Book about LAH by S. Cook and R. J. Bender

[IchHattEinenKameraden]

Many probably know the book:"Uniforms, organization & history of the Leibstandarte ϟϟ Adolf Hitler Volume one" by Stan Cook and R. James Bender.

I own a copy and i am really fond of it but what i am wondering about is, does Volume two even exist?!

[Mark Costa]

No -- the second volume was never released.

[IchHattEinenKameraden]

That explains why i haven't seen it anywhere, it's a shame tho, what is the reason it did not got released?

[Klaus Richter]

I was always curious about the book. What does volume 1 cover?

[MarcRikmenspoel]

I had a bit of contact with Stan Cook some years ago. I no longer remember if it was by phone or by email, but he was expecting volume 2 to be released soon. I have no idea why it hasn't happened.

Hugh Page Taylor told me, even farther back, that he was working on volume 6 of his Waffen-SS series, and that never came out either. I'd buy both, if ever released.

It does make you appreciate that Mark Yerger manages to get his books written, and then actually produced.

[IchHattEinenKameraden]

I had a bit of contact with Stan Cook some years ago. I no longer remember if it was by phone or by email, but he was expecting volume 2 to be released soon. I have no idea why it hasn't happened.

Hugh Page Taylor told me, even farther back, that he was working on volume 6 of his Waffen-SS series, and that never came out either. I'd buy both, if ever released.

It does make you appreciate that Mark Yerger manages to get his books written, and then actually produced.

Hey Marc, i also appreciate your work, i got two books written by you in my collection, the Waffen SS encyclopedia and Soldiers of the Waffen SS.

Is there hope for volume two in that it might get released after all or should i just forget about it?

[MarcRikmenspoel]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm currently assembling a large photo project for Helion. It will be similar to Soldiers of the Waffen-SS, but will focus on Wiking, Nordland, Nederland, and the Germanic Legions. I have so much material that we recently decided to split it into 2 volumes! I'm about 2/3 done with what will be volume 1, so it could be in print a year or so from now, or in early 2014.

I'll be talking more about it on this site as the release gets closer.

[IchHattEinenKameraden]

That sounds exciting, especially anything related to the Dutch volunteers.
Have you uncovered new material about the Dutch volunteers?

[MarcRikmenspoel]

That sounds exciting, especially anything related to the Dutch volunteers.
Have you uncovered new material about the Dutch volunteers?

I have a lot of photos from the US National Archives showing the Legioen Nederland on the Volkhov in early 1942 for volume 1. I have a few Dutch Wiking photos also for that book.

For volume 2, I have a lot of Birgade Nederland at Narva photos, both from the National Archives and private sources.

So, there'll be good Dutch coverage, but not quite as personalized as for the Norwegians. This is because I have friends in Norway who have an enormous archive of private photos, with individuals named, locations identified, etc.

[Mark C. Yerger]

When it gets to be decades since 1 volume comes out, doubtful a 2nd will appear or is even being considered. The LAH book was, for me personally, of no use as a reference. Buy Lehmann/Tiemann if you want LAH knowledge. The new Wisch bio has better images than anything in the discussed LAH book for those who don't actually read. Cook's volume was basically written around some of the 1940 photo boxes at NARS. Likewise how well (and fast) something sells decides if a 2nd worth the publishing cost. The LAH book and some others took forever, not all can be instant winners or worth continuing.

Hugh (Page Taylor) wrote the foreword for German Cross holders volume 4. I'd hoped his volume 6 would be the next six units but was to be an addendum/correction, etc to the first five. I think the data it would contain became somewhat superfluous within the parameters of data he included in the series with other books covering the same detail for a lot of units. I want it, his volume 5 being a heavy basis for how and what I write regards development of units and had offered him all I have several times.

Instead he produced thus far the 2 monumental German police volumes. Few grasp the enormity of books like those police volumes in time invested if nothing else. Were there interest, he knowledge in certain topics of Italy in WW II is beyond description.

My volume 7 ("Wiking" part I) is with Bender and will be in the 400-425 pages size range, and I'm about 1/2 way through 8 (same size as 7). We'll see volume 6 this autumn (Polizei Division part II and independent senior holders), the delay being the author of the other book (Bender releases in pairs) basically handing in an unfinished book for the production slot. Mine are beyond ready when handed in, so obviously I'm rather fricked off. Volume 9 will be "Totenkopf" in one large volume.

Saying will do a series/set and then following through with successive volumes within some earthly time span (5 or more years isn't) , even with a publisher wanting it, are 2 different things. Even if just translated, the "Das Reich" books in English took longer than it did Weidinger to write them even with the publisher having free rights. But they require reading compared to Tiger tank crewmen underwear volume 3 or whatever other mindless repetitive photo book can be assembled on a weapon type with minimal actual influence on the battlefield. So we'll all be dead before you'll see the 17SS, 6SS, and various Korps histories published in English. Same with Steiner's books, all these last mentioned are miles beyond more recently done assembly line books on the units and many others.

I buy little, prefer "one-and-done" type books like Marc's on Belgian units, Helion's 14SS volume, Pencz's 31SS study (the expanded one), etc. Otherwise I can get mountains more information from microfilm and document copies.

The only 2 reasons I'm rather punctual in various books/series/etc is two fold. For the GC series 20+ years assembling and organizing the material prior to starting so it wouldn't take a millennium between the first and last volumes. Also, basically, aside from what I write I really don't have a life

[IchHattEinenKameraden]

When it gets to be decades since 1 volume comes out, doubtful a 2nd will appear or is even being considered. The LAH book was, for me personally, of no use as a reference. Buy Lehmann/Tiemann if you want LAH knowledge. The new Wisch bio has better images than anything in the discussed LAH book for those who don't actually read. Cook's volume was basically written around some of the 1940 photo boxes at NARS. Likewise how well (and fast) something sells decides if a 2nd worth the publishing cost. The LAH book and some others took forever, not all can be instant winners or worth continuing.

I am not sure why you are discrediting S. Cook and R. J. Bender's LAH book but it has plenty of reference value to me, take the information about the LAH trumpet banner for example, i could not find it anywhere else but this book.

Next to that book i got the Die Leibstandarte im Bild by R. Lehmann and Twelve years with Hitler, a history of 1. Kompanie Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler by H. Quassowski.

I also ordered M. Lippl's recent book about Teddy Wisch, i can't wait to get my hands on it.

When you know and recommend other good reads about the LAH, please do so.

[Mark C. Yerger]

I assumed you were looking for historical information on the unit and/or its personnel, not militaria or non-specific photo books. For myself, those having nothing but the latter are of no value or boring non-specific images. The Wisch book is NOT that type, having detailed captions, IDd personnel, etc

[wilhelm Saris]

answer to post 6:

Stan Cook is still working on maps for vol. 2 of the LAH book, but it goes slow I've heard from the publisher. The biggest problem will be to come up with lots of unpublished LAH photos.

As for the W-SS series: as far as I know my friend Hugh Taylor talked about it with the publisher. He probably would have to start all over, as so much new info has come to light since the series has started, so many years ago. And when having new information, isn't it so one should try to get it included?
At this moment mr. Taylor has taken on the Police series by himself...It is said Angolia does not do anymore German-related books (his interests are elsewhere). Until the Police volumes are being finished, mr. Taylor will not have the time to think about the W-SS series.

[IchHattEinenKameraden]

answer to post 6:

Stan Cook is still working on maps for vol. 2 of the LAH book, but it goes slow I've heard from the publisher. The biggest problem will be to come up with lots of unpublished LAH photos.

That sounds very promising, especially the unpublished photographs of the LϟϟAH.
Could it be possible that, let's say, within five years from now Volume 2 could be realized?

[wilhelm Saris]

Have no idea, but age and health can be a spoilsport for both gentlemen.