Introduction

This offering from Pen and Sword as part of their Images of War series looks at the men of the Waffen SS who were awarded the Knight's Cross. It took me some time and consideration as to how or even if I should cover the title, but it should be remembered that even a monster is someone's child and can do things that are worthy of recognition.

Review

This offering from Pen and Sword is part of the ‘Images at War’ series. This series of books are soft backed offerings having a good card cover with a very good spine to the book that keeps the contents in good order. This book covering ‘Knight's Cross Winners of the Waffen SS’ has been authored by Marc Rikmenspoel. This title from marc Rikmenspoel is the only title listed against his name, but he has covered an aspect of World War 2 with consideration for those whose lives these men affected. The contents of this title are provided over 138 pages of good quality semi gloss paper.

This offering is of little use as a reference for the modeller but it does provide a good look at the uniform of the Waffen SS over the war period, the photographs also make you see young men, many whose names we will known as people rather than just as criminals. This title offers small snippets of information on the soldiers concerned and where known the actions that resulted in the Knight's Cross being awarded. I like that the author has just provided fact rather than opinion in the text, and where it covers the actions they took it makes you see them as more than just monsters.

Conclusion

This book offers little beyond uniform detail as far as visual reference is concerned for the modeller, but it does make you look at the men whose names may be known to you in a slightly more charitable way. Despite having carried out some of the most deplorable acts of World War 2 they also performed brave actions as well. Something that I noted when looking through this title is that most of the men shown are also wearing the wound badge in various classes and so shows that they also paid a price in life.