Rating: 
Summary: Getting at the truth of the Totenkpfdivision actions
Review: Charles W. Sydnor Jr's, "Soldiers of Destruction" is a wonderful piece of historical literature. This book represents Dr. Sydnor's Ph.D. dissertation and as such is based on significant research - this is historical prose by a historian! However, having said that, this does not imply that "Soldiers of Destruction" is merely an academic book with facts that is dry to read, quite the opposite. "Soldiers of Destruction" is a pleasure to read - well-crafted prose and flow - and contains lots of facts. This dissertation is not meant to represent a study of the whole Waffen SS, but rather an in depth look at one component - Third SS Panzer Division Totenkopf (Totenkopfdivision) - as an individual and somewhat isolated case. That said, it is fair to say that whether you are an airchair historian looking for a good read or a serious student of history interested in the Waffen SS and issues associated with the fighting arm of the SS, "Soldiers of Destruction" might be what you're looking for. Dr. Syndor begins his story with a discussion of the development of the Totenkpfdivision as an outgrowth from the SS Totenkopfverbande (Deaths Head Division) and the concentration camp guard system. Central to this development was Theodor Eicke, who put his aggressive, fanatical NSADP stamp on the system. He organized the concentration camp guard system and from that the initial Totenkopfdivision, making this Waffen SS unit one with a particularly rabid Nazi makeup, at least at its inception. By bringing the formation of the Totenkopfdivision into focus provides important perspective for Syndor and the reader to assess the actions of the division in its military exploits, including charges of brutality. Simply put, are actions seemingly askew from other battle units, such as murder of POWs, ultimately unexpected given the personalities and ideological "training" of the division? Syndor does not use this analysis to excuse the actions but rather to provide clarity for greater understanding in a historical context. The passages dealing with combat of the Totenkopfdivision (most of which occurred against the Soviets) are fascinating and highly enlightening. Syndor has does a great job brining to life these years of the division and balancing the highly effective and laudable (from a military perspective) battle actions of the Totenkpdivision with the criminal activities that followed the division. The reader can easily separate these issues and then place the latter in context given the introductory material. This is in fact what Syndor attempts to do (quite effectively I believe) in the last section of the book, entitled: Ideology, Personality, Criminality. In the end this is a wonderful book, both from a mere historical and a reading enjoyment standpoint. Syndor conveys a clear history of a single element of the Waffen SS that is both significant and fair. Highly recommended reading - five stars!
Rating:
Summary: Getting at the truth of the Totenkpfdivision actions
Review: Charles W. Sydnor Jr's, "Soldiers of Destruction" is a wonderful piece of historical literature. This book represents Dr. Sydnor's Ph.D. dissertation and as such is based on significant research - this is historical prose by a historian! However, having said that, this does not imply that "Soldiers of Destruction" is merely an academic book with facts that is dry to read, quite the opposite. "Soldiers of Destruction" is a pleasure to read - well-crafted prose and flow - and contains lots of facts. This dissertation is not meant to represent a study of the whole Waffen SS, but rather an in depth look at one component - Third SS Panzer Division Totenkopf (Totenkopfdivision) - as an individual and somewhat isolated case. That said, it is fair to say that whether you are an airchair historian looking for a good read or a serious student of history interested in the Waffen SS and issues associated with the fighting arm of the SS, "Soldiers of Destruction" might be what you're looking for. Dr. Syndor begins his story with a discussion of the development of the Totenkpfdivision as an outgrowth from the SS Totenkopfverbande (Deaths Head Division) and the concentration camp guard system. Central to this development was Theodor Eicke, who put his aggressive, fanatical NSADP stamp on the system. He organized the concentration camp guard system and from that the initial Totenkopfdivision, making this Waffen SS unit one with a particularly rabid Nazi makeup, at least at its inception. By bringing the formation of the Totenkopfdivision into focus provides important perspective for Syndor and the reader to assess the actions of the division in its military exploits, including charges of brutality. Simply put, are actions seemingly askew from other battle units, such as murder of POWs, ultimately unexpected given the personalities and ideological "training" of the division? Syndor does not use this analysis to excuse the actions but rather to provide clarity for greater understanding in a historical context. The passages dealing with combat of the Totenkopfdivision (most of which occurred against the Soviets) are fascinating and highly enlightening. Syndor has does a great job brining to life these years of the division and balancing the highly effective and laudable (from a military perspective) battle actions of the Totenkpdivision with the criminal activities that followed the division. The reader can easily separate these issues and then place the latter in context given the introductory material. This is in fact what Syndor attempts to do (quite effectively I believe) in the last section of the book, entitled: Ideology, Personality, Criminality. In the end this is a wonderful book, both from a mere historical and a reading enjoyment standpoint. Syndor conveys a clear history of a single element of the Waffen SS that is both significant and fair. Highly recommended reading - five stars!
Rating:
Summary: A Disturbing Portrait
Review: Charles W. Sydnor's Soldiers of Destruction has been out for some time. First published in 1977, it remains a unique work among World War II histories. Essentially the book is a history of the formation (especially the politics involved) and personnel policies of the SS Totenkopf Division from 1933-45. Those looking for a history of the battles, in which SSTK fought, especially during 1943-45, will have to look elsewhere. In addition to the other strengths of this work let me point out two that I have not seen mentioned in any of the other reviews: First the author provides very interesting information on the comings and goings of SSTK officers and men between the division and other SS authorities, especially the concentration/extermination camps. From the SS ideological perspective both organizations, the Waffen SS at the front and the camp guards were performing the same function, fighting the same merciless enemy. It is interesting that the SS stressed from the very beginning of the war that "guard duty in the camps was no less soldierly or important than service in the front lines. The SS Totenkopf units guarding and running the camps were depicted as heroic detachments filled with exemplary SS men performing an invaluable service by protecting Germany from the internal enemies" behind the wire (see footnote p 324). For the SS the fanatical enemy faced in Russia which supposedly hoped to destroy Germany was the same as the helpless inmates being driven to the gas chambers of Auschwitz, killing either in as great of numbers as possible guaranteed not only Nazi victory, but the physical survival of the German race in its death struggle with the "Jewish-Bolsheviks". As an explanation for the unexplainable this attitude along with the terrible experiences of the SSTK on the Eastern Front does much to answer the question as to how such slaughter of innocent civilians was possible. Today such simplistic thinking seems ludicrous, but we should not underestimate the effect of racist or other type of exclusionist ideology on young minds that are indoctrinated over a period of years from figures in authority (not to mention specially-selected fanatics) that they trust. An indication of the power of their persuasion is the fact that in May 1940 only four men in the entire division had not publicly renounced Christianity (see footnote p 85). The second point, which comes out in the book was the wastefulness of such units as SSTK for the German war effort. The author mentions repeated complaints of German Army commanders as to the high battle casualty rates among the SSTK, rates due in many cases to incompetent officers. Also due to the stringent selection process that Eicke maintained men who could have served as officers or NCOs in other formations, served as privates in the SSTK. This was a trait common to all the Waffen SS formations, the Army's Grossdeutschland Division and all the Luftwaffe ground formations. Germany, facing so many enemies, could simply not afford wasteful misuse of men or material. It would have been far better to have utilized such men in the regular Army formations insuring that they received the proper replacements, qualified leaders and equipment rather than concentrating these scare resources in a handful of elite formations to the disadvantage of the army in general. In the case of the SS and Luftwaffe this wasteful policy was clearly due to internal Nazi political considerations. Of course such elite units provide interesting history. . . Compare this to the Soviet practice of combat units earning a "Guards" designation for success in combat. All in all this is a very worthwhile book for those interested in World War II or Holocaust history in general and those interested in the history of the SS in particular.
Rating:
Summary: A Disturbing Portrait
Review: Charles W. Sydnor's Soldiers of Destruction has been out for some time. First published in 1977, it remains a unique work among World War II histories. Essentially the book is a history of the formation (especially the politics involved) and personnel policies of the SS Totenkopf Division from 1933-45. Those looking for a history of the battles, in which SSTK fought, especially during 1943-45, will have to look elsewhere. In addition to the other strengths of this work let me point out two that I have not seen mentioned in any of the other reviews: First the author provides very interesting information on the comings and goings of SSTK officers and men between the division and other SS authorities, especially the concentration/extermination camps. From the SS ideological perspective both organizations, the Waffen SS at the front and the camp guards were performing the same function, fighting the same merciless enemy. It is interesting that the SS stressed from the very beginning of the war that "guard duty in the camps was no less soldierly or important than service in the front lines. The SS Totenkopf units guarding and running the camps were depicted as heroic detachments filled with exemplary SS men performing an invaluable service by protecting Germany from the internal enemies" behind the wire (see footnote p 324). For the SS the fanatical enemy faced in Russia which supposedly hoped to destroy Germany was the same as the helpless inmates being driven to the gas chambers of Auschwitz, killing either in as great of numbers as possible guaranteed not only Nazi victory, but the physical survival of the German race in its death struggle with the "Jewish-Bolsheviks". As an explanation for the unexplainable this attitude along with the terrible experiences of the SSTK on the Eastern Front does much to answer the question as to how such slaughter of innocent civilians was possible. Today such simplistic thinking seems ludicrous, but we should not underestimate the effect of racist or other type of exclusionist ideology on young minds that are indoctrinated over a period of years from figures in authority (not to mention specially-selected fanatics) that they trust. An indication of the power of their persuasion is the fact that in May 1940 only four men in the entire division had not publicly renounced Christianity (see footnote p 85). The second point, which comes out in the book was the wastefulness of such units as SSTK for the German war effort. The author mentions repeated complaints of German Army commanders as to the high battle casualty rates among the SSTK, rates due in many cases to incompetent officers. Also due to the stringent selection process that Eicke maintained men who could have served as officers or NCOs in other formations, served as privates in the SSTK. This was a trait common to all the Waffen SS formations, the Army's Grossdeutschland Division and all the Luftwaffe ground formations. Germany, facing so many enemies, could simply not afford wasteful misuse of men or material. It would have been far better to have utilized such men in the regular Army formations insuring that they received the proper replacements, qualified leaders and equipment rather than concentrating these scare resources in a handful of elite formations to the disadvantage of the army in general. In the case of the SS and Luftwaffe this wasteful policy was clearly due to internal Nazi political considerations. Of course such elite units provide interesting history. . . Compare this to the Soviet practice of combat units earning a "Guards" designation for success in combat. All in all this is a very worthwhile book for those interested in World War II or Holocaust history in general and those interested in the history of the SS in particular.
Rating: 
Summary: A must-read for all Waffen SS buffs
Review: Don't get me wrong, I'm not nazi or anything like this. I'm just fascinated by the elite troops, be it Cezar legions, American paratroops or Waffen SS Panzer Divisions. While really great in describing roots and early campaigns (till 42) that book really lacks data on later engagements. Battle of Kursk is mentioned but not described like battle in Demians pocket. What I really like in that book is description of founding and than evolution of 'Totenkopf'. After rading it I fully understand why Waffen SS was so formidable fighting force. It's really worth buying, and if I have the possibility I would give it 4,5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Academically honest insight in to the Totenkopf and Eicke
Review: Dr. Syndor presents us with what appears to be an academically honest, truthful account of the development of the SS Totenkopf division. He traces its indisputable origins from the concentration camp system into an elite Waffen SS combat Division. Syndor captures the facts regarding the effect that Theodor Eicke had on creating the division from his hand picked staffs in the concentration system. Thus creating a combat division led and manned by individuals already hardened to cruelty to the "enemy behind the wire". Syndor presents a detailed account of Eicke's rise through the concentration camp system, his immense political connections, the origins of the Totenkopf division under Eicke's guidance. The author is clearly impressed by the combat performance of the Waffen SS and the Totenkopf division in particular; however, he presents facts and adequate footnotes for anyone to investigate. The truth speaks for itself, the Waffen SS, with the esprit of the troops and the political indoctrination, were elite combat units. They fought at times to the last man and withstood hardships and casualty rates beyond what most other troops would endure. They also committed acts that carried the political will of the Fuhrer and the Reichsfuhrer SS to the occupied territories and the front. This is NOT an apologist's book about the Waffen SS, nor does it state that every SS trooper was a criminal. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between. It does paint the SS and the Waffen SS as the criminal organizations that they were. It also details the combat performance of this elite combat unit. The last half of the book is sketchier on details of the Totenkopf's combat records, but this was due to the loss of many of those detailed records to the war waged upon Germany. This is an excellent book, my only criticism is that it does not have enough photo's and statistics (specifically, after action reports).
Rating:
Summary: A thorough study of a unit of contraditctions
Review: Soldiers of Destruction is a scholarly examination of the 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf, perhaps the most controversial of all the SS divisions. Charles Sydnor does an excellent job of tracing the origins of Totenkopf from its origins in the concentration camp system to crack fighting unit. Perhaps the one personality who permeated the division was Theodor Eicke, the first commander of Totenkopf and its major personality whose influence was felt even after his death in combat in 1943. Eicke's struggles with Himmler and the Wehrmacht to gain respect and much needed supplies as well as the various machinations within Nazi Germany's hierarchy are well detailed. Eicke was to the Totenkopf what Sepp Dietrich was to the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler and Paul Hausser to the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich: a father figure revered and respected by his men, but also feared (Eicke often punished his men by sending them to the camps as inmates but made sure his men had enough rations and winter clothing in Russia). The Totenkopf Division fought primarily on the Eastern Front and gained a reputation as steadfast in defense. While the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler and Das Reich divisions were the spearheads of the Waffen-SS and took the forefront in the attack, it was the Totenkopf that held the line in Russia and gained respect from notable army generals such as Erich von Manstein and Maximilian Von Weichs. Even with its enviable reputation in battle, the Totenkopf was a unit of contradictions. Some of the officers and men who were worthy soldiers included Otto Baum( holder of the Knights' Cross with Swords and Oakleaves-no Diamonds, even though he deserved them and Sydnor says that he won them), the only man to command three different divisions of the SS and one of the youngest corps commanders when he took temporary command of Das Reich along with the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division "Gotz von Berlichingen", Georg Bochmann, also a holder of the Swords and a commander of two different divisions, Karl Ullrich, commander of the combat engineer batallion, holder of the Oakleaves, and the last commander of the 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking", and Fritz Christen, the first enlisted man in the SS to win the Knights Cross and at the age of 20 the youngest soldier to be awarded the Ritterkreuz. Totenkopf was awarded 11 Knight's Crosses for actions in the Demyansk pocket, the most Knight's Crosses awarded to a single unit in one battle. Despite such brave officers and men, Totenkopf had an unsavory reputation for atrocities and a number of war criminals did serve in the unit. Totenkopf was responsible for the execution of English prisoners of war and French colonial troops in France in 1940 and was alleged to ahve committed numerous war crimes on the Russian Front. Sydnor notes that three Totenkopf officers who later beccame division commanders were alleged to have been responsible for major war crimes in the West: Heinz Lammerding for the massacre at Oradour while commanding Das Reich in 1944, Hermann Priess for actions during the Battle of the Bulge while serving as corps commander of the LAH, and Max Simon for killing Italian civilians in 1944 and executing German civilians in 1945. Sydnor traces this to the instituion of the camps and the mentality that resulted from them and the indoctrination of Eicke which makes for an intersting study and refutes the claim made by some SS members that they were soldiers like the rest of the German military. The final fate of the Totenkopf was in many ways a Goetterdammerung: Totenkopf managed to surrender to the Americans in Austria, but its members were handed over to the Soviets supposedly because it did almost all of its fighting in the East, a fate not shared by the LAH and Das Reich because they fought extensively on the Western Front. Few Totenkopf members survived Soviet captivity. An interesting read and a definite must for those interested in the German military. Perhaps Professor Sydnor could do a study on the LAH and Das Reich.
Rating:
Summary: A good book about a bunch of not very likeable people..
Review: Sydnor captures the historical essence of the Waffen SS in this very detailed look at perhaps its most infamous formation, 'SSTK' or 'Totenkopf,' literally 'Death's Head.' What is captured most thoroughly, is the story of Theodor Eicke, the former concentration camp commandant turned military strategist who was the actual architect of the Death's Head Division. The strongest part of the book is the second half, which deals exclusively with SSTK's time on the Eastern Front. The chapter detailing SSTK's defence of the Demyansk pocket during the winter of 1941-42 is especially well-documented and written, though it suffers, as does the rest of the book, from mediocre maps.
Rating:
Summary: A fine study of an elite formation
Review: The death's head SS division, created in october 1939, was one of the oldest Armoured formation of the III rd Reich. Thus, this unit achieved great military successes, mainly on the eastern front. Sydnor, in his talented study, details, the initial developments with the incorporation of concentration camp guards, the first fights in the western campaign where, the division occured some victories but also setbacks and finally, the military operations on the east... The "SS Totenkopf division", created by Theodor Eicke, former chief of the death's head batallions (camp unit guards), maintained close ties with the concentration camp system until the end of the war. Sydnor demonstrates that with documents. Sydnor also shows, the fundamental influence Eicke had over the formation's fighting spirit and thus, some of the consequences on the ground... But he doesn't contest the military value of this elite division, illustrating that by numerous examples. That's why many generals of the german army were pleased to have the SS Death's Head division under their command... This book is a must read !
Rating: 
Summary: mixed feelings
Review: This book tells the story of the SS Totenkopf Division (SSTK), from it's roots in the German Konzentrationslager till it's final surrender to the Americans. The book goes deeply into the founding history and the difficulites of becoming an elite fighting force. The eventual campaigns are somewhat neglected as the writer doesn't go into too much detail. From autumn 1943 onwards he races through the history of SSTK. Only occasionally does he go into detail about attrocities and the fighting heroism for which the Waffen-SS is known for. The author succeeds in proving that Waffen-SS soldiers were not just mere soldiers, fighting for their country. He proves that the Waffen-SS was an integral part of the SS orginisation and thus the backbone of Nazi-Germany and all it stood for. But the writer fails in proving that brutal voilence and attrocities were part of the normal combat behaviour of SSTK. The nucleus of his argument is that many members of the SSTK committed warcrimes before or after they served in SSTK. From this he claims that the standards of brutality within SSTK schooled their soldiers into committing attrocities. (Because many people are killed in accidents, does this mean car manufacturers are killers?) But he fails to mention the crimes they committed DURING their service in SSTK. His only strong evidence of these warcrimes are the shooting of english pow's at Paradis, not taking black french soldiers prisoner but shooting them and the shooting of communist commissars attached to every russian unit. Whereas the first two are genuine arguments, they happened within a timespace of a few weeks and during SSTK's first front experiences. The commissar argument is weak, for Hitler ordered these shootings. Thus shooting a commissar wasn't a warcrime for German soldiers! The author fails to mention as a warcrime the policy of taking no prisoners the SSTK adapted because the SS soldiers regarded the russian as sub-human and because of the shooting and torturing of german prisoners by the Russian. Furthermore Russia hadn't signed the Convention of Geneva, thereby ignoring international law of war and from German view should be treated as such. The author isn't too convincing on his warcrimes argument because he fails to prove that the attrocities of the French campaign are repeated in Russia. Was the french campaign a one-off? Was the discipline thightend after the french campaign, so that warcrimes where not repeated at the Eastern front within the SSTK? And who started the shooting of pow's: the germans or the russians? Or did the germans react to the torturing of german pow's? Did the germans react to the russian tactics that didn't conform to the convention of Geneva. These interesting questions are not dealt with.... This book is a must if you want to read about the forming and training of a combat-division of the Waffen-SS. It's a must if you want to read about the internal rumbles and personal battles of power within the SS structure. But if you are looking for an indepth combat history of one of the most brutal fighting machines the world has ever seen, then you have to look somewhere else.
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