The divisions of the Waffen-SS were the elite of Hitler’s armies in World War II, but the most fanatical of them were not even German. The book offers a comprehensive examination of every foreign Waffen-SS formation, including well-known divisions such as Wiking, Nord, and Prinz Eugen, notoriously brutal units such as the Kaminski Brigade and the British-recruited Britisches Freikorps. Each unit's history, structure and combat record is described in detail. Despite their non-Germanic background, the Norwegians, Dutch, Danes, Belgians, Latvians, Estonians, Cossacks, Ukrainians and other nationalities – often motivated by an extreme anti-Communist zeal – fought hard on the Eastern Front for the Nazi cause, even when their position was hopeless. Often treated badly by their German commanders, the foreign SS units were not all excellent combat formations, however. Some, like the British and Indian volunteers, were used for propaganda purposes only, while others like the notorious Dirlewanger Brigade, who helped brutally surpress the Warsaw Rising in 1944, were nothing more than murderous criminals in uniform. Other divisions formed in the final months of the war never reached functional strength, and were disbanded before they saw action. SS: Hitler’s Foreign Divisions is a definitive history of the 350,000 foreigners who fought for Hitler and Germany in World War II. [This is a text-only ebook edition.]

Table of Contents:
Introduction Brief introduction on the origins of the Waffen SS. Himmler’s ambitions to rival the Army, but unable to recruit Germans to expand the SS because of Army opposition. Exploitation of volksdeutsch – ethnic Germans from occupied territories – to enable the SS to grow. Western Europe This chapter provides an overview of the volunteers from Western Europe in a brief country by country guide, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Spain, France, and Luxembourg. The author explains the political conditions that led to the success (or otherwise) of the SS recruitment campaigns, and outlines the units each countries volunteers served with. Eastern Europe Despite Hitler’s distaste for the Slavic peoples, vast numbers of Eastern Europeans served with the SS, either as regular troops or as supporting auxiliaries. This chapter provides an overview of the volunteers from Eastern Europe in a brief country by country guide, including the Soviet Union, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Lithuania and Albania. The Foreign SS Divisions (Note: the numbers below refer to the SS divisional numbers) 5. SS Panzer Division Wiking, 9. SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen, 10. SS Panzer Division Frundsberg, 11. SS Freiwilligen Panzer Grenadier Division Nordland, 13. Waffen Gebirgs Division der SS Handschar (Kroatisches Nr. I), 14. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS (Galizisches / Ukrainisches), 15. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS (Lettisches Nr. II), 19. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS (Lettisches Nr. II), 20. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS (Estnisches Nr. I), 21. Waffen Gebirgs Division der SS Skanderbeg, 22. Freiwilligen Kavallerie Division der SS Maria Theresa, 23. Waffen Gebirgs Division der SS Kama (Kroatisches Nr. II), 23. SS Freiwilligen Panzer Grenadier Division Niederland / Nederland, 24. Waffen Gebirgs Division der SS Karstjäger, 25. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Hunyadi (Ungarisches Nr. I), 26. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS (Ungarisches Nr. II), 27. SS Freiwilligen Grenadier Division Langemarck (Flämische Nr. I), 28. SS Freiwilligen Panzer Grenadier Division Wallonien, 29. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS (Russiches Nr. I), 29. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS (Italienisches No. I), 30. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS (Russiches Nr. II), 31. SS Freiwilligen Grenadier Division, 32. SS Freiwilligen Grenadier Division 30 Januar, 33. Waffen Kavallerie Division der SS (Ungarisches Nr. III), 33. SS Waffen Grenadier Division der SS Charlemagne (Franzosisches Nr. I), 34. SS Freiwilligen Grenadier Division Landstorm Nederland, 35. SS Polizei Grenadier Division, 36. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS, 37. SS Freiwilligen Kavallerie Division Lützow, 38. SS Panzer Grenadier Division Nibelungen. The Foreign SS Brigades Dirlewanger’s Brigade; Waffen SS Mountain Brigade (1st Tartar); SS Waffen Grenadier Brigade (Italian); 1st SS Polizei Jager Brigade; SS Brigade ‘Bohmen und Maren’; SS Panzer Brigade Gross; Franzosische SS Freiwilligen Sturmbrigade; SS Waffen Grenadier Brigade (White Ruthenian); SS Sturmbrigade Wallonien; Sturmbrigade Reichsfuhrer SS; The Indian Legion; Legion of St George (British volunteers); Serbian SS Freiwilligen Corps; Latvian SS; Freiwilligen Legion; Kaukasischer Waffenverband der SS; SS Waffengruppe Krim (Crimea) SS Freiwilligen Legion Nederlande; Landstorm Niederland; Ostturkischer Waffenverband der SS; 1st Ostmuselmanisches (East Muslim) SS Regiment Appendices (Guide to SS Ranks; list of Knight's Cross winners) Glossary and List of Abbreviations Bibliography Index