Mark Yerger's TOTENKOPF book

[Mark C. Yerger]

Received my copy today another excellent piece of research put into print with some excellent photos on the best SS Division.Well done Mark and Ignacio

Thanks for the first posted comment. While others in various countries already have their copy of the book, Ignacio and I have yet to get ours. But all my e-mails received seem to show everyone reads Walter Reder's biography first despite the considerably diverse data in volume 2.

Our appreciation to an early volume 2 copy recipient who kindly provided gave us several new images of a officer while with the Totenkopfverbände who was later awarded significant decorations with the "Leibstandarte"; Josef Armberger winning the Knight's Cross and then Roll of Honor Clasp for leading the 8./SS-Panzer Regiment 1. The latter on the recommendation of Army Generalleutnant Carl Püchler for his attached support of Kampfgruppe "Püchler."

While Ignacio creates a list for a separate thread of those men still sought, I think (?) Armberger was the last of the several dozen higher award holders he needed who had early service with the Totenkopfverbände. Ignacio seeks numerous other officers with TV and later Waffen-SS service.

Best,
Mark

[peterm]

Cheers, Peter

[Mark C. Yerger]

While I have no grasp of ever-changing customs and postal speeds; despite not yet seeing a copy apparently others have had theirs for some time (at least in Europe).

2 more elaborate comments appeared on Amazon.UK where I assume the owners got their copy, so for those wanting some insight before buying an admittedly costly book;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Totenkopf-S...9125081&sr=1-1

Hopefully link is correct; must get to the book (volume 2), click its reviews, and further expand to see all written.

Obviously US Amazon and UK Amazon are the same primary company. And like any government office or significant company; the larger they are the more conflicting and inefficient they obviously operate regards their own release dates, etc

[Klaus Richter]

You're right. I preordered it on Amazon.com but it's not being released here until September! So I cancelled it and ordered it from the Book Depository UK, and I got mine today! It's excellent like always!

[Seaburn]

Volume two of 'Totenkopf' has arrived and is still being absorbed. For those discerning readers who demand a high standard of factual data, you will not be disappointed with this weighty tome. Following on from their acclaimed TK Vol 1, Yerger and Arrondo continue to cram each page with hitherto unpublished photos and bio's of men who served with the TK division (and in some cases also serving at different times with other SS divisions) . So least you think this is just for for aficionado's of TK, think again - for here you will find also data on the Officer and WSS combat arms schools that hosted men who went on to serve with all W.SS divisions. Closely examined are the final 53 'DKiG' recipients, 22 'Honor clasp holders' and 32 'close combat clasp in gold' holders. There then follows a sizeable chapter on 'preparing for Russia' an OOB chart and a guide to tactical symbols which I found particularly helpful. The notes that accompany the narrative serve to add even more information, source citations and a heads-up on where to find specific detail if needed. Also detailed is insightful data on the uniforms and decorations shown. As these authors never cease to polish, add-to and refine their research, you will also get an Addendum of new information and photos to update Vol 1. All in all its a must have reference book for any serious historian of the W-SS. I have no doubt that these volumes will be cited and recited ad nauseam in future works by other authors.

[stgeorge64]

Volume 2 of this monumental book now sits on my bookshelf next to Volume 1.

The standout feature of these T-Div books are the level of precise detail, backed up with supporting notes providing the source material in the process. The level of detail really is quite something.

In providing information on the background structure and organisation of the division itself, these books offer much more than just the men who served and earned the respective decorations on the battlefield. That said, the information on these men is staggering, both in text and photographic imagery and has set a serious benchmark.

I am pleased that I was able to provide a (very) small input via some photographic images however, mine pale in comparison to many of the routinely high standard photos throughout.

In conclusion, anyone who is hesitating on whether to add this book to their library, I can catagorically state that if it is exhaustive detailed research that you are looking for then these books are for you.

Regards Richard.

[peterm]

Hi guys!

I spent the last hours with „Volume 2“ and all I can say for sure is what had been said from my side with „Volume 1“ before: my DEEPEST respect for Mark's great work!
These two volumes (and I’m sure that will be stated for Ignacio’s 3rd part too) are the very best dealing with a single division and its leading and most decorated men since many, many years. Each museum showing items of WWII should have this in its library as a standard work. I read a lot of good, bad and also ugly books dealing with what is subsumed under the term “SS/Waffen-SS”. In this case first the divisional history (Ullrich’s “Wie ein Fels im Meer” and Vopersal’s “Soldaten, Kämpfer, Kameraden”) followed by a lot of more personal determined memories (like Helmut Büch’s “In 80 Nahkampftagen...”). Nothing of that could give us such full information on the key people that made especially this division one of the most successful “Ostfront”-units.
I will recommend these books to anyone interested in the subject.

Kind regards, Peter

[Mark C. Yerger]

My humble thanks for the positive comments from a diversity of countries. One from a contributor saying what he "only" did lacks credit to his efforts. The time and effort to send 20 photos or documents is as appreciated as much as providing 1. Everything fills a gap or missing piece to make a study as complete as possible with that being the goal. So "collector-historians" should be thanked and acknowledged by every reader.

Am personally a bit irritated at the world postal system, having not seen the darn book myself as of today.

Appreciating the interest in the award recipients, especially German Cross holders for obvious reason, I'm personally more eager to see the 1/3 of the book's pages on topics other than award holders.

I'd also like the extravagance of paying a summer vacation school kid put away all the volume 2 files back into my cabinets. But don't till I get a copy of the finished volume in hand. I hate filing almost as much as I hate Rap music and they're in my way.

Mark

[Mark C. Yerger]

Below (from left) are me, Walter Reder, and Jakob Tiefenthäler. Tiefenthäler was a veteran and professional photographer, one of many who made duplicate prints of Ritterkreuzträger images for them to sign when they received requests for an autographed photo including Ullrich. Speed, time, and ensuing decades along with different persons making prints postwar saw many prints made from a copy (rather than negative) with resulting detail loss. Also some photos have a later held rank "airbrush" modified, a later bestowed award(s) not included in the original image added, or colorized that look obvious and poor. Ignacio recently got the commonly seen Ullrich image attached, but made direct from the original negative so details and clarity valuable make it valuable. The image is frequently cropped and/or the rank of Oberführer added that he was granted but Hitler nullified all April 20, 1945, SS promotions.


Taken after promoted to Standartenführer in 1944 and following his interim command of "Totenkopf," he wears a 1936 model dagger for officers, a link of the chain being visible (when cropped appears to be a 1933 model as many wore due to cost). Ullrich's SS ring is also detailed as are his "Theodor Eicke" regimental sleeve title, Demjansk shield, and Knight's Cross with Oakleaves. He was already awarded other decorations aside from the Iron Cross 1st Class and General Assault Badge shown, opting to wear some of those as a ribbon bar. Ullrich was to be my fourth individual biography, being one of six individuals Otto Weidinger suggested should be individually researched. I only got half the work done due to Ullrich's failing health, especially his painful spinal condition that eventually prevented him from continuing our exchange. But all I compiled, plus further documented specifics of his divisional commands found in recent years, are included in volume 1. The image got me as audibly excited as a previously unseen photo, though apologies for the fact I am a lousy posed image subject in every photo I am in. I look half asleep.

[Mark C. Yerger]

I finally got a copy of volume 2. For decades I was accustomed to never actually looking through any printed copy of my books as the perfect image materials I provided were butchered by unsolicited changes or opinion. Being disappointed and furious was irrelevant. Done is done, and posting an illustrated book page to compare with what I had provided was non-constructive. Instead, I just moved on.

"Totenkopf" Volume 1 is what I wanted it to be, in every way, perfect, due to huge efforts by Kim McSweeney and Jonah Newborg. And I thanked them both privately and publicly, this study having particular significance for me. But when I started "Totenkopf" I also knew that fate or bad luck determined that many of the volume 2 photos were inferior quality or damaged in any way conceivable other than to be set on fire. Original photos folded like a letter and stuck in a pocket of a uniform, a happy dozen stored in a basement for decades and fully covered with polka dot spots of mold, stapled to letters from friends, cracking/orange peel deterioration, etc. All I begged for was best possible help to reduce getting slammed in forum comments comparing the two books. One finds what they can, often only 1 image of a man. Unlike volume 1, repairing most volume 2 images beyond the simple Photo Shop level was Jonah's first nightmare. I watched him work on a simple one (below) but get nauseous trying to follow multiple computer windows change that fast. He also did the normal making of 4 to 6 prints of each I bought to get the 225 I picked, the other 800+ being trashed. And Kim used all to assemble, again, perfectly what was in my head.

Every computer, cel phone, etc is outdated when bought, new programs are endless and I get that. So with volume 2 fully designed and done I now appreciate most their informing me that some new applications and methods would allow a 2% to 3% increase of what my eyes call "better." As long as I threw away everything and started over. After a brief emotional breakdown, I spent October until now regretting hundreds of wasted hours. And I could have got a lot of cat toys or other essentials with the $2,000.00+ wasted on the initial materials I provided. While I am not cheap as far as costs that need to be expended, I am also definitely not wealthy. The sum is huge in my world.

Fortunately for my mental stability, volume 1 was perfect in being exactly what I hoped for and wanted. But due to Kim and Jonah alone volume 2 is, unexpectedly, significantly better. So I am at a loss how to express "better than perfect." Is it "Perfect+" ? Next I guess 3-D with glasses will be needed for improvement.

But I can recoup some of the lost costs although it involves an ethical dilemma. A paper items collector who wrote me said he read all of volume 2 and wanted to know what fee I would charge for "any info at all" on 3 men who are only mentioned once. Apparently the 40,000 words of factual data in the end notes do not constitute part of "reading" the book. What he asked for, complete in 3 large paragraphs, is in the end note with each individual named in his inquiry. I am clueless what is considered proper monetary compensation to e-mail someone the end notes from a book they already bought. So there was no charge, but wish I had a "selfie" image of his facial expression when he read my reply.

[Lutfen]

If it's any help for UK forum members, I got my copy of volume 2 from WH Smith. Ordered on-line it cost £38, with free delivery to a local branch of the shop. It looks like there are now only 2 available:

https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/t.../9781910777992

Great book!

Michael

[John P. Moore]

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading my copy of Volume 2. The superior photo reproduction is consistent throughout the book and adds significantly to the overall quality. The author made the extra effort to ensure that each photo was of the highest possible image quality. No “dark” photos were noted. I believe that the photographic results here set a benchmark for other authors to strive for. After reading the introductory sections I spent several days studying the information in the 40 pages of end Notes. I found significant information that was useful in my own research and appreciate the depth of the author’s research. The first biography that I read was that of the war criminal Walter Reder. I was curious how the author would deal with Reder’s direct involvement with serious war crimes in Italy in 1944 since Mark Yerger in the past has been criticized by some for not including the participation in war crimes of some of the people and divisions that he writes about. I found the author’s description of Reder to be completely objective by including the facts of Reder’s involvement in the murder of hundreds civilians as determined by an Italian court of law and not being influenced by the HIAG who for many years claimed that Reder was innocent along with the notorious Rome Gestapo chief, Herbert Kappler. Volume 2 is a remarkable achievement that the author and those who assisted him can be proud of.