The Wolf’s Lair was the most important German command post building during World War II. Orders sent from these secret headquarters would play a massive part in the outcome of the war. Baxter not only utilizes published works, unpublished records, military documents, and archives on the subject, but also digs deep into the contemporary writings of Hitler’s closest personal staff, seeking to disentangle the truth through letters written by wives, friends, adjutants, private secretaries, physicians, and of course his military staff. Baxter extensively examines life within the Führerhauptquartiere, where Hilter planned and gossiped with his associates. However, as defeat loomed, Hitler surrounded himself not with his intimate circle of friends, but what he considered were illiterate soldiers. Baxter shows how Hitler’s contempt for his war staff grew, and describes, during the onset of the traumatic German military reverses in Russia, how Hitler tried to infuse determination into his generals and friends, despite his rapid deterioration in health.

Wolf's Lair: Inside Hitler's East Prussian HQ

History

BAXTER, IAN

Military

The History Press

About the Author\nIan Baxter is the author of many books in the Images of War Series, including Hitler's Headquarters and Himmler's Concentration Camp Guards.\nFrom the infamous Wolf’s Lair, decisions were made and orders given that would play a vital part in the outcome of the Second World War. Seeking to reveal the truth, Ian Baxter examines and analyses the inner workings of Hitler’s secret headquarters, using not just archival resources but also contemporary writings from the Fu¨hrer’s closest personal staff and associates. 
It was in these claustrophobic bunkers of the Führerhauptquartiere that war-changing conversations took place, but the Führer would also stroll through the headquarters and chat to workmen labouring over its defences. Through the location of the Wolf’s Lair, Baxter is able to track Hitler’s triumphs and ultimate demise as fortune turned against his forces, and as he stood uncowed in the face of the unsurpassable enemy and his own deteriorating health.

Wolf's Lair

Politics & Social Sciences

Politics & Government

The story of the SS of Treblinka is a highly compelling one. This book provides vivid descriptions of events in the camp from the point of view of the men that witnessed them. Using interviews, personal letters, and unpublished diaries, some supplied by historian Marcin Zborska in Warsaw and published for the first time, Ian Baxter gives a fascinating insight into the camp that saw the murder of some 800,000 Jews. The book paints a chilling picture of the staff at Treblinka, showing the SS-men during breaks from their murderous activities, relaxing in their barracks, or visiting the camp zoo with their families. Diary extracts will allow a reader inside the heads of these men who, in some cases felt themselves fortunate to be posted at Treblinka. The inner working of the camp are exposed here in unprecedented detail—from the techniques of mass murder to the bizarre rituals that developed within the camp.

The SS of Treblinka

The dreaded and powerful Nazi SS (or Schutzstaffel) began as the elite corps of bodyguards to Hitler, under the command of the infamous Heinrich Himmler. The SS soon expanded to include an intelligence arm and, from 1940 to 1945, an elite military corps, the Waffen-SS. This book is part of the two-volume The Secret Archives set that chronicles the exploits of the Waffen-SS, using information collected from old albums, as well as from newspaper and divisional archives. It includes a wealth of photographs, many of them previously unpublished, with extensive and informative captions. The authorï¿½s account gives a vivid picture of what life was like for Himmlerï¿½s so-called storm troopers. Each of the two volumes stands alone as an account of the Waffen-SSï¿½s notorious activities, one title concentrating on the Eastern Front; the other on the Western Front. This volume, which focuses on the Western Front, reports on the Waffen-SS attacks into Holland and Belgium in 1940; the recruitment of Waffen-SS soldiers from Nazi-occupied countries; its actions at Normandy; its destruction of the British ï¿½Market Gardenï¿½ operation outside Arnhem, Holland; and its actions against American forces at the Battle of the Bulge. Approximately 250 black-and-white photos plus appendices.

The Secret Archives: Western Front

Europe

Barrons Educational Series. Inc.

From the Publisher Even after 60 years, the exploits in World War II of the Waffen-SS -- the military arm of Heinrich Himmler's SS -- still have a fascination for many. Featuring 250 previously unpublished action photographs, SS: The Secret Archives -- Western Front illustrates in vivid detail the campaigns of the Waffen-SS against the Allies in the west from 1940 to 1945. The book covers the deeds of the Waffen-SS divisions in France, the Low Countries, the Balkans, Italy and finally Germany itself, each photograph in the book accompanied by a lengthy, informative caption describing the subject matter. Events featured inside include the fall of France, the Normandy campaign and the Battle of the Bulge. Collected from old albums, newspaper and divisional archives after extensive research, the photographs build up to present a picture of what life was like for the stormtroopers in Himmler's elite force. A comprehensively illustrated study of the Waffen-SS in action in the west, SS: The Secret Archives -- Western Front features action photographs of such famous divisions as the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, Das Reich, Hitlerjugend and Totenkopf, and will appeal to anyone with an interest in the Waffen-SS as a fighting force in World War II.

Western Front SS: The Secret Archives

Amber

Using 250 previously unpublished photographs, many of which have come from the albums of individuals who took part in the war, SS: The Secret Archives-Eastern Front depicts the titanic battles between the Waffen-SS and the Red Army on the Eastern Front between 1941 and 1945. The photographs convey an impression of the life of an SS stormtrooper in the frontline during Hitler's crusade against communism.

Eastern Front SS: The Secret Archives

Using 250 photographs, this addition to the Images of War series examines Hitler's elite armored infantry: the Panzergrenadiers. The term Panzergrenadier was introduced in 1942 and applied equally to the infantry component of Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and later Waffen-SS Panzergrenadiere divisions.As this classic new Images of War book describes, these elite divisions fought as mechanized infantry and escort for and in close cooperation with panzers and other armoured fighting vehicles. Trained to fight both mounted and on foot, their priority was to maintain the fast momentum of armoured troops on the battlefield.Using a wealth of rare, often unpublished, photographs with detailed captions and text, the author charts the fighting record of the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe Panzergrenadiertruppe units.This includes their initial successes on the Eastern Front. But as defeat approached, they were forced on the defensive on all fronts including the bitter fighting in Italy and the Western Front. As well as describing their many actions, the book details the vehicles and weapons used and main personalities.

Panzergrenadiers 1942–1945: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War)

Pen and Sword Military

Review\n"Highly recommended." 
AMPS Indianapolis\n"This book is a boon for modelers and there are many inspirations throughout." 
IPMS/USA\nIn late 1944 under extreme pressure on both the Eastern and Western fronts, Hitler realized he needed to force the Allies into negotiating a truce thereby saving Germany from total defeat. Using the Christmas period to enhance the vital element of surprise, he ordered a devastating attack through the rugged and mountainous Ardenne region with the key Allied port of Antwerp as the objective.\nThis book, with its extensive text and rare and unpublished photographs with detailed captions, tells the story of the Waffen-SS offensive, known as `Wacht am Rhein` (Watch on the Rhine). These formidable SS armored units with supporting Wehrmacht divisions initially achieved dramatic success making full use of the harsh winter conditions and terrain. Gradually the Allies regained the upper hand on the attackers who were increasingly suffering from lack of reinforcements and resupplies. After defeat at the pivotal battle of Bastonge, remaining Waffen-SS units withdrew and were transferred back to the Eastern Front. As described in this classic Images of War book, the Fuhrer’s gamble so nearly paid off and the ruthless fighting spirit of the elite Waffen-SS divisions caused the Allied command serious concern.

The Waffen SS Ardennes Offensive: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War)

Americas

The 1944 Arnhem airborne operation, immortalized by the film A Bridge Too Far, will forever be remembered as a great British feat of arms. British and Polish paratroopers displayed outstanding courage and tenacity in a desperate last stand situation. And yet, as this book describes, the plan was fatally flawed as the 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions were recuperating and concealed nearby. What followed was a bloody battle of attrition the result of which was arguably inevitable.\nDrawing on rare and unpublished photographs, this Images of War series work reveals the historical combat record of the 'Hohenstaufen' and 'Frundsberg' divisions. It describes the intensity of the fighting in and around Arnhem between these elite SS and supporting units against a lightly armed yet equally determined enemy. In spite of the war being only months away from its end and the defeat increasingly certain, the SS soldier remained fanatically motivated.\nThis superbly illustrated book with its well-researched text and full captions captures the drama of that historic battle for a bridge over the Rhine.

The Waffen SS at Arnhem: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War)

Drawing on a superb collection of rare and unpublished photographs SS Foreign Divisions & Volunteers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia 1942 - 1945 describes how the occupying Nazis recruited Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian conscripts into the Waffen-SS. Unlike her Latvian neighbor, Lithuania had no plans to provide Germany with a National Legion. Although volunteers came forward, the majority did not. This was not the case for Latvia and Estonia, which undertook huge recruitment programs, and thousands of men were drafted into their own foreign legion of Waffen-SS Grenadier divisions. After intensive training, these divisions saw action on the Eastern front, around Leningrad, in the Ukraine, before vicious defensive operations as the Red Army smashed its way through the Baltic States in 1944. Even in the last dying weeks of the war, what was left of the Baltic soldiers of the 15th, 19th and 20th Waffen-SS Grenadier Divisions, continued to fight alongside their Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS counterparts until they were either destroyed or surrendered.The story of these divisions is graphically told with detailed captions and text together with many contemporary images in true Images of War style.

SS Foreign Divisions & Volunteers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, 1941–1945: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War)

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