Ignacio ArrondoTotenkopf: The Structure, Development and Personalities of the 3.SS-Panzer-Division: Volume 1

Having written several books on specific Russian front battles, my interest in the classic Waffen SS and German Army divisions on the Eastern Front is considerable. One of the best known of the SS divisions, which was involved in many of the most famous battles in Russia, was the 3.SS-Panzer Division "Totenkopf." Starting with the first campaign in Russia, its enviable combat record, especially during defensive operations, was reinforced by further offensive successes during the battles for Kharkov and Kursk, as well as other combat operations when it was often far under-strength due to combat attrition. Army commanders of the period who had "Totenkopf" subordinated to their command spoke highly of the division, with Field Marshal von Manstein describing it as the best of the Waffen SS divisions.
        However, books on “Totenkopf,” even after almost three-quarters of a century, have repeated many past errors, incorrect assumptions or show a lack of competent research.  Authors willing to expend the requisite time, effort, and expenditure in careful research to guarantee accuracy are rare, while superficial, redundant or quickly written commercial books typify the vast majority of current day releases.  
        Mark C. Yerger is a prolific biographical researcher on the Waffen-SS with an earned reputation for presenting great detail and carefully researched factual works that are without bias. He has been the first or only researcher to write on a number of specific topics, in great detail that deal with the Waffen SS, its commanders and personnel. The amount of information found in Yerger’s nine volumes on SS German Cross recipients published by R. James Bender Publishing has not been equaled or even attempted for any other part of Germany's military. He has produced a series of books with a more complete body of information than any other comparable works, such as the many volumes about Knight's Cross holders that are available. Yerger’s book are a source of personnel information, organizational structure and personal battlefield exploits of Waffen SS soldiers which I have incorporated into my own books.
        However, having read the first volume of his "Totenkopf" trilogy I honestly believe he has peaked as a Waffen-SS historian. Although he has written about various topics on nearly all the classic Waffen-SS combat units since the 1980s, I doubt that he can exceed the level of detailed information found in his “Totenkopf” trilogy.
        After a lengthy introduction, a "Commanders and Award Holders" chapter details the parameters of this comprehensive, detailed study of the personalities, organization and history of the division and provides a large amount of related information. A history of the four prewar units of the Totenkopfverbände, which were combined along with other Waffen-SS units, trained officers, and required support troops to create the division in 1939 is also provided.
        There is a section describing the early concentration camps, their creation, and the progression of the system up until the division was organized as a combat formation. However, the book is about the "Totenkopf" Division as a divisional combat unit that fought on the Eastern Front from 1941 to the end of the war.  It was never withdrawn for rebuilds like the other “classic” Waffen SS divisions, such as “Das Reich,” “Leibstandarte,” and “Wiking.” Therefore it remained on the front and was not involved as a unit in the administration of the camp system. Anyone interested in Holocaust topics will need to look elsewhere, although sources for additional reading are provided.
        There is a short chapter that shows uniquely rare surviving artifacts of these pre-war units combined with period pictures that are extremely rare.  There is an additional summary of the division's combat operations, including an analysis of its losses during various periods, and a review of the divisional Knight's Cross recipients during the periods discussed.
        Yerger has greatly expanded the amount of Combat Elements coverage from the information found in the German Cross series. Over 100 pages describing the 13 fighting components of the division. Also included is career information for all commanders, initial staff, and “Totenkopf” Knight's Cross holders.  The Knight’s Cross winners have their lengthy combat service history described with multiple, extremely detailed image captions that incorporate their surviving award proposals. Finding copies of these documents or tremendously rare originals for this many men of a division is a research triumph that only those who have studied thousands of pages of German records can even begin to appreciate.
        Nearly a hundred pages follow of biographies and other information and service records of the division commanders and "Totenkopf" First Staff Officers, this information being completely presented for the first time. Another 150 pages is devoted to the first half of "Totenkopf" men awarded the German Cross in Gold with all available surviving award texts to include those of Enlisted and NCO ranks which are the most unbelievably difficult documents to find. Volume I concludes with a list of Single-handed Tank Destruction Award recipients and an original documents section which describes the procedure involved in granting awards.
        While the text is the heart of the book, the incredible collection of images are clear, and large with long, informative captions, and most are unpublished. These pictures are of many personnel that I've written about for years but had never seen pictures of. Along with the normal bibliography, glossary, etc Yerger has included a name index that is essential for the 600+ men included.
        The first two volumes of this planned trilogy will cover the history, organization and personnel of the division who were awarded the Cross in Gold. Yerger’s his long-time friend, fellow researcher and colleague, Ignacio Arrondo, will present the history of the nearly 20 Totenkopfstandarten in volume III. Yerger’s high opinion of Arrondo’s abilities leave me no doubt that volume III with be as detailed and complete as the first two books. This work and the following volumes are extremely highly recommended.

I was cautious about spending this much money on a book, but was fascinated by SS Totenkopf after reading Sydnor's Soldiers of Destruction. This book arrived promptly and was much more than I could have hoped for with page after page of photos of SSTKs better known soldiers as well as lesser known fighting men. I was amazed at how many survived Russian captivity and returned to live to a ripe old age in Germany. Talk about tough, these guys like Georg Bochmann, Otto Baum, Wilfried Richter, Fritz Christen, Max Seela and Karl Ulrich could have hunted Grizzly bear with a switch!! The awards they won are listed and their final fates are included. Divisional history beginnings are covered in detail with many photos I hadn't seen before and new photos of divisional commander Theodore Eicke. If you're curious about SSTK, this is the book for you. I am buying volume two next month.

Probably ,these 3books will be the most comprehensive series ever written in ENGLISH. My only gripe is too many footnotes.I hope Vol.2 or3 are half as good as this one. J.....of......R xxx https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1910777099/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0

his books always good to excellent.have to like military personalities to read it

Fantastic book like all of Mr. Yerger's tomes. Well worth having if you are a aficionado of military history.

Very nice book with alot of details of the men of the SS

An in-depth excellent book. Highly recommended.

Great book

Eine gute Ergänzung zur Divisionschronik von Wolfgang Vopersal. Sehr gute Bilder, sehr viele Personeninfos. Band 2 wird bei Erscheinen mit Sicherheit sofort geordert.

An excellent book, and that rare thing - well worth the money. Lots of details many of which interweave as individuals encounter each other. The book has sparked off some interesting personal projects. It arrived within hours of my ordering it! When it came through the letter box (hitting the floor with a tremendous thump) I was confused because I was not expecting it for 48 hours or more. Opeing the parcel I was not disappointed. Five stars for the book and the seller.

For any fan of Totenkopf this book along with the book 2 are amazing. It tells the history of WW2's most formidable fighting unit, the men, the history the awards totally amazing and a real pride on my bookshelf. I cannot recomend this book highly enough to anyone interested in SS Totenkopf an absolute must have.

Mr Yerger has produced a unrivalled account of this division, It must be regarded as the bench mark for the rest to follow, 6 stars if I could.

If we keep in mind that Mark C Yerger admires the Waffen SS to an almost erotic degree then this book is probably the best on the subject. He reminds me of David Irving,a truly gifted historian who came to close to Adolf Hitler's inner circle and by consequence lost all academic objectivity on the subject of the second world war. Still, Mark C Yerger's book on the Totenkopf Division is probably his best. I will respect him more as an historian though if he someday writes a book about the war crimes that his beloved SS divisions committed without excusing them as understandable consequences of brutal warfare. And last, I disagree with the idea that you can admire brave acts even if they were committed by the representatives of a genocidal regime. Bravery should not be independent of good ideals.