I became involved in Mike's SS Knight's Cross project almost a decade ago. Circumstances at the time meant that I couldn't work on my own books, so it was a good way to keep in touch with the creative part of this hobby. It was also a good way to help out my friends Mike and Martin Mansson, who is also a major contributor. Between us, Martin and I provided hundreds of photos, many new or very rare. I also, just this year, gave the manuscript a critical reading, and provided many factual additions and corrections.
I'm invested in this project. Why is it worthwhile for others to read this new book? Well, Ernst-Günther Krätschmer's Die Ritterkreutzträger der Waffen-SS, first published in 1955, is 34 years old for its last major update. A lot of new information has emerged since then, along with corrections to the details he provided. Further, his book is only in German, and a majority of those interested in the topic, outside of Germany, aren't able to read German.
Jost Schneider's Their Honor Was Loyalty is dual language German-English. It was first published in 1977, and then updated in 1993, 23 years ago. Again, much new information has emerged, and his book has small errors (as do my own, fwiw). Even the second edition is long out of print.
Volume 1 of this new project, The Knight's Cross Holders of the SS & German Police, is now available. It is in English, it is more accurate than previous works on the subject, it has details not found elsewhere about certain awards and decorations earned by its subjects, and it includes many new or rare photos. If you already own copies of Krätschmer and Schneider, then perhaps you don't need this. But the book should still be a useful addition for those new to this field of study, those who struggle with the German language, and those who simply want to learn more about the men it covers.
I'm invested in this project. Why is it worthwhile for others to read this new book? Well, Ernst-Günther Krätschmer's Die Ritterkreutzträger der Waffen-SS, first published in 1955, is 34 years old for its last major update. A lot of new information has emerged since then, along with corrections to the details he provided. Further, his book is only in German, and a majority of those interested in the topic, outside of Germany, aren't able to read German.
Jost Schneider's Their Honor Was Loyalty is dual language German-English. It was first published in 1977, and then updated in 1993, 23 years ago. Again, much new information has emerged, and his book has small errors (as do my own, fwiw). Even the second edition is long out of print.
Volume 1 of this new project, The Knight's Cross Holders of the SS & German Police, is now available. It is in English, it is more accurate than previous works on the subject, it has details not found elsewhere about certain awards and decorations earned by its subjects, and it includes many new or rare photos. If you already own copies of Krätschmer and Schneider, then perhaps you don't need this. But the book should still be a useful addition for those new to this field of study, those who struggle with the German language, and those who simply want to learn more about the men it covers.
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