless "buttons and insignia" militaria book. Unlike militaria books issued at the moment by those with minimal (or often zero) knowledge of the actual period history of a topic, or highly repetitive individual memoirs, this is about an entire unit in detail including the actual experienced combat operations of its personnel.
My favorite pages are the personal description of the final days of the war and POW experiences by, among others, Knight's Cross holder Georg Langendorf and German Cross in Gold holder Siegfried Lorenz. Bravo to all three authors.
Mark C. Yerger
Herbert Poller, Martin Mansson, and Lennart Westberg
Originally published in German in a lesser detailed edition, this is among the best and most enjoyed SS divisional sub-element history books I've seen in years. The HB volume (368 pages) covers the reconnaissance detachment of the 11.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Nordland."
Very detailed in all aspects and levels pertaining to the unit, the text and images in this English edition incorporate more of the lifelong research and veteran contacts of a resected Swedish colleague, Lennart Westberg. Having known him 20+ years as a researcher of III.SS Korps units to include "Nordland," his particular emphasis has been research and veteran correspondence with former members at all levels of the "Nordland" Aufklärungsabteilung. In the course of that work he was of great help with my own volume on the German Cross in Gold holders of "Nordland." This tome is primarily a historical understanding of and combat history of a single elements of the division verses a divisional biographical/structural development topic volume as mine was.
In European style writing without footnotes, it is however instantly obvious the data and images it contains was acquired from a countless number of veterans at all levels over a period of decades. Having been privy to some of his correspondence, it was and is a case of knowing the overall and relevant even more than the veterans themselves, then using this to frame inquiries and interviews to find the missing gaps in great detail of an exceptional element of a historically popular division.
Likewise he was given access to copy or take notes from personal papers, diaries, and similar materials at all levels. From its overview, tactics section, battle information, maps, unpublished images of individuals, and other aspects of the unit, I can't imagine anyone ever compiling a more detailed history of SS-Aufklärungsabteilung 11.
Unfortunately, few have the diligence to compile similar studies of other SS divisional elements, and with the passing away of veterans the essential first person input is gone for such an undertaking in nearly all cases.
Due to its topic and parameters requiring effort beyond just staring at front/reverse photos thrown together in a week by questionable "experts," it is defiantly not in any sense of the type another mindless "buttons and insignia" militaria book. Unlike militaria books issued at the moment by those with minimal (or often zero) knowledge of the actual period history of a topic, or highly repetitive individual memoirs, this is about an entire unit in detail including the actual experienced combat operations of its personnel.
My favorite pages are the personal description of the final days of the war and POW experiences by, among others, Knight's Cross holder Georg Langendorf and German Cross in Gold holder Siegfried Lorenz. Bravo to all three authors.
Mark C. Yerger
Comment