Soldaten - Kämpfer - Kameraden. Marsch und Kämpfe der SS-Totenkopf-Division

[AntiPartisan]

hi book folk,
does anyone know when and if Soldaten - Kämpfer - Kameraden. Marsch und Kämpfe der SS-Totenkopf-Division is going to be translated into English ?

thanks
AP.

[pasoleati]

Doesn't look good as the rights are now in the hands of Vopersal's extremely greedy a-holy estate who don't realize that either they can get some or end up getting nothing. Real pieces of manure.

[Mark C. Yerger]

Was a chance a number of years ago but the moron who wanted to do it made a terrible impression on the "T" vets as well as the author

[pasoleati]

That was a different case. I cannot go into any details as the info was provided to me on strictly confidential basis. All I can say is that the offer was made after W.V.'s death, was based on reasonable publishing industry standards and the other party was Vopersal's estate who wanted more and more money.

[Mark C. Yerger]

Irrelevant, for all the people saying they want it translated over the years:

Few would actually buy them all, and a LOT of sets need to be sold for publisher profitability regardless if hardbound or softbound. Considering what I see many consider a "great" book on WAF, the series would be a tad outside many people's ability to appreciate or assimilate.

Few can afford to print them all. And keep in mind it's already taken Fedorowicz longer to do Weidinger's 5 "Das Reich" volumes (still not done) than the author needed to write them. The size of the "T" series would mean most English readers would be dead before they were completed.

Many of the photos are low quality (due to being very specific locations, etc) so scanning images from a printed edition would be hopeless.

[pasoleati]

I disagree. The problems with the translation of the Dr series has obvioulsy clouded the view. It is also obvious that some people have axes to grind in regards of JJF. What I see as the biggest problem with JJF is their distribution. The are not sold in non-specialist stores so many potential buyers do not even know of it. These buyers do not frequent WAF, Feldgrau etc. Since their distribution network is what it is, the print runs are obviously on the low side. And this drives the price way up. And the sales difference between a book that costs $30 or $60 is tremendous. Some years ago I was told by a someone-in-the-know in the mil hist publishing industry that a price going from $29.95 to $35 reduces sales by 50%. Obviously today the threshold may be at a bit higher level, but you get the idea.

As for the low photo quality, there is adequate supply of TK photos at NARA. So that issue is no true issue at all.

[Mark C. Yerger]

I'd prefer the original photos instead of disconnected NARA photos, he used the ares described. But for reasons I've said you'll never see it in English.

No publisher will absorb translation/print costs for so many volumes in the current economy, or even when it recovers. Also lacking "buttons and badges" the average militaria collector would not buy them due to actually having to read them.

Buy the German edition, they're available.

[pasoleati]

I don't buy books that are in a language I cannot read. I don't speak German, hence I will not buy German language books. And do not say "learn German". I will the day you are forced to study Swedish for 6 years.

And no offense, isn't that comment on "badges and buttons" a bit harsh on a militaria collecting forum...Not that I am a collector but nevertheless.