The Eastern Front: Memoirs of a Waffen SS Volunteer, 1941–1945

Initially, because of censorship, I did not want to comment. Some people may consider this book controversial. The censors want to rewrite history to their own liking. I experienced similar censorship under Communism, so it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.The book is a good documentary of WW II . If you want to know what war is like-he describes it well . My own recollection of the smell of burned human flesh , the screams of wounded or buried, the destruction, desperation, deprivation of people one never forgets. War is ugly.The author , a Belgian, describes how he fought on the Eastern Front in WW II, because he believed that in his native Belgium the corruption in so called "democracy " did not serve the people of Belgium well (rings a bell ? ) . He fought for a better ideal which would improve the life of his people . He knew that Communism would destroy it .WW II was about domination of the world through International Banking. It could have been prevented . Communism was a tool to destroy many countries ,so it had to be defended. Support of the Spanish Communists in Spain in 1936 by France, England, USA is therefore not surprising. WW II was not about Axis powers aggression as "historians" would have us believe. Japan lacking raw materials and forced by SANCTIONS had to get them from abroad. The most important point that "historians " omit is the fact that Germany, Japan , Italy did not want to belong to the International Banking Cartel , so they were punished with sanctions and had to be destroyed .Sounds familiar in today's world ? Russia and China are nuclear powers . American manufacturing went to China because of corrupt politicians. Look in the stores- China dominates the shelves more and more. A country without a good industrial base is a has been. Russia, China are getting richer providing jobs for their people , we are getting poorer.Unfortunately for us , Russia, China started setting the rules . Endless wars, unlimited printing of dollars will have to stop . It is not a pretty picture for us.

Detailed though exaggerated account of Léon Degrelle's adventures. Language and style is a bit old fashioned, of course, but that does not dilute the story, which is unbelievable, heroic, creepy and fascinating.Sometimes the reader can’t stop thinking Degrelle cuts corners and exaggerates to make his point and incidents even more interesting and colorful. That is, he is something like John Rambo and Baron Munchausen combined.

It's a mighty thin slice of ham that doesn't have two sides, and this memoir takes the reader through the journey and struggles of one who volunteered the fight the Russians. No matter which side one is on politically, war is hell, and this work helps you feel to feel what it was like to struggle against the Red Army.As an amateur historian and military member, I can say that this is very well worth reading.

It seems the majority of war memoirs that are given the public spotlight are those of soldiers who were part of the Allied Powers. A great deal of people have little to no conception of the experiences of the opposing side. A side comprised of millions of soldiers who were subjected to the most intense battles, skirmishes, and firefights of the entire Second World War.‘The Eastern Front’ gives a rare insight into the eyes of an often overlooked yet significant part of the Axis cause - the foreign legionaries. Leon Degrelle, a Belgian fascist of Walloon decent is one of these soldiers. The beginning of the book details his life just before the breakout of the Second World War with a young Degrelle at the forefront of fascist politics in Belgium known as “Rexism”. The story quickly delves into the circumstances of the German invasion of his country with his perspective of the occupation thereafter and how it opened up profound opportunities for the Belgian fascist, energetically collaborating with his occupier.The majority of the book thereafter centers around his experiences as a foreign legionnaire of the Waffen-SS and his account of the many, incredibly intense battles him and his legion engaged in on the Eastern Front. The reader will find themselves deeply engaged in the story as Degrelle details his crusade against the Red Menace throughout the 5 years of battle in service to the German fatherland with chapter upon chapter of unbelievable stories that make one question how the man even survived.I recommend this book to those seeking one hell of a war story of the Second World War from a very unique, often ignored perspective.

I've heard of this guy for years and saw this book and figured I would read it. There was some very detailed and interesting stories about the Eastern Front. The German war machine churned across Russia like an unstoppable behemoth - then spent two years in retreat with some small victories along the way.Leon Degrelle was a Belgian Fascist who welcomed the German invasion of his homeland and then volunteered to fight Russia with the SS. He quotes that the most memorable day of his life was being decorated by Hitler. The entire book is pro-Nazi and speaks endlessly of Ally atrocities yet no mention of the concentration camps or the way the Nazis treated people in the occupied territories.The ending is kind of far-fetched but could very well be true as far as I know. Since he is writing it first person I am sure there is a bit of omission to make himself look good. The book is well written and gives minute details of life on the Eastern Front and what it was like to be a European volunteer with the mostly German armies in the East. But keep in mind it is unabashedly pro-Nazi propaganda.

This is my 2nd review of this book as the 1st review was not allowed due to 'hate speech' by myself.So I shall not use the word again which I used previously to describe the political party of which Leon Degrelle was a proud member, you know? That political party, the one started by Hitler et ali n the 1930s and called the Natzionalsozialistiche Deutscher Arbeiterpartei.The National Soccialistic German Workers Party, which is usually shortened to a single and very well known four letter acronym that apparently we can not use on Amazon.This is no different in this context to saying a labour member or a conservative member, it is simply the name of the political party they belonged to and obviously not an insult to a traffic warden.Context folks, its all in the context.Rant over.This is a fantastic book for anyone with an interest in WW2 and particularly the Schutz Staffel or SS of which Degrelle was a proud and unapologetic member.This is what makes this book so very interesting, I have over 100 of these first hand accounts written by members of the SS and they usually have a very common theme, a deep guilt.Very few such authors admit to many of the known SS attrocities, it is usually " I didn't personally do anything' or 'I took no part in it' or I didn't actually know anything about it' which may be true in some cases, lets be honest, they were just people after all, some people are bad and some good and not every member of the near one million men that served in the SS could have been evil.I do not deny or in any way support the actions of the SS. I know the worst war crimes committed by Germany during WW2 were at the hands of the SS, Das Reich and Oradour sur Glane, Leibstandarte and Wormhout or the infamous Totenkopf and their death camps but when nearly every book is by an *innocent' member of the SS it does make you wonder.Some do feel true guilt just through association but Degrelle went to his grave totally guilt free.Leon Degrelle makes no apologies, he was a proud member of the SS and that un-nameable party despite being Belgian and was actually a volunteer!He rose rapidly through the ranks due to his methods and even attracted the attention of the fuhrer himself who became quite enamoured with Degrelle even though Degrelle was not even German, yet he perfectly fit Hitlers ideal of the Ayrian ubermensch that would run his empire.To many this book will be a very uncomfortable read due to the way Degrelle describes his time in the SS, he saw no wrong in anything he did, a difficult mindset to understand in 2023 as it is utterly unlike anything in modern times excepting some far right white supremacist groups whos views no sane person cares about anyway.I am and have been a military history buff for over 30 years and the Germans and particularly the SS have always piqued that interest.To others such as myself this book is fascinating, to others it may seem more like a hate filled manifesto to that un-nameable party.Full of interesting photos taken by Degrelle and many press photos of him with other big names from that party such as Hitler himself.A highly recommended book on a very dark subject.Fingers crossed this review is not rejected too.

Comprate questo libro del generale Degrelle ricco di particolari sulla vita e la guerra dei combattenti europei sul fronte orientale dal 1941 al 1945. La vita dei locali, quella dei combattenti, il paesaggio ed il clima vengono descritti minuziosamente. Consigliato.

The victor writes the history. Well this book is an account from the other side, the SS side in WW2.Few will agree with the ideology but no-one can argue with the story of heroes who died for a cause they embraced to their last breath.This memoir is also uplifting and beautifully written.It's a heroes story and well worth reading.I will never forget it.

Excellent first hand account of the hell that was the eastern front

A brilliant book from History