Last Blood on Pomerania

Leon Degrelle and the Walloon Waffen SS Volunteers, February-May 1945

Tomasz Borowski (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

200 Seiten

2016
Helion & Company (Verlag)
978-1-910294-48-2 (ISBN)

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The 28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division 'Wallonien', which mostly consisted of French-speaking citizens of the Kingdom of Belgium - first as part of the Wehrmacht, and later in the ranks of the Waffen SS - fought as one of the national legions against the Red Army on the Eastern Front in February 1942. The Walloons gained fame during the legendary resistance in Cherkassy Pocket, where in early 1944 they lost more than fifty percent of their strength. In the summer of the same year they fought a defensive battle in Estonia in the region of Dorpat, and in February 1945 were directed to Western Pomerania, where until the last days of the war they put up a stubborn resistance to the armies of Stalin.

This book, which was originally published in Polish, is based on the unpublished memoirs of participants of these events, and is the first account to describe the Walloons'participation in the mysterious Pomeranian campaign in such a detailed manner. It tells the tragic story of the Walloon volunteers, who at all costs tried to stop the onrush of the enemy standing at the gates of the Third Reich. The Pomeranian odyssey led by the controversial and infamous Volksfuhrer Leon Degrelle went on for three months, and the trial meant death and courage. Stargard, Altdamm, Neu Rosow - these are locations, that became synonyms for unconditional sacrifice. They are also a symbol of kameradschaft, of a group of tough guys and daredevils, who were determined to stake everything on one throw of the dice.

The book is illustrated with unique photographs, known so far only to a small group of people. These are complemented by a special comic created by the French artist Godus and with images made with great attention to detail, which were produced for historical reconstruction, showing silhouettes of the Walloon soldiers. It is worth noting that some of these were made in the same location where the fighting raged in April 1945.

Tomasz Borowski has been interested in history since childhood and for many years has been studying the actions of foreign volunteer formations of Waffen SS, especially Scandinavian, French and Walloon troops, which were involved in bloody battles in the final stages of the Second World War. His fascination arose when he realized how much influence these small but extremely valiant and brave troops had on the fate of the fronts, on which they had to fight. They fought hard even though the cause for which they shed blood was practically lost. Through contact with many authors and historians he has access to little known archives, both of memoirs and of photographic material. In his publications, he tries not to repeat the well-known facts, but each time to bring closer and reveal to readers the mysteries and curiosities that are the symbols of the tragic, last weeks of the greatest existing armed conflict, which for many has become a mythical Twilight of Gods. He writes from a desire to tell stories. He believes that reading should primarily be a pleasure. If a story supposes to be boring, better not to show it to the world at all. In his spare time the author watches criminal movies and good series such as 'Millennium', 'Sherlock' or 'True Detective'. Besides that he likes riding a bike, walking, spending time with his family and enjoying a glass of fine wine. He is also a cats enthusiast.

Erscheint lt. Verlag	11.4.2016
Zusatzinfo	140 b/w and color photos, maps
Verlagsort	Solihull
Sprache	englisch
Maße	152 x 229 mm
Themenwelt	Geschichte ► Allgemeine Geschichte ► Neuzeit (bis 1918)
	Geschichte ► Allgemeine Geschichte ► 1918 bis 1945
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte ► Regional- / Ländergeschichte
	Geschichte ► Teilgebiete der Geschichte ► Militärgeschichte
ISBN-10	1-910294-48-9 / 1910294489
ISBN-13	978-1-910294-48-2 / 9781910294482
Zustand	Neuware