Weapons of the Waffen-SS: From Small Arms to Tanks

This book is a good survey of weapons of the Waffen-SS. As with the author's other fine books, it includes numerous well-selected and well-reproduced photos of the matters under discussion. The book includes an introductory chapter on the origin and development of the Waffen-SS, including its continuing clashes with the German Army in getting any weapons other than small arms, at least before 1942 when the Waffen-SS had proved itself and its numbers rose significantly. There are also chapters on edged weapons, small arms, artillery, armoured cars, and tanks and other armoured vehicles. The information provided on each weapon includes not only a basic history, production numbers and duration, and use but also a lot of technical data such as barrel length, muzzle velocity, usw. Despite the apparent dryness of my description, the text is actually interesting to read and includes anecdotal information about production of the weapons and their use in the field. The only shortcomings I found were that I thought the chapters on edged weapons and small arms were given short shrift, both as to a description of the types of weapons available and photos of those used. For example, the author states fighting knives were often privately purchased and of commercial manufacture and thus a great variety were used. Fair enough, but then the author declines to discuss, or show a photo of, a single example of any such weapons. Similarly, the author states over two dozen types of pistols were used but discusses, and shows photos, of only the well-recognized ones, e.g., the P 08 Luger and Walther P-38. (In addition, the version of the infamous Sturmgeschutz 44 light machinegun with a curved barrel that could supposedly shoot around corners is discussed, but no photo of this most interesting of weapons is shown, however, this may not be the fault of the author as I have yet to see a photo [or even schematic] of it despite its mention in numerous books.)