Book Description
The Hitler Youth was not in itself a military formation, but a movement that sought to inculcate Nazi ideology upon German youth. Nevertheless, paramilitary training formed an important part of this education, especially given the Nazi veneration of the soldier as the epitome of Germanic manhood; and even some members of the Bund Deutscher Mädel, the Hitler Youth organization for girls, became combatants in the final stages of the war. This book explores how the preliminary training that German youth underwent in the Hitler Youth prepared them for service in the armed forces, and how Hitler Youth members became directly involved in military service under the pressure of total war.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent work within Osprey's limitations.......2006-12-08
I have to strenuously disagree with Chris Crawford's review. Crawford seems to believe that this book purports to be THE reference work on the Hitler Youth movement, something which it was clearly never intended to be. As the publisher's website informs us "Osprey's Warrior series is an ideal reference resource for re-enactors, military history enthusiasts, model makers and wargamers." Many books in the Warrior series, including this one, are worthwhile for academic historians, but that is not the readership at which they are aimed.
Crawford criticises the book for its lack of exhaustive academic quality referencing, a criticism which simply fails to appreciate that the book is aimed at a popular, rather than an academic, audience; extensive referencing would actually turn away most of the potential market for a book of this type. It is also quite inappropriate to criticise the author, Alan Dearn, for the referencing since the publisher, not the author, has determined the referencing style for the series. Granted there are a couple of minor factual mistakes, but I have yet to find a book aimed at the "military enthusiast" market that does not contain similar errors. Let's face it, Crawford's own review manages to misspell the name of the author of this book.
For Crawford to compare a book such as this to something like Littlejohn's 377 page tome is to do disservice to both books; Dearn's work is not a comprehensive history of the Hitler Youth, but it does not claim to be. I think it fulfils its purpose admirably.
fan-bloody-tastic.......2006-06-18
booo...chris crawford, i thought that this book was highly informative and entertaining (the pictures are great!). Although there are minor discrepancies in the description of the Hitler youths uniforms, in the grand scheme of things this is unimportant because it was not in any way the point of the book. I'm sure with hindsight Dearn is hitting himself for not checking his source, but we're all human. I am myself a history student and i am currently researching for my PhD, i thought this book was GREAT, hooray for Alan Dearn.
agreed..........2006-06-16
I'll have to agree with Tara here. I am personally fascinated by this particular period in history, and have studied it extensively. While, ideally, this is best read within the vast array of literature which exists on the topic (Littlejohn's is particularly excellent), I found this to be a highly worthwhile study into the sociological apsects of the Hitler Youth. Pedantic nuances aside, I would recommend this book to any person with a similar interest in such features of Hitler's Germany.
Osprey's latest ... but not greatest.......2006-06-09
As a historian interested in this particular aspect of the Third Reich, I found Alan Dearn's book very disappointing. It does not appear like he has done a lot of in-depth research, and while some of the photos in the book are lovely (particularly loved the one to go along with Maria's story at the end of the book), they are not enough to make up for the lack of factual information.
"The Hitler Youth 1933 - 45" gives a brief general overview of the Hitler Youth, its organization, tasks, and uniforms. As such, Dearn has included information on the sections of the Hitler Youth - the Jungvolk, the Hitler Youth, the Jungmaedel, and the League of German Girls. This is great for a quick "starter" book if you have not researched anything on the subject before, but for those with a serious interest, it will be disappointing.
Dearn's research did not strike me as particularly well done. In some instances he cites former leaders or members remembering one thing or another, but does not give any sources for those recollections, such as the names of the former members or the publications he is quoting. In his text on the BDM, particularly, is where this lack of sources becomes apparent. There only source he cites on BDM subjects is Melita Maschmann's autobiography "Fazit".
Dearn's information also shows gaping holes and misunderstandings. For example, he writes that girls in the BDM were not awarded the black neckerchief until they transferred from the Jungmaedel into the League at age 14. In fact, the BDM's own manuals state quite plainly that the neckerchief was awarded after completing the Jungmaedel challenge (said challenge was completed within the first 6 months after joining at the age of 10).
Elsewhere he carries on a common misunderstanding about the traditions bar on the Gau insignia as having "been awarded to all units that were in existence prior to 1933". I'm not sure where this mistake began because it is printed in other books on the Hitler Youth as well and Dearn has likely just copied it as "true" from one of those secondary sources. However, primary period sources give the following information: "The traditions triangle was worn by all members of the Hitler Youth and BDM who, prior to 30. January 1933 (or in the case of groups outside the Reich, a date prior to their respective regions' return to the German Reich), been a member of the Hitler Youth, BDM, Nazi party or any of their groups." (Aufbau und Abzeichen der Hitlerjugend, published by Youth Leadership Staff)
There are a lot of problems with Dearn's "Hitler Youth" book, which make me start to wonder whether Osprey actually has any editing or fact-checking process before publishing a book. Past publications on Third Reich subjects have not fared better than Dearne's book when it came to facts.
My review would be, save your money and spend it on a different book about the Hitler Youth instead. Maybe David Littlejohn's "The Hitler Youth". While that one also includes some minor mistakes, as a whole, it is much better researched and includes a lot more information.
Customer Reviews:
One of the better books on the SS.......2007-02-06
A good book to read!
I have read a few books on this subject so I can't remember any specific thing from this which I know belongs to this book but I remember it was a good book
Truly the base line reference work on the Waffen SS.......2006-09-18
This volume by George Stein was originally published in 1966. Most of the publication facts are based on the SS and Wehrmacht histories written during the war and supplemented by information from both Hitler's and Himmler's personal records and recordings. At some points you may find that the documentation is a little overwhelming, but most of it is in bottom page notes.
The original formation of the SS (Schutzstaffel-Protection Squad) were the black uniformed elite personal body guard for Adolf Hitler set-up by Heinrich Himmler. It was envisioned as an elite corps that would be the 'police' of the Nazi Party, replacing the less than repudable SD (Brown Shirts). After becoming Chancellor in 1933 the The Waffen-SS (Armed-SS) branch was expanded and divided into three subgroups: the Leibstandarte, Hitler's personal bodyguard; the Totenkopfverbande (Death's Head Battalions), which administered the concentration camps; and the Verfugungstruppen (Disposition Troops).
By the end of the war the Waffen SS had grown to 39 divisions (always under the command of the Wehrmacht). But in reality, only six of the formations were ever a true fighting force mostly made up of German residents of the Reich. Another two or three made up of Volksdeutsch and Western Volunteers in World War II were also considered 'first line' troops. The other formations were made up of Eastern European 'Volunteers' many of whom were ex-POWs or conscripted Volksdeutsch. Some of these formations never fought or came any way near Division strength (15,000) and were as small as battallions (200). What the extra 26 divisions did was spread out needed German officers and equipment.
Beginning with the invasions of the Low Countries and France, the Waffen SS participated in all the major battles of WWII including Stalingrad, Kursk, Normandy and the final battle in Berlin. Hitler used them as his 'Fire Brigade' when he needed immediate help in Italy after the fall of Mussolini, in Normandy after D-Day and as the spearhead of the troops in the 'Battle of the Bulge'. These were the troops that became the fearsome SS-Panzer and Panzergrenadiers that fought with 'abandon' and to the death in so many rearguard battles.
But the Waffen-SS was also seen as the 'peacetime' armed state police. They would be a combination of Carabenari, Prison Camp Guards, Secret Service and FBI. Many of the early Concentration Camp guards, later became members of the 4th-SS Polizeidivision of the Waffen-SS and it wasn't unusual for wounded or disabled Waffen-SS to be transfered to the Concentration Camp Guard troops. As to the massacres at Paladis, Oradur and Malmedy; according to the 'apologists', well 'boys will be boys' and sometimes get 'out of hand'.
Though a lot of work has been done since 1966, this is a great reference work from which to begin.
Waffen SS and the Nazi movement.......2005-05-02
In his book The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War George Stein posits that contrary to the popular belief, the SS was not a homogeneous band of killers that did nothing but persecute the Jews during Hitler's reign and had no real military value. Instead, he suggests that the Waffen SS was a dynamic organization which, in the face of war, evolved into the most highly developed and most efficient militarized army of the Nationalist Socialist movement, playing a role for which it was never intended. According to Stein, it was the SS, not the Nazi party that proved to be the dynamic core of the "movement".
The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War is a very well written book in which Stein sheds light on the often times mysterious and notorious Schutzstaffel. Stein takes us back to its inception and progresses forward through history, showing how the organization's structure and mandate gradually evolved during the Third Reich. Stein reveals the factors which set the Waffen SS apart from the Army, detailing its successes and failures in battle, and the role it played in the military exploits of the Third Reich.
Stein's thesis is broken up into three distinct points which are supported in different sections of the book and then tied together in his conclusion. The first contention of his thesis is that the Waffen SS was a dynamic and ever evolving organization. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the SS grew from 25,000 to 150,000 men. According to Stein this six-fold increase marked the beginning of an expansion that would result in the establishment of the SS as the "fourth branch of the Wehrmacht". Furthermore, Stein maintains that the SS cannot be painted as a uniform institution of terror. Stein acknowledges that the SS was responsible for a large number of the war-crimes committed by the Third Reich but argues that "only a minority of men that passed through the ranks of the Waffen SS were involved in any of the known atrocities" (281). Stein also states that contrary to popular belief, the SS was also quite dynamic in its personnel composition. By 1945, of the 38 SS divisions, none were composed solely of native Germans and 19 divisions consisted primarily of foreign nationals.
The second part of Stein's thesis is that the Waffen SS played a role in WWII for which it was not originally intended. Stein states that the SS was originally designed to be Hitler's elite guard and militarized police force, not the elite combat arm of the Wehrmacht that it evolved into. Stein goes on to say that Hitler only wanted the Waffen SS to be an example for the Army, only fighting on the front now and then to retain the respect of the people. Yet the Waffen SS were relied on more and more as the war progressed, becoming an integral and indispensable part of Hitler's offensive operations. "The Third Reich would have collapsed much sooner had it not been for the elite SS divisions" (293). During the last two years of the war, the Waffen SS fought on all four fronts.
The third and final part of Stein's thesis holds that it was the SS, not the Nazi party that proved to be the dynamic core of the movement. Stein maintains that the SS was tied more to Hitler (All SS personnel swore an oath to Hitler himself) and the movement than to the state or the party like the Army. "It would be more accurate to describe the Waffen SS as the dictator's private army or Praetorian Guard rather than as a party army." (26)
In summary, I think there was a general lack of evidence for his postulation that it was the SS, not the Nazi party that proved to be the dynamic core of the movement, but Stein more than makes up for it in his detailed analysis of the Waffen SS and its changing role in WW2 from an elite guard unit to the highly effecting combat arm of the Wehrmacht.
Elite warriors, brutal murderers - deserving of both titles.......2004-12-10
"Waffen SS-Hitler's Elite Guard at War, 1939-1945" by George H. Stein is a fabulous work of historical literature. Many an author, popular and academic, has tackled the topic of the SS and Waffen SS but very few have done so in an objective fashion like Stein. Far too many presentations of the Waffen SS have been from apologist and revisionist authors who fail to recognize and/or admit the complicity of portions of the Waffen SS in the atrocities committed in the name of the NSDAP and Adolf Hitler. At the other end of the spectrum are those authors, again large in number, who simply paint ALL that served in the Waffen SS with broad strokes of guilt. Stein captures a story that falls between the extremes and thus is more realistic and truthful, and thus more historically accurate with clear lack of hysterics.
"Waffen SS" begins with a historical perspective on the establishment of the SS [initially the Allgemeine (General)-SS] and formation of the earliest incarnations of the armed SS - initially from the units such as the Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler" (Hitler's Chancellery Guard) and the SS-Totenkopfverbande (Death's Head Units, early concentration camp guards), to organization of the Waffen SS as war approached. This presentation provides considerable information that allows the reader to connect (or disconnect as appropriate) various components of Himmler's greater SS. This is critical to the process of a reader drawing objective conclusions about guilt of the Waffen SS in non-combatant war crimes.
Stein then spends considerable time discussing the military exploits of the Waffen SS, both early and oft strained integration into the Wehrmacht during the initial phases of the war up to the defeat of France and the AEF, as well as their later fierce and destructive battles fought east across the Soviet Union and their return west in defense. Stein's prose does not fail to convey a picture of a fanatical and determined fighting force. Clearly the Waffen SS (especially the early incarnations that were still volunteer and elite) was an accomplished "army". Stein also discusses how the elite Waffen SS was in later years of the war converted through conscription (mostly) into a hodge-podge of a force that often was worth very little and sometimes more trouble than it was worth.
In the third major section of "Waffen SS" the author presents a clear and concise (without simply rehashing particular atrocities covered in depth elsewhere) description of crimes that can be connected to the Waffen SS, whether directly or indirectly. While crimes can clearly be attributed to battle formations, both combatant- and non-combatant-related, it is also clear from Stein's presentation that a majority of Waffen SS units were not likely involved in such events. This is not to say that Stein presents an apologist view, quite to the contrary - he presents an honest assessment of guilt - the Waffen SS was guilty but it is unfair to claim all units were simply butchers. Yet equally unfair would be a claim that the Waffen SS was simply an army free of guilt. When it comes to connections between the Waffen SS and the holocaust the story is one mostly of semantics. As Stein points out it is beyond doubt that the SS represented the system by which Hitler attempted (and nearly succeeded) to murder all of the European jews and other "Untermensch" (subhumans). It is also clear that many of the units involved were, at least on paper, part of the Waffen SS. Moreover, much of the concentration camp staff turn over was between the camps and the front lines. Yet it is not at all clear that fighting units of the Waffen SS were directly involved in these acts. Thus it becomes an issue of semantics because it depends upon how one defines "Waffen SS". Again this is not to say that Stein presents an apologist view or one of strict and total condemnation. In fact Stein presents a picture in which the facts are presented and the reader is free to define the culprits for themselves.
In the final section Stein gives a very concise and extremely well written summary. This section itself is worth the price of the book. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Stein is liberal in his use of sources and yet it also becomes clear that Gerald Reitlinger's "SS: Alibi of a Nation" is one he favors and must feel captures much of the story of the SS (although not in the concise manner in which Stein sets out to do - as he states right up front). This is a five star effort worth a read!!!
Identifies the Seriously Anti-Semitic Nations.......2001-08-29
Probably the most valuable contribution of this book is the list of non-German nationalities represented in the SS, along with the approximate numbers of each nationality thus represented. Irrespective of whether or not all these units were directly involved in anti-Jewish "aktions", they all contributed to the Holocaust by furthering the German war effort and prolonging German rule over Europe. With all of the bad rap Poles get for being almost as anti-Semitic as the Nazi Germans, you would expect that there would be more Poles in the SS than any other non-German nationality. Surprise! There was not a single Polish SS unit in existence! (Though there may have been a few Polish individuals in other SS units, and then mostly Poles of German extraction (Volksdeutsche) as well as those of mixed Polish-German ancestry). Nor is it true that the Germans did not seek Polish collaborators: Early in the war Germans tried to get Polish volunteers as auxilliary staff for the concentration camps, and got not a single applicant. So the Germans could forget about recruiting ethnic Poles for the SS. Although there certainly were "little league" anti-Semites among the Poles, the "big league" anti-Semites were the other European nationalities who supplied volunteers for the SS. It is high time that Holocaust films and popular-level Holocaust educational materials get off the Poles' case and tell it like it ACTUALLY was.
Average customer rating:
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Hitler and Nazism, 1933-45 (Longman History in Depth)
Jane Jenkins
Manufacturer: Longman Group United Kingdom
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| History & Historical Fiction
| Children's Books
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| Europe
| History
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| Germany
| Europe
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Fascism
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ASIN: 0582297362 |
Customer Reviews:
Perfect Learning.......2001-04-19
I didn't know what to expect when I first got the book. I was actually quite intimidated since the book's drawings were so good, and I was still learning how to draw the human figure. I especially liked the sections on foreshortening and perspective of the human body. Unlike some other art books, these elements were actually taught which was a big PLUS for me. I didn't really like how some sections of the book were quite vague, and since I'm a visual learner, it needed more diagrams. The body types were also almost virtually the same (the models were mostly slim women and it also had its share of muscular men), however the techniques taught were very good. I would definately recommend this to the beginner, however he or she should know a bit about drawing the human figure. Overall, it's an excellent book to learn techniques to drawing and painting the human anatomy.
Book Description
From understanding the basics of human anatomy to capturing the grace of the female nude to accurately depicting a person’s figure and form, this covers it all: choosing and using tools and materials, capturing both still poses and motion, and completing exciting, skill-building projects. “Detailed and engaging projects. Highly recommended.”—Library Journal.
Customer Reviews:
It's overpriced.......2006-06-20
"The Beginner's Guide to Drawing People" by Patricia Monahan
It is way overpriced. Besides, offering a drawing book that offers FEMALE nude studies, and neglects entirely, MALE nude studies, does not make the book a bargain, especially when it is titled "Drawing PEOPLE". If a book is about drawing PEOPLE, shouldn't there be MALE people as well?
This book has 216 pages. That's twice the number of pages that most figure drawing books have, and the FOUR authors still limit it to nude female anatomy? Is that sexist, or merely neglectful?
The best "instructional" books always come from the singular vision of one author. Sure enough, this book has a "fractured" feel.
Average customer rating:
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The Beginner's Guide Human Anatomy: An artist's Step-by-Step Guide to Techniques and Materials
James Horton
Manufacturer: New Holland
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
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Drawing
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Figure Drawing
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ASIN: 1843300575 |
Book Description
Experiment with a range of drawing materials, from chalks and charcoal to watercolors and oils, allowing each medium to enhance your work. Understand the body’s structure and how it moves. Develop your skills with a series of exciting projects, including arms, torso and legs, heads, the male and female body, a female reclining, an athlete, and a dancer.
Book Description
For most beginners, people are the most rewarding, yet the most difficult subject. But experienced artists know a variety of secrets and shortcuts which are revealed here by a popular art educator. Ten progressive step-by-step demonstrations turn a beginner into a practiced artist by emphasizing particular challenges such as proportion, posture, balance, and clothing, as well as the elusive facial expression qualities of personality and character. Each project matches a unique combination of subject and medium: young woman standing (charcoal); young man standing (soft pencils); people on holiday (pastel pencils); child sitting (pencil); girl dancing (charcoal and chalk); wedding group (range of pencils); children playing (pastel pencils); people in sepia (conté); people sitting (colored pencils); and family gathering (line and wash).
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant!.......2007-04-11
I have taught art for the last 20 years. I teach both 11-18 year olds and adults and bought this book because the most difficult area for beginners is learning to draw the human figure. Few other books manage to help beginners; they usually assume prior knowledge and understanding of the subject, but this book begins with basics, showing and explaining to readers how to look, see, understand shape, negative space, proportion, structure, tone, fabric folds and texture. At any point, readers can stop and either leave their drawings or carry on to extremely detailed finish. The variety of subjects and materials used are also refreshing and with every project, there is an alternative picture for readers to work from and an example of the original drawing in an alternative medium.
I wish I'd had this book when I was learning to draw, or at least over the last 20 years since I've been teaching. Many of my students of all ages and levels have responded brilliantly to this book and have improved speedily and well. I would recommend it to anyone and will certainly buy more books by this author.
BIG on promise, little on delivery: I just cannot learn from a book like this. It's written for some kind of ROBOT........2006-05-04
"How to Draw People" by Susie Hodge
I have learned by now, to sense an "alert" at certain key words found on the cover of drawing books, that indicate gimmicky advertising promises, and these kind of books never measure up to their purpose. Warning Words such as: "ultimate," or "complete-guide-to" or "absolute" and so forth. Good drawing books never use extreme claims. The Warning Word in "How to Draw People" is on the back cover:
"...the ESSENTIAL starting point for beginners who want to learn the basics and enjoy drawing."
So, with the word "ESSENTIAL," the author/publisher is telling us that this method is EXCLUSIVE of all other drawing methods. None of the other methods will work. Only this method. This method is the very ....ESSENCE.
The back cover goes on to clarify:
"10 practical demonstrations broken down into STEP-BY-STEP STAGES".
So much for how the publisher saw this book. Allow me to tell you how I saw it. On the page of each "step-by-step" lesson, I saw illustrations that I could never draw, but worse, 1/2 to 3/4ths of the lesson pages were full of wordy text, attempting to clarify what the author's illustrations could not teach.
On page 13 there are 2 illustrations of the SIMPLIFIED FIGURETTE, or BLOCK PUPPETS. Mind you now, that's 2 pictures, and NOT 2 pages full of pictures of the human figure image that most books use many times over to show the human figure sitting, standing, bending, and/or lying down. NOT a single SIMPLIFIED FIGURETTE is used to show any kind of human ACTION, or activity at all. No ball-throwing, no jumping, no kicking, no bending around, no punching. Nothing. Nada. Ninguno. Zip. This book is supposed to be ONLY about drawing PEOPLE and nothing else. But they are people who just sit or stand like posing for some photograph.
The author is limited to using only one single style of drawing. There are several styles or methods possible. Most drawing books show a little of each. For example, you can use blocks, or cubes, or triangles to roughly draw the human figures. You might use sticks, or even OVALS. Then there are Line Drawings, and Gesture Drawings. This author relies almost entirely on Line Drawings Only. So if you hope to get a broad or general view such as most beginner books teach, you will not find that here. The author's drawings are rather perfect. So if a beginner tries to draw perfect LINE DRAWINGS, and fails, how is that beginner going to feel? Just terrible. I know I would. That's a method of STEP-BY-STEP instruction that I call very hurtful to a BEGINNER.
This book is so strange, that it does not even mention drawing on ordinary NEWSPRINT [the common drawing paper that is the same stuff that newspapers are printed on] in the section on MATERIALS. I just reviewed another book today that says: "Newsprint is invaluable for sketching and preliminary work." Go figure.
Many BEGINNER artists are children. With all the wordy text on the lesson pages, this would not be an easy drawing book for children at all.
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