… by a Soldier of the Waffen-SS.
"Voss, apparently a pseudonym, joins the SS for idealistic reasons. He is young, partly influenced by role models but he is also taken with the idea of European brotherhood in the face of Communism. He undergoes mountain warfare training and is posted to the 6th SS Mountain Division ‘Nord' in Finland. He experiences combat, the extreme weather and the long retreat to Norway. Following this he is in action on the Western Front before being captured by the Americans in 1945. He wrote his memoir up while he was in captivity.
There is quite a bit on Voss' youth and his fascinating family. They were quite privileged but also saw themselves as obliged to serve Germany in the conflict. There are a range of political attitudes in the family, though mostly they have no particular attachment to Hitler. The mountain training phase is quite interesting. They are pushed hard but being young and fit helps. There is also the elite nature of their work and charismatic leaders. Voss arrives at the Finnish front late in 1943 and assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 11th SS Mountain Regt.
The front is fairly static when Voss arrives. There are though constant probes and mortar and artillery attacks. Voss recounts the first instance of these in quite some detail, complete with conversations with comrades. There is also a clear account of the terrain, trench and living quarters. A major patrol is also recounted in depth, so this is a very good look at the work of a mountain or ski soldier. There follows a major action at Sennozero Lake, during a big Soviet offensive in July 44. Voss commands a MG section and there is a lot done trying to stem the attack and break through to cut-off German troops. I think the sense of confusion in the forests and the extreme exertion required is conveyed well. Then there is the long retreat, which sadly for the Germans sees them obliged to engage their erstwhile Allies, the Finns. This whole episode is very little known, so this was all quite informative.
After arriving back in Germany, the 6th SS Division is committed to fighting the Americans. The extent of American artillery fire astonishes the Germans. Voss' major action is at Reipertswiller, during the Nordwind offensive in January 45. They entrap and capture a battalion of the US 157th Regt and Voss, again commanding a MG section, writes quite clearly on his part in this. His final action is the attack on Lampaden in March. The battalion conducts a night march but is not able to deploy itself properly. US tanks then overwhelm Voss' section and he is captured. This action was against the 3/302nd of the US 94th Division. Interestingly, an article by Edward Morris (2000) claims the 6th SS shot American prisoners in this action. There is very little about war crimes by the 6th SS, so this may have just been ‘run-of-the-mill' activity that both sides engaged in, particularly in the Bulge. In any case, Voss is probably lucky to have survived.
This though points to the notoriety of the SS. While separate to the odious Concentration camp branch, the Waffen SS was involved in many atrocities, both on and off the battlefield. Voss is very lucky I think to have been posted to the 6th Division, which spent the great bulk of its career on friendly soil. It was not therefore used to suppress partisans or punish foreign populations. Even its brief phase in action against the Finns, following that countries switching sides, was as limited as both nations could manage. Voss' service in the SS though is his reason for writing. Having volunteered and served in an organisation, subsequently deemed to be criminal, Voss is conflicted. He sees his own motives and those of his comrades as honourable. The horrors of the Death Camps and other SS crimes were indisputable but he nevertheless feels his reasons need to be stated. He is also partly speaking on behalf of his dead comrades. It is, I think, a perspective worth hearing and it probably represents that held by a sizeable number of SS and Wehrmacht volunteers. It is also the case, that there are many memoirs by Allied troops who fought the SS and had nothing but contempt and loathing for them.
With that in mind, this is a very interesting book. Voss writes a lot about his comrades and their discussions. His experiences are fairly unique and his writing conveys things clearly. There is quite a bit of combat action and sufficient specifics to make it hit home. His reflections on his sacrifices and service in a very controversial organisation are a fascinating point of view, though probably not best taken in isolation. Highly recommended."
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